The Two Administrations of Jesus Christ
PART 11
A Large Part of Christendom Is Heading For
An Unavoidable Theological Trainwreck
Before ending this study, I wanted to sound another warning about a spiritually lethal, yet common theological belief that seems to have no resolution. Thankfully, a growing number of students and teachers of the Bible are beginning to see the same thing. If the problem involved just a "religious fringe group" it would be easier to bear. However, the problem is estimated to encompass more than 8 out of 10 professing Christians.
How the Bible Translators Dealt With
The "Two Covenants" Of The Bible
Any serious student of the Bible recognizes that it consists of TWO MAJOR COVENANT PROGRAMS, where each program targets a different group of people and operates according to a different set of rules or laws. These two groups are known as:
OLD TESTAMENT ISRAEL
AND...
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
As we previously covered in other studies (almost to the point of being redundant), the Bible translators added special "title pages" ("The Old Testament" and "The New Testament") to the Biblical text. These title pages were designed to alert the readers where the discussion started for each Covenant program.
THESE TITLE PAGES WERE ADDED TO CLARIFY -- AND WARN -- THAT THE BIBLE CONTAINS TWO VERY DIFFERENT 'THEOLOGICAL BELIEF SYSTEMS' (OR COVENANT PROGRAMS) ALONG WITH ITS TWO CORRESPONDING GROUPS; ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH. YET, DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES, BOTH PROGRAMS APPEAR TO SHARE SOME SIMILAR BELIEFS AND TENANTS.
YET, SCRIPTURE STERNLY WARNS ... THAT WE MUST NEVER MIX (OR MERGE) THESE TWO MAJOR COVENANT PROGRAMS, INTO ONE MAN-MADE 'UNIFIED RELIGIOUS PROGRAM' BECAUSE OF THE SIMILARITIES. MERGING SCRIPTURE IN SUCH A WAY UNKNOWINGLY CHANGES THE DOCTRINE ON WHICH IT IS BASED INTO A DANGEROUS HERESY THAT DECEIVES ITS FOLLOWERS BY LOOKING AND SOUNDING LIKE "FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE TEACHING AND SOUND DOCTRINE" ... SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S "IN THE BOOK". HOWEVER, THERE IS ANOTHER RULE THAT MUST COME INTO PLAY THAT A VAST MAJORITY OF CHURCHES IGNORE.
THE BIBLE IS A BOOK THAT IS GOVERNED BY STRICT RULES OF CONTEXT ESTABLISHED BY GOD. THIS IS WHY ... QUOTING OR TEACHING SCRIPTURE FROM THE BIBLE IS NOT THE ONLY RULE THAT DETERMINES THE "TRUTH FACTOR" OF A PARTICULAR DOCTRINE OR TEACHING. 'CONTEXT' IS THE SECOND TEST THAT MUST ALSO BE USED -- BECAUSE GOD SAYS DIFFERENT THINGS AND MAKES DIFFERENT PROMISES TO EACH COVENANT GROUP (ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH). THAT'S WHY A DOCTRINE'S "TRUTH FACTOR" IS OFTEN DECIDED BY THE FOLLOWING TWO QUESTIONS:
DOES IT RESPECT AND CONFORM TO THE ORIGINAL CONTEXT THAT GOD USED WHEN HE ESTABLISHED THE SCRIPTURES USED BY THE DOCTRINE OR TEACHING?
OR...
DOES IT CORRUPT GOD'S ORIGINAL CONTEXT ... BY EITHER SUBSTITUTING IT'S OWN RELIGIOUS CONTEXT -- OR BY THROWING OUT GOD'S RULES OF CONTEXT BY MIXING TOGETHER AND TREATING ALL SCRIPTURE AS HAVING ONLY ONE COVENANT SOURCE ... WHICH REJECTS THE EXISTENCE OF THE "TWO COVENANTS" IN SCRIPTURE.
Saint Paul Teaches About "Two Covenant
Biblical Context"
A serious lack of understanding the "Two Covenants of the Bible" is what causes most of the apostasy and heretical teachings within Christendom.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND
NEW TESTAMENT PROGRAMS ...
BECAUSE GOD TREATS SIN AND THE SINNER
IN A RADICALLY DIFFERENT WAY UNDER
NEW TESTAMENT GRACE (THE NEW COVENANT)
... COMPARED TO THE WAY HE TREATED THEM
UNDER THE PREVIOUS OLD TESTAMENT PROGRAM.
THE REASON FOR THE DIFFERENCE IS SIMPLE
TO UNDERSTAND.
