Immersion, pouring, sprinkling, baptism

Email reply to Steve Finnell of  "A Christian View". 

 

"​Mr. Finnell,

It looks like you like to "hit, run, and hide"

.....you sent me your comments with your erroneous exegesis of Ephesians 5:25-26 (the thought of inserting water baptism into a washing done by the word!) and then were unwilling to discuss salvation and baptism. All you have done is mindlessly sent me your short/sad blog posts that quote Acts 2:38 and parts of Mark 16:16 with 1 Peter 3:21. I have given you plain scriptures that completely refute your baptismal regeneration position.

As for your post on the definition of "baptism" which you incorrectly defined as "immerse", let me set you straight.

The first "baptism" in the Bible did not involve ANYONE getting wet. It was purely a DRY identification.

1 Corinthians 10:

[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

There is certainly no "immersion" there.

Next is the baptism with the Holy Ghost....which is plainly called a pouring/falling rather than an immersion.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Acts 2:

[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Also, I was not impressed with your information about Greek/transliterate/translate saying as that is all common knowledge to any serious Bible student. However, I suppose you did impress your lost followers by making them think that you knew about Greek and translation. (which we both know you don't)

You falsely stated in your post that "immerse" was the proper translation of "baptize". But that is a lie. The Greek word "βαπτισμους" just as easily means "wash". (I have already proved that some baptisms are just an identification)

Examples:

#1.) Mark  7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

"και απο αγορας εαν μη βαπτισωνται ουκ εσθιουσιν και αλλα πολλα εστιν α παρελαβον κρατειν βαπτισμους ποτηριων και ξεστων και χαλκιων και κλινων "

#2.) Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

"αφεντες γαρ την εντολην του θεου κρατειτε την παραδοσιν των ανθρωπων βαπτισμους ξεστων και ποτηριων και αλλα παρομοια τοιαυτα πολλα ποιειτε "

#3.) Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

"μονον επι βρωμασιν και πομασιν και διαφοροις βαπτισμοις και δικαιωμασιν σαρκος μεχρι καιρου διορθωσεως επικειμενα "

As you can see, "immerse" would not fit these verses. That is why it does not say "immerse", it says WASH. Mark 7:4--nobody immersed a table...they washed, sprinkled, or poured on a table!

So what about water baptism for the believer under the gospel of the circumcision/gospel of the kingdom??? Was that by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling?

Well according to 1 Peter 3:21 and Acts 22:16, water baptism was a "like figure" of salvation/washing away of sins--but it did not actually put away the filth of the flesh. It was a FIGURE of the WASHING AWAY OF SINS. Which seems to indicate that sprinkling was the mode of baptism.....

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

That is a sprinkling.....

Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

Hebrews 10:

[19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
[20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
[21] And having an high priest over the house of God;
[22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

Water baptism was a figurative cleansing--which came by the blood of Christ. This is connected with SPRINKLING--not immersion. In Isaiah 52:14-15 we see a prophecy of Christ suffering and shedding His blood for us--also connected with sprinkling.

 

Isaiah 52:

[14] As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
[15] So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

 

Compare with these:

 

John 4:

[1] When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
[2] (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

 

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

 

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 

Hebrews 10:

[19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
[20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
[21] And having an high priest over the house of God;
[22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

No scripture says that water baptism was by immersion. The evidence indicates sprinkling. The idea that water baptism was by immersion came by a misinterpretation of baptism into Christ to be the same thing as water baptism--when it is not. The Holy Spirit baptizes believers into Christ through the faith of the operation of God (1 Cor. 12:12-13, Col. 2:10-12, Gal. 3:1-3, Gal 3:26-28, Rom. 6:3-4). "

 

--Eli "Hoss" Caldwell

 

 

 

Hoss vs COC baptismal regeneration heresy

I recently sent out my baptismal regeneration refute to several COC preachers....they did not like that very much!

One reply......

"Wow...

So all this time I thought you were interested in truth. And yet instead you've just been trying to come up with arguments (which don't even follow sound logic much less the Bible) in order to prove some presupposition?

Hoss, you have misused, ignored, and avoided clear connections between water as a physical representation of Christ's blood in baptism.

