Part 5: A General Outline of the Bible

Posted on January 19, 1936 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

“THE LAW WAS GIVEN BY MOSES” John 1:17.

“Death reigned from Adam to Moses.” Romans 5:13. “From Adam to Moses” is a period of time designated in God’s Word. “From Moses to Christ” is another specific period suggested in Galatians 3:24 and 25; “the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” So death reigned from Adam to Moses. The Law reigned from Moses to Christ and that Law worked death to the sinner. Romans 7:13. The Law was the ministration of death and condemnation. II Corinthians 3:7 and 9. Sin is the transgression of the Law. The strength of sin is the Law. The Law is just. Romans 7:12. The sinner is unjust. By the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified in God’s sight; for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20.

Let us study the “Law Dispensation” in the light of the several Scriptures we shall quote. From these Scriptures we shall see that the Law entered that the offense might abound. Romans 5:20. We shall see the time and purpose of the giving of the Law to Israel, and why it was weak through the flesh, and why God found fault with Israel under the Law, and why God’s Son was made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law. Romans 8:3 … Hebrews 8:8 and Galatians 4:4 and 5.

I. “THE LAW WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSION TILL THE SEED SHOULD COME.” Galatians 3:19.

II. “FOR THE LAW HAVING A SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, AND NOT THE VERY IMAGE OF THE THINGS, CAN NEVER WITH THOSE SACRIFICES, WHICH THEY OFFERED YEAR BY YEAR CONTINUALLY MAKE THE COMERS THEREUNTO PERFECT. FOR THEN WOULD THEY NOT HAVE CEASED TO BE OFFERED? BECAUSE THAT THE WORSHIPPERS ONCE PURGED SHOULD HAVE HAD NO MORE CONSCIENCE OF SINS. BUT IN THOSE SACRIFICES THERE IS A REMEMBRANCE AGAIN MADE OF SINS EVERY YEAR. Hebrews 10:1 to 3.

III. “FOR THE LAW MADE NOTHING PERFECT, BUT THE BRINGING IN OF A BETTER HOPE DID BY THE WHICH WE DRAW NIGH UNTO GOD.” Hebrews 7:19.

IV. “FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH.” Romans 10:4.

I. . . . “THE LAW WAS ADDED.”

The Law was given by Moses. Jehovah added the Law by Moses. Moses was eighty years old when the Law was added. Exodus 7:7. Moses was chosen by Jehovah to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt about 1492 B.C. The Covenant that God made with the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai is called the “Old Covenant.” Jeremiah 31:31 to 34. Hebrews 8:6 to 9. Four hundred and thirty years before God made that Old Covenant with Israel through Moses, God made the Covenant of Promise with Abram. “The promise that he should be heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:13. The Law that was added 430 years after the Covenant of Promise did not and could not make the promise of none effect. Galatians 3:17. The “Covenant of Promise” is still effective; but the “Law Covenant” has been abolished. “Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13. II Corinthians 3:11 and 13. Therefore the “Law Covenant” or the “Law Dispensation” was temporary; that is, from Sinai to Calvary. We shall see in a later lesson that there was an overlapping period for a few years after the death of Christ when the Jews which believed were still zealous of the Law. But on the Cross, when the Son of God died, the handwriting of ordinances was taken out of the way: it was nailed to His Cross. Colossians 2:14. There Christ broke down the middle wall of partition between Israel and the nations, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, the Law of commandments in ordinances. Ephesians 2:15.

The Law was added to the Gospel contained in the Promise made to Abraham and His seed. Galatians 3:8. So Moses lived eighty years before there was an Old Testament or Covenant; and then He lived forty years under the Old Covenant. Deuteronomy 34:7. So Moses lived in two dispensations; before and after the Law was given. We must be careful, if we would rightly divide the Word of truth, not to confuse the “Law Covenant” which has been abolished, with the “Promise Covenant”, preached before, which is still effective. We must likewise be careful not to fix the end of the “Old Covenant” with the birth of Jesus Christ, or even thirty years later, with the beginning of His public ministry, as so many have done. How erroneous it is to fix the beginning of the “Old Covenant” with the First Chapter of Genesis and the beginning of the “New Covenant” with the First Chapter of Matthew.

No, sin entered by Adam, and sin and death were in the world from Adam to Moses, “when there is no law.” Romans 5:13. But it was about 2500 years after God stated to Adam the Law of Sin and Death, that the Law was given by Moses about 1492 B.C. It was at that time that the Law entered that the offense that entered by Adam might abound. What misunderstandings and misinterpretations of God’s Book there have been by dealing with Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel) and Jacob’s twelve sons as “Old Testament” characters. Every one of Jacob’s twelve sons had died before the Law was added to the Covenant of Promise. “It was added till”. Till when? Till it was taken out of the way. Till it was abolished. Till Christ became the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth. God sent forth His Son, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law. Galatians 4:4.

“And for this cause He is the mediator of the New Testament (Covenant), that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the First Covenant, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a Testament (Covenant) is, there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator. For a Testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth. Whereupon neither the First Covenant was dedicated without blood . . . But the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” Hebrews 9:14 to 18.

II . . . “THE LAW HAVING A SHADOW . . . IN THOSE SACRIFICES THERE IS A REMEMBRANCE AGAIN MADE OF SINS EVERY YEAR.”

“LET NO MAN THEREFORE JUDGE YOU IN MEAT, OR IN DRINK, OR IN RESPECT OF A HOLYDAY, OR OF THE NEW MOON, OR OF THE SABBATH . . . WHICH ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME; BUT THE BODY OF CHRIST.” Colossians 2:16 and 17.

When we turn to the first five chapters of Leviticus, we read of Israel’s five offerings given them under the Law. The Burnt Offering, the Meat or Meal Offering, the Peace Offering, the Trespass Offering and the Sin Offering, all pointing to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the record of the giving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai, in the twentieth chapter of Exodus, and then follows God’s instructions and orders as to the construction and erection of His Sanctuary and Tabernacle, with the outer court, the holy place and most holy place, and the service in connection therewith given into the hands of Aaron and the Levites, all pointing forward to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ was God’s true sanctuary. He became flesh and tabernacled among us.

“And he (the priest) shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year.” Leviticus 16:33 and 34.

It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sin. Hebrews 10:4. “But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12. “Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others; For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the ages hath He (Christ) appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”’ Hebrews 9:25 and 26.

In the shadow of the cross the Lord Jesus said, “This is my blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28.

Then Israel’s Tabernacle, with its sacrifices and service was a figure. Hebrews 9:9. “In meats and drinks, and divers baptisms, and carnal ordinances, imposed until the time of reformation.” Hebrews 9:10. Thus we learn that as the Law was added till Christ cried on the cross, “Finished”—when the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom—so with the Law, Israel’s religion was added until the time of reformation. That time has long since passed and so there is no place today in the program of God for the Jews’ religion. All Israelites were Jews by religion, if not Jews’ by birth. And even Gentiles became Jews by religion. Esther 8:17. The Jews were converted, together with Proselytes, from Judaism to Christianity, from Moses to Christ. The Gentile were turned to Christ from paganism without going by the way of Moses and the Law. Now believing Jews and Gentiles are dead to the Law, by the body of Christ. Romans 7:4. “Ye are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:25. Surely no Christian should desire to go back to the Shadow when he has Christ, who has done for him what the Law could not do. The Law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Under the Old Testament God said I will meet with you from above the mercy seat. It was sprinkled with blood. Exodus 25:22. Leviticus 16:15. Now God meets the believer “in Christ”.

“For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole Law.” Galatians 5:3. Circumcision was instituted in Abram’s home about 1900 B.C. Genesis 17:6 to 12, Circumcision was to Abraham the seal of the righteousness which he had yet being uncircumcised. Romans 4:11. In the language of Christ, recorded in John 7:22, “Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers).” Inasmuch as circumcision was practiced 406 years before the Old Covenant was given, it is not Scripturally true to say that circumcision began with the Old Covenant, but with the Covenant of Promise. It is not Scripturally true to say that circumcision was done away with by the teaching of Christ while He was on earth.

There were certain sabbaths given to Israel in connection with the annual feasts of Jehovah, mentioned in the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus, “Passover” on the fourteenth day of April, and in connection therewith the Feasts of “Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits,” then about the First of June, “Pentecost,” then in October, “Trumpets” followed by “Atonement” and “Tabernacles.” But there was a Seventh Day Sabbath given with the Ten Commandments, being one of them. Concerning the Sabbath, Jehovah said “observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.” “A sign between me and the children of Israel forever.” Exodus 31:16 and 17. Which then is the sign of the Old Covenant, circumcision or the Sabbath? Both of them were taken away at Calvary. Christ took Israel’s Sabbath to the sepulchre with Him. Under the Law Israel had the Sabbath but no rest. In Christ the believer has rest but no Sabbath. Since the giving of the Law there have been two places Divinely appointed, “Under the Law” and “in Christ.” You cannot be “In Christ” and “Under the Law.” To be “in Christ” is to be dead to the Law and not under the Law. Romans 7:4 and 5; Romans 6:14.

III . . . THE LAW MADE NOTHING PERFECT, BUT THE BRINGING IN OF A BETTER HOPE.”

“The Lord Jesus Christ, which is our Hope.” I Timothy 1:1. “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14. The Epistle to the Hebrews is the Book of “Better things. The word “Better” is used thirteen times in the Epistle. In and by Christ are the better things, the better covenant, the better sacrifice, the better resurrection. The Law is just; but by the Law God could not justify a sinner. The Law is perfect; but it made nothing perfect. The Law was weak through the flesh. Romans 8:3. The strength of sin is the Law; and by the Law the whole world is guilty before God. I Corinthians 15:56. Romans 3:19. “Because the Law worketh wrath.” Romans 4:15. The Law was a yoke which neither Israel nor the Gentiles could bear. Acts 15:10. “They could not endure that which was spoken (at Sinai).” Hebrews 12:20. Man would have to be born with a sinless nature and be wholly rid of his sinful nature in order to perfectly keep the perfect Law of God. But man by natural birth is imperfect and wholly unable to perfectly keep God’s perfect Law, which he would have to do to be perfect, or prove that he was perfect. Christ did.

“But God who is rich in mercy for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ . . . BY GRACE YE ARE SAVED.” Ephesians 2:4 and 5. Salvation then is not because of what man could or could not do with God’s Law, but because of God’s mercy, love and grace. He sent His Son from heaven to establish a new Law, “the Law of the Spirit of Life.” Romans 8:2. Christ had power to lay down His life; and He did. Christ had power to take up His life again; and He did. John 10:17 and 18. Thereby He abolished death and in the Gospel has brought life, with the guaranty of incorruptibility. II Timothy 1:9. The new Law can do for any and every sinner what the Old Law could do for no sinner. We might say that the Law and the Old Covenant were the same. How are the New Law and the New Covenant related?