Old Covenant Provisions Were Earned
Through the Individual's Obedience and Merit
The Old Covenant (or Old Teststament Program) operated thousands of years before Christ was crucified. This is why it could not offer the advantage of having the sins of the people (The Israelites) paid for by the blood and "finished work" of the Son of God ... Simply because the necessary redemptive work had not been performed or "finished". It was Christ's blood that literally "purchased" salvation/eternal life for the believer. But under the Old Covenant various animal sacrifices had to be offered in the Temple to "atone" for the sins of the Israelites. THEY WERE ALSO REQUIRED TO "KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS" AND PERFORM OTHER RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IF THEY WANTED TO POSSESS SALVATION. We should remember that there were actually 613 commandments that required obedience -- and not just the 10 Commandments Christians hear about today. In other words, the Old Testament program and its program of salvation was dependent on YOUR WORKS, OBEDIENCE AND PERSONAL MERIT.
SALVATION UNDER THE OLD TESTAMENT PROGRAM
WAS NOT A GIFT AND WAS NOT FREE.
New Covenant Provisions Were Entirely Paid
For by Jesus Christ
The New Covenant is radically different than the Old. It could not officially start until after Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, ascension -- and the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. Under the New Covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the "Lamb of God" and using His own Divine blood, LITERALLY PAID FOR OUR TOTAL AND COMPLETE SALVATION. CHRIST'S BLOOD SACRIFICE NOW ALLOWS SALVATION/ETERNAL LIFE TO BE GIVEN AS "GOD'S GIFT" ON THE BASIS OF "FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE" ... WITHOUT THE NEED FOR MERITORIOUS WORKS OR 'WORKS OF THE LAW' AS CLEARLY STATED IN EPHESIANS 2:8-9 , ROMANS 4:4-8, TITUS 3:5 AND ROMANS 11:6. YES, GOD STILL WANTS THE BELIEVER UNDER THE NEW COVENANT TO POSSESS GOOD WORKS. BUT, THE WORKS (OR LACK OF WORKS, OBEDIENCE AND PERSONAL MERIT) OF THE BELIEVER CAN NOT EITHER EARN -- OR PREVENT THEM FROM RECEIVING GOD'S GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH IS GIVEN AS A GIFT ON THE BASIS OF "FAITH IN CHRIST ONLY" AS STATED IN THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES.
"Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. BUT TO HIM WHO DOES NOT WORK BUT BELIEVES ON HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS ACCOUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man TO WHOM GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM WORKS: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD SHALL NOT IMPUTE SIN." (Romans 4:4-8)
"...NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5-7)
"...BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS, whom God set forth as a propitiation BY HIS BLOOD, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:24-26 -- Emphasis Added)
"For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, MUCH MORE THOSE WHO RECEIVE ABUNDANCE OF GRACE AND OF THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so THROUGH ONE MAN'S (JESUS') RIGHTEOUS ACT THE FREE GIFT CAME TO ALL MEN, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's (Adam's) disobedience many were made sinners, SO ALSO BY ONE MAN'S OBEDIENCE MANY WILL BE MADE RIGHTEOUS." (Romans 5:17-19)
"AND IF BY GRACE, THEN IT IS NO LONGER OF WORKS; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." (Romans 11:6)
"For the wages of sin is death, but THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD." (Romans 6:23)
"FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"You have become estranged (separated or cut-off) from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE." (Galatians 5:4 -- Emphasis Added)
"FOR GOD'S GIFTS AND HIS CALL ARE IRREVOCABLE. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]" (Romans 11:29 Amplified Bible)
The New Covenant uses the word "impute or imputation" to describe how God provides these "gift provisions". THE PROVISIONS CANNOT BE EARNED. In this situation, God freely AND PERMANENTLY ASSIGNS Eternal Life, Righteousness -- and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to an individual when they first place their faith (or trust for salvation) in Jesus Christ.
Bible scholars often refer to New Covenant salvation as "The Great Exchange" and/or "The Substitutionary Death of Jesus Christ". As a result, God considers the believer to have "died with Christ on the cross" (He considers them "dead") but also being "alive again" ... having been "raised from the dead with Christ at the resurrection". God "reckons" the believer into these death and life conditions ...
BECAUSE JESUS "FINISHED ALL THE
WORK AT THE CROSS AND PAID THE
ULTIMATE PRICE IN HIS BLOOD TO MAKE
IT A REALITY ... REGARDLESS OF HOW
CONTRARY IT SEEMS TO NATURAL HUMAN
REASONING.