Your summation of Jesus and Nicodemus is not logical and certainly not Biblical. And Acts 8:36-38 is a great example (one you missed) of water baptism.

Just about the only thing I agree with is that it's the blood of Christ is what saves us. But what you have to understand is that the blood MUST be applied, if not literally, figuratively. And since literal application is not possible, figurative (water baptism) is the ONLY way in which we come into contact with that blood." --Church of Christ preacher

My answer to the COC.....

"Mr. Bartley, thank you for the reply. I am sorry that you did not agree with the scriptures that were plainly presented in my PDF.

Your reaction did not surprise me, I have not yet found a baptismal regeneration proponent that will answer (with scripture) the refute I gave.

I would like to help you out, please consider this:

"Just about the only thing I agree with is that it's the blood of Christ is what saves us. But what you have to understand is that the blood MUST be applied, if not literally, figuratively. And since literal application is not possible, figurative (water baptism) is the ONLY way in which we come into contact with that blood."

"the blood MUST be applied, if not literally, figuratively"....Ah, but a FIGURE is not REAL salvation. The "figure" does not put away the filth of the flesh according to Peter's own words, I think you know the verse: 1 Pet. 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

The blood of Christ puts away the filth of the flesh....Ephesians 2:3 and 13 "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh....But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Peter said that water baptism does not do that--therefore water baptism has no power outside of a symbol (figure).

The blood of Christ was shed 2,000 years ago....the payment is there and it is complete. All we have to do is receive Christ, which is not done by water baptism.

John 1:

[12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
[13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Colossians 2:

[5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
[6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

The Holy Spirit is the One who baptizes us, washes, and regenerates us (1 Cor. 6:11, 12:13, Col. 2:10-12, Titus 3:5).

Also, if we must be water baptized to be saved, then that means that we have to have ANOTHER MEDIATOR between God and man. If we have to have someone water baptize us in order for us to be saved, than that means "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5 ) is not a true statement.

1 Corinthians 1:17a, 21b

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.....it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Have a good day, stay dry. --Eli "Hoss" Caldwell  "

Calvinism Refutation...

(email response to a calvinist brother)

To be honest I have not studied the Calvinism issue much. I am certainly not a Calvinist. I hear that "The Other Side of Calvinism" by Laurence Vance is a good refute to the teaching. I did just order 2 dvd debates that Dr. Peter Ruckman had with a Calvinist and also a book he wrote called "why I am not a Calvinist"--so hopefully I will learn a little bit more about the issue. Of course the scriptures are my only authority on the matter.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21, 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 1 Timothy 4:10, Romans 5:6-19, Acts 17:30, Hebrews 2:9, Romans 10:13, and many more scriptures refute "limited atonement". My position is that Christ died for many, all, and every man.

We are predestinated according to the foreknowledge of God. God knew before the foundation of the world who would receive Christ's free gift that He made available to all men, according to His foreknowledge He predestinated these people. Predestination is according to foreknowledge--it is not God pre-deciding who will go to heaven and who will go to hell. It is not God deciding who He would die for and who He would not. (He died for all, many, and every man.)  

Romans 8:

[29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
[30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Those that were predestinated according to the foreknowledge of God are also called by Him. They are called by the gospel and it is up to the sinner to obey the gospel (believe it).

2 Thessalonians 2:

[13] But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
[14] Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we are called by the gospel and believe the truth, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and baptized into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13, Eph. 1:13). We go from being "in Adam" to being "in Christ" (1 Cor. 15:22). When we get out of Adam and into Christ we are said to be chosen before the foundation of the world ( that we should be holy and without blame before him in love)

Ephesians 1:

[4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
[5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Concerning the will.....

We have power over our own will and we can decree things in our own heart. (1 Corinthians 7:37)

We are to do the will of God from our own heart (Eph. 6:6).

The will of God gets overthrown by the will of man on occasion (1 Thes. 4:3, 5:18, Jer. 19:5).

Satan's will gets accomplished on occasion (2 Tim. 2:26)

Those are my thoughts (with scripture on why I believe it).

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

"Born of water": Answering the Church of Christ confusion

The conversation of John chapter 3.

