Yet now henceforth know we him no more

Yet now henceforth know we him no more

Paul writes to the Corinthians and says a startling thing in 2 Cor.5:16. He tells those in the church at Corinth that they should not know man after the flesh, and even though they knew Jesus in the flesh (at that time), they should know Him no more (in the flesh). I emphasize (in the flesh) because this is how we must understand Paul's statement. Paul is not saying we do not recognize Jesus' ministry, but he is saying we do not follow after the teachings and practices that Jesus taught in His earthly ministry, which were specific to Israel’s Kingdom program. Why?

Because Jesus purpose was to save Israel and bring about the Millennial Kingdom! Jesus made it clear that His earthly ministry was only for Israel. Read Matt.10:5-6 where Jesus specifically instructs his disciples to not go into the way of the Gentiles. In Matt.5:23-26, Jesus told the Canaanite woman that He was not sent but [except] unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This means that Jesus' teachings, His parables, and His practices, were all tailored for the Jews who were under the Mosaic Law and who exercised a works-based faith. Barring some cross-dispensational truths, Jesus' earthly ministry was, and is NOT, suited for the Body of Christ, who is operating under a new set of grace principles, —the mystery program of grace. We are not subject to the Mosaic law! We do not rely on a works-based salvation. We cannot operate under Jesus' instructions to the Jews while living under grace. Like oil and water cannot mix, so too cannot grace and law programs.

Once again, we see from these examples how absolutely critical it is to rightly divide the scriptures. We have to recognize that we are in a completely different program, with different rules, different objectives, and a different destination. When you recognize this, reading the Bible takes on a WHOLE new meaning. Scripture seems to open up and become plain and clear. There is no longer a need to try and force scripture to fit a man-made narrative or conform to a man-made denominational script!

Let me bring this post to a close by asking this question. If 2 Tim.2:15 instructs us to rightly divide, then what do we divide? From what I've written already, you will notice that the divide is between Israel and the Body of Christ, the Jew and Gentile, the mystery doctrine and prophetic program under law, and even concerning the earthly ministry of Christ and the heavenly ministry of Christ via Paul’s pen. Mixing the principles of these two programs will cause contradictions and confusion. It is critical to separate them and keep them apart.

When Paul wrote, “yet now henceforth know we him no more”, he followed it us in the next verse with, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The grace program is the heavenly ministry of Jesus Christ. We are in Christ, and in Him we form a new creature, abiding not by the old doctrine under law, but by an all-new doctrine of the grace of God through the cross.