The Word Of God
By John W White
In Romans 15:4, we have a reference made to the “scriptures:” "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience [endurance] and comfort [exhortation] of the scriptures might have hope." This verse also tells us that the scriptures were written in the past, which is a reference to the Old Testament. This thought is confirmed in the following verses when Jesus joined himself with two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:27 "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." He began with Moses and included the prophets when he expounded to them the scriptures. In Luke 24:32, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" He explained the scriptures to these disciples. We can see from Luke 24:44-45, "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures," The scriptures start with the Law of Moses, and include the Psalms and the prophets. The Old Testament scriptures are divided into the Law (Genesis-Deuteronomy), History (Joshua-Esther), Poetry (Job-Song of Solomon), and the Prophets (Isaiah-Malachi). What we see is that within the scripture, we have the law, the psalms and the prophets. In other words, the scripture is made up of parts. Hebrews 1:1 "God, who at sundry times [many parts] and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,"
The scriptures are not all prophecy. Prophecy is just a part of the scriptures. 2 Peter 1:19-21 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20. Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." When the New Testament was added, it too, became part of the scriptures so that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 can be applied to us who are alive today: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." can be applied to us who are alive today.
Many that wrote the scriptures did not understand what they wrote. The
Old Testament writers did not understand the salvation that was to be revealed
at the end of the age, which pertains to our inheritance and not birth into the
family of God. 1 Peter 1:10-12 "Of
which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was
in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of [for]
Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12. Unto whom it was revealed,
that not unto themselves, but unto us they
did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have
preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which
things the angels desire to look into."
Peter commented about some of Paul’s writing ministry as being hard to
understand in 2 Peter 3:15-16 "And
account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as
our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto you; 16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in
them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which
they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures,
unto their own destruction." This salvation is not the common salvation
that all of the prophets in the Old Testament knew about because they were
saved. This salvation is about a heavenly inheritance.
During the teaching ministry of Jesus, he taught doctrine in parables.
Mark 4:34 "But without a parable
spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things
to his disciples." The parables stimulated questions that he explained to
those who had questions. Most were not interested in the meaning of the
parables. By teaching in parables he was making sure that the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven would stay a mystery. Matthew 13:10-11 "And the disciples came, and said unto
him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11. He answered and said
unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of
heaven, but to them it is not given." Matthew 13:16 "But blessed are your eyes, for
they see: and your ears, for they hear."
It seems to me that God continues to hide things in the scriptures. Proverbs 25:2 "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." The mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens are still being veiled. That mystery is the Word of God as found in the parable of the sower according to Luke 8:8-11, "And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10. And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God." The seed sown in Matthew 13, Mark 4; and Luke 8 is the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens and defined as the Word of God in Luke 8:11. This mystery was not being revealed to Gentiles or Samaritans. The mystery was not the common salvation because Samaritans and Gentiles have always been able to enter into the common salvation. Examples of that are Rahab and the whole nation of Nineveh. Samaritans were descendents of Joseph and Asenath, a gentile.
In John 10:34-35 "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;" we have the words “law”, “scriptures”, and the phrase “the word of God” in two verses. The pronouns “your” and “whom” are references to the nation of Israel. God gave Israel the law as well as the “word of God.” At the beginning the “word of God” was offered only to the nation of Israel. John the Baptist began the ministry of the Word of God to the nation of Israel when he began to preach the baptism of repentance in the wilderness. Luke 3:2 “ . . . the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness." John’s message is further defined in Matthew 3:1-2 "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." It was the nation of Israel that responded to John’s ministry in Matthew 3:5 "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,"
John tells us that everyone who is born from above will see the kingdom of God in John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." In addition to being born from above to see the kingdom, John the Baptist and Jesus were teaching what was required to enter into the kingdom of God. There is a difference between seeing and entering. You can see a baseball game but if you are qualified you enter into playing the game on one of the teams. The Lord tells us what it takes to enter into the kingdom in Matthew 7:21, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." To enter into the kingdom of the heavens is to rule and reign over the earth from the heavens. To qualify for positions in His kingdom you have to do the will of the Father. We are told that brethren are the ones who do the will of the Father in Matthew 12:50, "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, . . ." We are also told that it is the brethren who listen to the Word of God and do it. Luke 8:21 "And he answered and said unto them, . . . my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it." It is the word of God that teaches us how to qualify to enter into the kingdom of the heavens and not how to be born into the family of God.