Jesus Christ: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. "

Nicodemus: "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"

Nicodemus was thinking in natural terms, therefore he is thinking about being in the mother's womb a second time.

Here is Christ's response.

Jesus Christ: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

Obviously when Christ says "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit..." He is answering Nicodemus's question about entering into the mother's womb again. The phrase "born of water" referring to the first birth fits the context and makes sense....since in the womb babies grow in a bag of fluid that is much like water. Then just prior to birth, the bag breaks, releasing this water and then the birth process begins.

When talking about Christ being God coming down to earth in human flesh, John said that "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood...." (1 John 5:6) So to say that "born of water" is referring to human birth is no stretch and 1 John 5:6 provides a good cross reference.

Only a Campbellite could suggest that the answer to "can I go back into my mother's womb and be born a second time " would be "you need to be water baptized and born of the Spirit". That doesn't even answer the question and does not fit anywhere into the context!

It would help if the Campbellite baptismal regeneration proponents could produce a cross reference to being baptized in water being referred to as "born of water".

But as it stands: the Cambellites have no context, no cross references, and no logic for "born of water" referring to water baptism.

You can always count on a Campbellite to say "WATER!" every time the word "baptism" is used and you can always count on them to say "BUPTISM" every time "water" is used.

That is how they missed the Holy Spirit baptizing believers into Christ through the faith of the operation of God....they actually said that "baptism into Christ" was the same as "baptism into water" meaning that Christ is a tank of water!

1 Corinthians 12:

[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Colossians 2:

[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Baptism into water is not done "through the faith of the operation of God"...it is done the operation of a man. It Is done by man, not by one Spirit.

Baptism into water is not baptism into Christ because Christ is not a tank of water.

So when you see a Cambellite going on and on about Galatians 3:27 and baptism into Christ, you will know that they are being deceitful.

 

--Eli "Hoss" Caldwell

Old Testament salvation: Faith plus Works

Someone sent me some questions about Old Testament salvation, below was my answer.

Nobody can be "saved by the Law" or "saved by animal sacrifices"--nobody receives salvation by works alone. Based on the following scriptures, I conclude that salvation in the Old Testament was by the faith of man and the perfection thereof: Ezekiel 3:18-21, 18:4-9, 18:18-32, Deuteronomy 6:24-25, 30:1-20, Psalms 103:17-18, 112:1-7, Proverbs 10:24-25, Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 10:5, 11:6.

I think we already 'debated' salvation by the faith of man vs the faith of Christ. But hear is an excerpt from a post I did on that.    

Salvation for the Jews in the tribulation involves enduring to the end of it without taking the mark of the beast and enduring to the end and overcoming the anti-Christ (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21, 14:9-11, 21:7, 1 John 2:13-14, 4:4, 5:4-5, Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13). This enduring is done by the Jew's own faith--that is the faith of men. The faith of men requires works to be made perfect and that type of justification is a process (James 2:14-26, 1 Peter 1:7-10, 1 John 5:4). Since this type of salvation is dependent on mans faith, which must be made perfect/proven by works, some of the Jews will be "scarcely saved" (1 Peter 4:18). Those who lose their faith will not be justified (Hebrews 10:22-23, 38-39).

 That is different from the salvation that Paul taught. Christ allows Christians in this age to be justified without works and He justifies people by His own faith, which is already perfect (Ephesians 1:7, 13, 2:8-9, 3:12, 4:30, Romans 3-5, 8:8, 11:6, Titus 3:5, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, Acts 13:38-39, 16:31, Galatians 2:16-20, 3:1-29, Philippians 3:9). Christ was faithful to God His entire life on earth, believing the Father and His word (Matthew 4), obedient unto the death of the cross (Philippians 2), and "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect..." (Hebrews 5:8-9). He was tempted as we are, yet was faithful to the Father and obeyed the word of God (Hebrews 4:15). It the "faith of Christ" whereby we are justified in this present age--not out own. Of course we must put our faith in Christ to receive Christ's atonement and Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, Romans 3:25), but after that we are justified and kept by His faith (Romans 3:22, Galatians 2:16-20, Ephesians 3:12).