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)
In God's mind, Christ's substitutionary death "reckons" or considers the believer to be dead and buried. Someone who is dead can produce no works or offer any obedience or disobedience (sin) ... BECAUSE THEY ARE DEAD. ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, WHEN A PERSON DIES, THEIR FORMER LIFE AND ALL OF ITS WORKS AND DEEDS CEASE. THIS IS WHY NEW TESTAMENT SALVATION REMOVES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RIGHTEOUS WORKS AND "LAW KEEPING". Yes, God still wants believers to do righteous works ... BUT NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING OR KEEPING SALVATION.
God then takes this dead person and makes them alive again WITH CHRIST'S OWN RESURRECTION LIFE. BUT, HE DOESN'T STOP THERE. GOD THEN TRANSFERS EVERYTHING JESUS POSSESSES TO THIS PERSON WHO WAS DEAD, BUT IS NOW ALIVE.
THE BELIEVER RECEIVES ETERNAL LIFE,
BECAUSE JESUS POSSESSES ETERNAL LIFE.
THE BELIEVER BECOMES PERFECTLY
RIGHTEOUS, BECAUSE JESUS IS
PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS. THE BELIEVER
RECEIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT, BECAUSE
JESUS POSSESSES THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AS A RESULT, THE BELIEVER BECOMES JUST
AS JESUS IS, WHICH IS WHY GOD
NOW CALLS THEM -- "A SON".
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. BELOVED, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:1-2)
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION AS SONS." (Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV--Ephasis Added)
"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:11-13 - Emphasis Added)
Very few Bible teachers describe New Testament salvation according to the "Great Exchange". The most common error, which is actually a heresy ... is adding "Law keeping, Holy living and various religious practices" as additional requirements for possessing salvation/eternal life, which God now gives as 'His unmerited gift'.
Paul makes the following statement
concerning those who seek to
illegally place Christians under
Israel's Old Testament program of
the Law :
"Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic."
"FOR THESE ARE THE TWO COVENANTS"
Paul seems to shout the above phrase for emphasis and continues to explain why this truth is important. (Note: In Paul's writings, the Old Testament program is often referred to as "the first covenant", while the New Testament program is referred to as "the second covenant".)
The first covenant is associated with Hagar (the bondwoman) and Mount Sinai, where the Law was given to Israel. But, the second covenant is associated with Sarah (the freewoman) and her son Isaac, who was born according to promise and speaks of the New Covenant that Jesus initiated at the cross thousands of years later. Concerning these two covenants, Paul states;
"So then, brethren, we are not children
of the bondwoman (speaking of the first
covenant) but of the free (Speaking of
the second covenant)."
(See Galatians 4:21-31)
The book of Hebrews provides even more
information that tends to anger many
Christian fundamentalists who treat the
Scritpures as if they consist of only
one covenant program -- rather than two.
"But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He (Jesus) is also mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if THAT FIRST COVENANT had been faultless, then no place would have been sought FOR A SECOND." (Hebrews 8:6-7)
"In that He (Jesus Christ) says, "A NEW COVENANT," HE HAS MADE THE FIRST OBSOLETE. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:13)
In Romans 8:2-4, Paul mentions these two
covenants once again using slightly
different terminology.
"For the law of the spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has made me free from the law of sin
and death. For what the law could not do in
that it was weak through the flesh, God did
by sending His own Son ..."
NOTE: The law of sin and death (or "The Law")
is the first Covenant from Mount Sinai – and
the law of the spirit of life in Christ
Jesus is the second, or new covenant
established on God's Grace and initiated at
the cross.
How Corrupt Ministers and Bible Teachers
Use "False Demonic Theology" to Attack
the "Two Covenant Programs" of the Bible.
The Apostle Paul's New Testament writings (covering over half of the New Testament) speaks about and compares the "THE TWO COVENANTS" and why Christians (the Church) ARE ONLY UNDER ONE -- THE NEW COVENANT OF CHRIST ... BUT NOT THE OTHER (Galatians 4:21-31, Hebrews 8:13 and Romans 8:2-4). For those who wrongly choose to live under Old Testament Law (also known as "The First Covenant"), PAUL WARNS THAT THEY ARE NOW UNDER A CURSE.
