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To refresh your mind, we are seeking to find the authentic Jesus Christ, as opposed to the "another Jesus" that Paul sites in II Cor, 11:4. The real Jesus is the "son of David" (Matt 1:1);...("which He had promised afore by His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.") Concerning His Son Jesus christ our lord, which was made of the seed (not seeds - Gal 3:16) of David according to the flesh..."(Rom, 1:2,3). This passage in Romans cofirms Paul's faith in Old Testament doctrine. From the first verse of Paul's epistle he flings us back in time and established Christ Jesus' mission in Romans 15:8, "Now I say (after the previous 14 chapters) that Jesus Christ was a minister to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm (establish) the promises made unto the fathers." He then in verses 9 through 12 breaks out into Old Testament prophesy, siteing PS 18:49, Isa 42:6-7, Duet 32:43 and Isa 11:1,10. Witout a proper understanding of the Old Testament we would have no clue as to the meaning of Rom 15:8, or the entire New Testament.
In Philippians 3:7-14 Paul speaks of "the excellancy of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, that he (Paul) would be "found in Him through the righteousness which is of God by faith" and that he Paul) would "know Him" - not as a fact-finding jurney through the Bible but that he would experience the Lord Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. In reading Gal 1:10-24 I truely believe that the Apostle Paul had quite a jaunt when he learned that the Christ he persecuted was the same Jehovah God found in the Old Testament.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Review of II Cor 11:4, Our Purpose of Study
In II Corinthians, chapter 11, Paul lays out an argument that the church of Corinth had passively accepted another idea or description of the authentic Jesus Christ. This rendition or interpretation leads us into another doctrine of the Spirit of God and His work, which naturally flows into another gospel. The whole system is made to deceive, beguile and corrupt the mind. Paul uses the example of Eve and equates her thinking and reasoning with that of the passive, biblically illiterate, dumbed-down assembly at Corinth. He call it folly; the inability to think logically and soundly or to comprehend those things which are spiritual. See 1 Cor 2:14.
In II Timothy 4:1-4, Paul warns Timothy of this very thing. It is apparent that the apostate church of the last days will become so corrupted that it actually opposes what Christ and the Apostles taught while at the same time insisting that it is faithful to their doctrine. It is immediately apparent that such a scenario requires certain pre-conditions to make it credible.
Satan's lie (II Cor 11:13-15) must be honored as God's truth without the church "leaders" - who deceive and are being deceived (II Cor 10:12, Eph 4:12-14 and II Tim 3:13) and continuing to deceive - from ever knowing that such a metamorphosis has occured. Moreover, that perversion must have taken place from "within" the last days church (Acts 20:28-31) itself, even before the anti-Christ appears. Could Paul have meant anything less when he warned "Let no man deceive you by ant means; for that day (the rapture "our gathering together unto Him {II Thes 2:1}) shall not come except ther come a falling away first (apostacy - turning from the true faith {Jude vs 3&4} and {then} that man of sin (the anti-Christ) be revealed, the son of perdition" (II Thes 2:3). While the apostacy (another Jesus, another Spirit, another Gospel) of the church is in no doubt related to a simultaneous general moral decay effecting every arena of life from the family, to education, business adn politics, the primary meaning is a DEPARTURE FROM THE TRUTH - GOD'S WORD (John 17:17).
Sound doctrine will be despised. For some, intellectualism (evolution, envinonmentalism, philosphy, etc.) and skepticism (unbelief, various ways to God, self-righteousness, etc.) will justify what seems to be a very reasonable "new" faith. For most people, objective truth will be replaced by feeling, emotions and experience. These will be their authority.
So, how important is it to know the real Jesus? Paul equates it with life and death.
As we have previously stated, the Old Testament is the preperation of the Hebrews to recognize their Messiah. Compare Deut 18:18 with John 17:6-8 or Isa 61:1-2 with Luke 4:16-21 and Isa 35:4-6 with Matt 11:2-6. These authenticate His life. Read Isa 53 and compare this with his death on the Cross. These are but a few examples. As He came before, He will come again (John 14:1-3), this time as a ruling king. Not to authenticate, but to fulfill the oaths and promises of the living God (Isa 9:6-7)
Now it begins! Next week, the Relavency of His Righteousness.
In II Timothy 4:1-4, Paul warns Timothy of this very thing. It is apparent that the apostate church of the last days will become so corrupted that it actually opposes what Christ and the Apostles taught while at the same time insisting that it is faithful to their doctrine. It is immediately apparent that such a scenario requires certain pre-conditions to make it credible.
Satan's lie (II Cor 11:13-15) must be honored as God's truth without the church "leaders" - who deceive and are being deceived (II Cor 10:12, Eph 4:12-14 and II Tim 3:13) and continuing to deceive - from ever knowing that such a metamorphosis has occured. Moreover, that perversion must have taken place from "within" the last days church (Acts 20:28-31) itself, even before the anti-Christ appears. Could Paul have meant anything less when he warned "Let no man deceive you by ant means; for that day (the rapture "our gathering together unto Him {II Thes 2:1}) shall not come except ther come a falling away first (apostacy - turning from the true faith {Jude vs 3&4} and {then} that man of sin (the anti-Christ) be revealed, the son of perdition" (II Thes 2:3). While the apostacy (another Jesus, another Spirit, another Gospel) of the church is in no doubt related to a simultaneous general moral decay effecting every arena of life from the family, to education, business adn politics, the primary meaning is a DEPARTURE FROM THE TRUTH - GOD'S WORD (John 17:17).