When the Law was given at Sinai the people stood afar off, in fear of God. When Christ died on the cross He was made sin. There was darkness on the earth. His Father forsook Him in the hour of death. Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Christ on that tree was made a curse to deliver law-breakers from the curse of the Law. Galatians 3:10 to 14. And by that work on the cross, the Lord has brought the blessing of Abraham to the Gentiles, righteousness by faith in Christ without works or religion. “But now in Christ ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.

Although no redeemed sinner can say, “I do always the things that please Him,” and must, if honest, confess, “Lord, I have done the things I should not have done and have left undone the things I should have done,” yet every redeemed sinner is perfect in Christ, accepted in Christ, complete in Christ, blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ, without condemnation in Christ, the righteousness of God in Christ; that is, every believer has by God’s grace, in Christ, a perfect standing. The believer has passed out of death into life; he has eternal life; and he shall never come into condemnation. John 5:24. “He that believeth on Him is not condemned.” John 3:17 and 18.

The bringing in of the “Better Hope” has made believers perfect. Christ is in the believer, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27. By the omnipotent power of the indwelling Holy Spirit it is the privilege and duty of every believer to fulfill the righteousness of the Law by walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Romans 8:4.

IV . . . “CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH.”

The end of our faith is the salvation of our souls. I Peter 1:11. The end of the Law is love. I Timothy 1:5. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore Love is the fulfilling of the Law.” Romans 13:10. “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” Galatians 5:22. Christ is the end of the Law.

Love is the end of the Law. When we have reached the end, shall we go back? The Law demanded righteousness and love. Grace supplies righteousness and love by Christ and the Holy Spirit. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us. Romans 5:5. “Against such there is no Law.” Galatians 5:23. The fruit of the Spirit is the fulfilling of the Law.

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.” Romans 4:6. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” Romans 10:10.

Christ on the cross was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21.

Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth By Adam was the entrance of sin. By Moses is the knowledge of sin. By Jesus Christ is the forgiveness of sin. Act 13:38 and 39. “By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.” Act 13:39.

Is The One Body of Romans the One Body of Ephesians?

Posted on January 19, 1936 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

By request I am printing this message on the Body in the Epistle to the Romans. Let me say, first, that I have sympathy with brethren who are troubled with the problem of the “fatherhood of Abraham” and “the root and fatness of the olive tree” of Romans 4:16 and Romans 11:17, with that ever present question: “Are members of the Body of Christ the seed of Abraham and “Is the Body of Christ ‘Spiritual Israel’?” I have tried to see a new Body beginning after that important climax in Acts 28:25 to 28; but I have seen too much spiritual disaster result from unsound exegesis and fanciful speculation of well meaning brethren, who have not only distinguished between things that differ, but between imaginary differences. Many of them begin by eliminating all that pertains to the New Covenant and they proceed to eliminate some things that they imagine are exclusively associated with the New Covenant, dropping the Lord’s Supper, the rapture of I Thessalonians 4:13 to 18, the judgment seat of II Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10, the believer’s need of a high Priest, Intercessor, or Advocate. These eliminations are only stepping stones toward other eliminations.

In their determination and zeal to prove that these things are not binding on members of the Body of Christ, these brethren seek to prove that John wrote his Gospel, his three Epistles and Revelation before Paul wrote Colossians 1:24 to 28 (about 65 A.D.). Beginning the Body of Christ, of which we are members, this side of Acts 28:25 to 28, it leaves it optional with the individual member, according to his judgment or inclination, as to what orders he accepts from Romans, Galatians and Corinthians. The selections and rejections may be according to the peculiar fancies of the different individual Christians. By such an unwise, unsound and unscriptural procedure many unconsciously and unintentionally use the pen-knife of so-called dispensationalism joining with Jehudi.

I am satisfied that the Enemy is responsible for these “extremists” to hinder the progress that has been made in recent years to uncover the glorious message of salvation by grace so long covered up in denominational creeds and religious traditions, and recover the blessed truth of the One Body.

Let us pray that God may give us that power, love and sound mind along with II Timothy 2:15. May I beseech believers, who are eager for the clear message of grace and the Lord’s spiritual program for His Body today, not to rush hastily into these fantastic ideas. Be careful, prayerful and spiritual in your Bible study.

With all my heart I do believe in “rightly dividing the Word of truth.” In no other way can we hope to deliver believers from the ritualism, fanaticism and undispensational mixtures so prevalent. We must “test the things that differ”, if we are to intelligently interpret and apply the Scriptures; that is, we should test and see if they really do differ. But that does not give us liberty to force the difference to support our theory of interpretation.

Surely no intelligent student of the Word should deny that there is a difference between Paul’s preaching the faith that he once destroyed and the gospel of the uncircumcision which was unknown to any of the apostles at the time Paul was in the faith-destroying business. Most assuredly there is a difference between the counsel of God referred to in Acts 20:27 and the eternal purpose of God in Christ, mentioned in Ephesians 3:11 and II Timothy 1:9 and 10. And according to internal Scriptural evidence and the opinion generally held by acceptable authorities, the Epistle to the Romans and II Corinthians were written after Paul’s declaration in Acts 20:24 and 20:27. We would ask that you kindly read this chapter; for we shall refer principally to these two Epistles, Romans and II Corinthians, in our investigation and answer to the question under consideration.

If you fail to read the full message, we suggest that you study diligently, prayerfully and spiritually the twenty questions at the close and answer them from the Word of God.

To teach that all that the Holy Spirit wrote by the pen of the Apostle Paul in Romans and II Corinthians was known to Moses and the prophets and is mentioned in their writings, is certainly not the mark of intelligent and careful Bible searching. And likewise, to agree that the mystery refers to that which was “unprophesied” but revealed by the risen Christ, and then teach that that mystery is not found in some of Paul’s Epistles, written during the “Acts” period, is teaching wholly unworthy of any Christian who passes for a competent and spiritual Bible teacher.

On the other hand, to teach that there are not glorious truths presented in Paul’s prison Epistles, not found in his other Epistles, regardless of the time he received the revelation of these truths is just as absurd.

IS THE BODY OF ROMANS THE BODY OF EPHESIANS?

It is conceded by all intelligent students of the Scriptures that Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans about 60 A.D. This Epistle is the only one that Paul wrote before he visited the city and ministered, to the people of the city in person. We read these words in Romans 1:13, “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, but was hindered hitherto.” “I long to see you.” Romans 1:11.

Perhaps the very same year that Paul wrote to the Romans, “The Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” Acts 23:11. About four years before this testimony came to Paul from the Lord Paul said, “After I have been to Jerusalem, I must also see Rome.” Acts 19:21. In Romans 15:24 we read these words of Paul, written to the saints at Rome; “Whenever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you.”

Unlike the opening verses of other of Paul’s Epistles, he does not address the Epistle to the Romans, “to the Church which is at Rome”, but “to all that be at Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.” Romans 1:7. The word “church” does not appear in the Epistle until the last verse is reached. “Churches” is found in Romans 16:4 and 16. “Church” is found in Romans 16:5 and 23. In Romans 16:5 reference is made to the “church” which is in the house of Aquila and Priscilla. The word church is the Greek word “ekklesia”. The verb is “ek . . kaleo”, meaning to call out. The Greek verb “Kaleo”, in several forms, is translated “call” one hundred times in the New Testament Scriptures. There is a mystery, mentioned in the Bible in connection with a certain Church in that Bible, but it is rather unfortunate that the word “church” has for centuries been shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding.

From the Greek word, translated several hundred times in the New Testament Scriptures, “Lord”, we get our word “church”. The Greek word is “Kurios”. We simply state these facts that our readers may know how indefinite is the word “church” when it is found in the Scriptures, unless defined. The word is found in Acts 19:32, 39 and 42, translated “assembly”, referring to sinners. Also in Acts 7:38, referring to Israel in the wilderness, 1490 B.C.

Because of the many “churches” in Christendom today we emphasize a fact known to all earnest, intelligent students of the Word of God; and that is, that God has but one true Bible Church in this dispensation of Gentile favor, and God definitely designates that Church, “The Church which is Christ’s Body”. Ephesians 1:19 to 22. Colossians 1:24 to 28, Moreover God’s Word declares that in connection with that One Body, there is one Head, or Lord, one hope of your calling, one faith and one baptism, even as there is one Spirit. Ephesians 4:4 and 5.

THERE IS ONE BODY

Perhaps you are aware of the no small stir that is abroad concerning this One Body. In some sections of the land there is a controversy, even unpleasant in spots, and Fundamentalists are much exercised about definitely fixing the time of the beginning of this Body historically. They all know that this church was purposed by God in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world; that members of that Body were predestined to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, to be children of God and joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ; that members of His Body were chosen to be seated with Him where He now is, in the heavenlies, and there blessed with Him with all spiritual blessings. Ephesians 1:1 to 22. The Divine Record is, that that Body is One New Man. Ephesians 2:15.

The aggressive Fundamentalists of today are mostly Premillenarians. All of these Premillenarians believe and teach that after this dispensation of grace, after the calling out of the Church, which is Christ’s Body, that is, after this Body has been filled up with the last member, the same Christ, who is now the Head of the Body, will return as King to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on this earth. This will be the same Kingdom which Christ proclaimed when He was here as the Man Jesus of Nazareth in the midst of His people Israel. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.

Most of these aggressive Fundamentalists state dogmatically and positively that that Body had its birthday on the day of Pentecost, about fifty days after the resurrection of the Son of God. There are a number of objections to this date. Some of these aggressive Fundamentalists, very much in the minority, state with the same degree of dogmatism and positiveness, that that Church, the Body of Christ did not have its historical beginning until after the events, recorded in the Book of Acts, had come to an end. They teach that the Body of Ephesians is altogether different from the Body of Romans. Let us now examine the Scriptures to see whether these things are true.

That the Church of Christ, which existed before Paul reached Rome, was called “one Body”, no intelligent person would think of denying; for no language could be more simple than this statement found in Romans 12:4 and 5; “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one Body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” But these brethren, who fix the date of the beginning of the Body of Ephesians and Colossians after Paul’s arrival at Rome, state that the Body of Romans is a different Body, although it was the Church of God in Christ.

