Does God still speak today?

Does God still speak today?

I post these social media interactions because they are a great source of Q&A. It also helps arm us believers with how unbelievers, or even uneducated babes in Christ, think or reason out spiritual matters.

SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION:

• Tell me this…how come God no longer speaks to man and no longer manifest himself. I know many claims God speaks or have spoken to them but realistically the person speaking is your inner thoughts. It’s always humans making claims for God not God himself. You’d think an all-knowing, all-powerful and all-present god would make his presence known to the world and not in visions and dreams of charlatans. The world is in crises all over. He is needed more than ever. Where is Christ in all of crises?

MY REPLY:

The bible tells us why. I’ll explain it in summary. It all has to do with a God’s overall plan to restore heaven and earth to its former glory under Christ.

If it’s not in the written Word, one cannot say, “Thus saith the Lord”

If it’s not in the written Word, one cannot say, “Thus saith the Lord”

The Bible affirms that the era of the prophets, as with the canon of Scripture, has closed. There is no necessity for new revelations today. We already possess the sufficiency of the Bible, which declares, "Thus says the Lord." Shouldn't we consider what we have in the Bible as sufficient? Why then do people persist in either adding to or subtracting from the Word of God by proclaiming their own "prophecy," most of which fail completely? In the Bible, every word spoken by the prophets was on behalf of God and constituted the word of God. Adding to Scripture is to tread on perilous territory (Deut 4:2; Prov 30:6; Rev 22:18-29).

Regarding the legitimacy of someone claiming to be a prophet, Deuteronomy 18:22 offers guidance: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." God's prophets are infallible, as their prophecies always come true because they originate from God, who is never wrong. Unlike humans, God has the power to fulfill prophecies. Jeremiah states that a prophet's authenticity is confirmed when their prophecy is fulfilled, as noted in Jeremiah 28:9: "The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him." Otherwise, they are not a true prophet, but a false one.

Questions and dialog about the Kingdom of God

Questions and dialog about the Kingdom of God

You said, “In God’s word the matter of a kingdom is the matter of a life. … (You must be saved into it)”

I cannot agree more. In God’s kingdom is life, righteousness, and peace. Being outside of this kingdom means to be cut off from these qualities. I see God’s kingdom in this visual. Draw a big circle on a board. This circle represents the Kingdom of God. Inside the circle draw two smaller circles. The first smaller circle is the prophetic program of Israel. The second smaller circle is the mystery program of the Body of Christ. The two smaller circles in the kingdom of God partakes of His life, righteousness, and peace. Thus, once you are in the Kingdom of God, you have life; you are quickened in spirit, and by this spirit you can participate in that kingdom.

The Second Coming has already taken place. It’s time to change your theology!

The Second Coming has already taken place. It’s time to change your theology!

STATEMENT:

The Second Coming has already taken place otherwise you make Christ a liar and a deceiver because He told those same people that His return would happen in the lifetime of some of those to whom He was speaking. Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27, Matthew 24:34, Matthew 26:64, Mark 14:62, Luke 22:69, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:22, Luke 21:32, John 21:22 speaking of John the beloved, 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17, 5:4, Hebrews 10:37 is not a 2,000 year wait, James 5:8 is not a 2,000 year wait.

Christ came in the same clouds He ascended in Acts chapter one just as He spiritually appeared in the Old Testament over the mercy seat in the Mosaic tabernacle and later in the two physical temples in Jerusalem. He now temples in a sanctuary in each believer in His temple not made of hands! His Second Coming was a spiritual one and not a physical one.

Chosen before the foundation of the world

Chosen before the foundation of the world

QUESTION:

Did God have a redemption plan for us through the body of Christ from the creation of the world?

ANSWER:

I like your question, and I can go one better in my reply!! Yes, God had a redemption plan for us, as the Body of Christ, but it was not planned from the creation of the world, or since the world began, but rather, it was ordained BEFORE the world began. 

Naturally, God’s entire redemption plan was determined long before the world was made. God knows the end from the beginning as we read in Isaiah 46:10. However, it is interesting how we can distinguish the redemption of the Body of Christ from other dispensations based on the context of timing and on what was prophesied versus what was kept secret.

In John 4:10, Jesus introduces the mystery doctrine

In John 4:10, Jesus introduces the mystery doctrine

COMMENT:

In the book of John 4:9 the Samaritan lady clearly describes the prophetic doctrine. And in John 4:10, Jesus introduces the mystery doctrine. And the lady goes further in John 4:12 and asks a distinguishing question that sets Jesus Christ as being mystery. In John 4:19, the message is clear about the prophetic doctrine and then, in the following verse John 4:21–26, the mystery doctrine begins.

ANSWER:

There is no doubt that Jesus reveals mysteries concerning the Kingdom program. In Matt 13:11 Jesus says, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” These mysteries. however, were already prophesied and are not the same as the unsearchable secrets, Eph 3:8, which were revealed to Paul for the Body of Christ. You even point out in your comment that it was according to prophecy. What Jesus revealed were mysteries because the Jews were ignorant of these things recorded in the scriptures, and, unlike the prophets, who declared these things, but did not see them come to pass, Mat 13:17, the Jews were now seeing the incarnation of the scriptures being realized before their eyes. Thus, the mysteries that Jesus revealed were already prophesied; things ‘darkly’ announced in the Old Testament, and during all that period ‘darkly’ understood, but now being brought to light for those who had faith to see. 

