In this issue:
The Gospel of The Kingdom
Over the years that I have been involved in this ministry, I have progressed from one emphasis to another. Several themes have been impressed on my mind and first among them was the truth about the Godhead; the truth that God is not a Trinity, but that He is one Person who has a son, and that the Holy Spirit is the very life of God the Father, and of his son Jesus Christ. This is something that made a really great change in my life and in my understanding of the Bible. For many years that was the main thing I focused on.
About 14 years ago, I came to a better understanding of righteousness by faith and I started focusing on that. Since that time until today this has been at the center of my biblical studies and of my presentations. About nine years ago as a result of understanding righteousness by faith, I began to have a better understanding of spiritual gifts and began to look more closely at the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
As I was thinking about all of this recently, I asked myself the question, “what should be the emphasis?” Because I realize that if we do not have a clearly defined purpose, then after a while the things that we teach tend to become watered-down and muted. It is necessary that there should be a clear understanding of what really is the central thing that God wants to be presented to the world. This is what has led me to refocus on the issue of the gospel of the kingdom. I realize that this is the single topic under which everything else falls, the Godhead, righteousness by faith, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and whatever else is important in the Christian experience. It all comes under the heading of the gospel of the kingdom. Of course this is what the Bible teaches.
The Central Theme
In Matthew 24 when Jesus was speaking to his disciples about the signs of the end, he said in verse 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. (Matt 24:14)
Here we see that Jesus declares that the final message to be preached in the world is, the gospel of the kingdom. In fact when we look at other statements which Jesus makes about this gospel of the kingdom, we see that it is not just the main message that is to be preached, but that it is the only message to be preached. Jesus says the end will come when “this gospel of the kingdom,” is preached to all nations as a witness. It is interesting that every Christian group in the world today claims to be preaching the gospel, however not many of them emphasize the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. Part of the reason is that many of them don’t understand what the kingdom is and what the relationship is between the kingdom, and the gospel of the kingdom.
When we go to Revelation 14, the chapter in which we find the three Angels’ messages, we find a message concerning the preaching of the gospel, in verse 6.
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (Rev 14:6)
In this prophecy that was given to John in the book of Revelation, we find the same truth expressed; the final message to be preached to the world is the everlasting gospel, which Jesus declared to be the gospel of the kingdom. It is not something which emerges at the end of time, but it is something that is everlasting, it is what Jesus preached when he was here, and it is what should be preached, and should continue to be preached right through to the end of time. It is evident that when we understand the gospel of the kingdom properly, then many of the false teachings that are floating around automatically fall into their proper place. They are easily seen for the deceptions, and the distractions that they really are.
The first person who proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom was John the Baptist. In Matthew 3:1,2 we read,
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt 3:1-2)
John began preaching six months before Jesus was baptized and began his ministry. The focus of his message was, the gospel of the kingdom. Notice that John’s emphasis was that this kingdom was “at hand.” In other words the kingdom was imminent, it was something about to be set up. This is the reason why his message had such great power, this is the reason why people came out in droves to listen to what he had to say and to be baptized by him in the Jordan. The people had the understanding that the kingdom of God was to be set up on earth and so the message of John electrified them, they were filled with great excitement and anticipation of what was about to happen!
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt 4:17)
Jesus himself preached the same message as John the Baptist. While he did many mighty miracles and taught a great deal about righteousness and holy living, the great emphasis of his ministry was, the gospel of the kingdom. When we look at Matthew 5:7-10, we see that this is also the message which the disciples carried. Jesus sent them out to preach the same message as he and John the Baptist were preaching.
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. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Matt 10:5-8)
This was also the message of the apostles:
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)
This emphasis is all over the New Testament. The underlying theme to everything that they taught and did, was, the gospel of the kingdom, and Jesus says that this is the message which is to be preached in all the world until the end of time.
The meaning of the Message
The full significance and importance of this cannot be appreciated until we dig a little deeper and find out what is this gospel of the kingdom of God. The word “gospel,” as we know, means, “good news.” When Jesus began to preach that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, (meaning in close proximity), the people understood him to mean that Israel was about to be restored to prominence. They thought that God was about to exalt their nation to be the greatest nation on earth and that all the promises of the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many other prophets were about to be fulfilled. For them this was good news, the fulfillment of all the dreams and expectations of Israel. This is why the message of John the Baptist, the disciples, and Jesus himself stirred up the nation of Israel so much, it awakened the hopes and dreams of an entire nation.
What exactly was this message of the kingdom? Jesus’ teachings were full of this theme. Most of his parables began with, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto …”, But there is no single place where he clearly outlines in a simple way the exact meaning of the gospel of the kingdom. Of course when we talk about the kingdom, the prophecy of Daniel chapter 2 comes readily to mind. There we find that God tells us of a kingdom which is to destroy all the kingdoms of this world and which will itself become a great mountain and fill the whole earth.