No student should deny that in Ephesians and Colossians there is a position; that there are possessions; that there are glories; that there is a ministry belonging to the Body of Christ, not mentioned’ in Paul’s pre-prison Epistles. But let us show, by stating the blessings which are common to the Body of the “Acts” period and the Body of the later period, that the two Bodies are identical; at the same time agreeing with the “later-date” brethren that there is a new administration and order in the “Post-Acts” Church. This is quite different from teaching that there are two separate, different, or distinct Bodies.

Some of these brethren seek to prove by I Timothy 4:13, Philemon 22 and II Timothy 1:15, that between Paul’s two imprisonments in Rome he went back to Asia (perhaps Europe also) and preached a message which superseded the message he had preached in the same cities before the “Acts” period closed. This was a new revelation from Christ and was the dispensation of the mystery”, the “untraceable riches of Christ”, guaranteeing to members of this new Body, a hope and a calling different from the hope and calling of the members of the Body in Romans. These brethren are divided as to whether the entire living membership of the Body of Romans was transferred into the new Body, or only those members who were willing to receive the new teaching; or whether all of the members of the first Body were left in the first Body, and only new converts were baptized into the “Post-Acts” Body. Of course, with this last theory, they have trouble getting Paul and Timothy and Luke and Titus into the new Body, but this does not seem to bother some of them. They are willing to leave them out, if this is necessary to prove their theory.

THE KINGDOM AND THE BODY

The Premillenarians, who teach that the Lord Jesus, while on earth, was offering the Kingdom of Heaven to the Nation Israel, admit that many individual Israelites were saved during those years of His earthly ministry. They say that any such saved Israelite, who died before Pentecost, died outside the Body of Christ, which did not begin until the day of Pentecost. They say they were not members of any Church; but that those who lived until the day of Pentecost became members of the Body of Christ. Perhaps you would like to ask them this question: “What about the Israelites who had visited the land of the Jews while Christ was in the flesh, had believed on Him, and then had gone back to their homes in Asia or Europe or the Islands of the sea? Without being present on the day of Pentecost, did the Holy Spirit fall on them at home and make them members of that Body, which so many teach began on the day of Pentecost?” We could ask them a hundred questions which they could not answer.

But if they could, Scripturally, refer to the company of Israelites saved while Christ was on earth, as a “Kingdom Church,” because they entered the Kingdom and were the Lord’s “called-out”, perhaps it would not be unscriptural for them to say, that, on the day of Pentecost the “Kingdom” Church became the “Body” Church to which 3000 were added. Acts 2:41 to 47. We are referring to the dispensationalism of the Premillenarians, who teach dogmatically that the Body of Ephesians 1:19 to 22 began on the day of Pentecost.

It is the teaching of the brethren, who fix the historical beginning of the Body of Ephesians after Acts 28:31 that there was a “Kingdom” Church during the “Acts” period superseded by the Body, which began after that period. Because they teach that the Church of the “Acts” period was the “Kingdom” Church and the Body of Ephesians did not begin with Acts 2:41, but after Acts 28:31, those whom we call the “Pentecost Body” brethren, call the “Post- Acts Body” brethren, “ultradispensationalists.”

But now to the question: Is there Scriptural authority for calling the Body of Romans 12:4 and 5 a “Kingdom” Church altogether different from the Body of Ephesians 1:19 to 22?

Undoubtedly the expression “the Kingdom Church” may be something new to many Christians. Indeed, any Christian will fail to find the expression in the Bible. We should be willing to admit that the Lord Jesus was not saying, “The Church which is My Body, is at hand,” when He preached “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand;” or when He said “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” Matthew 4:17. Mark 1:15. The particular kingdom, concerning which Christ preached, was that Kingdom mentioned by Israel’s prophets in Israel’s Scriptures. The Body of Colossians 1:24 to 28 and the Dispensation of the Mystery” of Ephesians 3:9, were God’s own secrets, withheld from those prophets. So we must admit a difference between the “prophesied kingdom” and the “unprophesied Body.”

Christ and His Twelve Apostles proclaimed “the gospel of the kingdom”. Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35. That gospel of the kingdom is to be Israel’s message again after this present dispensation of grace. Matthew 24:14.

THE PROPHETS AND THE KINGDOM

If we refer to Israel’s Old Testament Scriptures, we shall learn that the kingdom gospel was foretold and that Gentiles were to receive blessings with God’s Nation, Israel. Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 42:1 to 6; Isaiah 49:6 and 22; Isaiah 52:15; Isaiah 60:3; Isaiah 62:2; Isaiah 66:12 to 19; Malachi 1:11; Psalm 46:10; Psalm 59:5; Ezekiel 26:3; Ezekiel 37:28; Ezekiel 38:16; Ezekiel 39:7; Ezekiel 39:21; Zechariah 9:10; Zechariah 2:11; Zechariah 8:22 and 23; Zechariah 14:16 to 18; Micah 4:2.

By studying all of these promises we shall learn that the Gentiles were to share, and shall yet share, the kingdom blessings with Israel and be joined with them in their religious ceremonies; “from one new moon to another, from one sabbath to another”: “go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” Isaiah 66:23. Zechariah 14:16. In these prophecies we learn that the Gentiles are to seek the Lord. Let us read God’s Kingdom program and God’s gospel of the kingdom for Israel and the nations in Amos 9:11 to 15:

“IN THAT DAY WILL I RAISE UP THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID THAT IS FALLEN, AND CLOSE UP THE BREACHES THEREOF; AND I WILL RAISE UP HIS RUINS, AND I WILL BUILD IT AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD:”

“THAT THEY MAY POSSESS THE REMNANT OF EDOM, AND OF ALL THE HEATHEN, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAITH THE LORD THAT DOETH THIS.”

“BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT THE PLOWMAN SHALL OVERTAKE THE REAPER, AND THE TREADER OF GRAPES HIM THAT SOWETH SEED: AND THE MOUNTAINS SHALL DROP SWEET WINE, AND ALL THE HILLS SHALL MELT.”

“AND I WILL BRING AGAIN THE CAPTIVITY OF MY PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL BUILD THE WASTE CITIES AND INHABIT THEM; AND THEY SHALL PLANT VINEYARDS, AND DRINK THE WINE THEREOF; THEY SHALL ALSO MAKE GARDENS, AND EAT THE FRUIT OF THEM.”

“AND I WILL PLANT THEM UPON THEIR LAND, AND THEY SHALL NO MORE BE PULLED UP OUT OF THEIR LAND WHICH I HAVE GIVEN THEM, SAITH THE LORD THY GOD.”

We desire to emphasize these verses because they were quoted by Simon Peter in Acts 15:14 to 18. A careful study of the ministry of Peter and the Eleven should convince any student of the Word of God that, during the days of the Lord on earth, they preached Israel’s gospel of the kingdom to Israel. Matthew 10:5 to 12. And that student should also be convinced that Peter and the Eleven proclaimed that same kingdom gospel, with the resurrection of Christ added, on the day of Pentecost and thereafter. Acts 2:38. Acts 3:19 to 21. Acts 5:29 to 32. These Twelve later on agreed to preach the gospel of the circumcision to the circumcision. Galatians 2:7 to 9.

In Matthew 16:16 to 18, we learn, that the Lord Jesus committed to Peter the keys of the kingdom of the heavens. In Matthew 28:19 and 20 He likewise committed to them the so-called Great Commission. The keys of the kingdom of heaven will not fit into the dispensation of the mystery, mentioned in Ephesians 3:9. The Twelve, in the future, have some duties to perform in the kingdom; for they are to sit on twelve thrones and judge the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28. Later on we shall refer to the Great Commission in the coming kingdom dispensation; for all Premillenarians, whether or not they work under this Commission now, teach that the Commission is to have an important place after the Body has been completed and this present dispensation of grace has ended. Under the terms of the New Covenant, all Israel shall be saved. Romans 11:25 to 28. Jeremiah 31:31 to 35. Surely Israel, called-out from all nations to their God and their King David, will be a “New Covenant Ekklesia”. If then they can be Scripturally called a Church, they can be Scripturally called a “Kingdom” Church. But we might properly ask this question: “What will the Apostle Paul have to do with that Church?” Will he then be preaching and practicing Matthew 28:19 and the Great Commission? Will he be preaching the gospel of the kingdom as the Apostle to the Gentiles? If not, did he preach such a gospel to the Gentiles in the Epistles to the Romans? Did he then work under the Great Commission when the Gentiles obtained mercy through Israel’s unbelief? Romans 11:30.

PETER AND THE CHURCH

From Acts 1:21 to Acts 12:3, we learn how God held all of the Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). He did not let one of them die until the household of Cornelius (the religious Gentile who was seeking Israel’s God) received from Peter, with his kingdom keys, the Word which God sent to Israel, the gospel of the Kingdom. Acts 10:34 to 28. After Acts 13:2, “separate unto me Barnabas and Saul”, nothing more of Peter’s preaching is recorded in Acts, except his statement of what took place from Acts 2:22 to Acts 11:18. Here is the order, “Christ, in fulfillment of the Scriptures, raised to take David’s throne”. Acts 2:27 to 33. “The residue of Israelites”. Acts 2:41 and Acts 4:4; Acts 6:7; Acts 11:19. “Then the seeking Gentile.” Acts 10:31 and 32. Peter did not preach reconciliation, or the gospel of glory, to any of these converts. That was not committed to him. He had the keys of the kingdom. Mark 16:16 to 18.

Now observe, that Peter declared that all of this was in fulfillment of Amos 9:11 to 15; and as Amos was ignorant and silent concerning the Body of Christ, what the Lord was doing by Peter was not the making of the One New Man. Whether or not the Twelve and others became members of the Body after Acts 11:19 is another matter; but this is certain Peter’s declaration concerning the taking out of Gentiles was not the mystery. This was made known to the sons of men in other ages.

PAUL’S MINISTRY

But now for the words of Paul, quoted in Acts 26:22 and 23. “HAVING THEREFORE OBTAINED HELP OF GOD, I CONTINUE UNTO THIS DAY, WITNESSING BOTH TO SMALL AND GREAT, SAYING NONE OTHER THINGS THAN THOSE WHICH THE PROPHETS AND MOSES DID SAY SHOULD COME.”

“THAT CHRIST SHOULD SUFFER, AND THAT HE SHOULD BE THE FIRST THAT SHOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD, AND SHOULD SHEW LIGHT UNTO THE PEOPLE AND TO THE GENTILES.”

