The BIG Picture (Q&A)

Israel, before the cross Mat 19:16-21  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  17 … but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  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,  19  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  20  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. Before the cross, Jews had to show faith and confirming works (to prove their faith) in order to be saved. Their faith was placed in their confession of Jesus as the Messiah. Thereafter, their confirming works were to ob...

READERS COMMENT: You read scripture as if it’s something magical. That we will be changed if we increase our knowledge. Scripture has no power; it points to Him who does. The people we read about in scripture “HAD NO SCRIPTURE”, just a living relationship with God. That’s the only function of scripture, to remind us of the fact that when those who went before were obedient, not to scripture but, to the rhema word of God, they grew beyond their problems. It points not to itself but to a living relationship with God as the only true source of life that can include scripture but doesn’t require it. If we believe that we are having relationship with God because we read scripture, then we are busy with idolatry. MY RESPONSE: The Bible is just a book. It is made up of paper and ink. Throw it in the fire and it burns up like any other piece of paper. To this point I agree with you. However, when it comes to the actual “words” printed on that paper, that is a WHOLE different story.  You ca...

The Word of God is the only way to mortify the flesh. Romans chapter 6 is Paul’s advice on how to overcome sin. The chapter in essence tells you to “know a few things”. Paul says. “Know ye that…” , and “Know ye not…” . The idea here is that we have things to learn. We need to get into the Word so that the Word can get into us. We need to study it and saturate ourselves with it. Basically, the more Word you have inside you and allow to influence you; your thoughts, behaviours, actions, and speech, the more that Word will subdue the flesh. You cannot kill sins by your own power, because sin is within you. The only way to mortify the flesh is to live by the spirit. How does one do that? Well, in John 6:63, Jesus says, “My words are spirit and they are life” . So, by getting the Word (which is the Spirit and life of Christ) into you, and allowing it to influence your living, then you will be living by the spirit of Christ in you. If sin is in your flesh, but you choose to live by the Spiri...

In times past (before the cross), God was forming Israel to be the light and salvation to the Gentiles. God was going to use Israel to reach the Gentiles with His presence and His Word. This is why they are called a royal priesthood and holy nation in Exodus 19:5-6. The verse in Eph 2:12 is speaking of this time (before the cross) where Israel was still the center of God’s focus. God was not showing Himself to any Gentile nations as this would be the role of Israel after their Messiah came. This is why Paul says the following, Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Verse 13 however tells of a radical change in events. Due to Israel’s unbelief, God suspended His dealings with them (temporarily), and converted Paul and sent him with a new gospel an...

The following is an informal writing, or a heart cry. It is not intended to be a lesson or Biblical discourse. Denominations teach their members that they are spiritual Israel. Christians want to pick up their cross and follow Jesus. Non-Jewish believers start to speak and write using the Hebrew terminology and the names of God, believing that it makes their speech and writing more holy. Certain churches practice Jewish ordinances and adopt Jewish customs, and many denominational churches believe in baptisms and communion, and place themselves under various laws and gospel orientated traditions. It is sad to see how many Christians try to make themselves more Jewish, for the sake of the Jewish scriptures and for religious appearance? Why do I say this? Well, when one weighs up the doctrine of Israel, who are under law and works, with the doctrine of the Body of Christ, who are free from both law and works, who are under the absolute and wonderous grace of God because of the cross of Ch...

Friends, the following is shocking. I'm not trying to sensationalize this post with this statement, but it is true. The following is the corruption that springs forth from the minds of people who refuse to recognize right division, and who create some form of blended confusion of doctrine that sadly, many innocent people fall for. The "Salvation 101" part below is a comment that I received from a post. It blew me away! It is the result of blatant ignorance of sound Bible study. The key to understanding the Bible is to rightly divide it. The doctrine that this comment uses is predominantly that of the Kingdom program. Please take note of the failure to divide these scriptures and ensure that you keep yourself educated in the epistles of Paul which is written for you specifically. ------ SALVATION 101 -------- Salvation --- is a Conditional & Relational word.... Salvation...and/or..." Saved "...is NOT a 1 Time Occurrence...it's a Present Tense Real Time St...

Lesson #1 The absolute MOST valued lesson I have learned is to rightly divide the truth, 2Tim.2:15. After 40 years of reading the Bible as if it was ALL written to me and for my instruction, when I learned about rightly dividing the truth, and recognizing that Paul’s letters are instructions addressed to me, and the rest of the Bible is instructions for Israel, this brought clarity and dismissed all that confusion and contradiction. The Bible became an open book from that point. Things fell into place and my faith became settled and strong. Dividing the Word showed me a clear picture of the whole plan of God to redeem us. It showed me where I fit into God’s plan, and it gave me purpose and insights into what God’s will was for me. I cannot overemphasize the value and importance of applying this command to rightly divide the truth to your bible studies. It has completely changed my understanding of God’s Word for the better. I will never look back again at blending everything into on...

QUESTION: Christians who say they are in the new covenant teaching dispensationalism, can you explain and provide Scriptures with examples to support: No grace under the law, but now under grace there is no law? Are the teachings of Christ for all (Matt 28:20)? ANSWER: I can provide scriptures in Paul’s epistles that will verify that as believers in this dispensation of grace, we are not under the law. Furthermore, I can provide scriptures to confirm that only Israel was, and will again be, under the law. However, these scripture references will not satisfy your underlying need to have a better grounding in the administration of God’s redemption plan, divided into time past, but now, and ages to come. Until you have a clear view of God’s purpose for Israel, and that it is different to God’s purpose for the Body of Christ (grace believers), there will always be confusion and contradiction. I am happy to journey with you in discovering God’s administrations. Scriptures like that which yo...

God does not forgive sins one at a time when we commit them. Neither does He choose which sins to forgive and which not to. God’s forgiveness is total and complete . The provision of the cross, the blood of His Son, justifies us instantaneously and completely when we believe in His Son. Paul explains this in Romans chapter 3, Rom 3:21-24  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Before you were saved, you were a sinner. After you respond in faith to the grace gospel and trust that God saves you and justifies you, you remain a sinner. In other words, NOTHING changes in the body! However, EVERYTHING chan...

1Cor.15:1-4  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Eph.2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.