Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Latest Reading
Ragged War, The Story of Unconventional and Counter-Revolutionary Warfare, Leroy Thompson, Arms and Armour Press, London, 1994. This is a first rate narrative of the guerrilla wars and terrorist operations of the post World War Two era. Outstanding reading and definitive research make this a good book for the military history buff.
Philippians, chapter 4
1 ¶ Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
This is a soul winner’s crown given out at the judgment seat of Christ.
1Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Stand fast, he says.
Ephesians 6: 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Euodias and Syntyche are both women’s names. Perhaps they are having a problem with each other in the church. Note here that women play a very important part in the spreading of the gospel.
Acts 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
Romans 16: 1 ¶ I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
We know how the first people who were witnesses of Christ’s resurrection were women. The apostles didn’t even believe them. Light is given to the women. There are no women who, if given an honest choice, would choose any religion over Biblical Christianity for lifting them up and honoring them, in spite of the misogyny that is endemic in IFB denomination. Women don’t hold offices in the church but are called upon to preach as in to testify and to give witness.
There is a book that God has written already that you don’t want your name taken out of, which will happen if you reject Christ.
Moses was aware of it.
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin––; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
In Revelation a promise is made.
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
(By the way, we know what it means to overcome by 1 John 5:4,5)
There’s several verses about being damned if your name isn’t written in that book. Did you ever think that there’s a lot of names written in this Bible? Did you ever consider that maybe your name is written in here somewhere? Maybe the Bible correctors have been taking their own names out when they take out a verse.
Psalm 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Compare this;
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Now to the Book of Life.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Compare to this writing for those people;
Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
Back to the Book of Life
Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Job 19:23 ¶ Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
This Book is more long lasting than the universe itself. I believe this Book, the Bible IS the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Remember what I said about the emphasis on joy in this letter.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Our moderation, the temperate and careful way in which we eat, exercise, sleep, dress, work, speak, and behave should be a testimony before others. Now, I’m speaking only to those who aren’t sick here. We non-drinkers often wear our pet sins on your bodies; our gluttony on our bellies, our worry on our faces, and our sloth in our inability to move from one place to the next without breathing heavy.
Our credibility to non-believers often depends on things they see in our appearance, dress, and behavior long before we open our mouths. Let your moderation be known. You can overdo your service for Christ if you deny the needs of your family, the FIRST mission field you have for the Lord. If you are neglecting your family’s needs for Christ you are serving NEITHER.
The Lord is what? At hand.
Deuteronomy 32:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Something that happens in due time, when its ready, and fast when it does is “at hand”.
Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
Nothing is in the way of Christ’s coming for us but His own will.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Do not be full of care about anything. Don’t worry. Don’t be anxious. For NOTHING. In EVERY thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. We are supposed to let our requests be made known to God. We find ourselves in certain situations where we simply can’t seem not to worry or be anxious and even terrified. But, this is what we are called to do after being told to rejoice in the Lord and to let our moderation be known to all.
1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 26: 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
God’s peace in time of testing and trial goes beyond anything that humans can even begin to understand.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
There are a lot of positive things here and this advice will keep you out of a lot of trouble if you don’t try to twist these to justify your favorite sins. This is advice only to a Christian and it’s not a statement on what to believe in the word of God. But when you have to think, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
He is telling them to do the things he, Paul, has done. He claims to have been their example. They saw Paul go to jail in Philippi as well as teach them. He witnessed to his jailer. See Acts 16 when you get the chance.
1Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
See verse 17 of chapter 3.
10 ¶ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
They had dropped off in their support of him. Notice back in verse 30 of chapter 2. Then, he lets them off the hook saying they didn’t have the opportunity to help him.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Verse 13 is a key memory verse. Paul is content to have nothing material because he has Christ, who instructs him. Can you imagine being content in every state considering what Paul went through?
2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
How’d you like to have that stuff added to your problems now?
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Paul’s a tough Christian to follow. Can you be content in those conditions? Let’s make it more simple.
1 Timothy 6: 6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
The American consumer mentality is wickedness for Christians. We need to buy less, eat less, and want less of THAT and more of Christ. I’m not talking about you buying into what I think I’ve been called to and giving up your own potential ministry to be a supporting player in mine. I’m talking simply about being content with what you have and seeking to know Christ more through prayer and Bible reading and yielding to obey as in Romans 6:13, 16, 19, letting the Holy Spirit guide you in teaching and direction, remembering that yielding does not carry with it the thought of tearing off in one direction without the Holy Spirit’s instruction.
Be content with the state you find yourself in. Don’t get me wrong, working hard to try to improve your family’s lot in life is a good thing as long as that does not take you further and further away from God. Ambition, seasoned with contentment, is far better for a Christian than this uneasy and unsettled hunger for things over a better relationship with Christ. There are many sermons in these passages.
Paul is a pattern for us.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
That’s you and me.
Don’t claim verse 13 if you’re not willing to submit yourself to the preceding verses. I can be full, I can be hungry, I can abound, I can be in need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Do you see the proper context and application?
A couple of years ago a family member took this verse out of the context in questioning why God allowed someone to be hurt in Iraq.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Totally yanking the verse out of context with the verse preceding it.
Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
We Christians are a funny bunch, I tell you.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Communicate can mean to minister to or to provide or to heal.
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
1Timothy 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Paul’s not wanting more money or things from these people. His motive is that fruit will abound to their account. It’s for their benefit.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
This is what he thinks of the things that they sent, that they are a sacrifice to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God promises to give you what you need, singular, and not your greed, your need. Read it again. What do you need? One, you must be born again. Nothing is more important than that. Two, is assurance of salvation. Without that it’s hard to witness for Christ and you will probably slip back into your old lifestyle. What does someone who doesn’t have assurance of salvation have to offer you that a Muslim or a Buddhist doesn’t? Three, you need to be sanctified through and by His words in this Book. The Waldensians of the Alps used to say, “The Holy Scriptures alone are sufficient to sanctify the believer”. I don’t know of anything else that has a more sure way of making you fit for Christ’s purpose. The next is suffering. I suppose if you won’t let Him do it through His word He’ll have to do it through your suffering.
Four, you need to learn how to yield to obey the Holy Spirit’s instruction.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
You better listen to Him. I’m warning you. Learn to yield. It’s not about your will but His.
Five, you need to learn to wait on Christ and not run off half loaded in your own fantasy of what God’s will for your life is. God might not have called you to that ministry for circus midgets you’ve been dreaming of. Just because you say it’s for Him doesn’t mean He has to buy into it.
Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Six, we need to be happy in the Lord in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. That’s been one of the themes we’ve already discussed. When God says I don’t want you to be a fighter pilot , next week I’m taking your sight from you, then you need to be thankful. When God says I didn’t call you to be a preacher of a huge church, here’s a mission field I’ve prepared for you, now get going, you need to be happy in His will. When God takes all of YOUR dreams and hopes and tosses them like a ball into the pit and says, “Now, this is what I’ve prepared for YOU” you need to be thankful.
Yeah, there’s a lot of other things you need; food, comfort, health, family, love, approval, appreciation, kind words, etc. but don’t you see how if we are saved, have assurance of that salvation, are set apart and prepared, sanctified for His purpose, always yield to obey the Holy Spirit’s commands to witness when He says to witness, to whom He sends to you, always presenting yourself as an example to others, always having a prayerful attitude, always in the word, waiting on God to lead you rather than making up what you think He should approve of you doing for Him acting like you’re some kind of consultant He’s hired on to show Him what He’s missing, and then being happy and satisfied in His will for YOUR life, we’ll have all we need?
God wants to give us what we need. We usually don’t want it. We want the other stuff first. Make me comfortable and give me money and health and then I’ll see what I’ll do for you, Lord. We’ve got it backwards and our faith is damaged because we think, “God isn’t providing my needs” but I’ve got to have faith He will. How about understanding that God doesn’t need your advice and God knows what you need and YOU don’t.
Let’s see, I wanted to be an Air Force officer. I worked hard. I got a congressional nomination, but I was told to wait a year. I was only 16. The academy thought I’d have a better chance of success if I waited until I was more mature. I was bitter, angry, and disappointed. I never reapplied the next year. I didn’t even accept the offer The Citadel made me immediately to go there instead. I was bitter. It affected the whole direction of my life.