When we consider what the prophets of Russellism, Mormonism, Adventism and Eddyism have done by taking a verse of Scripture and making their whole religious scheme fit into that verse, we should profit by their blunder and not try to rule the Church which is Christ’s Body out of Romans, by the “none other things” of Acts 26:23. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he was determined to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and yet, when we carefully read his two Epistles to them, we learn that he had told them many other things. We must search for the mind of the Spirit in taking one verse and not give to it a disconnected interpretation so literal as to prove a pet theory, while many other verses contradict that theory. Salvation for Jews and Gentiles was foretold by the prophets: the Gentile salvation to follow the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. But now we ask this question: What gospel did Paul preach in his Epistle to the Romans and other pre-prison Epistles? It is true that he was accused of saying that there was another King Jesus. Acts 17:7. But was the gospel of the uncircumcision of Galatians 2:7 to 9; Galatians 3:6 to 8, the gospel of the Kingdom? Was the gospel of the glory of Christ of II Corinthians 4:4, or the gospel of reconciliation of II Corinthians 5:17 to 21, or the gospel of righteousness by grace without a cause of Romans 3:24, the gospel of the Kingdom? Was the gospel of the grace of God, of Acts 20:24, the gospel of the Kingdom? Think of how we have had to contend against Pentecostalism for the great difference in these two gospels; and now let us not preach the negation of what we have stood for so uncompromisingly by stating that Paul was preaching the gospel of the Kingdom to get believers in the Kingdom Church. This is not the Berean method.

THE PROPHETS AND THE BODY OF ROMANS

Now let us cover these two points in our answer. 1. Can we find in Moses and the prophets all the doctrines of Paul proclaimed in Corinthians and Romans, written before Paul spoke the words of Acts 26:22 and 23? 2. If the “Kingdom” Church of the “Acts” period is to be revived and continued in the coming tribulation or kingdom age, will all that Paul wrote in those pre-prison Epistles be God’s order, program and message in that coming Kingdom age?

We are herein under presenting some messages, ministry, positions or blessings which are to be found in the Scriptures belonging to the Body in Romans 12:4 and 5 and also to the Body in Ephesians 1:19 to 22 and Ephesians 4:5. These common blessings seem to prove that they are not different Bodies, but the same Body:

1—Both of these Churches are described as Bodies, made up of members, who are sinners saved by grace, and who are in Christ. “We are one body in Christ.” Romans 12:5 Did the prophets foretell a Body in Christ? Will there be a Body in the next dispensation, such as is described in Romans 12:4 and 5?

2—The members in the Body of Romans and the members in the Body of Ephesians were saved without religion or works of righteousness. Romans 3:24 and Romans 4:1 to 6. Titus 3:5 to 7. Ephesians 2:8. II Timothy 1:9. Will sinners be saved without religion or works of righteousness during the coming Tribulation or Kingdom? Is there a difference between the gospel of the kingdom of Matthew 24:14 and the gospel of the grace of God in Acts 20:24.

3—Members of the Body of Romans and members of the Body of Ephesians were sealed with the Holy Spirit, as the earnest, and were sealed in both churches unto the day of redemption. II Corinthians 1:22. Romans 8:23. Ephesians 1:13, 14 and Ephesians 4:30. Where do we find in Old Testament prophecy anything concerning members of a Kingdom Church who will have the Holy Spirit earnest of a redemption body

4—One outstanding truth concerning the Body of Ephesians is that members of that Body are IN CHRIST. It is just as much true concerning members of the Body of Romans. Romans 8:1; II Corinthians 5:17 and 21.

5—Believing Jews and Gentiles in both Bodies were one in Christ. This might be considered the truth of John 17:9 to 20. But where is the prophecy that these two groups would be baptized into one Body, baptized into Christ, in whom there was neither Jew nor Greek. They had put on Christ Galatians 3:26 and 27. Ephesians 2:13 to 18.

6—The members of the Body of Romans and the Body of Ephesians and Colossians were rejoicing in the hope of glory; and Jesus Christ was within, that hope. II Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20; Romans 5:2; Colossians 1:27. If this is called the mystery in Colossians 1:27, why was it not a mystery in II Corinthians and Romans?

7—In the Body of Romans members were predestinated to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, to be God’s children, to be joint-heirs with Christ, all witnessed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 to 28. Compare with Ephesians 1:2 to 18.

8—In Romans 6:13 and in Ephesians 2:1 to 7, members of both Bodies were alive from the dead; and the members of both Bodies were not under the law. They were all saves wholly by grace; and were raised to walk in newness of life Romans 6:1 to 14. What about members in the coming Kingdom age?

9—Believers, as members of the Body of Romans, were cut off from Adam; their old man was crucified. Romans 5:14 to Romans 6:8. Now note that the members of the “Romans” Body and of the Body of Ephesians were identified with Christ in death, burial and resurrection. Romans 6:2 to 15; Colossians 3:1 to 4.

10—Note the same baptism and burial in Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12. Compare the language very carefully to see that they are identical. This baptism burial links the two Bodies together. It is conceded by those who teach that the Church of Romans is different from the Church of Ephesians and Colossians, that the baptism is identical, having reference to a Divine death baptism, having nothing whatever to do with water.

11—If the water baptism of the Great Commission is to be God’s program in the coming Tribulation or Kingdom age, and that was neither the commission nor the baptism of Romans 6:4 for the Body of Romans, it must be admitted that the two Churches differ as to baptism, and the Church of Romans was no “kingdom” church. It has already been conceded by the teachers of “Two Bodies” that the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 is the one baptism of Romans 6:3 and 4. And these same teachers say that water baptism will be practiced in the coming age. What confusion to prove an unscriptural theory!

12—The ministry of reconciliation and the glorious gospel were the messages for both Bodies. II Corinthians 4:3 and 4. II Corinthians 5:17 to 2; Colossians 1:14 to 21; I Timothy 1:11. Will this be the kingdom gospel, referred to in Matthew 24:13? Surely the gospel for the Tribulation period will be the gospel of the kingdom.

13—Will there be an Apostle to the Gentiles, with the gospel of the uncircumcision during the coming kingdom age; and if so, will he receive a commission by revelation different from the Great Commission? Where is the prophecy telling of this?

14—The Body of Romans with the members are spoken of as a new creation in Christ, the work of God. II Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15. The members of the Body of Ephesians are the same. Ephesians 2:9 to 11. Where in the Old Testament prophecy is the new creation of II Corinthians 5:17 mentioned?

15—In the “Romans” Church and the Church of Ephesians the members are told that their old man had been put off, and that they were to put on the new man. Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; Romans 13:14.

16—Compare the “my gospel” of Paul, preached in Romans, with the Gentile salvation prophesied in Zechariah and Micah and Ezekiel and Isaiah. Read Romans 2:16 and Romans 16:25, Romans 3:24 with Zechariah 8:23.

17—Will salvation in the coming kingdom age be sent to Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy, with blindness upon Israel, as was the case when Paul wrote Romans?

18—A—Let us compare “the day of the Lord Jesus” in II Corinthians 1:14, “the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” in I Corinthians 1:8, “the day of the Lord Jesus” in I Corinthians 5:5, and “the day of Jesus Christ” in Philippians 1:6, “the day of Christ” in Philippians 1:10, Philippians 2:16 and II Timothy 1:12-1:18-4:8, and prove by the Scriptures that the members of the two Bodies were not waiting for the same event.

B—Also compare the believer’s judgment in II Corinthians 5:10 with his judgment in Colossians 3:24 and 25:

19—Compare the “absent from the body, at home with the Lord”, with the “depart to be with the Lord”. II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23. Also “the house from heaven” of II Corinthians 5:1 to 8, “the incorruptible body of I Corinthians 15:25, with the “body like unto His own glorious body” of Philippians 3:20 and 21, and show wherein they differ.

20—Compare the Lord Jesus Christ as Intercessor in Romans 8:34 with the Lord Jesus Christ, the one Mediator, in I Timothy 2:5 and state whether you agree with the teachers of two Bodies that the members of the Body of Ephesians have no intercessor or Advocate to represent them in heaven?

Happy Are Ye If Ye Do Them

Posted on January 19, 1936 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

We sincerely wish for our readers the happiest of all Happy New Years. Spiritual happiness is the true abiding happiness. This happiness comes from knowing the Word of God and doing the Word of God. “Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.” Hear these words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ: “IF YE KNOW THESE THINGS, HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM.” John. 13:17.

Unless we earnestly, diligently, prayerfully, systematically, and spiritually study the Word of God, we shall not know the Word of God. Moreover, if we would so know the Word of God as to get from its study the greatest enjoyment, profit and blessing, by intelligently appropriating, interpreting and applying it, we must obey II Timothy 2:15 and rightly divide. the Word.

We are members of the Church, which is the Body of Christ. The words which were spoken by prophets, priests, kings and apostles to God’s redeemed people, who were not members of the Body of Christ, were for their obedience, practice and guidance. “God spake all these words”, so they were just as much inspired as is the truth that is addressed directly to us. But let us not misappropriate, or misapply, God’s instructions to Israel, not written to members of Christ’s Body. All Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

We are sure that the “Red Letter New Testament” was never printed by the Spirit’s leading. God who spake in divers manners to the fathers, did speak in His Son. Hearing such words from the holy Son of God, His disciples could but wonder at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth; for He spake as never man spake. But every intelligent student of the Word knows that very much of what Jesus of Nazareth spoke on earth was directly to, and exclusively for, Israel. Many of His messages were not addressed to the Body of Christ, nor to individual members of that Body. Christ never intended that the religious program that He presented to Israel should be adopted and practiced by the Church which is His Body. Neither did He intend that all of His commission, given to the Twelve Apostles, should be binding upon the members of His Body.

Some time ago an unsaved man, who had read the Four Gospels quite thoroughly, said to me: “if a Christian today is one who obeys the commands that Jesus Christ gave to His Twelve Apostles, I have never seen a Christian.” Have you? Perhaps you will never appreciate the folly of the “anti-dispensationalists” until you take a pencil and go carefully, verse by verse, through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and the Book of Acts, and mark in those five Books all of the instructions and commands of the Lord Jesus that are wholly ignored by all Christians today. Not even an attempt is made by the Lord’s true, spiritual messengers of grace today, to obey or practice them. Why? That’s the question. Why? If the answer is one acceptable to God, it must be, “not intended for this Divine period of special Gentile favor.” There should be a Scriptural explanation for a Scriptural elimination.

All Christians either assent to the fact that many of the Words of Jesus and His Twelve were not intended for members of the Body of Christ, or they are wilfully negligent and disobedient. They prefer to keep silent as to why they have no place in their spiritual program whatever for fifty or more of the commands, practices, messages, signs and works of the disciples in the Four Gospels and Acts. But their silence breaks forth into loud and vigorous protests when a servant of the Lord offers the one and only Divine rule in defense of all Christians who omit from their Church creeds and their spiritual program so much that rightfully belonged to God’s people in a former dispensation.