Paul describes this in 2 Timothy 2:11-13.
"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."​

1. Were O.T. Saints saved by the Law?

No.

2. Were O.T. saints saved by animal sacrifices?

No.

3. Were SAINTS eternally saved in either Testament.? Which? Both Testaments?

Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

4. What made the difference between lost Israelites and saved Israelites.

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

5. How was Adam and Eve saved?

Not sure, I haven't ever studied that specifically.

6. How was Enoch saved?

Not sure, I haven't ever studied that specifically.

7. How was Able saved?

Not sure, I haven't ever studied that specifically.

I did a lot of "verse flinging", but this wasn't a debate....you were just asking me what I believed and I told you. Search the scriptures; for in them you will find what Hoss believes about OT salvation.

Ezekiel 3:18-21, 18:4-9, 18:18-32, Deuteronomy 6:24-25, 30:1-20, Psalms 103:17-18, 112:1-7, Proverbs 10:24-25, Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 10:5, 11:6. http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/hoss-vs-brian-kelson-acts-28net-old.html

--bro. Hoss

John 17:6-26--"in Christ"

​John 17:6-26 has often been used as a proof text for crossers and 2ers to prove that folks were "in Christ" after the cross and that it did not begin with Paul. However, that is a straw man argument. Nobody ever said that people were not "in Christ" at Acts 2 or at the cross. People were "in Christ" during the gospels.

I do not believe that the people that use John 17 as their proof text really know what being "in Christ" means. Christ defines the term in John 6:56-57.

John 6:

[56] He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
[57] As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

In John 6 Christ likens living in obedience to Him as "eating" His flesh and "drinking" His blood (living by Him). Just as Christ lived in total obedience to the Father, even so His disciples should live by Him. When a person does this, they are in Christ (v.56). Christ disciples separated themselves from the world and became followers of Christ. They were living by His words and obeying His teaching....they were "in Christ" according to the definition.

This is plainer stated in 1 John 3:24....

1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Christ taught on this in John 15, but instead of likening Himself to meat and drink, He likens Himself to a vine.

John 15:

[1] I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
[2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
[3] Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
[4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
[5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
[6] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

This teaching of being "in Christ" is about sanctification--which just so happens to be one of the subjects that Christ mentions in John 17.

John 17:

[6] I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
[7] Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
[8] For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
[9] I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
[10] And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
[11] And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
[12] While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
[13] And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
[14] I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
[15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
[16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
[17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
[18] As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
[19] And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
[20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
[21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
[23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
[24] Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
[25] O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
[26] And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 

John 17 is not about Christ reconciling all Jews and Gentiles into one body by the cross! Christ isn't even praying for the world, He is praying for His disciples that they will have a good testimony and be sanctified. The prayer of Christ in John 17 really does not seem to have anything to do with the body of Christ--those that have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ and are no longer Jew or Gentile.....

 

Ephesians 2:

[11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
[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.
[14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
[15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
[16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
[17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

The Gentiles were ".....in the flesh....without Christ....being aliens....strangers....having no hope...without God IN THE WORLD..." The Ephesians that had been reconciled to God in one body were NOT even people that Christ prayed for in John 17.

John 17: "I pray not for the world "

Ephesians 2: "ye were...without God in the world "

This shows how unconnected John 17 is to the body of Christ. 

 

Being in Christ by keeping His commandments and living in obedience to Him is much different than being in the BODY OF CHRIST by being baptized by the Spirit through the faith of the operation of God being joined together with Him in one spirit......

 

1 Corinthians 6:

[15] Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
[16] What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
[17] But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:

[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[14] For the body is not one member, but many.

 

Colossians 2:

[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 

Ephesians 2:

[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Being "in Christ" means you are abiding and living by Christ and His commandments (John 6:56-57, 1 John 3:24). Being "in the church which is His body" (Eph. 1:23) means you have been baptized by the Spirit into Christ and crucified, buried, risen, and seated with Christ--a member of His body.

 

 --Eli "Hoss" Caldwell

Studies in Galatians 4

Some people use Galatians 4 to teach that the body of Christ (church) inherits Israel's kingdom because of 4:26, "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. " 

Others use Galatians 4 to teach that Old Testaments saints were "born again" like that of John chapter three. (they base this on 4:29 "him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now ")

Both of those ideas are wrong.