Questions on the two kinds of righteousness.

Comment in response to the following post: 
https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2024/03/two-types-of-righteousness.html

COMMENT:

So, if it’s two types of righteousness what is Paul expressing here Romans 10:3-5 and in Deuteronomy 6:25; Romans 7:7 and in 1 John 3:4

If you say there are two types of righteousness, one by law and the other by faith, then how can Paul say one thing in the above verses and then turn around and say the opposite in those scriptures you put in your answer? 

Oh yes, Paul is also teaching from the Old Testament! So where in the Old Testament does it prophecy TWO types of righteousness?

2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Who is the pearl of great price? (Matthew 13:45-46)

Who is the pearl of great price? (Matthew 13:45-46)

Not who. What. The pearl of great price is the Millennial Kingdom.

Let’s look at the scripture passage below.

Mat 13:43-46 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (44) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (45) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

The pearl of great price is part of an extended lesson Jesus spoke in parables. Before the pearl, we have a treasure in a field. Jesus informs us that, just like the pearl, the treasure is the Kingdom, in verse 44. Before this parable is the parable of the weeds, in verses 36–43. This is where we learn that there will be good seed and bad seed sown and harvested. The tares are gathered at harvest and thrown into the fire, but the harvest of good seed will enjoy the kingdom of their Father.

Rightly dividing is not a doctrine, nor is it an identify, it’s an inevitable conclusion.

Rightly dividing is not a doctrine, nor is it an identify, it’s an inevitable conclusion.

People who hold to a dispensational view of the Bible often justify their view by quoting the following verse …

2Tim 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

… and they focus almost exclusively on the part of the verse that instructs one to rightly divide the Word of truth.

Now, although there is nothing wrong with that, since right division is of crucial importance to understand the Bible in the correct context, I do want to point out something that is often overlooked in the verse above, which is in fact the primary key to this whole concept of rightly dividing.

Explain how the doctrine taught by Paul is different to that taught by Peter?

Explain how the doctrine taught by Paul is different to that taught by Peter?

QUESTION:

I don’t see how the doctrine Paul taught differed from Peter (as an example) except Paul preached to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews (who knew the Torah). If you are claiming the doctrine that Paul taught supersedes or is the only way to “get off the milk” of a new believer, which verses would you specifically point to and why?

ANSWER:

The answer is too extensive to write in one reply as it concerns the whole of Paul’s revelation of the risen and glorified Christ, however, I can provide a few thought-provoking scriptures that you can read and consider.

You have two statements I can respond to (in very short summation),

1. I don’t see how the doctrine Paul taught differed from Peter (as an example) except Paul preached to the Gentile and Peter to the Jew (who knew the Torah).

DM#16: Things written aforetime were written for our learning

Doctrine of the Mysteries #16

Things written aforetime were written for our learning

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

Before I mention some insights about our key verse above, I’d like you to read the passage below, taking note of the name of the doctrine and the timing of its revelation,

Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,  (26)  But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

The content of Paul’s 13-epistles makes up the ‘MYSTERY’ doctrine for the grace believer today, 1Cor 4:1; Eph 3:3-4. According to Rom 16:25 above, the mystery doctrine was kept secret since the world began, BUT NOW has been made manifest for our consumption. This doctrine was not intended for other dispensations but was designed for the delivery of pure grace to us through Christ and was targeted exclusively for a spiritual body with a heavenly purpose.

DM#11: Blindness in part is happened to Israel

Doctrine of the Mysteries #11

Blindness in part is happened to Israel 

Paul’s 13-epistles constitute the ‘mystery doctrine’. It is Paul himself that describes his inspired writings as mysteries,

1Cor 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Eph 3:3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

He calls his writings mysteries, not because they were mysterious or enigmatic, but because they were a secret that was never revealed before. Paul tells us that what he made known, “was kept secret since the world began, but now made manifest”, Rom 16:25-26. Paul uses the words, “but now”, many times in his epistles, as it indicates that things were a certain way before, but now, by God’s design, they were replaced by a new set of doctrinal principles, and these principles were never prophesied and made known in the prophetic scriptures.

Accounting for the sequential order of Paul’s epistles in the Bible, the very first mystery that we encounter, is the blinding of Israel, as quoted below,

A Workman, Approved by God

A Workman, Approved by God

2Ti 2:15-17  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  (16)  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  (17)  And their word will eat as doth a canker: …

What do we do with verses like the above? Do we steer away from them because they are too serious and foreboding? Do we ignore them because they are too weighty or admonishing? It is in times like these that we need to remember that these are not just words in a book, but that they are the words of God, our Creator, and words that carry life and truth that cannot be disregarded.

