A Biblical Truth That Christians Miss

Can anyone explain to me how professing Christian believers can possibly miss crystal clear explanations like these?

"For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory." (2 Cor. 3:9-11)

"Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. ... In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Heb. 8:6-7, 13)

The Old Covenant (consisting of the Law, the Covenant, and the Priesthood) was like a candle; it gives off light, but its light pales in comparison to when you turn on a light bulb. The New Covenant is that light bulb. Jesus fulfilled everything in the Old Covenant (in that it all pointed to Him), put it aside because it was "weak and useless" (Heb. 7:18) and "made nothing perfect" (Heb. 7:19), and established the unbreakable, effective, and eternal New Covenant. The Old Covenant was our babysitter, pointing us to Jesus. Since it accomplished its intended purpose, it has been made obsolete.

There are more passages we could look at that convey this fact, but these are probably the clearest. The Ten Commandments belong to the Law, which is part of the Old Covenant. They have no place in the life of the Christian. The Christian has one Royal Law, which fulfills the Law: "Love one another just as I have loved you" (John 13:34). This love is to be extended to our neighbours (Mark 12:31) and our enemies (Matt. 5:43-48). "This is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Christ Jesus and love one another" (1 John 3:23).

In Matthew 12, Jesus re-interprets the Sabbath command (see verses 6, 8, and 12). The Lord of the Sabbath has brought Sabbath rest for those who trust Him today (Matt. 1:28-30). John was right when he said that Jesus' "commands are not  burdensome" (1 John 5:3). Some believe there are five (5) laws to the New Covenant:

1. the Law of Faith (Rom. 3:27; 2 Cor. 5),
2. the Law of the Spirit of Life (Rom. 8:2),
3. the Law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2),
4. the Law of Liberty (James2:12), and
5. the Law of Righteousness (Rom. 9:31).

This may be, but there are two (2) clear commands given us under the New Covenant:

1. believe in the name of Jesus (1 John 3:23), and
2. love one another just as He loved us (John 13:34; 1 John 3:23).

The New Covenant is radically new, "not like the [previous] covenant" (Jer. 31:32; Heb. 8:9). If you do not understand the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, it is about time you studied it out and realized precisely what Jesus did for you on your behalf in your stead. The New Covenant is eternal. There will never be another covenant. This one accomplishes everything the previous one failed to, because it was all accomplished by Jesus. Take the time to read the book of Hebrews and get a grasp of what Jesus did. The book of Hebrews is probably the most Christ-centric of all the epistles. Read it to correct some glaring flaws in whatever particular theological system you prescribe to so that you can conform your beliefs better to Scripture.

Encourage Each Other

"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25

This we need to do daily, encouraging the brothers and sisters in the faith to act with love toward all: the brethren (John 13:34), other people (Mark 12:31), and our enemies (Matt. 5:43-48). We are not to be violent, and we do not return evil for evil! Jesus calls us to be non-violent, non-resistant, and also non-conformist (not to become like the world). His Kingdom is one of peace!

"Not neglecting to meet together" does not refer to attending organized religious institutions! That is eisegesis, reading into the text and imposing upon it. It is the gathering of the saints, in whatever capacity, even if only “two or three,” commonly done in households!

"Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ... Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13:1-2, 16

Do you love others like this? Jesus commanded us to love one another (the brethren; John 13:34), our neighbours (Mark 12:31), and our enemies (Matt. 5:43-48). If you do not know who your 'neighbour' is, I suggest you go read the account of the Good Samaritan to find out who your neighbour is. You neighbour is every other person on the face of this planet.

By stirring each other up "to love and good works," we are constantly encouraging each other (against the natural tendencies of our flesh) to love others, even when they have hurt us or are hurting us. We are to forgive others just as Yahweh God has forgiven us in Christ Jesus. If we are being persecuted, we are to encourage each other to follow the path of love, just as Jesus did. What we may suffer here is fleeting in comparison with eternity.