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8)
A majority (but thankfully not all) of seminary-trained ministers and Bible teachers tend to preach a doctrine that sounds 'biblical', but is contrary to Paul's directive to "Rightly Divide God's Word". The Bible clearly tells us that a 'demonic influence' is behind this contrary doctrine, which is a subject no one wants to talk about. The cross represents a major defeat for Satan and his kingdom. This leaves him with one major option or strategy; To pervert (corrupt) The Gospel of Christ in such a way that it loses its ability to provide salvation/eternal life ... WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF ITS FOLLOWERS.
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS
OUTCOME IS TO PERSUADE CHRISTIANS TO
CHOOSE THE WRONG COVENANT PROGRAM -- OR
(MORE COMMONLY) A MAN-MADE RELIGIOUS
PROGRAM THAT ILLEGALLY MIXES/MERGES THE
TWO COVENANTS OF OLD TESTAMENT LAW AND
NEW TESTAMENT GRACE ... INTO ONE
CONFUSING AND CONTRARY PROGRAM THAT GOD
REJECTS.
WHEN THE DECEPTION IS EXECUTED CORRECTLY,
CHRISTIANS STRIVE TO LIVE UNDER A FALSELY
RELIGIOUS PROGRAM THAT GOD DOES NOT HONOR,
WHILE THINKING THEY ARE OBEYING SOUND
DOCTRINE AND FOUNDATIONAL BIBLE TEACHING...
SINCE IT ALL APPEARS TO COME FROM
GOD'S WORD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS REPRESENTS THE SPIRITUAL
CONDITION OF A MAJORITY OF PROFESSING
CHRISTIANS AND CROSSES ALL DENOMINATIONAL
LINES.
The Biggest and Most Dangerous Problem Existing
Within Christendom Involves Deceptive Religious
Doctrines that claims to be "Christian" and
Carries Various Good-sounding Denominational
Names and Labels.
Many Christian Ministers and Bible Teachers
Secretly, Do Not Accept the Fact that...
THE NEW COVENANT OF CHRIST FREELY IMPUTES
(OR BESTOWS) -- AS GOD'S GIFT -- ALL
SALVATION BENEFITS, BASED ON FAITH ONLY.
The Bible Refers to this as "GRACE" OR
"GOD'S UNMERITED FAVOR".
This is Why A Majority of Popular Church
Teachings Quietly Mix And Re-insert Some
Measure or Regiment of Works and Human
Merit Into the Gospel of Christ. According
to the Apostle Paul, who wrote nearly half
of the New Testament...this Popular and
Common Practice Unknowingly Creates A
"Perverted Gospel" and Places a Curse On
All Who Preach it.
We can now understand why the Bible translators inserted special title pages (which were not included in the original manuscripts) ... that separates Scripture into its two Major Covenant Programs. Unfortunately, there are many churches that disagree and quietly attempt to reverse this Biblical separation ... and places congregations under a religious program that God does not honor.
Saint Paul refers to this practice of keeping
the Holy Scriptures separated into its two
major covenant programs as; "Rightly dividing
the Word of God" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Unfortunately, A MAJORITY of professing Christians
and their leaders ignore Paul's command and choose
to interpret the Bible "UNDIVIDED". This
effectively creates a false theology that 'mixes
together' the two radically different covenant
programs of the Bible -- into a single man-made
"unified religious program" that looks and sounds
Biblical. But, it's a religious program that God
does not honor.
This results in the unbiblical belief that 'Israel and the Church' are 'interchangeable' ... where the Church becomes "The New Israel" in the New Testament and is treated as an extension (or continuation) of original Israel's Old Testament program -- ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED OBEDIENCE TO ITS LAW AND COMMANDMENTS. It illegally combines the two radically different covenants in the Bible that God said must remain separated.
As a result, those who handle the Scriptures in such a way assume that when God addresses Israel in the Old Testament - He is also addressing the Church as an 'equal' ... or as being the same as Israel. It also creates the disastrous assumption "that all of God's promises to Israel also applies to the Church".
This is why a vast majority of Christians, when defending certain beliefs, arbitrarily quote Scripture from both the Old Testament and the New ... with little concern that they may be violating the Divine context of the Bible. In their mind; 'It's all God's Word' - so context doesn't matter. Yet the very Bible they claim to reverence strongly condemns this practice and warns that their actions corrupt the tenants of Christ's salvation, which carries serious eternal consequences.
A Majority of Christian Ministers -- and those
that follow them -- Either Ignore, Reject or
Explain-away The Decision of the "First
Jerusalem Apostolic Council" Recorded in Acts
Chapter 15.