God will supply all your NEED according to His riches in glory and it will be by the means of Jesus Christ. When you get to a place where you don’t feel as if that’s true then you’ve gone somewhere on your own without consulting Him. That’s YOUR problem, not His. My behavior only proved that the Air Force Academy was 100% correct. Your whiny, crybaby act is only proving that God couldn’t have trusted you with that anyway. He’ll supply your need and He’ll tell you what you need to equip you for what He’s going to do with you.
If any of you were in the military you didn’t go up to the clothing room to get your clothing issue and hand back your fatigue shirt and say, “I don’t need this. What I need is a Hawaiian shirt. You know, with the flowers. This is boring.” They’d laugh at you. Who do you think you are?
20 ¶ Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. 22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
Paul has had some success through Christ in converting the guards that keep him.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.
This is a soul winner’s crown given out at the judgment seat of Christ.
1Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Stand fast, he says.
Ephesians 6: 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Euodias and Syntyche are both women’s names. Perhaps they are having a problem with each other in the church. Note here that women play a very important part in the spreading of the gospel.
Acts 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
Romans 16: 1 ¶ I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
We know how the first people who were witnesses of Christ’s resurrection were women. The apostles didn’t even believe them. Light is given to the women. There are no women who, if given an honest choice, would choose any religion over Biblical Christianity for lifting them up and honoring them, in spite of the misogyny that is endemic in IFB denomination. Women don’t hold offices in the church but are called upon to preach as in to testify and to give witness.
There is a book that God has written already that you don’t want your name taken out of, which will happen if you reject Christ.
Moses was aware of it.
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin––; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
In Revelation a promise is made.
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
(By the way, we know what it means to overcome by 1 John 5:4,5)
There’s several verses about being damned if your name isn’t written in that book. Did you ever think that there’s a lot of names written in this Bible? Did you ever consider that maybe your name is written in here somewhere? Maybe the Bible correctors have been taking their own names out when they take out a verse.
Psalm 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Compare this;
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Now to the Book of Life.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Compare to this writing for those people;
Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
Back to the Book of Life
Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Job 19:23 ¶ Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
This Book is more long lasting than the universe itself. I believe this Book, the Bible IS the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Remember what I said about the emphasis on joy in this letter.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Our moderation, the temperate and careful way in which we eat, exercise, sleep, dress, work, speak, and behave should be a testimony before others. Now, I’m speaking only to those who aren’t sick here. We non-drinkers often wear our pet sins on your bodies; our gluttony on our bellies, our worry on our faces, and our sloth in our inability to move from one place to the next without breathing heavy.
Our credibility to non-believers often depends on things they see in our appearance, dress, and behavior long before we open our mouths. Let your moderation be known. You can overdo your service for Christ if you deny the needs of your family, the FIRST mission field you have for the Lord. If you are neglecting your family’s needs for Christ you are serving NEITHER.
The Lord is what? At hand.
Deuteronomy 32:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Something that happens in due time, when its ready, and fast when it does is “at hand”.
Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
Nothing is in the way of Christ’s coming for us but His own will.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Do not be full of care about anything. Don’t worry. Don’t be anxious. For NOTHING. In EVERY thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. We are supposed to let our requests be made known to God. We find ourselves in certain situations where we simply can’t seem not to worry or be anxious and even terrified. But, this is what we are called to do after being told to rejoice in the Lord and to let our moderation be known to all.
1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 26: 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
God’s peace in time of testing and trial goes beyond anything that humans can even begin to understand.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
There are a lot of positive things here and this advice will keep you out of a lot of trouble if you don’t try to twist these to justify your favorite sins. This is advice only to a Christian and it’s not a statement on what to believe in the word of God. But when you have to think, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
He is telling them to do the things he, Paul, has done. He claims to have been their example. They saw Paul go to jail in Philippi as well as teach them. He witnessed to his jailer. See Acts 16 when you get the chance.
1Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
See verse 17 of chapter 3.
10 ¶ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
They had dropped off in their support of him. Notice back in verse 30 of chapter 2. Then, he lets them off the hook saying they didn’t have the opportunity to help him.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Verse 13 is a key memory verse. Paul is content to have nothing material because he has Christ, who instructs him. Can you imagine being content in every state considering what Paul went through?
2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
How’d you like to have that stuff added to your problems now?
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Paul’s a tough Christian to follow. Can you be content in those conditions? Let’s make it more simple.
1 Timothy 6: 6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
The American consumer mentality is wickedness for Christians. We need to buy less, eat less, and want less of THAT and more of Christ. I’m not talking about you buying into what I think I’ve been called to and giving up your own potential ministry to be a supporting player in mine. I’m talking simply about being content with what you have and seeking to know Christ more through prayer and Bible reading and yielding to obey as in Romans 6:13, 16, 19, letting the Holy Spirit guide you in teaching and direction, remembering that yielding does not carry with it the thought of tearing off in one direction without the Holy Spirit’s instruction.
Be content with the state you find yourself in. Don’t get me wrong, working hard to try to improve your family’s lot in life is a good thing as long as that does not take you further and further away from God. Ambition, seasoned with contentment, is far better for a Christian than this uneasy and unsettled hunger for things over a better relationship with Christ. There are many sermons in these passages.
Paul is a pattern for us.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
That’s you and me.
Don’t claim verse 13 if you’re not willing to submit yourself to the preceding verses. I can be full, I can be hungry, I can abound, I can be in need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Do you see the proper context and application?
A couple of years ago a family member took this verse out of the context in questioning why God allowed someone to be hurt in Iraq.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Totally yanking the verse out of context with the verse preceding it.
Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
We Christians are a funny bunch, I tell you.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Communicate can mean to minister to or to provide or to heal.
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
1Timothy 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Paul’s not wanting more money or things from these people. His motive is that fruit will abound to their account. It’s for their benefit.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
This is what he thinks of the things that they sent, that they are a sacrifice to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God promises to give you what you need, singular, and not your greed, your need. Read it again. What do you need? One, you must be born again. Nothing is more important than that. Two, is assurance of salvation. Without that it’s hard to witness for Christ and you will probably slip back into your old lifestyle. What does someone who doesn’t have assurance of salvation have to offer you that a Muslim or a Buddhist doesn’t? Three, you need to be sanctified through and by His words in this Book. The Waldensians of the Alps used to say, “The Holy Scriptures alone are sufficient to sanctify the believer”. I don’t know of anything else that has a more sure way of making you fit for Christ’s purpose. The next is suffering. I suppose if you won’t let Him do it through His word He’ll have to do it through your suffering.
Four, you need to learn how to yield to obey the Holy Spirit’s instruction.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
You better listen to Him. I’m warning you. Learn to yield. It’s not about your will but His.
Five, you need to learn to wait on Christ and not run off half loaded in your own fantasy of what God’s will for your life is. God might not have called you to that ministry for circus midgets you’ve been dreaming of. Just because you say it’s for Him doesn’t mean He has to buy into it.
Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Six, we need to be happy in the Lord in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. That’s been one of the themes we’ve already discussed. When God says I don’t want you to be a fighter pilot , next week I’m taking your sight from you, then you need to be thankful. When God says I didn’t call you to be a preacher of a huge church, here’s a mission field I’ve prepared for you, now get going, you need to be happy in His will. When God takes all of YOUR dreams and hopes and tosses them like a ball into the pit and says, “Now, this is what I’ve prepared for YOU” you need to be thankful.
Yeah, there’s a lot of other things you need; food, comfort, health, family, love, approval, appreciation, kind words, etc. but don’t you see how if we are saved, have assurance of that salvation, are set apart and prepared, sanctified for His purpose, always yield to obey the Holy Spirit’s commands to witness when He says to witness, to whom He sends to you, always presenting yourself as an example to others, always having a prayerful attitude, always in the word, waiting on God to lead you rather than making up what you think He should approve of you doing for Him acting like you’re some kind of consultant He’s hired on to show Him what He’s missing, and then being happy and satisfied in His will for YOUR life, we’ll have all we need?
God wants to give us what we need. We usually don’t want it. We want the other stuff first. Make me comfortable and give me money and health and then I’ll see what I’ll do for you, Lord. We’ve got it backwards and our faith is damaged because we think, “God isn’t providing my needs” but I’ve got to have faith He will. How about understanding that God doesn’t need your advice and God knows what you need and YOU don’t.
