The Two Administrations of Jesus ChristBy William HandschumacherRock of Offence Special Commentary
 
Jesus Continues to Speak
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"See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him (Jesus Christ) who spoke on earth, |
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The Mystery of Christ
"However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
this age knew; for had they
known, they would not have
crucified the Lord of Glory."
(1 Corinthians 2:6-8)
The "rulers of this age" that Paul mentions here are "high order" demonic spirits, which were responsible for planning and orchestrating Christ's crucifixion "behind the scene". If Jesus and His disciples (during His earthly ministry) went around preaching the details of the yet future New Covenant, Paul said that these demonic spirits would have never crucified Christ. Why? The New Covenant in Christ's blood (Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:25) was God's secret plan (Paul calls it "hidden wisdom") to utterly destroy Satan's dominion over the human race. Christ's crucifixion was the centerpiece of God's plan. The New Covenant couldn't exist without the crucifixion of our Lord - since its benefits had to be paid for in Divine blood. As a result of Christ's "information blackout" Satan and his demonic world didn't learn about their mistake until it was too late.
Looking backwards, Paul's words gives us the reason Jesus couldn't provide all the details about the radical New Covenant changes that would later take place after His sacrificial death and the Holy Spirit's arrival on the day of Pentecost.
Jesus told His disciples;
"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me:
receive of mine, and shall shew
it unto you."
(John 16:12-14)
Approximately 7 to 10 years after the cross (according to various Bible historians) Saint Paul received the revelation that contained the New Covenant (Bible scholars call it "the Pauline Revelation"). Concerning this supernatural event Paul comments;
"I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2 Corinthians 12:2-4 - Emphasis Added)
The inexpressible words Paul heard were spoken by the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Contrary to many popular church teachings, the full revelation of the New Covenant was not known before the Pauline revelation - which is why the book of Hebrews warns that Jesus continues to speak from heaven after the cross. Once again, we repeat the previous Scriptural command because of its importance.
"See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him (Jesus Christ) who spoke on earth, |
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We certainly agree with anyone who honors and defends Christ's words. However, we want all of Christ's words honored, especially those that provide the details about the New Covenant ... and not just the ones He spoke while on earth before the cross.
Because the New Covenant, initiated at
the cross through the Blood of Christ,
changed the way salvation was obtained
under the Old Testament program of
the Law.
Once again, this means that some of the things Christ previously taught on earth ... such as how He instructed the "rich young ruler" to be saved in Matthew chapter 19 - RADICALLY CHANGED AFTER THE CROSS. God chose Saint Paul to communicate these changes, WHICH WERE GIVEN TO HIM BY THE RESURRECTED CHRIST NOW LIVING IN HEAVEN. To protect their flawed Old Testament theology, various ministers and liberal theologians warn that; "We should ignore Paul's teachings because they don't agree with what Jesus taught during His earthly ministry".
However, we should keep the following firmly in mind: Paul wrote nearly half of the New Testament Scriptures - so these corrupt ministers and theologians are essentially telling us to "throw out" half of the New Testament! Some estimate that more than two-thirds of Christendom follows, in some measure, their advice to "ignore Paul's doctrine that reveals the New Covenant". But, those who follow this kind of falsely religious instruction have no other choice but to embrace a counterfeit gospel message that carries unthinkable eternal consequences.
When we understand that Paul was called by God to reveal the tenants of the New Covenant, it becomes clear as to why his teachings are different. The same Jesus that told his disciples (shortly before the cross) why He could not reveal these details to them (speaking about His yet future New Covenant program) ... is the same Jesus that released these details exclusively to the Apostle Paul during his trip to heaven in "The Pauline Revelation".