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. (Dan 2:44)
This is the physical setting up of the kingdom which we don’t expect to see until Jesus returns. Revelation 11:15 also points to the same event when it says,
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Rev 11:15)
So we know there is going to be a physical setting up of the physical kingdom. But Jesus and his apostles taught, from that time two thousand years ago, that the kingdom was at hand, was about to be established, so what did they really mean? What were they referring to? In Luke chapter 17 we find the Pharisees coming to Jesus with the very same question, they wanted to know when the kingdom of God would be set up:
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21)
Since they were expecting a physical kingdom, the Pharisees did not recognize the kingdom of Jesus. But Jesus said, “the kingdom which I have been preaching about, the one which is “at hand, about to be set up, does not come with observation, you can’t see it with your eyes, it’s not something that is visible but it is something that is established in the hearts of men.”
What exactly was Jesus talking about? It was something that was not yet here because he, as well as John and also the disciples preached saying, “it is at hand, meaning it was near, but had not yet arrived.” This expectation that it was very near is what created such excitement among the people, they knew that the kingdom of God was about to be established. Let us examine a few other verses which make this absolutely clear:
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16)
Here Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God was not something which existed before the time of John. John was the first person who preached the kingdom was about to be set up. But what was there before the kingdom of God was set up? Jesus said, it was “the law and the prophets.” So the law and the prophets was one system through which God worked with his people, it was one system by which God related to those who were called his people. Every Israelite was under the system of the law and the prophets, meaning that this system was what governed and controlled their lives. This is perfectly in harmony with the truth of the two covenants, there is the old covenant and there is the new covenant; there was the age of the law and the prophets and now Jesus had come to replace that system with the kingdom of God. Let’s look at another even more striking verse in Matthew chapter 11.
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matt 11:11)
This is one of those verses that I did not understand for a long time, because it did not make sense from the perspective of how I used to understand the kingdom. Jesus said that the greatest of the prophets up until that time was John the Baptist. He was greater than all who ever lived before him including all the heroes of the Old Testament. But then he said that the least in the kingdom was greater than John and of course, greater than all who had ever lived on the earth up to that point in time! This includes people such as Moses, Elijah, Enoch and all the other outstanding Bible characters from the Old Testament. How could this be? If we say that John was greater than all of them then this is understandable because John actually baptized Jesus. But who are these people of whom Jesus is speaking when he refers to, “the least in the kingdom of heaven?” Who are these people who are greater than John and greater than all who lived before John?
When the kingdom of glory is finally set up in the new earth, John will be there, Moses will be there, Elijah will be there and so will all the other faith-heroes of the Old Testament, but is Jesus saying that the least in that physical kingdom will be greater than they? Who are these to whom he refers as that, “least in the kingdom?”
This verse did not make sense to me until I came to understand that the kingdom of heaven was not something that was set up before the time of John, but was something established by Jesus. So none of God’s people before the time of John experienced this kingdom, and in fact, even John himself did not experience it! But all of God’s people since the time of Jesus have experienced this kingdom, and the least of these people who have experienced this kingdom is greater than the greatest of those who never did! The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater then the greatest of the old covenant people of God and what makes the difference is experiencing of the kingdom. Those who experience it are greater in privilege and experience than those who never did. This is what the verse is saying.
A New Experience
Now Jesus came and established this kingdom. He explained the nature of this kingdom when he said, “the kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus had come to bring a different experience to his people, which had never been available before. Many people do not realize this, but it is very clear when we examine the teachings of the New Testament; Jesus Christ brought a change in the history of humanity, a change in the way God was dealing with his people, he brought something that had never been available before and this something was called, “the kingdom of God.” When we look at a few other verses, it becomes clear what Jesus was referring to when he spoke about the kingdom of God. Let us look at his words in John chapter 7:
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39)
This is another of those passages in the Bible which on the surface is not easy to understand. We are told here the Holy Spirit had not yet been given; Jesus was promising an experience to his disciples which they did not yet possess and this was the experience of receiving the Holy Spirit. Now let us remember that at the time when Jesus made this statement, he had already given his disciples the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out devils. The Holy Spirit was already working mightily through the disciples and yet we are told that the Holy Spirit had not yet been given! In other words, although the power of the Holy Spirit was working mightily through these disciples, it was not the same as the experience they would have when the Holy Spirit was given! At that time they would have rivers of living water flowing from their bellies, but they did not yet have this experience in spite of the fact that the Holy Spirit was already working mightily through them.
So it is clear that when Jesus spoke about the coming of the Holy Spirit, he was not speaking only of the power of the spirit working in people, the power which was working in his disciples and which had been working in the great prophets of former times. No, when he spoke of this river of living water flowing from the belly of his people, he was talking about something, much greater. Something that would make the least of those who experienced it, greater than all who had ever lived before!
Life Itself
Of course, the question will be asked, “what can be greater than the power of the Holy Spirit?” To answer this question, let us look at something that Jesus said in John chapter 10:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Why would Jesus come to give his people life if they already had life before he came? Jesus came to give life by introducing an experience with the Holy Spirit which was brand-new, something which had never existed before in the history of the earth, something which had not been experienced by the great men of former ages. During the time of the law and the prophets the presence of the Holy Spirit among God’s people was not the same as it was after Jesus came. In John 14:19, in speaking of the coming of the comforter, Jesus said,
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14:19,20)
Let us take careful note of what Jesus said here: at the time when he was speaking these words, according to Jesus, the disciples did not yet have life! As far as the life which he had come to give was concerned, they did not yet possess it! There is a sense in which they were not alive, there is a sense in which none of God’s people had yet obtained life and this included all who ever lived before Jesus came! When Jesus said, “I am come that they may have life,” he is speaking of bringing life to the human race, something that the human race did not yet possess. Now he referred to the time when he would return as a comforter and he said of that time, “because I live you shall live also.” He explained what he was speaking about in verse 17.