Jesus taught that those who would hear the word of God and do it would be blessed in Luke 11:28, “ . . . blessed are they that hear [present active] the word of God, and keep [present active, do] it." It is the hearing of the word of God preached that allows faith to come into our lives. Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." If we have faith we are able to have grace to serve God acceptably, Hebrews 12:28 “ . . . let us have [present active subjunctive, may we have] grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." Accessing grace by faith allows us to stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2 "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." It is the standing fast and rejoicing in hope that are the evidences of faith. Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The message of the word of God presents all that is required to enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Faith gives substance to that heavenly kingdom. Faith also stimulates evidence of our hope by our obedience and lifestyle to gain an entrance into that coming kingdom and glory.
I am persuaded that it would be profitable to look at passages in the
book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament that have in them the phrase
“word of God”. Knowing that the phrase, “word of God,” refers to the mysteries
of the kingdom of God or heaven, will help us to understand what the Holy
Spirit wanted the churches, as well as
individuals, to understand about that truth.
The last forty days that Jesus was here on earth he taught things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3 "To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." This would have included the mysteries of the kingdom of God as well.
What part did the Word of God play in the ministry of the Apostles and disciples in the book of Acts? Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." Being filled with the Holy Spirit they spake the word of God with boldness.
We see that the priority of the twelve Apostles was the word of God in Acts 6:2, "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." They further emphasized the significance of that message in Acts 6:4 "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
The next occurrence of the word of God is found in Acts 8:4: "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word [of God, minor mms]." Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans in Acts 8:5 "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them." What was the subject found in the message of preaching Christ? The preaching of the word in verse 8 and Christ in verse 5 was indeed the preaching of the “word of God” which are the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. The preaching of the word and Christ is further defined in Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God (which is the seed and the mysteries of the kingdom), and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."
The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the word of God was being preached in Samaria according to Acts 8:14 "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:" When Peter and John were come down in verse 15, they prayed for them that they might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift being the promise of agelasting life found in 1 John 2:25, and not the Holy Spirit himself. Peter, John, and Philip continued to preach the word of God throughout Samaria according to Acts 8:25 "And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."
This was the same message that Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch in
Gaza; and associated with the mysteries of the kingdom of God, is baptism.
After hearing Philip preach, the eunuch asked Philip a question in Acts
8:36-38: ". . . and the eunuch
said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37. And
Philip said, If thou believest [present active] with all thine
heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe [present
active] that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38. And he commanded the chariot
to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him."
Paul was accosted on the road to Damascus and was led to a house on Straight Street where he was to wait to find out what the Lord wanted him to do. Ananias received a vision from the Lord as to what he would have him do. In Acts 9:15 "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." Ananias told Paul of the vision he had received from the Lord. He was to bear his name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. What is the significance of bearing his name before these peoples? I believe this is found in Revelation 19:13 ". . . his name is called The Word of God." Paul was commissioned to preach the mysteries of the kingdom of God before Gentiles, kings, and the nation of Israel. Before he could do that he had to have his eyes opened to see Acts 9:18 "And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized." The scales falling from his eyes opened his understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Believing the mysteries of the kingdom, he was baptized. What did Paul begin to do? I believe this is found in Acts 9:20; "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." This is same message that Philip preached unto the Ethiopian Jew on the road to Gaza and when the eunuch believed in the present tense he was baptized.
The word of God was preached in the house of Cornelius in Acts 10, but we do not learn that until we read of it in Acts 11:1 "And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God." Cornelius was not a lost Gentile but a saved Gentile who had embraced the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as his God. The message of the word of God was, for a time, not offered to Gentiles and Samaritans who were in the family of God, but only to Israel who had ears to hear. There were those who still resisted Peter’s testimony as is shown Acts 11:19 "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution . . . preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only."