Exposing Another Popular
Way Law And Grace are
Illegally Mixed
The New Covenant is not an extension or a continuation of Old Covenant Law--as many wrongly teach. The New Covenant is a totally "new program" which is based on better promises that make the Old Covenant program obsolete (See Hebrews 8:6-13). This is how the cross of Christ changed everything that existed previously. There are now new rules that govern sin, salvation and the way God relates to the sinner. Through the Gospel, God becomes our Heavenly Father and we (as believers in Christ) become His sons (1 John 3:1-2, John 1:11-13, Romans 8:15-19 and Hebrews 2:9-10 ). As a result, God relates with people living after the cross in an entirely different way that wasn't available under Old Testament Law (the old program).
Jesus had not yet purchased this
Grace-based relationship (called
"God's unmerited favor") with
His sacrificial blood.
"For the Law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus (or the New
Covenant) has made me free from
the Law of sin and death
(speaking of Old Covenant Law)."
(Romans 8:2)
Respecting the Bible's
Context
This section deals with one of the most dangerous threats to the Gospel of Christ. Throughout church history, this practice has caused massive division, confusion - and even life-threatening persecution among God's people - not to mention the eternal consequences involved. The influence we're talking about is the abuse or total disregard for Biblical context and how it corrupts our interpretation of God's Word.
are now warning the Church that
the popularity of some false forms
of Christianity is based on a
dangerous misconception.
For any theology, doctrine or
teaching to be considered 'Divine
truth'...
It must satisfy at least two
qualifications - not just one.
It must be recorded in the
official 'canon' of Scripture.
SECOND:
It must be taught and kept
within the original context
where God placed it. Saint
Paul referred to this respect
for the Bible's context as...
'Rightly dividing the Word.'
(2 Timothy 2:15)
Many of us are aware of dishonest journalists - and even major network news outlets - who are caught quoting politicians and other information sources 'out-of-context'. Most of their audience fails to notice the distortion, which is why it's so effective. As a result, the strategy has been used (and despised) throughout human history as an effective way to manipulate public opinion. The problem here is obvious.
...then they didn't really say what
was reported.
You can use it to quote
what God says about most Biblical
topics.
However, if you lift His words
from their intended context, and
reinsert them into a context of
your own design (in order to
defend your doctrine) - you are
not quoting what God actually
said. You're attempting to make
God say what you want Him to say
as a way to persuade your
listening audience to agree with
your teaching.
But, when Scripture is removed from
its Divine context, it ceases to be
God's Word and becomes a false
religious teaching that sounds like
God's Word.
As a result, God's words and commands (along with the words of the prophets who speak for God) are often quoted 'out-of-context' to validate a teaching that's contrary to His intentions. Yet, most Christians lack the skills to discern the danger with this popular way of handling the Scriptures. Unfortunately, these practices have existed within the Christian Church since the first century. In this study readers may be shocked to discover that many church leaders (but thankfully not all) who teach mainstream denominational doctrine - use this same method as a way to make it appear that God says things ... that He does not say.
Various systems of Bible interpretation exist within the Christian Church. Yet, "coming to a knowledge of the truth" depends on using the method God accepts. Contrary to popular opinion, many methods of interpretation (but thankfully not all) contain dangerous flaws and unbiblical conclusions that lead us astray in our faith. This internal doctrinal war started in the first century and continues to sharply divide the Christian Church today. By closely examining this conflict, we discover that it involves two primary methods of interpreting the Scriptures ... where each is embraced by a devoted group of church leaders and their followers. Both sides passionately believe they are right, which creates an irreconcilable environment. However, one side in this spiritual war is right ... but one side is wrong. To make matters worse each primary group (Note: our discussion is limited to two primary groups for simplicity) actually consists of countless variants and off-shoots that cross all denominational lines and have different names and titles. Since the conflict has continued unabated for nearly 2000 years, we have little hope that anything said in this study will bring a permanent end to the problem.
the two groups in this
doctrinal war consist of;
(and its various 'works') - with
faith in Christ to obtain
salvation.
And...
Those who believe that salvation
is only obtained by Grace through
'faith apart from works' - as
taught in the Epistles of Saint
Paul.