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)
Never Before Available
Earlier we saw that Jesus said that the kingdom of God is “within you.” (Luke 17:21). Now he talks about the coming of the holy spirit (Comforter) which was not yet given, and he says, “at that day, this comforter who is now with you, shall be in you.” In other words, the coming of the Comforter was the coming of the kingdom of God inside of his people. At the moment the kingdom was with them, or among them in the person of Jesus, but on that day when he came to live within, that is where the kingdom would be.
During Old Testament time there were people who received and experienced the inspiration and power of the holy spirit, but it is very important to understand that the power of the holy spirit is not the same as the saving life of Jesus Christ, it is not the same as the Comforter which came at Pentecost. Remember the statement, “the holy ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” In fact, this comforter did not even exist before Jesus came as a man! What I mean is, it was necessary that a divine person should become a human being, to pass through the human experience, to conquer sin as a human being, to conquer Satan and to even conquer death! Until this happened no human being could have salvation, because the salvation of humanity was not a reality until Jesus had passed through all these things.
In Hebrews 5:7-9, we read:
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Heb 5:7-9)
Can we see what is being said in these verses? Jesus was made perfect by the things which he suffered and yet, Jesus was morally perfect from the day he was born. This word “perfect” in this context, does not refer to moral perfection, but to being perfect as our Savior – being perfectly qualified to give us salvation. “Being made perfect,” he became the author of our salvation. Before passing through that perfecting experience, Jesus was not qualified to save anyone, he was not perfect, or qualified to be our Savior. So in terms of actually possessing salvation, nobody had it before Jesus was perfected through the things which he suffered. This is why we see the word, “NOW,” used in Revelation 12:10 when the coming of salvation is described. After his resurrection Jesus was taken up to heaven, to the throne of God, and according to the book of Revelation (and other places), at that time, Satan was permanently thrown out of heaven.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Rev 12:10)
Upon his return to heaven he was glorified with the power and glory of the Father (John 17:5) as the Father gave him the holy spirit in unlimited measure. The spirit of the Father was united with the spirit of Christ in such a way that both the Father and the Son come to us as one spirit, or through the conduit of the same one spirit (Eph 2:18). Jesus explained it in this way:
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 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. (John 17:22-23)
So the presence of the holy spirit is the presence of BOTH the Father and the Son. Truly, it is the Father and the Son dwelling within those who receive the holy spirit. This is what constitutes the practical experience of salvation, it is the almighty power of God, plus the victorious life of Jesus Christ, imparted to the believer to make him into a new creation, inheriting Jesus’ life of victory over sin and Satan. In order to understand the full implications of what Jesus did, we must realize that the spirit of God by itself, cannot save humanity. The life of God alone cannot accomplish man’s salvation, there is an essential component that must be added and this is a life which has faced and defeated, the great elements of sin which dominate humanity. These are, sin’s power (fallen human nature), sin’s consequence (death) and sin’s author (Satan). God did not experience these things and therefore, the spirit of God cannot save by itself. It must be accompanied by the life (the spirit) of Christ who himself did experience these things and now possesses these qualities to impart to us, thereby delivering us from the dominion of sin. God’s spirit can give us power, but not life. It is the life of Christ, shared with us which gives us life, therefore, both these things are combined together, and come to us as the Comforter.
But somebody will say that God can do anything he chooses in any way he chooses and that it is wrong to say that God could not save man without Jesus Christ. Some will object by saying that we are limiting God. It is true that none of us can say what God can, or cannot do, but what we do know is that God works in the best possible way and by the best possible method. In light of the issues involved in the conflict with Satan, in light of his wisdom and justice, in light of the dilemma of the human race, God designed a perfect plan to save humanity, and this plan involved the life, death and resurrection of his Son. It was not an arbitrary or optional plan, it was the perfect plan to fulfill all the necessary requirements to accomplish that salvation. There are laws and principles which God works by, laws of fair play and justice and God works within the framework of those laws in accomplishing the salvation of mankind. From this perspective, no other method could have worked and therefore, from this perspective, only the life of Christ can save men. This is what the plan involved and there is no alternative method. Without the saving life of Christ, there was no salvation provided and so, nobody could have experienced salvation, could have received life, before Jesus passed through the incarnation and provided this life of victory for us. Therefore the apostle Paul tells us,
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (1Cor 15:17)
Moses, Enoch and Elijah
Now this life of Jesus Christ is not just the kingdom of God in terms of our salvation, but it is also the kingdom of God in terms of strength and power. Revelation 12:10 says that salvation and strength came “NOW,” that is, at the point when Jesus went back to heaven and cast Satan out. There was no salvation before that. Still, we have the record that people like Enoch and Elijah were taken out of the world and not permitted to come under the power of death, how could this be if they had not received salvation? We have two things clearly taught by the Bible, one is that salvation only came with the arrival of Jesus Christ; the other is the reality that the Bible says there were some people before Christ who were taken away without seeing death. How do we reconcile these two facts?