I think we should look at Peter’s message to Cornelius in Acts 10:37 "That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached." It is easy to see that the message that was published throughout Judaea was the word of God. Peter was preaching a message to Gentiles that he had previously been forbidden to do in the past. The Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his house with speaking in languages to convince Peter and those that were with him, that truly Gentiles were now included as far as having an entrance into the kingdom of the heavens. Cornelius and his house were baptized. When someone is baptized they have received the word of God and believe, present active, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
The next time we find the phrase “the word of God” is in Acts 13:5 "And when they were at Salamis (which is on the East side of the isle of Cyprus), they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: . . ." I think it is noteworthy to notice that Paul and Barnabas went to the synagogue in Salamis. This message of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven continued to be to the Jew first, saved Israel, and also to saved Gentiles until Acts 28:28. Today this message is to both saved Jew and saved Gentile alike. Apparently there were neither saved Jew nor Gentile that responded to the message of the Word of God. No church was established in Salamis.
Keep in mind that the Word of God is for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. You cannot hear and understand the word of God until you are saved, in the family of God. The mystery of the kingdom of God is the seed that was sown to the nation of Israel and that seed was the Word of God. This message is not about the common salvation but the so great salvation of Hebrews 2:3 "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord (the kingdom of heaven is at hand), and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" This salvation was preached only to the perishing sheep of the house of Israel and it was a message of an inheritance in the kingdom of the heavens.
Now when you read that Paul and his companions sought out the local synagogue they were looking for saved Jews who might have ears to hear and eyes to see. Just as Cornelius, a saved Gentile, worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the temple, so there were Gentile proselytes worshiping at local synagogues throughout the Roman Empire. The door had been opened for Gentiles to receive the message of the kingdom by Peter in Acts 10; so saved Gentiles were responding to and believing the word of the kingdom, the Word of God.
Paul, Barnabas, and John crossed Cyprus to Paphos in Acts 13:7-8 "Which (Elymas, a Jew and a sorcerer) was with the deputy of the country (city of Paphos, on West side of the isle of Cyprus), Sergius Paulus (who I believe is a Gentile), a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith." Keep in mind that faith is what it takes to please God. Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him:. . " How does faith come? Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." A sorcerer is one who is controlled by Satan and his host and they do not want any child of God to please Him. We do read in Acts 13:12 "Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord." There is no proof that the deputy was baptized which would have been the next step for him if he believed, present tense, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God as in Acts 8:37. Baptism is burying those who have died to self, which is required if one is going to enter into the kingdom of the heavens. We will see later that the Philippian jailor believed and then was baptized after he received the word of God in Acts 16:33. Another observation is that there was no church established on Cyprus.
The next place that we find the word of God being preached is in Antioch in Pisidia. Acts 13:14 "But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down." Paul’s message makes mention of the ministry of John the Baptist in Acts 13:24 "When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel." John was preaching the word of God to saved Israel who had ears to hear. Paul was doing the same thing here as well. We see this In Acts 13:26: “Men and brethren, children [sons] of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent."
After Paul’s ministry of the Word of God in the synagogue, we see many following Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas persuaded them to continue in His grace in Acts 13:43 "Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue [present active] in the grace of God." Paul knew what the Grace of God would do for them. Acts 20:32 "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." Paul also knew that if grace reigned in their lives that they would reign in the coming kingdom and glory. Romans 5:21 “ . . .so might grace reign through righteousness unto [leading to] eternal [agelasting kingdom] life by Jesus Christ our Lord." For grace to reign we must continue in the faith. Acts 14:22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue [present active] in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." It takes faith for grace to reign. Romans 5:2 "By whom (Christ) also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Continuing in faith will cause our hope of glory to be a living hope. The word of God reveals this hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (the word of God) among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
Acts 13:44 "And the next Sabbath day came almost the
whole city together to hear the word of God." The Jews spake
against the Word of God, and this is the unpardonable sin. By speaking against,
blaspheming, what Paul preached was the same as speaking against the Holy
Spirit and that will not be pardoned in this age or in the kingdom age that is
coming. Matthew 12:32 “. . . . whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it
shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world [age],
neither in the world to come [present
active participle, the one coming]." After the Jews opposed the word
of God, then Paul and Barnabas told the Jews that they would not be ministering
to them any longer but to Gentiles in Acts 13:46 "Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was
necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you (Jew
first): but seeing ye put it (the message of the word of God) from
you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting [agelasting, kingdom]
life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."