Let’s see, I wanted to be an Air Force officer. I worked hard. I got a congressional nomination, but I was told to wait a year. I was only 16. The academy thought I’d have a better chance of success if I waited until I was more mature. I was bitter, angry, and disappointed. I never reapplied the next year. I didn’t even accept the offer The Citadel made me immediately to go there instead. I was bitter. It affected the whole direction of my life.
God will supply all your NEED according to His riches in glory and it will be by the means of Jesus Christ. When you get to a place where you don’t feel as if that’s true then you’ve gone somewhere on your own without consulting Him. That’s YOUR problem, not His. My behavior only proved that the Air Force Academy was 100% correct. Your whiny, crybaby act is only proving that God couldn’t have trusted you with that anyway. He’ll supply your need and He’ll tell you what you need to equip you for what He’s going to do with you.
If any of you were in the military you didn’t go up to the clothing room to get your clothing issue and hand back your fatigue shirt and say, “I don’t need this. What I need is a Hawaiian shirt. You know, with the flowers. This is boring.” They’d laugh at you. Who do you think you are?
20 ¶ Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. 22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
Paul has had some success through Christ in converting the guards that keep him.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Helps in Understanding the Bible
The Holy Bible is an amazing piece of work and can aid greatly in a Christian’s sanctification or being made useful or set apart for God. However, many Christians say they find the Bible hard to understand. In fact, that is given as one of the reasons for not reading it, memorizing it, or speaking it aloud as they should.
What I want to do is to help you try to understand the literal sense of the Bible.
Nehemiah 8:8 “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”
Let’s start with the word, “even”. Even is a remarkable word. Often times in the Bible it is used to link two things which are the same. Some would call this figure of speech a Hendiadys or two for one while others would argue it is not.
Here are some examples for you. Tell me what you think. We’ll start with an easy one;
Genesis 6:17 “And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.”
Now, we know that I is I, so that isn’t hard to figure out. Here’s another easy one.
Genesis 20:5 “Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.”
Now, here’s one that’s almost as easy. It’s just a little more difficult.
Genesis 21:10 “Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”
Here, the “people of the land” are identified as the “children of Heth”.
Genesis 23:7 “And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.”
Here, is another, more precise definition of the first item mentioned in this verse, separated by “even”.
Genesis 35:14 “And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.”
Now, here is a no-brainer from the New Testament. Who is your Master?
Matthew 23:10 “Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”
Can you tell me how near the return of Christ is when the things prior to this verse are mentioned?
Matthew 24:33 “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
They are “even at the doors”.
How sorrowful is Jesus’ soul here in this passage?
Matthew 26:38 “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”
What is the definition of “alway” here?
Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Now, don’t get confused. Even can also be a time of day, and can mean that something is just like something else, and in addition to something else or can mean “also”. Look at the context.
In Romans 1:20 what are the invisible things of God in the context?
Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Where is the word nigh in Romans 10:8?
Romans 10:8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”
Who is God in Romans 15:6?
Romans 15:6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What is the wisdom of God in a mystery in 1 Corinthians 2:7?
1 Corinthians 2:7 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:”
Who is the Father in 1 Corinthians 15:24?
1 Corinthians 15:24 “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”
What is our “redemption through his blood” in Colossians 1:14?
Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
And who did God raise from the dead in 1 Thessalonians 1:10?
1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
Now, let’s leave this figure of speech for now and look at another help in understanding the Bible. Statements that may seem a bit vague in the Old Testament are clarified as with a laser pointer in the New. As an example notice how Jesus refines and defines Old Testament doctrine and gets to the real meaning of the Law.
First, read Exodus 20:13 “Thou shalt not kill.” Now, people are often complaining about this by saying, “is all killing wrong?” and “didn’t God command the Hebrews to kill?” and “what about self-defense?” The arguments are endless and the source of much confusion. But, what does it really say?
Let Jesus answer that.
Matthew 19:18 “He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,”
The killing of Exodus 20:13 is murder, which we know is an unprovoked killing of an innocent person and is not about self-defense either personal or corporate, as in defensive wars.
Now, read Deuteronomy 24:1 ¶ When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Now, notice how the Pharisees try to trick Jesus into justifying their own wickedness.
Matthew 19:3 “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” Here, they have expanded “some uncleanness” of Deut. 24:1 to “for every cause” because any excuse could justify their putting away their wife.
But, Jesus is not going to be sidetracked by their self-justification. Here is his response.
“4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.”
As an aside, here is a tip on how to understand some New Testament verses. First, of course, you never want to interpret a doctrine on the basis of a partial statement, but also you want to interpret a verse based on understanding what I call the dominant clause versus the subordinate or inferior clause. Let me give you an example.
James 1:13 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”
Now, if you look at this verse you, if you aren’t paying attention, perceive a contradiction. The question is, does this verse say that God doesn’t tempt any man?
Well, if it did it would contradict the following verse, wouldn’t it?
Genesis 22:1 “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.”
Now, the unbelieving Bible student says “Aha! I found a contradiction!” and then he goes gleefully off to inform the world, but look closer. A corresponding verse in Hebrews defines “tempt” as test or prove.
Hebrews 11:17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,”
Now, by comparing verse with verse we see that the definition of tempted is tried, as in to try something, to test it.
So, back to the verse in question, James 1:13. What does it mean when it says “neither tempteth he any man”?
Well, Satan tempts us with evil to make us fall. He is not omniscient and does not know the future. By reading the verse we see that the subordinate clause “neither tempteth he any man” is tied to the dominant clause, “tempted with evil”, so clearly the meaning of this verse is that God can’t be tempted with evil, in order to make Him, who is sinless, sin, and God never tempts any man for the purpose of making him fall. It is true that God tempted Abraham and tried him but God would have known the outcome ahead of time and therefore the test was to show Abraham and us and to reveal and make manifest Abraham’s faithfulness. It is clear by Hebrews that Abraham fully expected that if he was forced to kill his son, God would raise him from the dead.
Hebrews 11:19 “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
God, unlike Satan, never tempts any man in order to make him sin, but only in order to reveal that person’s faith or to expose that person’s wickedness or disobedience with God, in His omniscience, knowing beforehand what the result would be.
So, in a verse that doesn’t have to do with prophecy, but of doctrinal statements, the end of the verse is usually defined by the beginning. Now, the reason I don’t go into this any deeper is because I would then be telling you what things mean, which should be something you learn from the Holy Spirit and your Pastor. I am merely trying to go over some mechanics or methodology that might help you.
Now, back to Jesus Himself. Jesus also points out how the Old Testament prophecy is constructed. Thousands of years can be separated by a comma or a semi-colon.
Here is Jesus reading from Isaiah 61 in Luke 4;
16 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Now, read the quoted verses from Isaiah 61 and see where Jesus cuts them off;
1 ¶ “ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;”
Now, notice that the comma, in verse 2, after “the acceptable year of the Lord” represents a time span of at least two thousand years. “The day of vengeance of our God” is yet to come upon the earth. When you look at verses of prophecy in the Old Testament be very careful and do what it says in 2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Now, leaving figures of speech and Jesus’ own explanation of the Old Testament writings let’s go on to another subject; the Bible’s own built in dictionary.
First, let’s give the Bible the chance to define itself because, as Paul says;
1 Corinthians 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
Lexicons, dictionaries, and commentaries are not inspired by God. They are the products of men’s imaginations and are tainted by his or her prejudices, assumptions, and agendas. So, let the Bible define itself whenever you can. Here is one example.
What is a virgin?
Genesis 24:16 “And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.”
Notice that this word is defined the first time it comes up in the Bible for it is very important in the New Testament.
Matthew 1
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Sometimes this defining is done by parallel phrasing. Let’s do an easy one first. What does “bought” mean here?
Ruth 4
9 ¶ And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Do you see how easy it is?
What is wrath by this type of definition in this verse?
Genesis 49:7 “Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.”
Now, let’s look at a tough one. How would you define “cumbrance” in this verse?
Deuteronomy 1:12 “How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?”
Strong’s, a Hebrew dictionary, defines the word for cumbrance, I transliterated as Tore-rock, as a burden and a strife, or we could call it a burdensome strife. But, that would be obvious from the text if we were looking for it that way.