What we have to conclude is that people such as Enoch and Elijah were given long life, not eternal life. They were given an extended existence, not permitted to die, but we should understand that long life is not the same as eternal life. Eternal life is a quality of existence, not an extension of existence. If Christ had failed in accomplishing our salvation, these men would have had to die because they were living, as it were, on borrowed time, in a temporary existence. Paul refers to the experience of Moses, Enoch and Elijah in Hebrews 11, and says,
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Heb 11:39-40)
Moses, Enoch and Elijah had to wait on the perfecting experience. They were not made perfect before the rest of us. It was the offering of Jesus Christ which made that perfecting experience become a reality for them.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Heb 10:14)
The Power of the Kingdom
Jesus brought us salvation, but he brought us more. Along with salvation he brought us the power of the kingdom. Jesus promised that his people would receive power, he said that certain miraculous signs would follow those who believe. They would heal the sick, cast out devils, cleanse lepers and raise the dead. These miraculous abilities are the legitimate gifts given to those who are a part of his kingdom. It is Christ himself who lives in his people and the power of Jesus is not limited. He is just as mighty and just as present to do these mighty works as when he walked here in the flesh two thousand years ago. We have lived in darkness, we have struggled because we have had a problem in experiencing and exercising faith, but the more we understand these truths and feed on them, the more our faith will continue to grow.
In the very near future everything that the apostles did in terms of mighty, miracles will be repeated by those who are truly God’s people, but this will not be because God chooses to do something new. When the kingdom of God came two thousand years ago, salvation came to God’s people, but not salvation only, strength and power also came. This is the truth, but today we struggle against the darkness and impotence of two thousand years and it is difficult for us to step into that kind of faith. Yet I believe God is taking us there and it is just a matter of time, as we continue to walk in the light that he shines on our pathway. He is educating us, opening up our understanding, and this is a prelude to what is about to happen.
This truth about the kingdom is intrinsically tied in with some of the great truths which we have come to understand: the truth about God, the truth about the baptism of the holy spirit, the truth of righteousness by faith. All these things are inextricably linked to each other and Jesus gave it to us in one package when he said, “this gospel of the kingdom.” This is what is to be preached in all the world and really, there is no other message, everything else is just a distraction. Let us be sure that we are involved in the message that will triumph.
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Did Christ Die For The Law?
This is a strange question, yet I ask it because I have discovered that this is what the theology of some people requires them to believe. There is indeed a prevailing idea that the main reason why Christ had to come and die, was in order to uphold the validity of the law, was in order to fulfill the penalty required by the law. In other words, that Christ’s sacrifice was law-oriented.
But as I have said repeatedly, Christ did not die for the law. Jesus came to defend God’s righteousness and God’s name and God’s government, not to make a statement about a set of basic rules, this is a distortion of the truth and it results in a defacing of the gospel. This is why the truth has to be repeated in spite of the furious opposition which always arises when we emphasize that it is all about Christ and not about the law. The law is not, and was never the issue. This idea which places the law at the center, stems from the misconception that from the beginning, the issue was a broken law. The idea is that the law is the central reality in the universe and so, when it was broken, all the efforts in the universe had to be exercised to exalt it and to repair the damage done to the law.
This is a wrong paradigm, but it is the prevailing framework which lies at the foundation of the faith of many, and it forms the basis of serious false ideas.
The issue from the beginning was not a broken law, but a broken relationship, this is what needed to be fixed. God’s children had turned against him, rejected him and he needed to find a way to fix the separation that existed. The law was only a means of showing that there was an issue, it was only a way of revealing that something was wrong with the relationship. The broken law was not the cause of the broken relationship and that broken relationship could not be repaired by any plan which focused the law. This is easily understood when we realize that before Adam or Eve took the fruit, they first of all stopped trusting God. The relationship of love and trust was broken in their minds and spirits. The broken law was ONLY a demonstration of what had already happened.
If a broken law was the issue then it was easy to fix. All God had to do was replace the fruit and warn Adam and Eve never to touch it again – as simple as that – Problem solved!! But we know it was not so simple because the law was NOT the issue, it was the broken relationship that was the problem.
If Adam and Eve had decided to take the fruit, but just as they were about to take it, God appeared and they changed their minds, would there have been a problem? Would the issue of sin not have been an issue at that point when in their minds and hearts they had stopped trusting God? The answer is obvious; long before one person betrays another, the evil attitude which leads to the betrayal already began in the person’s heart. Actions are only the fruit of what has already taken place in the heart of a person. It was the same with Adam and Eve, the act of taking the fruit, thus breaking the rule, was a minor issue, the really harmful thing was the distrust of God which had arisen in their hearts.
