Dear reader,
I frequent a few social media sites in order to post the good news of the grace gospel and provide some insights into understanding the Bible rightly divided. It is becoming more and more apparent that people are so deceived when it comes, not only to sound Biblical doctrine, but, to the core of our faith, which is the gospel. The root of this deception is an absolute lack of Bible knowledge, not only in the earthly ministry of Christ, but more so, in the crucial lack of rightly dividing the Word between prophecy and mystery.
The reason for posting these comments from individuals is to educate you. We need to know firstly how people interpret the Word, so we can be prepared to answer them in their errors. Secondly, we need to know ourselves what the grace gospel is. Then, thirdly, we need to know what the correct understanding of the topic is based on right division.
Below is another wildly flawed understanding of salvation in this grace dispensation. Please read it and familiarize with why it is wrong and what the correct understanding is all about. Let's learn and correct these misconceptions so that we can be a voice to those who need to hear the truth.
STATEMENT:
If we don’t work at doing good works, then we will not be saved. I have no doubt about it according to Matt 25:41-46. If you doubt that, I will offer the verse that Jesus conditions everyone at all times to do this work, THREE works in fact…
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt 16:24
ANSWER:
It is important that we study the scriptures and form our
doctrine and faith around what all of scripture says, and not what we want it
to say from individual portions of scripture.
Consider Matt 15:24 which reads, “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Jesus earthly ministry was for Israel, thus His call for them to follow was directed to His kinsmen, the Jews. For you and me today, we follow Jesus by following what Paul preached. Consider why Paul says the following in 1Cor 4:16, “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” and in 1Cor 11:1 saying, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Paul is our apostle, Rom 11:13, who receive revelation from the risen and glorified Christ.
The Lord commissioned him to teach the mystery doctrine he received to the Gentiles. Thus, we follow the example that Paul provided, he himself saying, 1Tim 1:16 “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.”
It is necessary that we rightly divide the doctrine for Israel from that which belongs to us, the Body of Christ. We learn all of scripture, but when it comes to application and principle, we follow that doctrine provided to Paul.
Here is one last scripture that illustrates the importance of following the correct doctrine. Notice what Paul says here,
2Co 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Paul tells the Corinthians (and us) that we do not follow after Jesus according to His earthly ‘Kingdom’ ministry. Why? Because all things have become new. We have a new ‘Grace’ doctrine to follow. By following this ‘Grace’ doctrine, we do not reject Christ, but rather, we acknowledge Him in His heavenly ministry for the Body of Christ.
We must learn and understand that there is a two-part program in the scriptures; Israel being connected to the first ‘prophetic’ program, which was suspended when God blinded Israel, Rom 11:25, and you and I belong to the second ‘mystery’ program, kept secret since the world began, but now revealed to Paul for us, Rom 16:25–26.
No comments:
Post a Comment