Let’s look at “eschew” in 1 Peter 3
10 “ For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”
Now, there are two things you are told regarding evil in these two verses. One is to refrain your tongue from it and one is to eschew it. By our following of parallel phrasing we would say that to eschew would be to refrain from. Is it?
Yes, the word does mean to turn away from, to refrain from, to depart from. The definition is understandable to the average reader.
Now, let’s look at something a little farther apart than in the next verse or the same verse.
Find the parallelism in these two verses and define what stedfast means.
Hebrews 3
6 “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”
If you said, by way of parallel, that stedfast was firm, you’d be right.
The Bible can be a very interesting book to study and to read, line by line, precept upon precept.
Now, let’s get a little tougher. What is the definition of “anon” by looking for parallel phrasing? Now, I want you to think. Underline parallel phrases.
Mark 1
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Something here is urgent. It is “at hand” which is defined by the following verse as in “make haste”;
Deuteronomy 32:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Now, back to the verses;
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Underline “And straightway”
19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
“And straightway” again. Do you get the sense of immediate action yet?
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
23 ¶ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
“And immediately”
29 ¶ And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
“And forthwith”
30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
“and anon”. Now, look at it and judge it by this entire passage. What do you think it means?
31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
“And immediately” is what it means.
This can get deeper and deeper, requiring you to underline parallel and like phrases.
But, that’s not the purpose of this overview. This is just to get you looking hard.
Now, let’s examine a thing called “context”. The context is the environment of a verse. Who is being spoken to, what is being said to them, and what is the immediate application?
A famous preacher once said that a text without a context is a pretext, or an excuse, to justify what is about to come next, a heretical or nonsensical doctrine. Although we often apply any verse to us in principle or practically, and this might be called a spiritual application, what if we are trying to understand the greater meaning of the passage based on simply what it says.
Rather than take an individual verse and discuss its context, which we have seen, doesn’t necessarily make sense with Old Testament prophecy, where parts of a verse can refer to different times and can be separated in their application by thousands of years, let’s look at a letter, as in a book of the New Testament.
Now, I’m not going to tell you what to think. I’m only going to make a suggestion for you to think about and, if you have any question, to pray about it and to discuss with your Pastor.
Example number one. 1 Timothy is a letter written by Paul to whom?
“1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Well, it seems clear that he is writing this letter to Timothy. Who is Timothy? Chapter 4 and verse 6 says he is a minister of Jesus Christ.
6 ¶ If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Now, look at this passage before this verse in chapter 4;
1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
These “latter times” conditions are obviously referring to false doctrines within the boundaries of Christianity. This isn’t about non-Christians. This is about Christians who have departed from the faith, people who have abandoned the Bible and what God has given us. We like to say that these are new agers and pagans but look at modern Christianity. We have people who have embraced every extreme from celibacy, forbidding marriage as in the Roman Catholic priesthood, to the vegetarianism of the Seventh Day Adventist and the Catholic Benedictines, Cistercians, Trappists, Carmelites, and Franciscans, both of which are said to be doctrines of devils and seducing spirits.
No brainer, here.
Now, let’s move to the 2nd letter to Timothy and the third chapter. Once again Paul is talking about conditions among those professing to be Christians as a sign of the end times.
1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Now, by seeing verse 4 and verse 5 and verse 8 how could you not realize that he is talking about false and foolish teachers in the Christian church. These are conditions in the world of professing Christianity in the last days. Knowing how things are in the “Christian” world by reading things like the Anglican newsletter “Ekklesia” and reading the works of the Jesuit trained Baptist scholar, Norman Geisler, and watching preachers like Oral Roberts and Joel Osteen on TV we can’t help but see that we are truly in and have been in the last days for some time now.
But, I have often heard Pastors and commentators, in years past, say that this is the way the world will be at the end. Well, friend, the world has ALWAYS been this way. The church was never supposed to be this way and sadly, today, those who believe in the real Holy Bible and try to obey God’s dictates through it literally, are in a minority.
These are things that I hope help you study and investigate your Bible whose unsearchable riches are there for us all to learn by. You might disagree with what I have said or you might be told by someone of more authority than myself and that’s fine. If I provoke you at all, I only mean to provoke you to take studying your Bible more seriously than your popular music, TV, movies, and sports. Always pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and, when in doubt, ask your Pastor for guidance on the meaning of scripture.
What I want to do is to help you try to understand the literal sense of the Bible.
Nehemiah 8:8 “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”
Let’s start with the word, “even”. Even is a remarkable word. Often times in the Bible it is used to link two things which are the same. Some would call this figure of speech a Hendiadys or two for one while others would argue it is not.
Here are some examples for you. Tell me what you think. We’ll start with an easy one;
Genesis 6:17 “And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.”
Now, we know that I is I, so that isn’t hard to figure out. Here’s another easy one.
Genesis 20:5 “Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.”
Now, here’s one that’s almost as easy. It’s just a little more difficult.
Genesis 21:10 “Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”
Here, the “people of the land” are identified as the “children of Heth”.
Genesis 23:7 “And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.”
Here, is another, more precise definition of the first item mentioned in this verse, separated by “even”.
Genesis 35:14 “And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.”
Now, here is a no-brainer from the New Testament. Who is your Master?
Matthew 23:10 “Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”
Can you tell me how near the return of Christ is when the things prior to this verse are mentioned?
Matthew 24:33 “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
They are “even at the doors”.
How sorrowful is Jesus’ soul here in this passage?
Matthew 26:38 “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”
What is the definition of “alway” here?
Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Now, don’t get confused. Even can also be a time of day, and can mean that something is just like something else, and in addition to something else or can mean “also”. Look at the context.
In Romans 1:20 what are the invisible things of God in the context?
Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Where is the word nigh in Romans 10:8?
Romans 10:8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”
Who is God in Romans 15:6?
Romans 15:6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What is the wisdom of God in a mystery in 1 Corinthians 2:7?
1 Corinthians 2:7 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:”
Who is the Father in 1 Corinthians 15:24?
1 Corinthians 15:24 “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”
What is our “redemption through his blood” in Colossians 1:14?
Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
And who did God raise from the dead in 1 Thessalonians 1:10?
1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
Now, let’s leave this figure of speech for now and look at another help in understanding the Bible. Statements that may seem a bit vague in the Old Testament are clarified as with a laser pointer in the New. As an example notice how Jesus refines and defines Old Testament doctrine and gets to the real meaning of the Law.
First, read Exodus 20:13 “Thou shalt not kill.” Now, people are often complaining about this by saying, “is all killing wrong?” and “didn’t God command the Hebrews to kill?” and “what about self-defense?” The arguments are endless and the source of much confusion. But, what does it really say?
Let Jesus answer that.
Matthew 19:18 “He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,”
The killing of Exodus 20:13 is murder, which we know is an unprovoked killing of an innocent person and is not about self-defense either personal or corporate, as in defensive wars.
Now, read Deuteronomy 24:1 ¶ When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Now, notice how the Pharisees try to trick Jesus into justifying their own wickedness.
Matthew 19:3 “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” Here, they have expanded “some uncleanness” of Deut. 24:1 to “for every cause” because any excuse could justify their putting away their wife.
But, Jesus is not going to be sidetracked by their self-justification. Here is his response.
“4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.”
As an aside, here is a tip on how to understand some New Testament verses. First, of course, you never want to interpret a doctrine on the basis of a partial statement, but also you want to interpret a verse based on understanding what I call the dominant clause versus the subordinate or inferior clause. Let me give you an example.
James 1:13 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”
Now, if you look at this verse you, if you aren’t paying attention, perceive a contradiction. The question is, does this verse say that God doesn’t tempt any man?
Well, if it did it would contradict the following verse, wouldn’t it?
Genesis 22:1 “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.”
Now, the unbelieving Bible student says “Aha! I found a contradiction!” and then he goes gleefully off to inform the world, but look closer. A corresponding verse in Hebrews defines “tempt” as test or prove.
Hebrews 11:17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,”
Now, by comparing verse with verse we see that the definition of tempted is tried, as in to try something, to test it.
So, back to the verse in question, James 1:13. What does it mean when it says “neither tempteth he any man”?