Yet our religion has turned things upside down and placed the law at the center of everything so that in our thinking even Jesus came to uphold the law. So we think that the issue centers around man, and man’s abilities to keep the law, rather than on God’s great love and sacrifice in working out a way for the broken relationship to be repaired. That way was to reunite God and man in the person of God’s son, and to adopt us into his family by giving us his own life. There can never be any way of reconciliation more complete and perfect than this. Becoming a part of a family is the greatest form of reconciliation that can ever exist.
It was never about the law. It is true that under the typical system of the Old Covenant, conformity to ten rules represented righteousness, but we should understand that it was only a representation. In the new covenant, the observance of ten rules is not righteousness at all, it is only a demonstration of basic morality which most church people practice. The righteousness of the new covenant is the reality of God living inside his people and manifesting his own glorious life in them, in a demonstration far higher than anything demanded by the ten commandments.
Now we do walk in harmony with the law, but this is only one incidental fruit of the new identity that we now possess. What we were given is a divine identity so that we now operate as God operates, as sons of the living God. If we keep the law, it is because God keeps the law. Yet it is absurd to say God keeps the law, because this suggests that God is accountable to the law and must conform to it. We know that God is author and Lord of the law and that the law is simply a limited expression of what God is. The law conforms to God, God does not conform to the law. God is the reality while the law is a limited expression of the reality. The original does not keep the expression, it is the other way around. It is the same with those who share the life of God in Christ.
This is the new covenant between God and his people.
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Do Works Justify?
Recently I criticized the use of a certain word by James, in his epistle addressed to the 12 tribes. In chapter 2 of this epistle James writes:
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (Jas 2:24)
I stated that when James used the word, “justified,” he chose a wrong word and stated that this faulty word has resulted in false conclusions about justification. Works have nothing to do with how we are justified before God and this directly contradicts what Paul says in Romans 3:20:
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Rom 3:20)
The fact that I dared to criticize the use of this word by James, caused a storm of protest on Facebook, and among other things it was said that “my hero” Paul, said exactly the same thing as James did in Romans 2:13, when he wrote,
“(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” (Rom 2:13)
I completely disagree with this assertion. Paul does not agree with James on this issue of justification and this verse in Romans 2 is certainly not an indication that he believed in being justified by doing the law. This is another example of the way people read the Bible without understanding, looking at verses in isolation, but failing to understand the broader context of what is being discussed. People fall into this trap especially when reading the writings of Paul.
Romans chapters 1-3 are part of one extended argument where Paul is trying to prove that every single person in the world is in need of salvation. If you miss this overall picture you will mess up what Paul is saying pretty badly as most people are doing.
In Romans chapter 1, Paul demonstrates what everybody already knows, that is, that the Gentiles are great sinners. He mentions their rejection of God, even though they are able to see evidence of his existence in the things that are created, and he says that as a consequence, they embrace homosexual practices along with other depraved behaviors. He concludes by saying that the judgment of God is that those who practice such things are worthy of death.
Then in chapters 2 and 3 Paul sets out to prove something else which is more difficult to establish, and that is, that the Jews are also EQUALLY guilty, and equally in need of salvation. This part of Paul’s letter is addressed to Jews and his arguments are based on the beliefs of the Jews in relation to their attitude to the law and their understanding of it. It takes careful reading to follow Paul’s line of reasoning and as I said, most people only read verses, they don’t see the connection between thoughts, ideas and the illustrations used. This limited approach contributes to massive misunderstanding of Paul’s writings.
1. First of all, Paul says that having the law means nothing if those who have it do not keep it. (Rom 2:25)
2. Then he shows that the Jews do not keep the law and that therefore they are condemned by the law itself (Rom 2:17-23; Rom 3:9-20).
3. He reminds them that it is not those who hear the law who will be justified, but those who do the law
“(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” (Rom 2:13)
Is Paul here teaching justification by law-keeping? No, Paul does not contradict himself. What he is doing is using the Jews’ understanding of justification, he is actually making reference to something said in the law, which formed the basis of the Jews’ understanding of salvation.
“Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.” (Lev 18:5)
This is what the law teaches, that if a man DOES what the law says, he will live. The law teaches acceptance, or justification on the basis of what we do. Paul comments on the same verse in Galatians chapter 3 where he says,
“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” (Gal 3:11-12)
The law does not teach faith, it teaches DOING, so Paul says, it is NOT OF FAITH. But how do the just (those who are justified) live? “The just shall live by faith,” not by doing. This is Paul’s argument and he is not saying anything different in Romans 2:13.
In essence, Paul is saying, “the law which you base your entire religion on, says that those who do it, will live, will be justified, will be accepted by God, but NONE of you actually keep the law, you only possess it in writing. Therefore, you are in the SAME boat as the gentiles, because having the law is not what matters, it is DOING it that counts.”
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, (Rom 2:17)
Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? (Rom 2:22)
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? (Rom 2:3)
Careful examination demonstrates that Paul does NOT teach justification by works.
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Liberated From Legalism
To those still in Laodicea
One of the passages which is widely misunderstood and misused, it Romans 7:14-20.