Whenever we gather together with fellow believers in Christ, “as iron sharpens iron” (Prov. 27:17a), we should be speaking words of encouragement, words of insight, words of wisdom, and words of challenge. It is the greatest gift we can give each other.

Flirt with Moses, Cheat on Jesus!

If you are flirting with Moses, you are cheating on Jesus!

What does this mean?

If you attempt to follow any part of the Old Covenant Law, or try to marry any part of it to the New Covenant (including the Ten Commandments), putting new wine in old wine skins, you are spitting on Jesus' accomplishment and trying to do it by your own performance. The Law has no place in the life of the Christian (Rom. 6:14; Gal. 5:18). The only law the Christian adheres to is the Royal Law of the Kingdom of God: "love one another just as I have loved you" (John 13:34). This includes loving your neighbours (Mark 12:31) and loving your enemies (Matt. 5:43-48).

The Christian is not a law unto himself, but in his freedom he does not act in a way that violates the limitations that love for others (John 13:34; Mark 12:31; Matt. 5:43-48) and holiness before Yahweh God place on Christian liberty. Jesus died once for all sins for all men for all time. This does not get credited to your account until you trust and believe in and on Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Because He lives, having resurrected from the dead, His sacrifice is eternal. We do not need to offer sacrifices every year. This is how our sins can be forgiven and remembered no more. He eternally sits as our mediator and intercedes on our behalf. He fulfilled the Law (Matt. 5:17) and then made it obsolete (Heb. 8:13) as He established the New Covenant (Luke 22:20), which was activated at His death (Heb. 9:17).

Enjoy grace!

Have 'Heaven and Earth' Already Passed?

What did Jesus mean when He said, "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished" (Matt. 5:18), and, "Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Matt. 24:34-35)? Was He prophesying or predicting the end of the Earth?

Many preachers, "scholars" (so-called "experts"), and theologians have read these words at face value and attributed them to the utter destruction of our planet. Dispensationalists have run away with all sorts of fictitious imaginations as to what this could mean, imposing those fantasies upon the Scriptures themselves. But what does God's Word actually teach concerning this issue?

"I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, 'You are my people'" (Is. 51:16).

This is how Yahweh describes His choosing of Israel as His people from among the nations of the Earth. He calls it "establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth."

"Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth" (Deut. 32:1).

This is what Moses, the lawgiver of Israel, said when he assembled Yahweh's covenant people. He was speaking to the people of Israel—not to the literal heavens and earth.

"The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again" (Is. 24:1, 3-4, 19-20).

Yet again, we see Israel being referred to as "the earth." Throughout Scripture, Yahweh's covenant with Israel is labeled as Yahweh forming "heaven and earth," so it would make sense that His abolishment of the same would be labeled as the destruction of "heaven and earth."

Even the apostle John wrote of Yahweh dissolving the old "heaven and earth" and establishing a new "heaven and earth"—the New Covenant. In this covenant, Yahweh takes a new Bride (consisting of people from every tribe, nation, and tongue—not just Jews), forms a new priesthood (every believer, male and female—not just a tribe of men), establishes a new nation (all believers are called Yahweh's "holy nation" in 1 Peter 2:9), and institutes an eternal and unshakable kingdom (Heb. 12:26-28).

Jesus came to fulfill the Law, and then He abolished it. By establishing the eternal New Covenant, Jesus caused the Old Covenant to become obsolete. Judaistic cults, like Torah Observant "Christians," would do well to learn how to read and study Scripture, paying attention to what they are reading. By attempting to turn to the Law, they are rejecting Jesus and His grace and spitting directly in His face. As the apostle Paul said, these people have been "severed (separated) from Christ," they have "fallen from grace."

Let us use some common sense and think about this logically. The apostles constantly said that they were living in "the last days." John said it was "the last hour." What are the chances that "the last days" and "the last hour" would last for 2,000 years?!?!? Highly unlikely! But if they were talking about the end of the Jewish era, the end of the Old Covenant, the end of the Law . . . Ah! Now that makes more sense.