Well, Satan tempts us with evil to make us fall. He is not omniscient and does not know the future. By reading the verse we see that the subordinate clause “neither tempteth he any man” is tied to the dominant clause, “tempted with evil”, so clearly the meaning of this verse is that God can’t be tempted with evil, in order to make Him, who is sinless, sin, and God never tempts any man for the purpose of making him fall. It is true that God tempted Abraham and tried him but God would have known the outcome ahead of time and therefore the test was to show Abraham and us and to reveal and make manifest Abraham’s faithfulness. It is clear by Hebrews that Abraham fully expected that if he was forced to kill his son, God would raise him from the dead.
Hebrews 11:19 “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
God, unlike Satan, never tempts any man in order to make him sin, but only in order to reveal that person’s faith or to expose that person’s wickedness or disobedience with God, in His omniscience, knowing beforehand what the result would be.
So, in a verse that doesn’t have to do with prophecy, but of doctrinal statements, the end of the verse is usually defined by the beginning. Now, the reason I don’t go into this any deeper is because I would then be telling you what things mean, which should be something you learn from the Holy Spirit and your Pastor. I am merely trying to go over some mechanics or methodology that might help you.
Now, back to Jesus Himself. Jesus also points out how the Old Testament prophecy is constructed. Thousands of years can be separated by a comma or a semi-colon.
Here is Jesus reading from Isaiah 61 in Luke 4;
16 “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Now, read the quoted verses from Isaiah 61 and see where Jesus cuts them off;
1 ¶ “ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;”
Now, notice that the comma, in verse 2, after “the acceptable year of the Lord” represents a time span of at least two thousand years. “The day of vengeance of our God” is yet to come upon the earth. When you look at verses of prophecy in the Old Testament be very careful and do what it says in 2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Now, leaving figures of speech and Jesus’ own explanation of the Old Testament writings let’s go on to another subject; the Bible’s own built in dictionary.
First, let’s give the Bible the chance to define itself because, as Paul says;
1 Corinthians 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
Lexicons, dictionaries, and commentaries are not inspired by God. They are the products of men’s imaginations and are tainted by his or her prejudices, assumptions, and agendas. So, let the Bible define itself whenever you can. Here is one example.
What is a virgin?
Genesis 24:16 “And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.”
Notice that this word is defined the first time it comes up in the Bible for it is very important in the New Testament.
Matthew 1
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Sometimes this defining is done by parallel phrasing. Let’s do an easy one first. What does “bought” mean here?
Ruth 4
9 ¶ And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Do you see how easy it is?
What is wrath by this type of definition in this verse?
Genesis 49:7 “Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.”
Now, let’s look at a tough one. How would you define “cumbrance” in this verse?
Deuteronomy 1:12 “How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?”
Strong’s, a Hebrew dictionary, defines the word for cumbrance, I transliterated as Tore-rock, as a burden and a strife, or we could call it a burdensome strife. But, that would be obvious from the text if we were looking for it that way.
Let’s look at “eschew” in 1 Peter 3
10 “ For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”
Now, there are two things you are told regarding evil in these two verses. One is to refrain your tongue from it and one is to eschew it. By our following of parallel phrasing we would say that to eschew would be to refrain from. Is it?
Yes, the word does mean to turn away from, to refrain from, to depart from. The definition is understandable to the average reader.
Now, let’s look at something a little farther apart than in the next verse or the same verse.
Find the parallelism in these two verses and define what stedfast means.
Hebrews 3
6 “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”
If you said, by way of parallel, that stedfast was firm, you’d be right.
The Bible can be a very interesting book to study and to read, line by line, precept upon precept.
Now, let’s get a little tougher. What is the definition of “anon” by looking for parallel phrasing? Now, I want you to think. Underline parallel phrases.
Mark 1
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Something here is urgent. It is “at hand” which is defined by the following verse as in “make haste”;
Deuteronomy 32:35 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Now, back to the verses;
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Underline “And straightway”
19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
“And straightway” again. Do you get the sense of immediate action yet?
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
23 ¶ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
“And immediately”
29 ¶ And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
“And forthwith”
30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
“and anon”. Now, look at it and judge it by this entire passage. What do you think it means?
31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
“And immediately” is what it means.
This can get deeper and deeper, requiring you to underline parallel and like phrases.
But, that’s not the purpose of this overview. This is just to get you looking hard.
Now, let’s examine a thing called “context”. The context is the environment of a verse. Who is being spoken to, what is being said to them, and what is the immediate application?
A famous preacher once said that a text without a context is a pretext, or an excuse, to justify what is about to come next, a heretical or nonsensical doctrine. Although we often apply any verse to us in principle or practically, and this might be called a spiritual application, what if we are trying to understand the greater meaning of the passage based on simply what it says.
Rather than take an individual verse and discuss its context, which we have seen, doesn’t necessarily make sense with Old Testament prophecy, where parts of a verse can refer to different times and can be separated in their application by thousands of years, let’s look at a letter, as in a book of the New Testament.
Now, I’m not going to tell you what to think. I’m only going to make a suggestion for you to think about and, if you have any question, to pray about it and to discuss with your Pastor.
Example number one. 1 Timothy is a letter written by Paul to whom?
“1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Well, it seems clear that he is writing this letter to Timothy. Who is Timothy? Chapter 4 and verse 6 says he is a minister of Jesus Christ.
6 ¶ If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Now, look at this passage before this verse in chapter 4;
1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
These “latter times” conditions are obviously referring to false doctrines within the boundaries of Christianity. This isn’t about non-Christians. This is about Christians who have departed from the faith, people who have abandoned the Bible and what God has given us. We like to say that these are new agers and pagans but look at modern Christianity. We have people who have embraced every extreme from celibacy, forbidding marriage as in the Roman Catholic priesthood, to the vegetarianism of the Seventh Day Adventist and the Catholic Benedictines, Cistercians, Trappists, Carmelites, and Franciscans, both of which are said to be doctrines of devils and seducing spirits.
No brainer, here.
Now, let’s move to the 2nd letter to Timothy and the third chapter. Once again Paul is talking about conditions among those professing to be Christians as a sign of the end times.
1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Now, by seeing verse 4 and verse 5 and verse 8 how could you not realize that he is talking about false and foolish teachers in the Christian church. These are conditions in the world of professing Christianity in the last days. Knowing how things are in the “Christian” world by reading things like the Anglican newsletter “Ekklesia” and reading the works of the Jesuit trained Baptist scholar, Norman Geisler, and watching preachers like Oral Roberts and Joel Osteen on TV we can’t help but see that we are truly in and have been in the last days for some time now.
But, I have often heard Pastors and commentators, in years past, say that this is the way the world will be at the end. Well, friend, the world has ALWAYS been this way. The church was never supposed to be this way and sadly, today, those who believe in the real Holy Bible and try to obey God’s dictates through it literally, are in a minority.
These are things that I hope help you study and investigate your Bible whose unsearchable riches are there for us all to learn by. You might disagree with what I have said or you might be told by someone of more authority than myself and that’s fine. If I provoke you at all, I only mean to provoke you to take studying your Bible more seriously than your popular music, TV, movies, and sports. Always pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and, when in doubt, ask your Pastor for guidance on the meaning of scripture.
Types in the Bible
If I put a cowboy hat on you, a badge that said “Sheriff”, and a belt and six shooter, what would you be a type of then? A western sheriff, perhaps? But, would you really be a sheriff? No, you wouldn’t. But, if I went looking for a western cowboy sheriff I would now have an idea what I was looking for would look like.
There are types in the Bible. In fact, there are two main types in the Bible. One is a type of Christ and the other is a type of Satan and his anti-Christ. These are the two main types in the Bible. You are a type. Are you a type of a faithful follower of Christ or are you a type of a carnal, flesh motivated Christian who isn’t worth the shot and powder it would take to blow them into the lake of fire? Whichever it is, you are a type of something, just as your life is a parable, as was Job’s, which tells a story beyond itself.
In both Job 27:1 and Job 29:1 the Bible records, “ Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,” and then he continues his lamentation.
What story does your life tell? Is it one of faith and trust in Christ or do you spend a lot of time trying to justify yourself as Job did?
But, back to types. A type of God the Father would be Abraham when he took his son, Isaac, a type of Christ, to sacrifice, knowing that God could raise him from the dead.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
“In a figure” is the Bible way of talking about a type. Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead in type, or “in a figure”.