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Rom 7:14-20)
What exactly is the apostle Paul saying in Romans chapter 7? There can be no question that the person Paul describes in this passage is in a most miserable condition. He declares that he is carnal (having a strong internal inclination to sin), that he is in fact, a slave to sin and that he is incapable of doing the right things. Those who have accepted the idea that the Christian life is a constant struggle with sin, with frequent defeats, love to quote this passage. In their understanding Paul is here speaking of his own experience as a Christian and is describing the normal Christian life in this passage – a life where sin constantly dominates and defeats the Christian.
Is this interpretation correct? Is Paul saying, “I am a wretched man, a slave to sin, living under continual defeat” – in a condition where whenever he tries to do good, he constantly finds himself doing evil? This unquestionably is the condition of the man described here, in Romans chapter 7. It is incredible to me that anybody who understands the victory which is in Jesus Christ could believe that this refers to the condition of a surrendered Christian! This has nothing to do with whether or not a person is still living in physical flesh, or whether or not a person is still capable of committing acts of transgression. Paul is describing a person whose habitual lifestyle is to transgress the law!
Each time I look at this passage I am mystified and disturbed that any Christian should confess that this is his condition. I will never have such a defeated lifestyle imposed on me and I utterly reject that false suggestion! Why do they so completely ignore what Paul says in Romans chapter 8? Why do they divorce it from the statements made in chapter 7? I encourage all wretched, miserable, defeated Christians who are reading this article to carefully consider the following statements by the apostle Paul and know that you can be delivered here and now from that wretched state.
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Rom 8:5-10)
I have been told that the reason why I take a different view of Paul’s statement in Romans 7, is because I am an extremist, and that I need to take the “middle ground.” In other words, to accept that the Christian life is not a life of victory over sin, but to embrace the teaching that constant defeat by sin, is normal to our experience. This supposed “middle ground” which makes salvation so ambiguous and uncertain that people can feel no assurance of victory is plainly of the devil. This is why many can never rise above the label and the mindset of “Laodicea.” It is a people who are constantly doomed to identify themselves as being, “wretched and miserable, poor and blind and naked,” constantly repenting, endlessly bemoaning their miserable state and yet, by their very tragic theology, never seeing the possibility of rising above it! By their very definition they are doomed to be forever wretched and miserable, poor blind and naked. By the very condition that they embrace they confess that it is impossible for them to see or to be clothed!
A person is naked because he does not possess Christ’s righteousness. Let me challenge you with a question: do you possess the righteousness of Christ? This is the solution to the nakedness of Laodicea! It is a solution to the wretched condition in which many love to confess themselves as being. Do you possess this righteousness? I cannot any longer refer to myself as being that “O wretched man!” Described by Paul in Romans 7. Why should I deny the grace of God? Why should I allow insipid false modesty to make me deny the truth that the salvation in Jesus Christ has delivered me from the law of sin and death? When a man has been delivered and he confesses that he still a slave he is a liar and he is dishonoring the one who has delivered him!
Some have tried to suggest that I am taking glory to myself because I no longer confess to being a wretched sinner. For some strange reason they have chosen to interpret this to mean that I am suggesting that by my own works I have become victorious over sin. This is a strange conclusion because there has not been even the slightest hint in anything I have suggested which should have led to that conclusion. This conclusion is the consequence of a bias and a mindset which predisposes them to object to everything which does not fit into their paradigm.
I confess that I am free to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and my Father God! Where have I stated that this is due to my effort, to my law keeping or to my ability? I have endeavored to glorify and to give thanks to Jesus for what I am! In truth and in fact, it is those who are objecting who are bringing dishonor to the Lord because they are measuring people by their performance rather than viewing them through the lens of what God has done in Jesus Christ! But this is natural because legalism can never accept victory! When measured by the law who can say I am righteous? None of us, not a single one! But with their law-oriented view of salvation there never is a single day that they can ever say, “I have been victorious”! This is not possible when a person measures himself by his deeds because with the law-focused view of righteousness, it is a sin to forget, It is a sin to lick one’s fingers between meals, it is a sin to raise your voice, it is a sin if your mind drifts to an inappropriate thought! You can never fulfil all the specifications and so until the Lord returns, you are doomed to the, “O wretched man that I am” religion.
How can you ever escape Laodicea if you perpetually confess that you are Laodicea? When will the repenting end and the victory be claimed? The answer is, never! This twisted way of thinking is so self-destructive that if those who embrace it ever profess to have been delivered from their blindness, their nakedness, their wretched state, then they will naturally begin to condemn themselves for daring to think that they can be victorious!
We view the world through two different eyes and not only do we not agree, we cannot agree. I don’t read the Bible through the eyes and the theology of any particular denomination – not any more. For me the greatest question is no longer what Jones and Waggoner said, or even what statements Ellen White made on any particular issue. I am reading the Bible and taking what I see there as the truth. This is what is defining my thinking and liberating me from legalism, this is what is filling me with the joy of salvation, and blowing my mind with an appreciation of the amazing grace of God! Praise God, I can no longer be bound to dismal, discouraging, defeated religion. I’m truly sorry that so many of us walk around with the burden of sin strapped to our backs when Christ and liberation are so close at hand.
Cataracts
Lenworth Frankson
As we age our hair turns gray, our skin wrinkles and sags and our eyes undergo a number of changes. Although many of these changes are part of the normal aging process some set the stage for more serious eye problems.