Galatians 4:

[21] Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
[22] For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
[23] But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
[24] Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
[25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
[26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
[27] For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
[28] Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
[29] But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
[30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
[31] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

In this ALLEGORY (unwise to try and establish a doctrine based on a figurative passage):

Hagar = the old covenant, the earthly Jerusalem in bondage

Ishmael = those born after the flesh

Sarah = the new covenant, the heavenly Jerusalem which is free

Isaac = those born after the Spirit

“mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, WHICH IS AGAR”

“But Jerusalem, which is above is free, WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF US ALL” (i.e. Sarah)

Paul is not saying that the heavenly Jerusalem is our mother. He is saying that Sarah, who represents the Jerusalem which is above, is our mother. Abraham is “the father of us all” (Rom. 4:16). Abraham is said to be our father in the spiritual sense that we receive righteousness from God by faith as he did. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, is our mother in the spiritual sense that her son, Isaac, represents those that are born after the Spirit. We are not under the new covenant but we are born after the Spirit like those who will be brought under the new covenant.

 

Galatians 4 is the only passage that says "born AFTER the Spirit". It is also called "an ALLEGORY". I wouldn't use an allegory to prove that OT saints were born again. When was Ishmael born after the flesh? When he was physically born. When was Isaac born after the Spirit? When he was physically born. Not when he got "saved". Isaac was born after the Spirit because he was the child of promise. God supernaturally enabled Sarah to have him (though not virgin birth). The application is that we too are children of promise. But Isaac was not regenerated as we are (Titus 3:5). In the allegory Ishmael pictures the self righteous religious seed of Abraham that were trying to be justified by their flesh. Just as Ishmael persecuted Isaac, so it is now that the religious persecute the righteous. Paul was NOT saying that as Isaac was born after the Spirit "even so it is now". He was talking about the persecution. 

 

(Thanks to Pastor David O'Steen for giving me this information.) 

 

--Eli "Hoss" Caldwell

Important Bible facts

1.) The New Testament did not begin in Matthew 3 with John the Baptist nor at Christ's baptism.....it started at Matthew 27--the death of Christ. 

Hebrews 9:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

2.) The word "church" does not mean "body of Christ". A church is simply a congregation or assembly and the Bible uses "church" and "congregation" interchangeably as seen below in the Hebrews 2:12 quotation of Psalms 22:22.

Psalms 22:
[22] I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
[23] Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
[24] For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
[25] My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
[26] The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
[27] All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
[28] For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.

Hebrews 2:
[11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
[12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
[13] And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

3.) Israel was God's church in the Old Testament according to Acts 7:38, "This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:" 

4.) There is not one verse in the entire Bible that says that water baptism and the Lord's supper are "the two ordinances given to the local church". 

5.) Water baptism has nothing to do with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The twelve apostles water baptized converts without even knowing anything about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.....consequently that means that the gospel of the twelve apostles in the Gospels did not involve the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.


Matthew 16:
[21] From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
[22] Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
[23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Mark 9:
[31] For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
[32] But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Luke 9:
[44] Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
[45] But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Luke 18:
[31] Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
[32] For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
[33] And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
[34] And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

John 20:
[6] Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
[7] And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
[8] Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
[9] For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
[10] Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

6.) Baptism into Christ and being buried in baptism with Christ is NOT about water baptism. That is a baptism by the Holy Spirit through the faith of the operation of God. There is no reference anywhere in the Bible to anyone being water baptized into Christ--it is always by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Colossians 2:
[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Galatians 3:
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

7.) There are many different types of baptisms in the Bible.

#1.) God pouring out the flood in judgment [a water pouring with the end result being immersion] according to 1 Peter 3:20-21. ("baptism doth ALSO NOW")

#2.) The identification of the Israelites with Moses, God's messenger. (1 Corinthians 10:1-2) There was no immersion, the baptism was completely dry. 

#3.) Water baptism as a "like figure" of the washing away of sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Matthew 3, etc.)

#4.) Baptism with fire, another judgement baptism. This one being into hell fire (Matthew 3:10-12, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Revelation 20:15).