Just what dispensation is this? And where in the Bible is this present dispensation described? Where is God’s spiritual program for members of the Body of Christ during this dispensation? These are most important questions that we are endeavoring to answer in this magazine.

We want to practice what is, with many of our Fundamentalists, more than a theory. They are sure that they are “grace” preachers, but their programs are really a mixture of grace and …..

Surely we shall find in Christ’s revelations to the Apostle Paul, the Scriptural “dispensational” key to the intelligent, spiritual understanding, interpretation and application of all of the truth of all of the Bible. If we thus know the things of Christ, happy will we be if we do them. In no other way can we be of power and of love and of a sound mind in rightly dividing the Word of truth, and thus walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called and walk well pleasing to the Lord.

Bible Study For Bereans — January 1936

Posted on January 19, 1936 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

A Happy and Joyous Christmas

Posted on December 15, 1935 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

In wishing our readers a happy and a joyous Christmas we are thinking of many verses of Scripture. We mention three of them just now:

“BLESSED (Happy) IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD WELL NOT IMPUTE SIN.” Romans 4:8.

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT MEAT AND DRINK; BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.” Romans 14:17.

“NOW THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING THAT YE MAY ABOUND IN HOPE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” Romans 15:13.

In these verses we read of the true happiness, of righteousness, of peace, of hope and of joy. In all three verses God is mentioned. True happiness, righteousness, peace, hope and joy come from God. “Every good and. perfect gift is from above.” God is not a merchant. God is a gracious King. He is the God of all grace. The blessings mentioned in these verses are not for sale. Man has nothing with which to purchase them. So far as spiritual riches are concerned, the natural man has no earning capacity. He needs none. God longs to give to man every spiritual blessing that He holds. God is a Great Giver. Man is a poor receiver. Spiritually speaking, every man is a bankrupt in Adam, but he may be a multimillionaire in Christ, for God has blessed believers with all spiritual blessings in Christ.

Many, who know little or nothing of the rich spiritual blessings, may be very grateful to their Creator or Supreme Ruler for temporal blessings and offer thanks for good health, food and raiment, a good income, a nice home and some splendid friends. But they are unacquainted with the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Truly many in this land are enjoying many of the by-products of Christianity and still shut out the Christ for whom there was no room in the inn.

God’s Word declares that the man without Christ is without hope. Ephesians 2:12. If an eternity of darkness and despair is before the hopeless sinner, how can he know anything of true happiness or true peace or true joy?

Speaking of joy we are at once reminded of Hebrews 12:2, “Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

What a glorious fact! What-blessed good news! God’s Son came down from heaven and God’s Son went back to heaven. He paid a thirty-three year visit to man’s temporary home, this earth. What a reception was His! What disgraceful and cruel treatment the Creator received from His creatures! Truly He was the man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. But for the joy that was set before Him He went to Calvary. There on the cross the sinless eternal Christ for us made peace with God; there He suffered for sin to bring us to God; there He bare our sins in His own body on the tree; there He provided a positive Divine righteousness for us and then He went back to heaven having obtained eternal redemption for us. All of these facts are declared in the Word of God.

“Happy is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” If our sins were charged to Christ on the Cross, and we by faith have made Christ ours, our sins have been forever put away. No happy Christmas without the knowledge of the good news. How can man be happy with all of his sins charged against him and the wrath and judgment of God waiting for him?

If we have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God’s love, God’s own righteousness is ours, the peace of God that passeth understanding is ours and the joy of the Holy Spirit is ours. This is the only true joy. No better wish can we ask for you than Romans 15:13: Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“Fill you”. “Abound in Hope”. Fill you with joy and hope. The God of hope must do this. No one else can do this for you. Believing is your part. Believing comes through the hearing, the reading, of God’s Word. To be filled and to abound is enough to make any believer have a happy Christmas and an every day happy life. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit and the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s Supper

Posted on December 15, 1935 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

For several reasons some Christian brethren teach that the Lord’s Supper is not for the observance of members of the Body of Christ in this present dispensation when it is surely the Christ-given responsibility of every believer to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, in obedience to Ephesians 3:9. They say that the Lord’s Supper is not mentioned in any of Paul’s Prison Epistles, in which are set forth the hope and calling of the Body of Christ; that the Lord’s Supper was a religious ordinance which had its rightful place in the “Acts” transitional period, while the Nation Israel was on trial; but that it ceased with signs and water baptism with the full revelation of the “mystery”, mentioned about twelve times in Paul’s last seven Epistles.

These brethren also give as a reason for their rejection of the Lord’s Supper, it was instituted before the death of the Lord Jesus in connection with Israel’s Passover, when the Lord specifically stated: “this is My blood in the New Covenant.” Matthew 26:10 to 30. They rule out the Lord’s Supper because God has ceased to visit upon Christians, who partake unworthily thereof, the judgments mentioned in I Corinthians 11:25 to 33. They eliminate it because Israel is going to eat at the Lord’s table in the coming kingdom age. Matthew 26:29; Luke 22:20 to 30. The contention of these Christian brethren is, that the Lord’s Supper must be eliminated from this period of special Gentile favor by the same exegesis and dispensational principle that is employed for the elimination of the sign gifts of I Corinthians 12:8 to 11, and the water baptism of the “Acts” dispensation, from God’s program for the Body of Ephesians and Colossians. They also teach that “till He come” in I Corinthians 11:26 had no reference to the calling on high of the Body of Christ, but had reference to another aspect of the Lord’s coming.

So far as I know, only one of these Bible teachers, who has given up the Lord’s Supper for the Body of Christ, teaches that the Church of God of the Second Chapter of Acts is identical with the Body of Christ in Ephesians and Colossians. They differentiate between the Pentecostal Church of God and the Church which is Christ’s Body. But all claim that the Church of Ephesians and Colossians has no connection with Israel’s New Covenant, but that the Lord’s Supper has, and therefore the Lord’s Supper should be eliminated with water baptism by the same application of the principle set forth in II Timothy 2:15, “rightly dividing the Word of truth”.

I am here submitting several objections to the arguments of these Christian brethren, although agreeing with them that during the transitional “Acts” period, when the believers had not the several hundred written Scriptures telling of the death and coming again of Christ, the Lord’s Supper may have been more needed as a reminder of the finished work of the Son of God, than it is today.

My first argument we shall call a philosophical one. The Lord’s Supper, by no means, offers to the earnest and diligent Bible student the same problem as does water baptism. This is proved by the fact that seven of the leading “Fundamentalist” Bible teachers of this generation, in America, have all heartily disagreed concerning water baptism, but were all one as to the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. I refer to Dr. A. C. Gaebelein, Dr. W. L. Pettingill, Dr. James A. Gray, Dr. T. T. Shields, Dr. I. M. Haldeman, Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse and Dr. H. A. Ironside.

Three of these brethren taught positively that the Great Commission was not for the Body of Christ. Two of them taught household baptism, one an immersionist, the other a sprinkler. Some of them baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and some in the name of the Lord Jesus. Some of them taught that the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 is water; and others said positively, “no”. Some of them said Romans 6:4 is water; others said “no.” No two of them agreed as to the authority for, the significance, mode and formula of, what they call “Christian baptism”. Neither could any one of them convince the other that his position was Scriptural. Not one of them could give an intelligent Scriptural defense of his position on water baptism. Concerning their baptisms, like other Fundamentalists, they were so uncertain that they didn’t care to discuss the question with an open Bible. Every interpretation held by them can be easily shown unscriptural as can every denominational creed concerning water baptism. But all of the seven men were agreed as to the significance of the Lord’s Supper. They taught that the Lord’s Supper is a reminder of what Christ did for God and for us. Here is a seven-fold unity concerning the Lord’s Supper and a seven-fold division concerning water baptism. It is unity and certainty in one case; division and uncertainty in the other.

While this argument is significant, important, and somewhat convincing, I admit it is not a Scriptural answer to the position of the Christian brethren who have no place for the Lord’s Supper in the Body of Christ. But now we proceed with the Scriptural objections, trusting that they may provoke again the Berean spirit of Bible study; but neither condemnation nor spiritual pride.

IS THE LORD’S SUPPER AN ORDINANCE?

Any attempt to show by the Scriptures that the Lord’s Supper is either a kingdom ordinance or a Church (Body) ordinance, will prove very difficult, if not futile. In the Bible it is not called an ordinance. Some Christian brethren say that it is, and in support of their claim quote I Corinthians 11:2; “that ye remember me in all things and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” The Greek word used in this verse is “paradosis” translated in the New Testament Scriptures twelve times “tradition”.

In Colossians 2:14, we read of the work of Christ on the cross: “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us:” This Greek word translated “ordinances” is the same word used in Ephesians 2:15 concerning the middlewall of partition, “dogma”. In Acts 16:4 the same word is translated “decrees”. When Christ on the cross blotted out the “dogmas” given to Israel through Moses, He did not blot out the “paradosis” which Paul gave to the saints at Corinth some years after Christ died on the cross.

WATER BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

With few exceptions the servants of the Lord who have received “denominational” or “undenominational” ordination, have been asked to state the two ordinances belonging to the Christian Church. The answer expected and required is, “Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.” If God in His Holy Word has joined these together as inseparable ordinances, most assuredly no servant of the Lord should be guilty of putting them asunder. But where is the Scriptural proof that God has joined them together?

John the Baptist came baptizing with water that Christ might be made manifest to Israel. John 1:31. With what message was John’s water baptism identified? “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17. John baptized with water unto repentance. Matthew 3:11. “He came preaching the baptism unto repentance for the remission of sins.” Luke 3:3.

Water baptism unto repentance for the remission of sins was a kingdom ordinance and was a Divine command given with the proclamation of the kingdom of heaven. It was inseparably connected with repentance and remission of sins. Obedience to this water baptism command was essential for the blessing promised.

All students who have made an earnest endeavor to rightly divide the Word of truth, have divided the Gospel of Matthew at Matthew 4:17 and Matthew 16:21; “From that time” and “From that time forth”. The first Scripture marks the King’s presentation of the Kingdom. The second Scripture marks the rejection of the King and the Kingdom. If water baptism was to present the King with the Kingdom offer, then we shall not expect to find water baptism in the Gospels after the rejection is stated. And we do not.