Again,
1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 ¶ The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
So, Baptism is salvation in type. It’s similar to the ark as a figure of us being saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are, in type, buried with Him and raised up with Him.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The early Christians offered their Baptism up as their public profession of faith in Christ but, unfortunately, the harlot, pagan church at Rome eventually confused it so badly that it became necessary for salvation and in fact, they believed mistakenly that it was baptism that saved you.
Notice that when the Bible says “as” how often a type is about to be revealed.
Job 11:12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
Now, you can understand that this is a type, as you have never seen a baby be born braying like a donkey, neither do babies have heels with which to kick like a colt.
Now, let’s try a little challenge. Can you tell me how Joseph is a type of Christ?
Joseph, like Christ, was beloved of his father.
Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
And Christ.
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Joseph was not believed in or by his brethren.
Genesis 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
And Christ.
John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Joseph was hated of his brethren.
Genesis 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
And Christ.
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Do you see how it works? You can go through the story of Joseph and make many, many comparisons between him and Jesus Christ. Not that he WAS Jesus or that he was sinless but that he was like Christ, in type.
As you look at TYPES of Christ, notice Adam who was willing to die for his bride as Christ died for His.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Notice, that in contrast to most major Bible commentators that the Bible says that Adam was WITH HER. If you don’t think he was, argue with God, not me.
And then;
1Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Now, I am bringing this TYPOLOGY up to show you the limits of TYPING. Adam sinned. Christ did not. Adam caused the death of the race, while Christ caused it to have a chance at life eternal. Be careful of how far you take types.
Now, for another thing about types. One individual can be a TYPE of both Christ and the Beast of Revelation, whom we refer to as the anti-Christ although that term doesn’t exist in the book of Revelation.
Here, is the mention of the number of the beast in Revelation.
Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Now, notice this about Solomon.
2Chronicles 9:13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
Gold can be a symbol of divinity and the number here matches. It is the number of a man. Notice Solomon’s behavior after this verse mentions 666 as you read the Bible.
Now, see how Solomon is like Christ in building a house of God, the temple.
1Kings 5:5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
Now, can you see how the Son of God, Jesus Christ, has built a house, a temple, in God’s name?
1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Once again, you can do this over and over for every Biblical personage to permit God to teach you about the Saviour and our enemy, the Devil.
The prince of Tyrus, historical Tyre, is a type of Satan. The Bible shows you how deliberate this typing is. God uses types often in this way and He moves in and out of the typology forcing you to pay close attention. You learn about Satan’s past and who he was in this. When is He talking about Satan and when about this wicked, earthly king? Think on this.
Ezekiel 28:1 ¶ The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: 3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: 4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: 5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. 8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. 9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. 10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
11 ¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
If you read the Bible through once per year as the Pastor has mapped out and if you want to obey the Pastor and you should, you need to be reading just as he said, then you can take a time or two and read it looking for types of Christ and then another time for types of Satan. It’s a lot of fun and very interesting.
Now, think on this. Who is Pharaoh a type of in this passage? When do you see the type in print? What verse? By the way, this Pharaoh is obviously a foreign Pharaoh, installed by Assyria.
Ezekiel 31:1 ¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. 5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations. 7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. 8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. 9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. 10 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; 11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
12 And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him. 13 Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches: 14 To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. 16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
17 They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
Now, who is Solomon a type of and who is his bride a type of in the Song of Solomon? Remember, they don’t have to match exactly, detail by detail to be a type.
Who is the king of Babylon likened to here and what do we learn about the individual he is a type of?
First, a word about the king of Babylon’s thought processes.
Daniel 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
Now, here are the verses I wanted to show you. Tell me who he is likened to in type and what you learn about that individual.
Isaiah 14: 4 ¶ That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. 9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. 22 For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.
With typology you can get an idea of when Satan and the devils, the gods of history were created. In type you can learn a lot about the character of the main person of the Bible and what happens to them. In type, you can learn about who you are. In many ways the Bible can be a mirror of your own character and Christian walk. But, these are things for another time.
There are types in the Bible. In fact, there are two main types in the Bible. One is a type of Christ and the other is a type of Satan and his anti-Christ. These are the two main types in the Bible. You are a type. Are you a type of a faithful follower of Christ or are you a type of a carnal, flesh motivated Christian who isn’t worth the shot and powder it would take to blow them into the lake of fire? Whichever it is, you are a type of something, just as your life is a parable, as was Job’s, which tells a story beyond itself.
In both Job 27:1 and Job 29:1 the Bible records, “ Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,” and then he continues his lamentation.
What story does your life tell? Is it one of faith and trust in Christ or do you spend a lot of time trying to justify yourself as Job did?
But, back to types. A type of God the Father would be Abraham when he took his son, Isaac, a type of Christ, to sacrifice, knowing that God could raise him from the dead.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
“In a figure” is the Bible way of talking about a type. Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead in type, or “in a figure”.
Again,
1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 ¶ The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
So, Baptism is salvation in type. It’s similar to the ark as a figure of us being saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are, in type, buried with Him and raised up with Him.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The early Christians offered their Baptism up as their public profession of faith in Christ but, unfortunately, the harlot, pagan church at Rome eventually confused it so badly that it became necessary for salvation and in fact, they believed mistakenly that it was baptism that saved you.
Notice that when the Bible says “as” how often a type is about to be revealed.
Job 11:12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
Now, you can understand that this is a type, as you have never seen a baby be born braying like a donkey, neither do babies have heels with which to kick like a colt.
Now, let’s try a little challenge. Can you tell me how Joseph is a type of Christ?
Joseph, like Christ, was beloved of his father.
Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
And Christ.
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Joseph was not believed in or by his brethren.
Genesis 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
And Christ.
John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Joseph was hated of his brethren.
Genesis 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
And Christ.
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Do you see how it works? You can go through the story of Joseph and make many, many comparisons between him and Jesus Christ. Not that he WAS Jesus or that he was sinless but that he was like Christ, in type.
As you look at TYPES of Christ, notice Adam who was willing to die for his bride as Christ died for His.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Notice, that in contrast to most major Bible commentators that the Bible says that Adam was WITH HER. If you don’t think he was, argue with God, not me.
And then;
1Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Now, I am bringing this TYPOLOGY up to show you the limits of TYPING. Adam sinned. Christ did not. Adam caused the death of the race, while Christ caused it to have a chance at life eternal. Be careful of how far you take types.
Now, for another thing about types. One individual can be a TYPE of both Christ and the Beast of Revelation, whom we refer to as the anti-Christ although that term doesn’t exist in the book of Revelation.
Here, is the mention of the number of the beast in Revelation.
Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Now, notice this about Solomon.
2Chronicles 9:13 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
Gold can be a symbol of divinity and the number here matches. It is the number of a man. Notice Solomon’s behavior after this verse mentions 666 as you read the Bible.
Now, see how Solomon is like Christ in building a house of God, the temple.
1Kings 5:5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
Now, can you see how the Son of God, Jesus Christ, has built a house, a temple, in God’s name?
1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Once again, you can do this over and over for every Biblical personage to permit God to teach you about the Saviour and our enemy, the Devil.
The prince of Tyrus, historical Tyre, is a type of Satan. The Bible shows you how deliberate this typing is. God uses types often in this way and He moves in and out of the typology forcing you to pay close attention. You learn about Satan’s past and who he was in this. When is He talking about Satan and when about this wicked, earthly king? Think on this.
Ezekiel 28:1 ¶ The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: 3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: 4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: 5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. 8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. 9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. 10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
11 ¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
If you read the Bible through once per year as the Pastor has mapped out and if you want to obey the Pastor and you should, you need to be reading just as he said, then you can take a time or two and read it looking for types of Christ and then another time for types of Satan. It’s a lot of fun and very interesting.
Now, think on this. Who is Pharaoh a type of in this passage? When do you see the type in print? What verse? By the way, this Pharaoh is obviously a foreign Pharaoh, installed by Assyria.
Ezekiel 31:1 ¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. 5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations. 7 Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. 8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. 9 I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him. 10 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; 11 I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
12 And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him. 13 Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches: 14 To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
15 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. 16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
17 They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
Now, who is Solomon a type of and who is his bride a type of in the Song of Solomon? Remember, they don’t have to match exactly, detail by detail to be a type.