These verses tell us that there is a certain way of studying and understanding God’s Word. If we adhere to this, God approves us as workmen. If we do not adhere to that specific form of study, we are not approved by God as workmen, and we bring shame upon ourselves and upon the written Word. That shame and dishonour comes in the form of profane and vain babblings. Now, just stop there and take note. What is the message we are learning here? It comes down to this. If we do not study, understand, and communicate the Word of God in a specific way, the words that come from our mouth becomes profane, and is no more than useless babble to those that listen! That useless message, over time, will increase towards ungodliness, and will spread over and consume, not merely destroying the parts immediately affected, but will extend into the surrounding healthy parts and destroy them also. So it is with erroneous, unapproved doctrines. They will not merely eat out the truth in the particular matter to which they refer, but they will also spread over and corrupt other truths.

God’s Multipart Plan to Redeem HEAVEN and EARTH (Part 1)

God’s Multipart Plan to Redeem HEAVEN and EARTH (Part 1)

If you look carefully at the timeline in the image, something is missing. You might even be able to identify the missing part without taking the clue from the books of the bible indicated in the bottom row.

Did you identify the missing part? Well, if you don’t know about rightly dividing (2Tim.2:15), and you are not familiar with the mystery doctrine of Paul, you would have needed the clue using the book names in the bottom row. If this is you, then I want to encourage you to take note and learn from this series of posts, as this will improve your interpretation of scripture, and provide you a deeper and more profound understanding of the Word of truth.

Now, let me start with the very first verse in the bible. Believe it or not, but it contains a very important key to understanding scripture,

Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Two biblical doctrines given at two separate times for two different purposes.

Two biblical doctrines given at two separate times for two different purposes.

When one studies the bible, cross referencing scripture and comparing verses between Paul’s writings and the rest of the bible, the evidence is overwhelming that the risen Lord Jesus Christ revealed to Paul a completely different doctrine from that which was written in the prophets. In this short post, I simply want to highlight one glaring piece of evidence, out of a myriad of others, to bring your attention to the fact that we need to know and understand these different doctrines and interpret the bible in accordance with this understanding.

The first two verses below inform of knowledge given since the creation of the world. The latter three speak of knowledge that was kept secret (or hidden) since the creation of the world. There can be no objection to the timing within these statements. Prophecy was given since the world began, but Paul’s mystery doctrine was kept secret at that time, and only written about and taught when it was revealed to Paul.

What the Bible says about Prophecy and Tongues according to 1Cor.13 and 14

What the Bible says about Prophecy and Tongues according to 1Cor.13 and 14

In 1 Cor.13, Paul says the following,

1Co 13:8-10 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

With this in mind, questions can arise from reading 1 Cor.14 where Paul encourages the desire and practice of spiritual gifts. In addition to this, what exactly is tongues? Is it the ability to supernaturally speak in foreign human languages that one has not learned, or is it an unintelligible language that is practiced in many church denominations today? Let’s see what the Bible has to say about all this.

Question #1

When that which is perfect is come

When that which is perfect is come

1Cor.13:8-12  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The Corinthian church was established during the transitional period, where Israel, as a nation, and their prophetic program, was diminishing. God was turning His attention to the grace program, under commission of Paul, where both Jews and Gentiles were being saved by grace alone through the cross of Christ, and not by means of Israel.

Clear divisions between the programs of prophecy and grace.

Clear divisions between the programs of prophecy and grace.

In order to understand the proper context of scripture, it is of critical importance to recognize the division between two programs which God predestined and is executing in His wisdom. These two programs will eventually be brought together in the fulness of the times, Eph 1:10. (Notice the word, ‘times’. It is plural, meaning there is more than one time, age, dispensation, program.)

The Bible is FULL of scriptures that indicate a division between Israel and the Body of Christ. This post will examine only one passage of scripture as an example. Please read the following passage below, which is part of Peters discourse to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 3. The bolded parts will be compared to what Paul writes to us today in this grace dispensation.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 11: Dispensational Wisdom)

Start this post series from the beginning, here.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 11: Dispensational Wisdom)

The epistle of Romans is the foundational epistle of the Christian faith. An analysis of its contents reveals that the letter can be divided into four parts, each part representing a cornerstone of the Christian faith. Missing any one of these four cornerstones, the faith foundation of a Christian can become compromised and shaky. It is vitally important to have a good understanding of each of these four cornerstones to ensure that the foundation of your faith is stable and secure.

In this series we have already covered the first two cornerstones, (1) God's Righteousness, and (2) God's Grace. The third cornerstone of Romans is "Dispensational Wisdom". Since my entire blog is based on a dispensational view of scripture, I'm not going to write much about this cornerstone, but rather point you to specific posts that I have already written in the past.

The New Jerusalem in the Millennial Kingdom

Many Christians believe that the New Jerusalem, the city of gold, will descend from heaven AFTER the Millennial Kingdom, and onto a new earth. Since Revelation 21 starts with these words, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.", many bible students think that the timing here is the beginning of eternity, the beginning of the dispensation of the fulness of the times. But one might be surprised to learn that this is NOT the case. The New Jerusalem will descend to earth at the BEGINNING of the Millennial Kingdom.