Perhaps this can be more clearly seen in Luke’s Gospel. In Luke, Christ is born to take David’s throne and fulfill Isaiah 9:6 and 7 and bring peace on earth. Luke 1:29 to 33; Luke 2:14; Luke 1:67 to 77. This is the Kingdom Gospel and with it water baptism unto repentance for the remission of sins, and Kingdom signs Luke 3:3; Luke 9:6.

In Luke 12:49 to 52, the King’s rejection is announced with the withdrawal of the peace proclamation and a new baptism is there stated; namely, Christ’s baptism on the cross. This baptism was the Lord’s death which is remembered in the Lord’s Supper. There is no record of water baptism in the last half of the Book of Luke; that is, after the Lord’s death baptism is stated in Luke 12:51. It was after His “death” baptism is announced that the Lord Himself, ready for that baptism, broke the bread and took the cup, not unto repentance for the remission of sins, but to tell us of the baptism that is to abide after the water baptism has ceased to have any place in the Lord’s Grace program: to tell of His blood shed for the remission of sins. Luke 22:19 and 20. Baptism was also for the remission of sin for Covenant Israel.

Then let us observe that water baptism was a Kingdom ordinance given before the King and the Kingdom were rejected, and that the bread and cup were given after the King and the Kingdom were rejected, while Christ was on earth.

Water baptism was what the human baptizer did for the baptized and what the baptized human did for God to make God’s forgiving mercy efficacious. Therefore water baptism was a meritorious and obligatory ordinance, required with penitence for the remission of sins.

Christ’s death baptism was what Christ did for God and for sinful humanity when He cried “finished”. The Lord’s redemptive work is altogether sufficient. Water baptism was for the remission of sins. The blood of Christ is for the remission of sins. Water has no place in God’s message of pure grace; but the blood abides. The blood is altogether sufficient for the redemption of the believing sinner and needs not be supplemented by the Lord’s Supper to make it efficacious. The Lord’s Supper is neither meritorious, nor obligatory, in any way, to make the sacrifice of the Son of God more effective. It has been called a memorial that speaks of the once for all sacrifice of the Son of God, and surely no redeemed sinner should object to a reminder of that finished work.

WATER BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER IN ACTS TWO.

On the day of Pentecost the question of the convicted Israelites was, “brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37. What they were to do was told in Acts 2:38. But before reading that verse let us carefully note the words of Peter in Acts 2:36: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” They were testifying to Israel that Jesus was Christ, or Messiah.

When Jesus announced that Israel was going to crucify Him, He instructed His kingdom messengers, “that they should tell no man that He was the Messiah.” Matthew 16:20 to 22. After that there was no record of water baptism until they again were permitted to announce to Israel that He was the Messiah, after His death. On the cross the Messiah cried, “Father, forgive them”. Luke 23:34. The Father heard the prayer and was willing to forgive all and begin anew with them. This was in confirmation of the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 12:31 and 32. If Israel sinned against the Son of man, it would be forgiven them; but if they sinned against the Holy Spirit it would not be forgiven them. They sinned against the Son of man while He was on earth; but the Son of man had to go. Matthew 26:24. Israel began to sin against the Holy Spirit shortly after Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was sent to witness that God had raised Christ up from the dead to be Israel’s Prince and Saviour. Acts 5:31 and 32. Years later Paul was still testifying to Israel that Jesus was the Messiah, the message forbidden in Matthew 16:20; Acts 17:3 and Acts 18:5, and Israel was still committing the unpardonable sin, blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. Acts 18:6. In the Four Gospels Israel was committing the pardonable sin: they were sinning against the Son of man. In the Book of Acts Israel was committing the unpardonable sin; they were sinning against the Holy Spirit.

Water baptism was that Messiah might be manifest to Israel. John 1:31. Therefore, in answer to the question of Acts 2:37, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38.

Does not this sound very much like the message of John the Baptist who preached baptism unto repentance for the remission of sins? Is not the order here in agreement with Mark 16:15 to 17, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”?

However sincere and conscientious those 3000 Israelites may have been, they would not have been added on the day of Pentecost, had they refused water baptism for the remission of sins. No able and spiritual grace Bible teacher among the Fundamentalists today, teaches that water baptism is a requirement for membership in the Church which is Christ’s Body, to obtain or retain eternal life, or necessary to receive the Holy Spirit. With them, therefore, water baptism, in what they term the present-day New Testament Church, has an entirely different meaning than it had on the day of Pentecost, and yet they call Pentecost the birthday of the same New Testament Church of which they are members. Why they do not preach Acts 2:38 is still a secret, perhaps an enigma.

Some true and faithful Christian brethren have interpreted Acts 2:46 to mean the Lord’s Supper: “they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.’ They have offered their dispensational exegesis as to why they do not obey Acts 2:44 and 45: “and had all things common: and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, as every man had need.” That this was a kingdom program none of them deny. They declare it is not practical today and not God’s order for today, Rather strange, if the ideal Church began on that day, identical with the Body of Ephesians and Colossians, and has continued unchanged down to the present time. The saved Israelites did the same thing with their property in Acts 4:34 and 35. Surely this was in accordance with the kingdom command of the Lord Jesus in Luke 12:32 and 33. Are Bible teachers consistent or intelligent to select or reject such of the Acts Church program as fits into their scheme of interpretation without Scriptural authority?

It cannot be denied that water baptism was a kingdom ordinance; neither can it be denied that the Lord Jesus instituted His Supper when He was declaring truth concerning the future of Israel’s kingdom. Luke 22:18. But the division of possessions and water baptism ceased. Soon the outside saints were taking collections for the Jerusalem saints (Acts 11:29 and Romans 15:26), and others were urged to this ministry. Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles and Paul’s commission from Christ, which sent him to the Gentiles, did not include such a division of property and water baptism. Romans 11:13. The Lord’s Supper was specifically mentioned by him as being for the saved Gentiles as well as for saved Israelites, by Divine authority and revelation.

THE LORD’S SUPPER—THE GOSPEL—AND SIGNS

Our Christian brethren who cannot reconcile the observance of the Lord’s Supper with “the dispensation of the mystery”, mentioned in Ephesians 3:9 and Colossians 1:24 to 28, argue that inasmuch as signs have no place in the last seven Epistles of Paul, in his “mystery message”, and inasmuch as judgment signs were connected with the Lord’s Supper in I Corinthians 11:25 to 29, the Lord’s Supper must have ceased when the signs ceased with Acts 28:25 to 28. Certainly the sign gifts were for members of the Church in. I Corinthians 12:8 to 11. They ask the question, “Can a believer take the bread and cup unworthily and drink damnation to his soul in this day of special Gentile favor? We quote I Corinthians 11:24 to 29:

“AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE BRAKE IT AND SAID. TAKE, EAT: THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU: THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. AFTER THE SAME MANNER ALSO HE TOOK THE CUP, WHEN HE HAD SUPPED, SAYING, THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD: THIS DO YE, AS OFT AS YE DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. FOR, AS OFTEN AS YE EAT THIS BREAD, AND DRINK THIS CUP, YE DO SHEW THE LORD’S DEATH TILL HE COME. WHERE-FORE WHOSOEVER SHALL EAT THIS BREAD, AND DRINK THIS CUP OF THE LORD, UNWORTHILY, SHALL BE GUILTY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. BUT LET A MAN EXAMINE HIMSELF, AND SO LET HIM EAT OF THAT BREAD, AND DRINK OF THAT CUP. FOR HE THAT EATETH AND DRINKETH UNWORTHILY, EATETH AND DRINKETH DAMNATION TO HIMSELF NOT DISCERNING THE LORD’S BODY.”

Read the verses that follow concerning Divine judgments of sickness and death.

Certainly this question of accompanying judgments provokes thought and should be answered by the Word of truth rightly divided. First let us refresh our minds concerning the signs which accompanied the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles during the “Acts” period. “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit. and worketh miracles among you. doeth He it by the works of the law. or by the hearing of faith?” Galatians 3:5.

“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed. through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum. I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel. not where Christ was named. lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:” Romans 15:18 to 20.

“FOR TO ONE IS GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT THE WORD OF WISDOM; TO ANOTHER THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER FAITH BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO AN OTHER THE GIFTS OF HEALING BY THE SAME SPIRIT; TO ANOTHER THE WORKING OF MIRACLES; TO ANOTHER PROPHECY; TO ANOTHER DISCERNING OF SPIRITS; TO ANOTHER DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES; TO ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. BUT ALL THESE WORKETH THAT ONE AND THE SELF-SAME SPIRIT, DIVIDING TO EVERY MAN SEVERALLY AS HE ‘WILL.” I Corinthians 12:8 to 11.

Surely in Galatians Paul is defending the authority, source and exclusiveness of the grace of Christ’s gospel. committed to him for the Gentiles. Did he cease to preach the Grace of Christ Gospel after Acts 28:25 to 28? The signs ceased, but the Gospel did not cease with the signs. The Gospel of Grace is so clearly stated in Romans 3:24 to 26, which we quote: “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. through the forbearance of God. To declare. I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Paul did not cease to preach that gospel after signs waned and passed out and faith, hope and love remained. He committed to Timothy and Titus faith, hope and love and the pure gospel of grace; but no signs. By the same exegesis, the absence of signs for the elimination of the Lord’s Supper, the Gospel could be dropped.

When God brought to an end the program of miracles and Divine death judgments He likewise ceased the miracles of raising from the dead. When the sign gifts of healing the sick ceased. the judgment of sickness upon unworthy saints likewise disappeared. So we cannot prove that the Lord’s Supper and Divine judgments were inseparably connected. It is a known fact that many saints are taking the Lord’s Supper unworthily but they are enjoying good health and are not in the cemetery.

A Christmas Poem

Posted on December 15, 1935 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

Christ Jesus came from heaven above the Scriptures to fulfill;
He came because of God’s great love; to do His Father’s will.
In Israel’s land the virgin’s Child was born as David’s Seed,
Holy, harmless, undefiled, in thought, in word, in deed.

The sinless Christ, because Divine, was full of truth and grace,
He proved His claim by word and sign, a witness to His race.
Messiah came unto His own, and perhaps we’ve wondered why
Christ was born for David’s throne and yet was born to die.

“Peace on earth” He came to bring, if Israel would repent;
They received Him not as Christ the King; nor the messengers He sent.
Elect and precious Corner Stone, by prophets long foretold,
Despised, rejected by His own; for thirty pieces sold.

He wept for Israel and their land, but their rulers, filled with hate,
Gave Him into Pilate’s hand to meet His cruel fate,
Surrounded by the hissing crowd, the Lord was crucified;
And on the tree He cried aloud; “finished”; then He died.