Who is the king of Babylon likened to here and what do we learn about the individual he is a type of?
First, a word about the king of Babylon’s thought processes.
Daniel 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
Now, here are the verses I wanted to show you. Tell me who he is likened to in type and what you learn about that individual.
Isaiah 14: 4 ¶ That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. 9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. 22 For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.
With typology you can get an idea of when Satan and the devils, the gods of history were created. In type you can learn a lot about the character of the main person of the Bible and what happens to them. In type, you can learn about who you are. In many ways the Bible can be a mirror of your own character and Christian walk. But, these are things for another time.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Philippians, chapter 3 commentary
1 ¶ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
Psalm 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Dogs, by the context here, can be a reference to a male false religious teacher. Let’s look at these verses in 2 Peter.
1 ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 ¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 ¶ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Dogs are a type of false prophet and the sow is a type of false female teacher. Dogs and Swine can also be a type of unsaved person, based on the context. Dogs and evil workers there were to be aware of. Concision meant to cut off. To cut off meant to kill in the Old Testament, the false teacher makes his convert worthy of death.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
The error that is made in thinking that Revelation 22:15 is talking about the animal dog is from not being able to read context, particularly if your church has been filled with evil workers for 1700 years.
This play on words with concision is more apparent in the next verse.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
It’s not a physical circumcision made by human hands. This is essential the doctrine of eternal security. When you get saved the soul is cut from the flesh and the sins of the flesh cannot drag your soul to Hell. God may kill you but your soul is saved by Christ, not by you, and forever, not temporarily.
Colossians 2: 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Our joy and our glory are not in our flesh but in the Lord. There are a lot of things on earth and in the flesh that can bring you down. Focus on your victory in Christ and put no trust in your flesh. I’m not talking about not living, enjoying your life, taking the pleasure that God has allowed you and given to you abundantly through marriage, physical strength and health, and the many good things he’s provided. I mean, PUT NO CONFIDENCE IN THEM. When you lean on something to depend on it can’t be sex, food, money, drugs and alcohol, career, or even a good night’s sleep. You can’t trust any of that. The reality of heaven must be what makes you happy. Christ is coming back. Let that be your joy and confidence.
Let me give you an example. You love your spouse, you delight in him or her, you take pleasure in many ways in their company, but one day, one of you is going to get sick or die, if the Lord doesn’t return in your lifetime. If your confidence and joy is only in this flesh and not in Christ do you know what’s going to happen to your mind when they die or get sick? You’re going downhill fast. What about when you lose the job you love or your legs in an accident? What are you counting on to get you through?
4 ¶ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Paul’s about to deliberately brag to show us that if any person had a right to have confidence in the flesh, he did. You can put your own modern spin to this. Suppose he was a PH.D. graduate of Bob Jones, whose father and grandfather were famous fundamental independent Baptist preacher who had churches of 10,000 running 2,000 in Sunday School, with bus ministries and with many well received books under his name.
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Blameless is not sinless but it is keeping all the regulations of the law or doing right so that no one can lay blame on you. Here’s proof that blameless is not sinless.
1Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Timothy 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
The things that build you up in the flesh and in the mind are not beneficial to Christ. Those things which tend to glorify you tend not to glorify Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Everything that Paul lost; his position, prestige, reputation, and temporal power he gladly gives up in order to have Christ. Now, Paul wasn’t some ambitionless person who gloried in his own lack of success, which would be another type of self worship, but was a man of means and reputation and power who gave them up for Christ.
9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
We’ve already studied before how something of Christ is from Christ, not Christ’s faith but the faith He gives us, just like tempted of the devil in Luke and Matthew 4 is tempted by the devil. It is Christ’s righteousness, not our own, that we cling to. If any person here feels particularly righteous on their own, one, they probably aren’t saved, or two, they are a cultural Christian, one whose personality jives well with the popular impression of what it means to be a Christian. They’d be a good Moslem if they lived in Saudi Arabia or a good Hindu if they lived in India. Being a passive or submissive person, fearful of all authority and power greater than your own, walking with your head focused on your feet, unable to stand up on your own feet, or even think for yourself does not mean you are a Christian. You can hide in church but you can’t hide from God when you finally face Him at the white throne or, if you are saved but just carnal in your submissive personality, then Christ at His judgment seat.
“Not having mine own righteousness”…..but “the righteousness which is of God”, which is “by faith” given to you by Christ.
Self-righteousness keeps us from getting saved and when we do get saved, in spite of all the wonderful works you might do to make yourself feel spiritual, keeps you from being worth anything for Christ. I don’t care that you never miss a church meeting, soul winning, or an opportunity to pass out tracts. Do a self check and make sure it’s not about you but about Him.
It boils down to this. You either have your own righteousness or Christ’s. If you die with your own you’re going to Hell. I believe it is possible to make a profession of faith and to not really believe in Christ but still believing in yourself, wind up in Hell.
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
This is very tough for a Christian to take. You all want to know Him and to feel the power of His resurrection but you do not want to fellowship with his sufferings or be made conformable to His death. Are you really ready for this?
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Everyone is going to be resurrected. He’s not talking about ATTAINING something that everyone is going to attain. He didn’t say EARN either. He wants to ATTAIN UNTO, to arrive at something, like wisdom. Go further. Paul doesn’t understand why he was saved. He doesn’t understand but he hopes to understand.
Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
There’s the definition right there in the Bible. Go ahead, show me a sermon someone gave where they said you had to do better to get resurrected and that this means you can lose your salvation or that, if you don’t, you might not actually be saved. You stick with that and I’ll just read the Book for what it says.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
To APPREHEND is to understand a thing, to lay hold onto it, to grasp mentally, to become conscious of, as per the American Heritage dictionary.
Let’s go on to understand this usage. Paul hungers for Christ’s understanding. Christ apprehended him, past tense. It’s a done deal. Paul wants to understand, to wrap his mind around it. He’s already saved. His salvation is a past tense thing as is most of yours. Paul isn’t going to be a retread like some of us, who go to a tent meeting and get so worked up by the preaching that we doubt Christ’s salvation in us, and go forward hoping to be saved for real, this time. Paul knows he is saved, but like any responsible Christian he hasn’t been able to wrap his mind around it.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
There is a football coach’s saying that you’re only as good as your last game. You can’t live on past laurels. I used to listen to the Holy Spirit tell me to give certain people tracts. I used to unite with other believers on Sunday morning. I used to read my Bible. None of that counts. What are you doing now?
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Like a sprinter in the 100 yard dash Paul is reaching toward the mark. What he wants as his prize is the calling of God in Jesus Christ.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
2 Thessalonians 1: 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 ¶ Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11 ¶ Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Are you reaching for it, pressing toward it? Is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ glorified in you? I’m not talking about how you dress or what you watch on TV or how often you attend church. When people see you and hear you is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ glorified in you? Are you ready right now to stand before the judgment seat of Christ?
15 ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
I pointed out before that perfect meant complete, mature, finished.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
2Chronicles 8:16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.
God will show you what you need to know to correct your spiritual understanding. But, you have better stay in His word a lot or you probably won’t get it.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Pretty clear, isn’t it?
Whereto means “to what purpose” or “to what end’ or “for what reason”.
Job 30:2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
17 ¶ Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Follow Paul and Timothy in their walk and avoid those phonies he has warned you about. These people are enemies of the cross. These are the modernists, the possibility thinkers, the feel good preachers.
Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
The Christian who thinks that he can do it on his own and doesn’t depend on Christ for His or Her righteousness or salvation is an enemy of the cross. The Joel Osteen/Joyce Meyer preacher type is an enemy of the cross of Christ as they try to teach you self actualization and “victorious living”.
Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Other Christians are your own worst enemies if you believe the Bible. When it comes to real Biblical salvation you are going to have trouble in your own family, among so called professing Christians, who are enemies, not of Christ as named, but of the cross of Christ. Preachers who try to put you back under the Law of Moses by saying you probably aren’t really saved if you don’t do things just like they say to do them or if you fall or fail as a Christian are enemies of the cross.
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Think of these verses in terms of today, the shape of Christianity, as it stands. I’ll apply these verse practically and spiritually to today, rather than doctrinally aiming at Tribulation Jews.