This passage of scripture is very significant. It
shows the progression of going from the common salvation
to the so great salvation of Hebrews 2:3 ". .
. so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord
(the word of God)".
The common salvation is presented in verses 30
and 31. The so great salvation is opened up by the word of God in verses 32
through 34. Acts 16:30-31 "And
brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31. And
they said, Believe [aorist tense] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved, and thy house.” The so great salvation is presented in Acts 16:32-33 "And they spake unto him the
word of the Lord [God, 24th
edition of Nestles], and to all that were in his house. 33. And he
took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was
baptized, he and all his, straightway." Jesus Christ is the one who
died on the cross for all of mankind. To believe, aorist tense, that Jesus died
for your sins and accept that sacrifice is to be saved, born from above. To believe,
present tense, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God qualifies one to be baptized
which is the first step one takes to enter into the kingdom of the heavens. It
was the preaching of the word of God that brings one to the understanding of
baptism and the kingdom of the heavens. Without the message of the Word of God
baptism is not relevant.
Acts 17:1-2 "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2. And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures," These two verses help us to see that when Paul went to Thessalonica he reasoned with the Jews out of the scriptures. What Paul was doing by reasoning out of the scriptures was to present to them the “word of God” according to Acts 17:13 "But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people." There were those who responded to the word of God in Thessalonica according to 1 Thessalonians 2:13 "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh [present middle] also in you that believe [present active]." They received the word of God as it is the truth.
Notice that, the word of God, worketh, present tense, effectually in those that believe, in the present tense. It does not work effectively in those who only believe, aorist tense, that Jesus died for them leading to the common salvation. There are those who believe in the aorist tense and are saved that later receive the word of God with joy, and continue to believe, present tense, the word of God and produce fruit that glorifies the Father.
Paul had to leave Thessalonica. The preaching of the word of God in
Thessalonica met with such resistance that it became dangerous for Paul to
continue his ministry in that city. Acts 17:10-13 "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by
night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the
Jews. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they
received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures
daily, whether those things (the Word of God, verse 13)
were so. 12. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women
which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13. But when the Jews of
Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at
Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people." The message
that the word of God gives is a message that is vehemently attacked and
resisted even to this day. Those who have been studying and searching the
scriptures for the truth often have less trouble understanding the message of
the mysteries of the kingdom of God. They are able to ask intelligent
questions. It seems that those who oppose the mysteries of the kingdom and who
are not able to refute it from the scriptures often resort to stirring up the
people against the teacher. This is what happened to Paul.
In Corinth Paul reasoned with the Jews as he had in many synagogues and cities. When Silas and Timotheus came, Paul was stirred in spirit to press the truth that Jesus was the Christ. Acts 18:6 says that the Jews resisted this truth and Paul cast them off symbolically by shaking his garment in their presence. The shaking of the garment is similar to shaking the dust from your feet in the presence of those who rejected the message of the kingdom in the Gospels as well as in Acts 13:51. Acts 18:6-8 "And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing (present active participle) believed (verse 11, the Word of God), and were baptized." In Acts 18:11 "And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
The phrase “word of God” is not in Acts
19, but the phrase “kingdom of God” is in Acts 19:8
"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of
three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of
God." Things concerning the kingdom of God certainly included the
mysteries of the kingdom of God. This would be consistent with the message
that Paul boldly preached in every synagogue.
The phrase “word of God” is not found in
Acts 28 but the phrase, like in Acts 19, “kingdom of God,” is found. Acts
28:30-31 "And Paul dwelt two whole
years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31. Preaching
the kingdom of God,. . . " I am persuaded that Paul continues as his
manner was in Acts
17:2 "And Paul, as his manner was,
. . . reasoned with them out of the scriptures," but as a prisoner of
Rome.