"For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the Law as well" (Heb. 7:12). There was a change in priesthood. Under the Old Covenant, a priest had to be from the tribe of Levi. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah. So since there was a change in the priesthood, it necessitates a change in the Law. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). This is the Royal Law of the New Covenant of the Kingdom of God.

Torah Observant "Christians" would benefit greatly from reading Galatians. "Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Apparently they think the answer to this question is, "Yes." However, this is a rhetorical question. The obvious answer is, "No!" If you want to observe the Law, you are required to observe ALL OF IT (Gal. 5:3), every last one of the 600+ laws! You do not get to cherry pick which you are going to follow and which you are not. If you fail in even one point, you are guilty of breaking ALL OF IT (James 2:10). Observance of the Law has one of two results: DEFEAT if you are honest, and HYPOCRISY if you are not. No one can keep the entire Law, and no one ever could—except Jesus. The Law was a ministry of condemnation and death (2 Cor. 3:7-11). It could never do what it was intended to do because of our flesh (Rom. 8:3). JESUS fixed all of that. JESUS fulfilled the Law perfectly so we do not have to. If we trust in Jesus, HIS righteousness and all the blessings owed Him for HIS obedience to the Law are bestowed upon us. We get to benefit. This is the GREAT news of the Gospel!

If you want to place yourself under bondage to the Law, then YOU HAVE SEVERED (SEPARATED) YOURSELF FROM JESUS, YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE!!! (Gal. 5:4)

Mennonites

What is a Mennonite? Can anybody become a Mennonite? Most people who identify as "Mennonite" treat it as if it is an ethnicity, as if you are born into it. They are unaware that you cannot be a Mennonite if you are not descended from Menno Simons and/or if you do not follow his teachings.

Mennonite is not something you are born into. It is a denomination within Christianity. Anybody can become a Mennonite if they choose to. Those who call themselves Mennonite today are a hollow husk of what Mennonites of the past were. They do not understand Menno Simons' teachings.

Your last name does not determine if you are a Mennonite or not. It may determine if you are German, but it has no relation to you being a Mennonite because Mennonite is a denomination within Christianity, not an ethnicity.

Depending on the type of Mennonite, they believe you can marry your cousins, even down to second cousins. They attempt to use Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as their proof text to support this (Gen. 24:4, 38; 28:1-2), but fail to realize that this is descriptive language and not prescriptive (a rule or direction).

They often will not marry another person unless they are Mennonite, too, even if they are a Christian. Sorry to say, but this can lead to inbreeding. God did not command Abraham to do such a thing, and just because he did so does not mean we should follow his example. Abraham had sex with another woman, Hagar, outside of his marriage to Sarah. Should we take that as prescriptive, too? Seriously. Let us think before we do things or attempt to defend them.

Any Christian denomination, such as Mennonite, that believes you should only marry people from that denomination has become cult-like. They take commands given to Israel as a nation and eisegete it for themselves (as do racists when they say we should not marry someone of a different ethnicity). Marry whomever you want, preferably in the Lord.

We need to stop holding on to blind traditions that are the inventions of men. Cling to the New Covenant Scriptures and understand your new identity in Christ Jesus our King.

Communion

Before you believe something, just ask yourself: "Where did I get this information from?"

Do not be stressed out about unconfessed sin before communion. Communion is not an "inventory of your sin"—it is a celebration! Preachers tell you to examine yourself for unrepentant/unforgiven sin before you eat communion so that you do not eat "unworthily." (Completely ignoring the context of what the Corinthians were doing.) News Flash: You have no unforgiven sin! Your sin (past, present, and future—all of it) was handled at the cross—once and for all (Heb. 10:14). You have been "perfected for all time" in Jesus. God is not keeping a record of your unrepentant sin as He remembers it no more. Communion is a time for celebrating Jesus' finished work and looking toward His second coming. Instead of fixating on failures, focus on what Jesus already did! If you believe and trust in Jesus, if you profess the name of Jesus, then you should be partaking of communion. Period. No church has the authority to prevent you from partaking, even if you are merely visiting them!