As our eyes age, eyelid muscles weaken, and skin becomes thinner and more flaccid. This can cause the upper lid to droop or the lower lid to sag. Eye- lashes and eyebrows may lose their lushness and thin out considerably. Our tear glands produce less tears, and the oily film that tears provide decreases as lubricating glands fail. These changes can lead to a buildup of mucus, resulting in stickiness, or make the cornea dry. The conjunctiva becomes more fragile and takes on a yellowish tinge, the white of the eye (sclera) also assumes a yellow hue from a collection of lipid, or fat deposits. Calcium may deposit in the sclera, leading to patches of grayish translucency. The exposed conjunctiva between the lids begins to degenerate, and the cornea can develop an opaque white ring around its edge. The retina thins and may grow less sensitive because of cell loss. With time, the lens hardens and loses its elasticity. making it more difficult to focus on near objects, a common condition called presbyopia. You might also find that night vision grows poorer.
Cataract & Glaucoma
Clouding of the lens, which is called cataract, usually develops slowly over many years. It may go unnoticed until the cloudiness blocks the central line of sight and impairs vision. Over time, the frontal chamber in each eye may become shallower in some people, for example those who have small eyes and are farsighted. This raises the risk of blockage of the aqueous humor drainage system near the iris. The resulting fluid backup may lead to higher pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve, a condition known as glaucoma. Left untreated, it can cause blindness. Because glaucoma can silently steal sight before symptoms develop, it is important to have routine eye exams.
eye conditions and diseases
Research from a recent study has shown a link between common eye conditions and the risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. One of the possible explanations that scientists are looking at is that these three, eye diseases, Alzheimer’s and dementia, have a joined common causative factor. That common factor is that they are linked to cardiovascular disease.
Glaucoma has been linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, and poor blood circulation.
Age related macular degeneration involves breakdown of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. It has also been linked to heart disease.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs in people with diabetes when high levels of blood sugar damage blood vessels in the retina. There are strong links between diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
Cataracts are the clouding of the lenses of the eyes and are more likely to develop as we age. They don’t however; appear to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or other types of dementia.
Alzheimer’s
A study focused on the changes in thoughts for adults began in 1994 and included 5,400 dementia free adults. The participants were followed until they decided to leave the study, died, or developed dementia. The researchers found that people with age-related macular degeneration were 20% more likely to develop dementia compared with people who did not have the eye disease. People with diabetic retinopathy were 44% more likely to develop dementia than those without. The participants in the study with a recent glaucoma diagnosis, but not participants with established disease, had a 44% higher rate of dementia.
Eye exams
Can eye exams tell us if we are destined to develop dementia in the future and can it help to prevent it? The answer to this question hopefully, will be yes for the future but not for now. Eye exams are valuable in detecting eye disease early so it can be treated but they can’t at this time give predictive information about your brain’s future health. There are some things we can take from the study when it comes to avoiding Alzheimer’s disease. Presently the only known way to prevent Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is to prevent cardiovascular disease. So if we do all the things that we can do to prevent heart attack and stroke it will help in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. This means treating high blood pressure and cholesterol, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a regular exercise program.
If you have a family history of cardiovascular disease or a history of cardiovascular related eye diseases, you may want to be even more attentive in controlling your personal risk factors.
Natural Applications
Youthful looking healthy eyes often express how we feel as well as help us to defy our age. Our eyes and the area surrounding our eyes often act as windows to our wellness. Our eyes need about eight hours of sound sleep as well as a well-balanced organic diet with lots of dark green leafy vegetables. However, there are some natural applications that can help to regain the youthful vitality of our eyes, with many of the ingredients easily available.
Grapes
Grapes are a rich source of antioxidants and are very useful in eliminating wrinkles and fine lines around eyes very effectively. Crush a handful of grapes and strain out the juice. Dip a clean cotton ball into this juice and apply it over the eyelids and skin areas surrounding your eyes. The fruit juice gives peeling effect to the skin and fends off wrinkles around eyes with regular use.
Honey
Honey is another very valuable home treatment for aging eyes. Regular application of warm organic honey on the delicate skin around eyes will help in retaining the suppleness of skin. Fine lines can be effectively fended off with regular honey massage. Try to select the best quality bee’s honey in order to get the desired results. Unfiltered raw honey is a good choice. Antioxidants in honey do the trick of rejuvenating the skin around the eyes.
Potato
Using potatoes is a simple yet effective way that can work wonders in getting rid of tired looking and aging eyes. Juice from freshly grated raw potato can be applied around the eye areas to combat aging signs. You can even mix potato juice with organic honey to get increased benefits. The anti-aging properties of potatoes are great in removing dark under eye circles.
Virgin Coconut Oil
Extra virgin coconut oil is well known for its skin nourishing benefits and has been used for hundreds of years in many cultures. Wrinkle prevention can be done effectively by gently massaging the areas surrounding eyes with warm coconut oil. You can massage the eye area for 10 to 5 minutes. Virgin olive oil and almond oil can also be used to get the same benefits.