We find the phrase “word of God” mentioned in 1 Peter 1:23 "Being born again [anagennaw
only here and 1 Peter 1:3], not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,
by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." The
incorruptible seed is the “word of God.” I believe that the incorruptible seed
is the mysteries of the kingdom of God found in Luke 8:10-11 "And he said, Unto you it is given to
know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might
not understand. 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word
of God." The Greek word translated “born again” is only
found here in 1 Peter 1:23 and in 1 Peter 1:3-5
"Blessed be the God and Father . . . which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. To an inheritance
incorruptible . . . reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are kept [guarded]
by the power of God (sufficient grace) through faith . .
." “Begotten us again” is the same
word translated “born again” in verse 23. This
new beginning is not the salvation found in John 3:3 which is based upon the
death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. This new beginning is based upon the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead. This new beginning is unto a living hope for an
inheritance in the heavens. Hope of a heavenly inheritance is not a sure thing
because faith is not a sure thing. We are kept or guarded by the power of God,
which is his grace. Romans
5:2 "By whom (Jesus Christ our
high priest) also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." If we
make shipwreck or depart from the faith, then the guarding power of God will be
lost as well as the heavenly inheritance. This
does not mean we will be removed from the family. Our birth into the family of
God is based upon Christ death on the cross and not his resurrection.
"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation
of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; 26.
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27. To whom God
would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery
among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" The “word
of God” had been hidden for ages and from generation to generation but is NOW
made manifest to his saints and not to the lost. The mysteries of
the kingdom of God have been hidden until the Lord came
and presented them to the nation of Israel. These mysteries were denied to
Gentiles and Samaritans until Peter in Acts 8 and Acts 10 opened that door to
them. Paul was a minister of the Word of God to Jews and then, with the new
dispensation, to the Gentiles as well. A new dispensation began when Gentiles
were included in the blessings of the kingdom of God. Paul refers to those
blessings to the Gentiles in Ephesians 3:2-6
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God
which is given me to you-ward: 3. How that by revelation he made
known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4. Whereby,
when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5. Which
in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as
it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit; 6. That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs,
and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the
gospel:" Now Gentiles, that have ears to hear and eyes to see, can enter
into a heavenly inheritance and not just Jews.
Paul made a commitment to “the word of
God” in 2 Corinthians 4:2 "But
have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor
handling the word of God deceitfully.” When Paul went into the synagogue
to present the word of God, he did it boldly and with great plainness of
speech. When you are disputing with others you must be bold and Paul was bold
when presenting the “word of God.” Acts 19:8-9 "And
he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing
and persuading the things concerning the (mysteries of the) kingdom
of God. 9. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but
spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and
separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus."
As it was in the days when the Lord and his disciples presented the
mysteries of the kingdom of God, so it is today. The rulers of the Jews, who
were Israel’s teachers, taught against the “word of God.” Mark 7:13 "Making the word of God of none
effect through your tradition, . . .” Tradition
teaches that when you are born from above you enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus did not teach that according to John 3:3
"Jesus . . said unto him, . .
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God." Seeing the kingdom is not the same thing as entering into the
kingdom. Moses saw the promised land but did not enter it. When one is born
from above he becomes part of the family and is an heir of God. The kingdom of
God is inherited so it is a family matter. Matthew 25:34 ". . Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"
You can lose that inheritance according to 1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall
not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves
with mankind," These and other sinful lifestyles will disqualify you from
inheriting the kingdom of God.
There are those
who teach the kingdom message is only for Israel. That is simply not the case
at all. The nation of Israel as a whole rejected that message and that is when
the door was opened to a nation that would produce the fruits required to enter
into the kingdom of God. Matthew 21:43
"Therefore say I unto you (Israel), The kingdom of God
shall be taken (salvation was not lost) from you (
saved Israel), and given to a nation (saved Gentiles that would)
bringing forth the fruits thereof."