There on Him our sins were laid, when the Saviour bowed His Head;
The guilty sinner’s debt was paid when His precious blood was shed.
He who came to seek and save, the sinner’s sins to bear,
Was buried in the rich man’s grave; but His spirit was not there.

Nor did His body go to dust, nor His soul in hell remain;
Conquer death the Saviour must; and so He rose again.
Ascended, seated far above in heaven’s highest place
The Spirit tells of God’s great love. His more abounding grace.

What wondrous love! What grace Divine! redemption full and free;
By faith I’ve made this Saviour mine and God’s accepted me.
Perhaps you too have made this choice, have assurance, joy and peace
And in this glorious hope rejoice, in a life that shall not cease.

No worth, no merit of our own, not works lest man should boast,
But justified by grace alone, our earnest the Holy Ghost.
Believing saints with Christ are dead; with Christ in God they hide;
Complete in Christ, our risen Head; faith hope and love abide.

Members of that Body one, whose greatest gift is love;
Identified with God’s dear Son and seated far above,
Our Father wants us all to know our high and holy place
In future ages He will show the riches of His Grace.

That Grace sufficient here below as we do our Father’s will;
Sufficient as we undergo what comes that seemeth ill.
In glory we shall yet appear; we labor not in vain;
If unashamed we suffer here, with Christ we’ll surely reign.

The sufferings here cannot compare with the glory then revealed
Forgotten every woe and care and every heartache healed.
With patience then let’s run the race, looking to Christ above
Depending on God’s matchless grace; filled with hope and love.

Many precious souls still lost exchange their Christmas cheers,
Unmindful of the awful cost; Christless, yet no fears.
Receive the gift, believe and live, sinner, hear the call;
The Christ of Christmas longs to give eternal life to all.

Written For Our Admonition

Posted on December 15, 1935 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

HOUSEHOLD BAPTISM

In I Corinthians 10:1 to 15 the Holy Spirit has reminded us of some experiences of God’s ancient people Israel. In the sixth verse we are told that “these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted”. And in the eleventh verse we are told that “these things happened unto them for examples; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come”. In order that we may be admonished and instructed, and thereby derive the benefit that the Holy Spirit desires us to have, we should carefully study the “these things” to which He referred. Let us refresh our memories concerning several of these experiences. We read these words in Exodus 14:30 and 31.

“The Lord saved Israel that day out of the hands of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

“And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and His servant Moses.”

In the preceding verses we have the details of this great deliverance. And we can see why Israel feared and believed the Lord, and believed the Lord’s servant Moses. In Exodus 14:11 and 12 we learn that the Israelites murmured against Moses and rebuked him for leading them away from Egypt. In order that the Israelites might have confidence in Moses’ leadership and Divine authority, the Lord, by the hand of Moses, performed two great miracles, mentioned in Exodus 14:19 to 21, namely, the pillar of the cloud; and the dividing of the waters of the Red Sea. Then 600,000 men of Israel, beside the women and the children, passed through the sea. This fact is told in Exodus 14:22, which we quote: “And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the DRY GROUND; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left”. When Pharaoh with his army followed after Israel God completely destroyed them and their chariots in the midst of the sea. We might ask the question, how we are to be admonished or instructed by this example? By some brethren there has been a very strange teaching concerning household baptism. They have insisted that believers should be immersed in water, and that their children should likewise be immersed with what they call “Christian” baptism. They support their theory by quoting I Corinthians 10:2 and 10:6, which we here quote:

“AND WERE ALL BAPTIZED UNTO MOSES IN THE CLOUD AND IN THE SEA; “NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES, TO THE INTENT WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS, AS THEY ALSO LUSTED.”

To our minds this is rather fanciful and unsound exegesis, and seems to be a desperate attempt to force the Bible to agree with their religious practice and, the traditions of some of the church fathers. Perhaps it has also resulted by insisting that the word “baptizo” has, just one meaning. In ancient Greek literature this Greek word had a number of meanings. And by carefully comparing the fourteenth chapter of Exodus with the tenth chapter of I Corinthians, there seems to be no doubt that the statement concerning the Israelites, baptized unto Moses “in the cloud and in the sea,” could better be rendered “by the cloud and by the sea”. Undoubtedly the meaning that the Holy Spirit would convey to our minds and hearts is the fact that the two miracles, which the Lord performed by the hand of Moses, were to give them implicit confidence in Moses and reliance upon him as their Divinely appointed leader. They were “baptized unto Moses.” They acknowledged him their leader. They received him as God’s servant.

In Acts 2:22 we are instructed that God, by great miracles, tried to persuade Israel to receive Jesus of Nazareth as their great Prophet and Messiah. The works that Christ did was to induce Israel to accept Him as Messiah, King and Deliverer.

These brethren who practice household baptism say that, passing through the Red Sea was symbolic; and that members of the Body of Christ should be immersed. And because the babies and little children went through the Red Sea with their parents, the infants and little children should be immersed in this day of grace with their parents.

It is quite significant that the Holy Spirit, in the fourteenth of Exodus, was very careful to tell us, more than once, that the children of Israel did not get wet. They passed over on dry land. Perhaps these brethren have overlooked the words in I Corinthians 10:6, “to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” There was no lusting after evil things when they accepted the leadership of Moses and followed him across the Red Sea. To my mind, the key to these instructions in I Corinthians 10:1 to 15 is found in the word “wherefore” in the twelfth verse. It is not an example of baptism; but an example of temptation.

As members of the Body of Christ we have all been baptized into Jesus Christ We have put on Christ. We have been baptized into His death. We have been raised to walk in newness of life. And because we are made of the same human material as were the children of Israel, we have this important admonition in I Corinthians 10:12, which we quote “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Our one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 identifies us with Christ.

God speaks of His Nation Israel as a disobedient and gainsaying people, as a rebellious and stiffnecked people. We quote several verses from Exodus relating their murmurings, their rebellion, their disobedience, and their idolatry. “The whole congregation of the children murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Exodus 16:2 and 3.

“And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:7 .

“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him”. Exodus 32:1.

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves”. Exodus 32:7

“And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses; and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men”. Exodus 32:28.

“Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee; behold mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them;. And the Lord plagued the people because they made the calf, which Aaron made”.

“And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived”. Numbers 21:8 and 9.

Bought With A Price

Posted on December 15, 1935 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

In I Corinthians 6:19 and 20 we find these two spiritual truths: “Ye are not your own”, “ye are bought with a price”. Very much the same fact is declared in Romans 14:7 to 9, which we quote

“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living.”

There may be a sense in which it can be said that man is a free moral agent. And yet the Bible clearly teaches that there are only two classes of people in the world; those who belong to Christ and those who do not belong to Christ. Concerning the latter class, their spiritual state is described in Ephesians 2:2 and 3, which we quote: “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others”. In the thirteenth verse of this same second chapter of Ephesians we have this glorious message of redemption:

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

God’s Word tells us that His Son was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. That His incarnation was for the specific purpose of destroying the devil’s death power, by Himself dying and then conquering death. I John 3:8 and Hebrews 2:14. In Matthew 12:30, the Saviour declares; “he that is not with Me is against Me”. In the preceding verse He speaks of Satan as “the strong man”; and the sinner with his iniquity as the strong man’s house and his goods. And there the Son of God declares that the strong man must be bound before his goods can be spoiled.

According to Colossians 2:15 the Lord Jesus, by His death and resurrection, spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over them. In Luke 4:1 to 13 we have the Divine Record of the conflict on earth between Christ and Satan and Christ’s complete victory over the Adversary. Thus we see, by the infallible Word of the living God, that the unsaved sinner is the property of Satan, and that the redeemed sinner is the property of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In Titus 2:14, we learn that the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, “that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works:” What a wonderful verse of Scripture this is, because of the blessed and important truths herein declared. The Lord Jesus died to redeem us from all iniquity, and He redeemed us unto Himself; to be his peculiar people. He desires that we should be zealous of good works. We belong to Him.

This blessed truth is stated in I Peter 1:17 to 19: “Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”. Here we see that the believer’s sojourning on earth is to be passed in fear. Because the Lord Jesus Christ has paid such a precious price for his redemption. Truly the believer is not his own. We are bought with a price.

We are familiar with the history of Israel from the day God called them out of Egypt to the hour that they delivered Christ to Pilate to be put to death. What a sad history! What an inglorious record! Surely God did not exaggerate when He said, “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider”. It was the confession of David concerning Israel, “God hath not dealt with any nation so”. And hear these words of God, recorded in Isaiah 43:1 and 7; “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. Even every one that is called by My Name; for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” In a brief summary we have the history of Israel, told by the Lord Jesus in the Parable of the Vineyard, in Matthew 21:33 to 46; and also in Stephen’s message, recorded in the seventh chapter of Acts. It would be well for every Christian to read these two messages, and then hear the words of God in Romans 11:21 and 22, which we quote “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God; on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness; otherwise thou also shall be cut off”.

It is recorded in Luke 13:6 to 9 that for three consecutive years the Lord Jesus, while on earth, came to Israel to find fruit; but found none. That fig tree was to be cut down; and it was. Thus we see how sorely Israel disappointed the Lord, and how miserably they failed in their responsibility, although they belonged to Jehovah, who created them for His own glory.

But how about those of us who are members of the Body of Christ, sanctified by the offering of the blood of Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit, saved by His precious blood, and seated with Him in the highest heavenlies? We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. We are accepted in the Beloved. We are the righteousness of God in Him. We are complete in Him. All things are ours in Him. Christ is our redemption, our holiness, our righteousness, our peace, our hope and our life. We have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life and to show forth the praises of Him Who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Let us pass the time of our sojourning in fear. It is God’s command. We are not our own. We are bought with a price; the precious blood of Christ. We are His property. We belong to Him and all that we have belongs to Him. Our time is His; our gifts are His; and our money is His. We are to seek those things where He is at the right hand of God. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our hope is laid up in heaven. Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. In all things God wants Christ to have the preeminence. We leave with you again, Titus 2:14: “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.”

God grant that we may ever be faithful and not weary in well doing.

Part 4: A General Outline of the Bible in Ten Lessons

Posted on December 15, 1935 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

WAS ABRAHAM A JEW OR AN ISRAELITE?

In the Old Testament we find the word “Jew” or “Jews” occurs 82 times. The word is found in the Book of Esther 53 times. It is in this Book that the word “Jew”, in the singular, is used, for the first time in the Bible, in the year 519 B.C. So the word “Jew”, in the singular, occurs for the first time 1400 years after the call of Abram.