Sound doctrine will be despised. For some, intellectualism (evolution, envinonmentalism, philosphy, etc.) and skepticism (unbelief, various ways to God, self-righteousness, etc.) will justify what seems to be a very reasonable "new" faith. For most people, objective truth will be replaced by feeling, emotions and experience. These will be their authority.
So, how important is it to know the real Jesus? Paul equates it with life and death.
As we have previously stated, the Old Testament is the preperation of the Hebrews to recognize their Messiah. Compare Deut 18:18 with John 17:6-8 or Isa 61:1-2 with Luke 4:16-21 and Isa 35:4-6 with Matt 11:2-6. These authenticate His life. Read Isa 53 and compare this with his death on the Cross. These are but a few examples. As He came before, He will come again (John 14:1-3), this time as a ruling king. Not to authenticate, but to fulfill the oaths and promises of the living God (Isa 9:6-7)
Now it begins! Next week, the Relavency of His Righteousness.
The Provision of the Davidic Covenant
From "Understanding End Times Prophecy" by Paul Benware, page 59.
There are five basic provisions in the Davidic Covenant:
1. David is told that his name would be great. Thia was fulfilled in David's lifetime as well as throughout history.
2. David would rest from his enemies. This was realized in the life of David as God neutralized the power of the surrounding nations.
3. David was promised that h would have a "house" that would last forever. The word "house" has reference to David's physical line. God guaranteed that he line of David would endure forever and never be cut off (die).
4. David's "throne" would be established forever. Throne speaks of "ruling authority" and this is a guarantee that the right to rule would always belong to the Davidic dynasty and would never pass away permanently, even though there might be times when it was not exercised. The Covenant did not require an unbroken succession of ruling kings in the Davidic dynasty. Again, disobedience could cause the blessings of the covenant to be absent from Israel's experience. The angel Gabriel cerainly did not think that the throne promise had been set aside even though almost sixx hundred years had passed since a man from David's line had sat upon the throne. After informing Mary that she was to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah, he told her that "the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32-33)."
5. The Davidic Covenant was the assurance that David's kingdom would never pass away permanently. At times, the kingdom would not exist as a kingdom, but even if historically interrupted for a season, the Jews will at last in a future Kingdom be restored to the nation in perpetuity with no further possibility of interruption.
There are five basic provisions in the Davidic Covenant:
1. David is told that his name would be great. Thia was fulfilled in David's lifetime as well as throughout history.
2. David would rest from his enemies. This was realized in the life of David as God neutralized the power of the surrounding nations.
3. David was promised that h would have a "house" that would last forever. The word "house" has reference to David's physical line. God guaranteed that he line of David would endure forever and never be cut off (die).
4. David's "throne" would be established forever. Throne speaks of "ruling authority" and this is a guarantee that the right to rule would always belong to the Davidic dynasty and would never pass away permanently, even though there might be times when it was not exercised. The Covenant did not require an unbroken succession of ruling kings in the Davidic dynasty. Again, disobedience could cause the blessings of the covenant to be absent from Israel's experience. The angel Gabriel cerainly did not think that the throne promise had been set aside even though almost sixx hundred years had passed since a man from David's line had sat upon the throne. After informing Mary that she was to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah, he told her that "the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32-33)."
5. The Davidic Covenant was the assurance that David's kingdom would never pass away permanently. At times, the kingdom would not exist as a kingdom, but even if historically interrupted for a season, the Jews will at last in a future Kingdom be restored to the nation in perpetuity with no further possibility of interruption.
Laying the Foundation
The Davidic Covenant
How often do we read passages from the Bible and have no idea what we've just read? Read Acts 2:22-36. Well?
1. Acts 2:30: "That God had sworn with an oath to him( David)." See II Sam 7:8-17 and Ps 89: 20-37. This oath is the Davidic Covenant.
2. Acts 2:30: and that "He (God) would raise up Christ to sit on his (David's) throne". Also see Acts 15:13-18. The big question is, has this happened yet?
If we adhere to the historical-grammatical view, then the oath/promise/covenant will, in fact, occur - "I have made a covenant with my chosen. I have sworn unto David my servant (Ps 89:3)". The very nature of the covenant is eternal and unconditional (Isa 9:6-7).
It was the Davidic Covenant (after David's death) that kept God from tearing away all the tribes from the house of David (I Kings 11:11-13). After all that David had done, the covenantwas still in effect. Why? Because an unconditional covenant can not be set aside by the failures of the party on whom lay no requirements for the fulfillment thereof. Sounds like salvation, doesn't it? God confirms that He will never break His oath to David in several other passages. Read Jer 33:15-26, Ezk 37:21-28, Ezk 34:23,24 and Amos 9:11-15.