#5.) Baptism of suffering/death (Matthew 20:22, Mark 10:38, Luke 12:50). 

#6.) Baptism BY Christ WITH the Holy Ghost ONTO a person for power (Matthew 3:11, Acts 2:38, Ezekiel 36:27, Joel 2:28, Jeremiah 32:39, Acts 8:15-17, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:6, etc.)

#7.) Baptism BY the Spirit WITH a person INTO Christ, an "operation of God" (Colossians 2:10-12, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 3:26-28, Romans 6:3-4, Eph. 4:5).

8.) Israel was prophesied to get their sins taken away at the 2nd coming of Christ after the tribulation period.....that is what Peter preached in Acts 3, he did not preach salvation through the shed blood of Christ.

Jeremiah 31:
[31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
[32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
[33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah 32:
[37] Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
[38] And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
[39] And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
[40] And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
[41] Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
[42] For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

Ezekiel 36:
[24] For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
[25] Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
[26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
[28] And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
[29] I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
[30] And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
[31] Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
[32] Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
[33] Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.

Acts 3:
[19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
[20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
[21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
[22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
[25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
[26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

9.) In His earthly ministry (Matthew through John), Jesus Christ did not reveal the pre-tribulation rapture, the church that has neither Jew nor Gentile (the body of Christ), nor the gospel of the grace of God. Those were all revelations that were dispensed to the apostle Paul. 

Christ taught that His disciples would go through the tribulation and would have to endure to the end of it without denying Him.

Matthew 10:
[5] These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
[6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
[7] And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
[8] Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
[9] Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
[10] Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
[11] And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
[12] And when ye come into an house, salute it.
[13] And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
[14] And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
[15] Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
[16] Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
[17] But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
[18] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
[19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
[20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
[21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
[22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
[23] But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
[24] The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
[25] It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
[26] Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
[27] What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
[28] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
[29] Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
[30] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
[31] Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
[32] Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
[33] But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
[34] Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 

Matthew 24:
[1] And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
[2] And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
[3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
[4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
[6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
[7] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
[8] All these are the beginning of sorrows.
[9] Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. [Persecution of Jews in the tribulation]
[10] And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
[11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
[12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
[13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
[14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
[15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
[16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
[17] Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
[18] Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
[19] And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
[20] But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
[21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
[23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
[24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
[25] Behold, I have told you before.
[26] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
[27] For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[28] For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
[29] Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
[30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
[31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
[32] Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
[33] So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
[34] Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Christ revealed to Paul a MYSTERY BY THE WORD OF THE LORD rapture and that the body of Christ would NOT be under God's wrath, but rather that the Jews would. (the body of Christ is neither Jew nor Gentile)

1 Corinthians 15:
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
[56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
[57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:
[13] But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 1:
[9] For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
[10] And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10.) In Christ's earthly ministry, Christ was only ministering to Jews. He was not teaching doctrine for Gentiles nor was He revealing any new doctrine about the church where there is neither Jew nor Gentile.

Matthew-John was written to Jews that were to be going through the tribulation.

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:11)

"...salvation is of the Jews." (John 4:22)

"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 10:5-7)

"And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."  (Matthew 15:22-26)

"Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:" (Romans 15:8)

(for tribulation and 2nd advent see Matthew 3:7, 10:23-34, and 24:34)

11.) Paul was God's appointed apostles apostle and minister of the Gentiles and the body of Christ (church where there is neither Jew nor Gentile). The revealing of this doctrine was a mystery hid in God.

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

 

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

Romans 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

 

Romans 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,

 

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

 

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

 

1 Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

 

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

 

Galatians 2:

[7] But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
[8] (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

 

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

 

Ephesians 3:

[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
[2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
[5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
[7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
[8] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
[9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

 

Ephesians 5:

[23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
[24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
[25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
[26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
[27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
[28] So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
[29] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
[30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
[31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
[32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

 

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

 

Colossians 1:

[24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
[25] Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
[26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
[27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

 

Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

 

1 Timothy 1:

[11] According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
[12] And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
[14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
[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. 

2 Timothy 1:
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
[10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
[11] Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

 

 

--Eli "Hoss" Caldwell