Most Christians fail to realize that the "First Jerusalem Apostolic Council", which included all of the early Church leadership (and was led by the apostle James), handed down a judgment that legally defined the Gospel of Grace. Certain Pharisees, who had believed on Jesus Christ, approached the leading apostles and requested (they actually demanded) that the council establish a rule, where the Apostle Paul would be required to include obedience to the Law in his evangelistic message -- as a requirement to be saved.
Paul preached a Gospel that provides salvation (eternal life) as "the gift of God" received by "faith in Christ only" ... and openly warned that "keeping the Law and its works" was no longer required (as it was under the Old Testament program) to receive God's salvation. Keep in mind that, under the Old Testament program, SALVATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE AS "THE GIFT OF GOD" ... AND DURING CHRIST'S EARTHLY MINISTRY, BEFORE THE CROSS, JESUS NEVER TAUGHT THAT SALVATION WAS GOD'S GIFT, BUT RECEIVED BY "KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS" (See Matthew 19:16-17). Jesus didn't preach "eternal life (or salvation) as God's Gift" because it hadn't been paid for by His shed blood at the cross. Paul's evangelistic message was established only on Grace (God's unmerited favor). But, if the works and obedience of the Law were added, Paul's evangelistic message would be perverted with a mixture of Law and Grace, WHICH ACTUALLY CANCELS THE GRACE BY WHICH WE ARE SAVED.
"You have become estranged (separated or cut-off) from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE." (Galatians 5:4 -- Emphasis Added)
"AND IF BY GRACE, THEN IT IS NO LONGER OF WORKS; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." (Romans 11:6)
"Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. BUT TO HIM WHO DOES NOT WORK BUT BELIEVES ON HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS ACCOUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man TO WHOM GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM WORKS: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD SHALL NOT IMPUTE SIN." (Romans 4:4-8)
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Christ, TO A DIFFERENT GOSPEL, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you AND WANT TO PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED." (Galatians 1:6-8)
"FOR AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW ARE UNDER THE CURSE; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” BUT THAT NO ONE IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS EVIDENT, for “the just shall live by faith.” YET THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH..." (Galatians 3:10-12 -- Emphasis Added)
"...NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, THAT HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5-7)
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The unrealized spiritual disaster and its horrific eternal consequences are connected to this popular mixed Gospel and it's hundreds of off-shoots and variants. In one form or another, it is the preferred "theology" that most ministers (but thankfully not all) and the churches they lead preach today. We are not the only ministry giving this warning. Various research studies suggest that a shocking 8 out of 10 - or more - 'professing Christians' and their leaders embrace what the Apostle Paul warned was a "perverted gospel" (or one of its variants) ... believing it to be "sound doctrine and Fundamental Christian teaching" (see Galatians 1:6-8). In our opinion, this popular and common type of "misdirected faith" will be the reason many, who believe they are saved by their "works and Law keeping", will end up missing Heaven. This is an unthinkable disaster, since God made His gift of eternal life available by Grace (God's unmerited favor) to the one who has faith in Christ's "finished work" and his redeeming blood.
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The popular 'Theological Doctrines' that tend to 'merge' the nation of Israel with the Christian Church -- also causes them to be treated as 'interchangeable' in Scripture. It is the foundation for most heretical teaching found within Christendom. The most common justification for this practice is that the Jews (representing Israel) crucified Jesus their Messiah, WHICH CAUSED GOD TO PERMANENTLY REJECT THEM ... THEN REPLACE THEM WITH THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH THAT IS NOW CALLED "THE NEW ISRAEL". This is not a recently created doctrine nor is it some kind of "fringe belief". It started within Roman Catholicism around the 3rd and 4th century and later spread into the Protestant churches and denominations, where it continues today. It travels under many different names and labels, but is most commonly known as "Replacement Theology" (also known as "Supersessionism").
Tragically, a majority of modern-day
Christians and their leaders would
define Christianity according to the
doctrine of Replacement Theology or
one of its many denominational
variants.
In Scripture, Israel and the Church are separate entities that must never be 'interchangeable', because God treats each one according to a different set of covenant rules. This is why the Apostle Paul warned that God's Word must be "rightly divided" if it is to be correctly interpreted (2 Timothy 2:15). But, when the Church is wrongly thought to be "The New Israel", everything is 'mixed together'. Instead of New Testament salvation being only by Grace through faith -- it becomes a counterfeit salvation doctrine (Paul called it a "perverted gospel") available by both Grace and works of the Law.
This is the most widely accepted gospel found within Christendom today ... and the preaching of it brings frightening eternal consequences on the ministers involved.
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