Cucumber
Placing cucumber slices above eyelids is a very simple and popular home application for keeping aging away. The juice of the cucumber is excellent in preventing wrinkles and fine lines around the eye area. If your eyes are tired and puffy, this vegetable with its soothing properties when applied can bring relief.
Tea Bags
Tea bags can be refrigerated for a few minutes and then pressed on the eyelids to get a rejuvenating feeling. Pressing the cooled herbal tea bags will give the added benefit of removing wrinkles around the eyes. Eye bags can also be effectively prevented with this home remedy.
Egg Whites
Egg whites are considered to be another effective home treatment for aging eyes. Properly beaten egg whites can be applied all over skin to enhance tightness and suppleness of skin. It can enhance the youthful look of the skin around the eyes by bringing back the lost skin elasticity. Reducing puffy eyes by applying tiny amount of frothy egg white above eyelids can also help. This can be rinsed off after 15 minutes. Egg white can also be mixed with lemon juice when applying.
Avocados
Avocados are rich creamy fruits that do a wonderful job in removing fine lines and creases around eyes. The crushed pulp of the fruit can be liberally applied on the skin to reduce under eye wrinkles. Soft skin under and around eyes is guaranteed with regular application of fresh avocado mash. This creamy eye treatment is sure to deliver the desired results.
Grape Seed Oil
Grape seed oil is enriched with many skin nutritious elements that can help in maintaining youthful appearance of skin around your eyes. Potent antioxidants contained in this home therapy are beneficial in undoing skin damage and in mending skin flaws around the eyes.
Mint
Mashed mint leaves and mint juice are great in retaining youthful looking eyes. Mint juice can be applied on the skin surrounding the eyes. The antioxidants in mint are excellent in removing wrinkles around eyes. There are many herbal creams available with mint extract that work to reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles and wrinkles. Buying expensive beauty products is unnecessary when you can get the same results using home treatments. Since our eyes and the area around our eyes are delicate we need to use safe and natural ingredients.
Vision Care Tips
Everyone should have a regular dilated exam every year or two years and a dilated exam annually after age 60, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA). Between routine visits, you can take these essential steps, which may maintain or improve your vision:
● Eat at least 5 servings daily of fruits and vegetables (dark green leafy vegetables)
● Don’t smoke.
● Take regular breaks while doing computer work and other tasks that mostly involve your eyes.
● Wear your glasses. This sounds obvious, but many people with low to moderate vision loss leave their glasses at home or tucked in a pocket or purse because of vanity or forgetfulness.
● Wear sunglasses that protect your eyes 100% from UVA and UVB rays. Wear them even on cloudy days.
● Closely follow the recommended schedule for cleaning and wearing contact lenses.
● Know your family’s eye history and share this information with your healthcare providers.
● If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, make sure these conditions are under control.
Devices and Blue Light
You are probably using digital devices for hours each day at work and at home. These devices are exposing your eyes to high-energy blue light. It is called blue light because the wavelengths emitted are near the bluer part of the spectrum. Lutein & Zeaxanthin are eye nutrients that are concentrated in the macula and help filter blue light. Our bodies on their own cannot produce these two nutrients, so they must be obtained through diet and/or supplements.
Here are some other tips to help when you’re on your computer:
● Keep your computer screen within 20″-24″ of your eye.
● Keep the top of your computer screen slightly below eye level.
● Adjust lighting to minimize glare on the screen.
● Blink frequently.
● Take a break every 20 minutes to focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
● Use lubricating eye drops to soothe irritated, dry eyes.
People with vision problems are more likely than those with good vision to have diabetes, poor hearing, heart problems, high blood pressure, lower back pain and stroke, as well as have increased risk for falls, injury and depression. 52 percent of people age 65 and older who are blind and 41.7 percent of those with impaired vision have overall fair to poor health. Ageing does not mean the end of the road for our eyes.
In Genesis chapter 48:10 we read: “Now the eyes of Israel (Jacob) were dim for age, so that he could not see.” Like Jacob, our eyes age and become weak, but with proper care, nutrition and adequate rest we might be able to experience clearer or improved vision, an important part of our overall health and functionality. Our eyes along with the rest of our bodies are slowly deteriorating but there are things we can do to minimize this. David’s prayer in psalm 17 expresses one of my deepest desires and goals. I trust it is equally yours!
“As for me, I will see your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness. Ps: 17:15
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Open Face
November 2019
Open Face is dedicated to the promotion and the restoration of apostolic Christianity. In particular to the restoration of those truths which have been cast down to the ground and trampled underfoot by the papacy, and adopted by her daughters.
Our purpose is to motivate our readers to commit themselves wholly to the task of personal preparation for the coming of the Lord, and to the taking of the final warning message to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.
Open Face is published bi-monthly, and is sent free of cost to all who desire to receive it.
Editor: David Clayton
Publishing committee: Howard Williams
Karleen Williams
Jennifer Clayton
David Clayton
P.O. Box 23, Knockpatrick
Manchester, Jamaica W.I.
Phone: (304) 932-4543
Jamaica: (876) 603-0821
email: vidclay@gmail.com
Website: http://www.restorationministry.com