How often do we read passages from the Bible and have no idea what we've just read? Read Acts 2:22-36. Well?
1. Acts 2:30: "That God had sworn with an oath to him( David)." See II Sam 7:8-17 and Ps 89: 20-37. This oath is the Davidic Covenant.
2. Acts 2:30: and that "He (God) would raise up Christ to sit on his (David's) throne". Also see Acts 15:13-18. The big question is, has this happened yet?
If we adhere to the historical-grammatical view, then the oath/promise/covenant will, in fact, occur - "I have made a covenant with my chosen. I have sworn unto David my servant (Ps 89:3)". The very nature of the covenant is eternal and unconditional (Isa 9:6-7).
It was the Davidic Covenant (after David's death) that kept God from tearing away all the tribes from the house of David (I Kings 11:11-13). After all that David had done, the covenantwas still in effect. Why? Because an unconditional covenant can not be set aside by the failures of the party on whom lay no requirements for the fulfillment thereof. Sounds like salvation, doesn't it? God confirms that He will never break His oath to David in several other passages. Read Jer 33:15-26, Ezk 37:21-28, Ezk 34:23,24 and Amos 9:11-15.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Davidic Covenant
The Gospel of Matthew - the presentation of "The King"
Last week we read, "The Old Testament is a divinely provided Introduction to the New; and whoever comes to the study of the four Gospels with a mind saturated with the Old Testament foreview of the Christ, His person, work, and kingdom, with find them open books.For the Gospels are woven of Old Testament quotation, allusion, and type. The very first verse of the New Testament drives the thoughtful reader back to the Old; and the risen Christ sent His disciples to the ancient oracles for an explanation of His sufferings and glory (Luke 24:27,44,45) One of His last ministries was the opening of their understandings to understand the Old Testament."
Aslo, before his death and resurrection, He declared boldly, "For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for (because) he wrote of Me. But, if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe My words" (John 5: 46-47). This brings back to Point D in our lesson - "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (Jews) for the truth of God, To Confirm The Promises Made Unto The Fathers" (Rom 15:8). His Old Testament lineage and Kingship was declared and confirmed by the angel Gabriel, "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: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever: and of His Kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32,33).
As Scofield aptly puts it, "Do not assume interpretations to be true because familiar. Do not assume that "the throne of David" is synonymous with "My Father's throne". God is not David and David the King is certainly not God. The scope and sphere of these two kingdoms are distinct. The one earthly, the other heavenly. We will make that ditinction clear by diligently searching the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments.
This lesson deals with the covenant promises that God made to David (and all Hebrews) as confirmed by Christ Jesus the Messiah. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice IN THE EARTH. In His days Judah shall be saved (Judah and Benjamin) and Israel (the 10 northern tribes) shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He sall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jer 23:5-8). Also read Jeremiah 33:15-26, especially verses 15 and 16. "In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of Righteousness to grow up unto David: and He shall execute judgement and righteousness IN THE LAND. In those days shall Judah (the Jews) be saved and Jerusalem (the city) shall dwell safely; and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, 'The Lord Our Righteousness' ".
Last week we read, "The Old Testament is a divinely provided Introduction to the New; and whoever comes to the study of the four Gospels with a mind saturated with the Old Testament foreview of the Christ, His person, work, and kingdom, with find them open books.For the Gospels are woven of Old Testament quotation, allusion, and type. The very first verse of the New Testament drives the thoughtful reader back to the Old; and the risen Christ sent His disciples to the ancient oracles for an explanation of His sufferings and glory (Luke 24:27,44,45) One of His last ministries was the opening of their understandings to understand the Old Testament."
Aslo, before his death and resurrection, He declared boldly, "For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for (because) he wrote of Me. But, if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe My words" (John 5: 46-47). This brings back to Point D in our lesson - "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (Jews) for the truth of God, To Confirm The Promises Made Unto The Fathers" (Rom 15:8). His Old Testament lineage and Kingship was declared and confirmed by the angel Gabriel, "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: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever: and of His Kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32,33).
As Scofield aptly puts it, "Do not assume interpretations to be true because familiar. Do not assume that "the throne of David" is synonymous with "My Father's throne". God is not David and David the King is certainly not God. The scope and sphere of these two kingdoms are distinct. The one earthly, the other heavenly. We will make that ditinction clear by diligently searching the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments.
This lesson deals with the covenant promises that God made to David (and all Hebrews) as confirmed by Christ Jesus the Messiah. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice IN THE EARTH. In His days Judah shall be saved (Judah and Benjamin) and Israel (the 10 northern tribes) shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He sall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness" (Jer 23:5-8). Also read Jeremiah 33:15-26, especially verses 15 and 16. "In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of Righteousness to grow up unto David: and He shall execute judgement and righteousness IN THE LAND. In those days shall Judah (the Jews) be saved and Jerusalem (the city) shall dwell safely; and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, 'The Lord Our Righteousness' ".
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