There is one
tradition that needs to be addressed briefly and that is the concept of
“possessors and professors.” If you don’t produce the fruits thereof you were
never saved and therefore a professor and not a possessor. This false doctrine
is a tradition that hinders the word of God. Those who teach this heresy must
be Armenian. When they believe on the Lord Jesus for salvation, they can never
know for sure they were saved. They have to wait and see when they die if what
they did will prove that they were a possessor. The concept of being a
professor and not a possessor is a stronghold known as a high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. 2 Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations (strong hold),
and every high thing (another strong hold) that exalteth itself against
the knowledge of God. . ." The teachers that teach this false
doctrine want you to believe that if you fall in to such sins as strife,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, and envying, as
found in Galatians 5, and you do not repent before you die, you will be cast
into the lake of fire because you were never saved. These false teachers want
you to believe that if you are saved you will not practice these sins that would exclude you from entering
into the kingdom of the heavens.
Examples of
those who did not repent of their sins before they died were Kings Solomon and
Saul. Solomon was, at one time in his
life, a man of prayer. God honored his prayer for wisdom by giving him more
than wisdom. God blessed Solomon in the building of the Temple, yet he departed
from the Lord because of his wives and died before he repented. Saul was anointed by God and prophesied with
the prophets and then departed from following the Lord. We can see this in 1
Samuel 15:11 "It repenteth me that
I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me,
and hath not performed my commandments." Saul was not a professor but was
a child of God that followed the Lord for a while then stopped. Just because
you are saved does not mean that you cannot depart from the Lord.
Paul suffered as an evildoer because he preached the word of God. 2 Timothy 2:9-10 "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.” It is uncanny how many in the church today appose this doctrine. Suffering for the word of God is part of the spiritual warfare and opposition from those in the family make the warfare even more difficult. Satan knows how to use those in the family to hurt those who are seeking to grow in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The “word of God” is the sword of the spirit according to Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" The word of God is a powerful weapon according to Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Satan has used, and will use, the threat of death to try to offend those who are embracing the message of the kingdom of God. Matthew 13:20-21 "But he that received the seed [he that was sown] into stony places, the same is he that heareth (present active) the word (the seed, the word of God), and anon with joy receiveth [present active] it; 21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word (of God, the mysteries of the kingdom of God), by and by he is offended." This happened during Christ’s ministry.
The message of the kingdom of God will be preached
during the tribulation period according to Matthew 24:14 "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." Those that preach this truth may suffer death according to
Revelation 6:9 "And when he had
opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain
for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:" This
thought is repeated in Revelation 20:4
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given
unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the
witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, . . . they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years." It cost dearly
to believe and preach the “word of God.” There are those in the local church
that vehemently oppose this truth today. Jesus told His disciples that they
that kill you will think that they are doing God a service in John 16:2 "They shall put you (apostle) out
of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh,
that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service."
There are those in the body of Christ today that hate the Biblical definition
of the word of God with such a passion that they are
willing to scandalize them in the church. Rather than trying to help a brother
see the error of his way, according to James 5:19-20
"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert
him; 20. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the
error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of
sins." they just kick the brother
out of the church because helping him is not worth the time. I personally
believe the reason they do not take the time is because they cannot refute the
truth with their tradition.
"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto
you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their
conversation." We are to remember them that have led us. We are to
consider their life style and imitate it. Paul encouraged the church at Philippi
to do this in Philippians 4:9 "Those things, which ye have both
learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace
shall be with you." In the same epistle Paul encourages them to imitate
him. Philippians 3:17 "Brethren,
be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an
ensample."
Paul was a church leader and a role model. Pastors and teachers who are teaching the “word of God” have a responsibility to live what is taught in that message. If the message of the mysteries of the kingdom of God does not change the lifestyle of the one who is teaching it, it will not change the lifestyle of those who listen. If we will listen diligently to that message our faith will increase. When faith increases so does the reality of the object of our faith, which is the surety or confidence of the things for which we hope.
CHECK IT OUT TRACTS
jwwhite@check-it-out-tracts.org
http://check-it-out-tracts.org
September 2, 2003