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Just beware of these Christian leaders. They mind earthly things; big bank accounts, big ministries, big campuses, big financial endowments, celebrities and politicians, sex, money, and entertainment.
Romans 16: 17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Think on this verse.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
And this;
1 John 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
And finally;
Psalm 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: 14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
This is a wonderful promise that needs no explanation. Now, if He can do that, what makes you think He can’t save you or keep you saved?
Psalm 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Dogs, by the context here, can be a reference to a male false religious teacher. Let’s look at these verses in 2 Peter.
1 ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 ¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 ¶ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Dogs are a type of false prophet and the sow is a type of false female teacher. Dogs and Swine can also be a type of unsaved person, based on the context. Dogs and evil workers there were to be aware of. Concision meant to cut off. To cut off meant to kill in the Old Testament, the false teacher makes his convert worthy of death.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
The error that is made in thinking that Revelation 22:15 is talking about the animal dog is from not being able to read context, particularly if your church has been filled with evil workers for 1700 years.
This play on words with concision is more apparent in the next verse.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
It’s not a physical circumcision made by human hands. This is essential the doctrine of eternal security. When you get saved the soul is cut from the flesh and the sins of the flesh cannot drag your soul to Hell. God may kill you but your soul is saved by Christ, not by you, and forever, not temporarily.
Colossians 2: 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Our joy and our glory are not in our flesh but in the Lord. There are a lot of things on earth and in the flesh that can bring you down. Focus on your victory in Christ and put no trust in your flesh. I’m not talking about not living, enjoying your life, taking the pleasure that God has allowed you and given to you abundantly through marriage, physical strength and health, and the many good things he’s provided. I mean, PUT NO CONFIDENCE IN THEM. When you lean on something to depend on it can’t be sex, food, money, drugs and alcohol, career, or even a good night’s sleep. You can’t trust any of that. The reality of heaven must be what makes you happy. Christ is coming back. Let that be your joy and confidence.
Let me give you an example. You love your spouse, you delight in him or her, you take pleasure in many ways in their company, but one day, one of you is going to get sick or die, if the Lord doesn’t return in your lifetime. If your confidence and joy is only in this flesh and not in Christ do you know what’s going to happen to your mind when they die or get sick? You’re going downhill fast. What about when you lose the job you love or your legs in an accident? What are you counting on to get you through?
4 ¶ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Paul’s about to deliberately brag to show us that if any person had a right to have confidence in the flesh, he did. You can put your own modern spin to this. Suppose he was a PH.D. graduate of Bob Jones, whose father and grandfather were famous fundamental independent Baptist preacher who had churches of 10,000 running 2,000 in Sunday School, with bus ministries and with many well received books under his name.
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Blameless is not sinless but it is keeping all the regulations of the law or doing right so that no one can lay blame on you. Here’s proof that blameless is not sinless.
1Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Timothy 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
The things that build you up in the flesh and in the mind are not beneficial to Christ. Those things which tend to glorify you tend not to glorify Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Everything that Paul lost; his position, prestige, reputation, and temporal power he gladly gives up in order to have Christ. Now, Paul wasn’t some ambitionless person who gloried in his own lack of success, which would be another type of self worship, but was a man of means and reputation and power who gave them up for Christ.
9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
We’ve already studied before how something of Christ is from Christ, not Christ’s faith but the faith He gives us, just like tempted of the devil in Luke and Matthew 4 is tempted by the devil. It is Christ’s righteousness, not our own, that we cling to. If any person here feels particularly righteous on their own, one, they probably aren’t saved, or two, they are a cultural Christian, one whose personality jives well with the popular impression of what it means to be a Christian. They’d be a good Moslem if they lived in Saudi Arabia or a good Hindu if they lived in India. Being a passive or submissive person, fearful of all authority and power greater than your own, walking with your head focused on your feet, unable to stand up on your own feet, or even think for yourself does not mean you are a Christian. You can hide in church but you can’t hide from God when you finally face Him at the white throne or, if you are saved but just carnal in your submissive personality, then Christ at His judgment seat.
“Not having mine own righteousness”…..but “the righteousness which is of God”, which is “by faith” given to you by Christ.
Self-righteousness keeps us from getting saved and when we do get saved, in spite of all the wonderful works you might do to make yourself feel spiritual, keeps you from being worth anything for Christ. I don’t care that you never miss a church meeting, soul winning, or an opportunity to pass out tracts. Do a self check and make sure it’s not about you but about Him.
It boils down to this. You either have your own righteousness or Christ’s. If you die with your own you’re going to Hell. I believe it is possible to make a profession of faith and to not really believe in Christ but still believing in yourself, wind up in Hell.
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
This is very tough for a Christian to take. You all want to know Him and to feel the power of His resurrection but you do not want to fellowship with his sufferings or be made conformable to His death. Are you really ready for this?
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Everyone is going to be resurrected. He’s not talking about ATTAINING something that everyone is going to attain. He didn’t say EARN either. He wants to ATTAIN UNTO, to arrive at something, like wisdom. Go further. Paul doesn’t understand why he was saved. He doesn’t understand but he hopes to understand.
Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
There’s the definition right there in the Bible. Go ahead, show me a sermon someone gave where they said you had to do better to get resurrected and that this means you can lose your salvation or that, if you don’t, you might not actually be saved. You stick with that and I’ll just read the Book for what it says.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
To APPREHEND is to understand a thing, to lay hold onto it, to grasp mentally, to become conscious of, as per the American Heritage dictionary.
Let’s go on to understand this usage. Paul hungers for Christ’s understanding. Christ apprehended him, past tense. It’s a done deal. Paul wants to understand, to wrap his mind around it. He’s already saved. His salvation is a past tense thing as is most of yours. Paul isn’t going to be a retread like some of us, who go to a tent meeting and get so worked up by the preaching that we doubt Christ’s salvation in us, and go forward hoping to be saved for real, this time. Paul knows he is saved, but like any responsible Christian he hasn’t been able to wrap his mind around it.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
There is a football coach’s saying that you’re only as good as your last game. You can’t live on past laurels. I used to listen to the Holy Spirit tell me to give certain people tracts. I used to unite with other believers on Sunday morning. I used to read my Bible. None of that counts. What are you doing now?
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Like a sprinter in the 100 yard dash Paul is reaching toward the mark. What he wants as his prize is the calling of God in Jesus Christ.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
2 Thessalonians 1: 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 ¶ Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11 ¶ Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Are you reaching for it, pressing toward it? Is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ glorified in you? I’m not talking about how you dress or what you watch on TV or how often you attend church. When people see you and hear you is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ glorified in you? Are you ready right now to stand before the judgment seat of Christ?
15 ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
I pointed out before that perfect meant complete, mature, finished.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
2Chronicles 8:16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.
God will show you what you need to know to correct your spiritual understanding. But, you have better stay in His word a lot or you probably won’t get it.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Pretty clear, isn’t it?
Whereto means “to what purpose” or “to what end’ or “for what reason”.
Job 30:2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
17 ¶ Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Follow Paul and Timothy in their walk and avoid those phonies he has warned you about. These people are enemies of the cross. These are the modernists, the possibility thinkers, the feel good preachers.
Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
The Christian who thinks that he can do it on his own and doesn’t depend on Christ for His or Her righteousness or salvation is an enemy of the cross. The Joel Osteen/Joyce Meyer preacher type is an enemy of the cross of Christ as they try to teach you self actualization and “victorious living”.
Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Other Christians are your own worst enemies if you believe the Bible. When it comes to real Biblical salvation you are going to have trouble in your own family, among so called professing Christians, who are enemies, not of Christ as named, but of the cross of Christ. Preachers who try to put you back under the Law of Moses by saying you probably aren’t really saved if you don’t do things just like they say to do them or if you fall or fail as a Christian are enemies of the cross.
Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Think of these verses in terms of today, the shape of Christianity, as it stands. I’ll apply these verse practically and spiritually to today, rather than doctrinally aiming at Tribulation Jews.
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Just beware of these Christian leaders. They mind earthly things; big bank accounts, big ministries, big campuses, big financial endowments, celebrities and politicians, sex, money, and entertainment.
Romans 16: 17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Think on this verse.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
And this;
1 John 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
And finally;
Psalm 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: 14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
This is a wonderful promise that needs no explanation. Now, if He can do that, what makes you think He can’t save you or keep you saved?
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