Jesus was crucified on the cross long before you were born. At that time, all your sin was future. The idea that you have future sin you might commit that you need to ask forgiveness for is unbiblical. When you come to Jesus, His righteousness is imputed to you and your slate is wiped completely clean. "You have been made complete" in Jesus (Col. 2:10). "His divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Pet. 1:3). We lack nothing! The perfection, righteousness, and holiness required by God is provided to you by the New Covenant. It is an eternal and unconditional covenant because God swore it by Himself and fulfilled it through Jesus (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:8-12). Stop asking Him for forgiveness and start thanking Him for His forgiveness! "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).

Embrace the truth and live free!

The Baptist's Confusion with Children

Like most Baptists, Fred Zaspel is confused concerning the New Covenant, the Gospel, and where children fit in. He writes, "We wonder in the first place on what exegetical ground our Reformed paedobaptist brothers can affirm the idea of covenants being made with believers and their children." Um... how about because Peter said so!

"For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." Acts 2:39

What was it Jesus said again? "When I am lifted up from the Earth, I will draw all men to Myself" (John 12:32). God is calling all men to Himself. That does not mean, however, that all men will accept His calling.

I do not consider myself to be Reformed in the least, especially considering the early Christians rejected the core foundation of Calvinism (or the Doctrines of Grace, or TULIP) as heretical, having been originally taught by the Gnostics. But, consider this, my Baptist brothers and sisters: Which makes more sense? That with the coming of the New Covenant, male children, who partook of the Old Covenant, no longer had that blessing and were now excluded from the New Covenant, or that female children, who had no part of the Old Covenant, are now included and share the same blessing as the males in the New Covenant?

The New Covenant is always simpler, more inclusive, and greater reaching than the previous covenant. Eight-day-old male children received the sign and seal of the Old Covenant, which acted as a witness or testimony for or against them, and became members of the Old Covenant community. What faith can an eight-day-old express, Baptists?!?!? Be consistent! Why can children today not receive the sign and seal of the New Covenant, which acts as a witness or testimony for or against them, and become members of the New Covenant community? Where the male children were included in the Old Covenant, you would have us believe that all children are now excluded from the New Covenant??? So children are worse off under the New Covenant than they were under the Old Covenant? It seems to me that the New Covenant, which is far more inclusive and of greater reach, would now include all children.

Read that last paragraph again. Do it slowly if need be to let it sink in.

You are saying, Baptist, that children today are worse off under the New Covenant than they had been under the Old Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, at least the male children were partakers. But, according to you, all children are now excluded from the New Covenant and its promises. Again, it seems to me that a "better covenant" that is greater reaching and more inclusive would now include female children with the male children just as it includes gentiles with Jewish believers.

You attempt to argue that there are no examples of the children of believers being baptized in Scripture, yet you ignore the fact that there are no examples of the children of believers growing up and being baptized (as you believe) either. You claim that it is reaching to assume that the household baptisms in Scripture had infant children, but you ignore the fact that it is just as reaching for you to assume that they did not. Especially considering people had more children in the past than most people do today. Furthermore, the Greek is on our side. Every case says the householder believed (singular) and the household (plural) was baptized.

You also have history to contend with. The earliest mention of infant baptism is from the second century. You would have us believe that the apostles never taught such a practice, and yet within 50 years it was being taught and no one objected to it?!?!? The fact is, infant baptism has been practiced for the majority of church history by the majority of denominations, and is still practiced by the majority of denominations today. Granted, many of them, like yourselves, do not fully understand baptism, but nevertheless it is what it is.

If you do not understand how the New Covenant is simpler, more inclusive, and greater reaching than the Old Covenant, then you clearly have not been paying attention and have no understanding of the differences between the covenants.

"Leave the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14