The plural, “Jews”, occurs for the first time in II Kings 16:6 in the year 739 B.C., or nearly 1200 years after the call of Abram. The Hebrew word is “Yehuwdiy”. The name “Jew” is not applied to the ten tribes. Concerning them we read in II Kings 23:27, “I have removed Israel.” Originally the word “Jew” meant a descendant of Judah who was the son of Israel. So the Hebrew word means a Judahite.

It is interesting to note that although Isaiah was Jehovah’s prophet to Judah he mentioned Israel 92 times. He did not use the word “Jew” even once, except as he referred to their language in Isaiah 36:11 and 13. It is also interesting to note that although David was of the Tribe of Judah, he never used the word “Jew” in the Psalms that he wrote. The word “Israel” is found 62 times in the Psalms.

It is also interesting to note in Esther 2:5 that Mordecai is called a Jew; although in that same verse it is recorded that he descended from Benjamin. This same information is given us concerning Saul of Tarsus or Paul the Apostle. In Acts 21:39 and 22:3 Paul said, “I am a Jew”. In Philippians 3:5 he said, “of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews.” In Romans 11:1 and II Corinthians 11:22 he says, “I am an Israelite”. So then we learn that Saul of Tarsus was of the tribe of Benjamin; that he was a Hebrew; that he was a Jew; that he was an Israelite. Benjamin was associated with Judah after the Kingdom of Israel was divided.

As we turn to the New Testament Scriptures we learn that the word “Jew” in the singular and in the plural is used 193 times. It is very interesting to note that in the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, the word is used only 16 times; while in John’s Gospel the word “Jew” occurs 70 times. In the Book of Acts the word occurs 79 times. The word “Israel” occurs in the Old Testament Scriptures 2494 times. In the New Testament Scriptures the word “Israel” occurs 74 times; “Israelite” 4 times. The first occurrence of the expression “children of Israel” is found in Genesis 36:31 and there referred to the first descendants of Jacob, rather than to the Nation Israel. We have more of the history of the birth of that Nation in the Book of Exodus. In that Book, as well as in other Books that make up the Pentateuch, God’s people are not called “Jews”. In the Book of Exodus, before the Law was given, they are called “the children of Israel” 62 times. After the Law was given, 39 times. After the Book of Exodus they were called by that name for many centuries.

In the New Testament Scriptures we learn that “Israel” and “Jews” are used interchangeably. Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews. John 3:1. Christ called Nicodemus “A master of Israel”. John 3:10. We learn that Christ was called “the King of Israel”, in Matthew 27:42, Mark 15:32, John 1:49 and John 12:13. According to Matthew 2:2, Christ was born King of the Jews; and in that same chapter, the sixth verse, he had come to rule Israel. When He was crucified, the superscription placed above His head was “King of the Jews”.

According to Luke 1:16, John the Baptist was to turn many of the children of Israel to Christ. At that time Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. Luke 2:25. Associated with him in the religion of the Jews was a woman of the tribe of Asher. Luke 1:36. Christ was a Jew but He was sent to Israel. Matthew 15:24.

After the resurrection of Christ, His own disciples trusted that He would have redeemed Israel; and several days later asked the question, “Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Luke 24:21 to 24. Acts 1:6. They did not ask if He would restore the kingdom to the Jews; although according to Acts 10:28 and Galatians 2:14, Peter was a Jew. On the Day of Pentecost Peter addressed the Jews first, as “ye men of Judea”; and then, as “ye men of Israel”. Acts 2:5, Acts 2:14 and Acts 2:22. Peter and his associates were Galileans. Acts 2:7. Compare Acts 2:36 with I Thessalonians 2:15.

In Paul’s ministry, recorded in the Book of Acts, we learn of the opposition from the Jews and the judgments which he pronounced upon them. But when we turn to Romans 11:7, he referred to them as “Israel”, and declares in Romans 11:26, “all Israel shall be saved”. This is to be because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance and for the fathers’ sakes. Romans 11:28 and 29. God’s gifts and calling to the fathers was for the whole house of Israel, the twelve tribes. According to Matthew 19:28, the twelve apostles in the coming Kingdom age are to judge the twelve tribes. According to Hebrews 8:9 to 11, the whole house of Israel is to be saved under the New Covenant. Read Acts 26:7.

In Romans 9:4 the question is, “Who are Israelites?” To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the fathers, and Christ. The same thought is expressed; in Romans 3:1 in the question, “What advantage then hath the Jews?” The oracles of God were committed to them. The oracles of God were committed to all Israel. So we see that Israel and the Jew are used interchangeably. The “land of the Jews” us also called the “land of Israel”. Matthew 2:20 and Acts 10:39. Paul was sent to the children of Israel. Acts 9:25. But he became a Jew to the Jews. I Corinthians 9:20.

Thus we see the word, “Jew” refers not only to the descendants of Judah, but to the Israelites and proselytes who practiced the Jews’ religion. Even the Persian Gentiles in the days of Esther became Jews. Esther 8:17. And the proselytes of Acts 2:10 were devout Jews. Acts 2:5. This age is divided into “Jews, Gentiles and the Church of God.” I Corinthians 10:32. After the birth of the Nation Israel and until Pentecost, there were Jews and Gentiles. Before the birth of the Nation Israel and until Pentecost, there were Jews and Gentiles. Before the birth of the Nation Israel there was neither the Jew nor the Church of God. The Hebrew word translated “Gentile” is also translated “heathen” and “nation”.

Abram was a Hebrew according to Genesis 14:13. His grandson was Israel. His great grandson was Judah. Judah came from Israel. Both Judah and Israel came from Abraham. It is in this sense only that Abraham could be called either a Jew or an Israelite. Therefore strictly speaking, Abraham was not a Jew. Jacob was not a Jew. If we say that Judah was a Jew we could not say that his eleven brothers were Jews.

THE NATION ISRAEL

Abraham was 75 years old when God made His gracious promises to him. Genesis 12:4. In II Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23 Abraham is called “the friend of God.”

“BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO OUT INTO A PLACE WHICH HE SHOULD AFTER RECEIVE FOR AN INHERITANCE OBEYED; AND HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHITHER HE WENT.” Hebrews 11:8.

“FOR WHEN GOD MADE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM, BECAUSE HE COULD SWEAR BY NO GREATER, HE SWEAR BY HIMSELF.” Hebrews 6:13. “BUT WHEN THE TIME OF THE PROMISE DREW NIGH, WHICH GOD HAD SWORN TO ABRAHAM, THE PEOPLE GREW AND MULTIPLIED IN EGYPT.” Acts 7:17.

Because of the oath which God “sware to our father Abraham” Israel shall be “saved from our enemies,” and from the “hand of all that hate us.” Luke 1:71 to 73.

“ART THOU OUR GOD, WHO DIDST DRIVE OUT THE INHABITANTS OF THIS LAND BEFORE THY PEOPLE ISRAEL, AND GAVEST IT TO THE SEED OF ABRAHAM THY FRIEND FOREVER?” II Chronicles 20:7.

THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

“Now the Lords has said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee;

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:1 to 3.

“And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto thee Lord, Who appeared unto him.” Genesis 12:7.

“For all the land which thou seest to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth; so that If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.” Genesis 13:14 to 16.

“And he brought him forth abroad, and said Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” Genesis 15:1 and 5 “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

“And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

“And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee” Genesis 17:1 to 7.

“AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE, AND TO THY SEED AFTER THEE, THE LAND WHEREIN THOU ART A STRANGER, ALL THE LAND OF CANAAN; FOR AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD.” Genesis 17:8.

“And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.” Genesis 17:24.

“And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.” Genesis 21:4.

“And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.” Genesis 21:5.

THE OATH

“By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

“That in blessing, I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:16 to 18.

God made several promises in His covenant with Abraham

1—I will show thee the land.

2—I will bless.

3—I will curse.

4—I will make of thee a great nation.

5—I will give to thy seed, the land of Canaan.

6—In thy seed shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Four hundred and thirty years before Moses, under the hand of Jehovah, led Israel up out of Egypt God said:

“AND HE SAID UNTO ABRAM, KNOW OF A SURETY THAT THY SEED SHALL BE A STRANGER IN A LAND THAT IS NOT THEIRS, AND SHALL SERVE THEM; AND THEY SHALL AFFLICT THEM FOUR HUNDRED YEARS;

“AND ALSO THAT NATION, WHOM THEY SHALL SERVE, WILL I JUDGE; AND AFTERWARD SHALL THEY COME OUT WITH GREAT SUBSTANCE.” Geneses 15:13 and 14.

Abram was 86 years old when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. Genesis 16:16. In Genesis 17:20, God promised to Ishmael a great nation; that twelve princes would come from him. Ishmael means “The Lord will hear”. He was born after the flesh, of the bondwoman. Galatians 4:23. Hagar and Ishmael, in the allegory, stand for the old covenant.

ISAAC AND ISRAEL

Isaac, the son of the free woman, was by promise. Galatians 4:23. Isaac means “laughter”. He was born about 2183 A.H. In Genesis 24 and 25 we have the record of Isaac’s marriage to Rebecca and the birth of Jacob and Esau. Jacob means “Cheater” or “Supplanter”. Jacob’s brother was Esau, also Edom, which means “Red”.

In Genesis 29 and 30, we have the record, of Jacob’s marriage to Rachel and Leah, the daughters of Laban, whom Jacob served. In addition to the children born unto Jacob, by Rachel and Leah, other sons were born unto him by Bilhah and Zilpah. The names of Jacob’s twelve sons were as follows Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Joseph, Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. Exodus 1:2.

“AND ALL THE SOULS THAT CAME OUT OF THE LOINS OF JACOB WERE SEVENTY SOULS, FOR JQSEPH WAS IN EGYPT ALREADY.” Exodus 1:5.

The name “Jacob” occurs 346 times in the Old Testament and 25 times in the New Testament Scriptures.

The record of God’s dealing with Jacob at Bethel, which means “the house of God”, is recorded in Genesis 28:12 to 22; a very interesting and significant story. The ladder of the vision was a type of the Son of man. John 1:51. It was at Bethel that God renewed the Covenant He had made with Abraham and Isaac. The dealings of God with Jacob at Peniel are recorded in Genesis 32:24 to 32. Peniel means “the face of God”. It was there that God changed the name of Jacob to Israel; meaning “power with God”. After the wrestling which took place there the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was touched in the sinew that shrank.

In Genesis 46:2 to 27 we find the record of Jacob and his sons locating in Egypt. “All the souls that came into Egypt were seventy.”

There are few stories in the Bible as interesting as the story of Joseph, the favored son of Israel, who was sold by his brethren and who was carried away to Egypt, to become the saviour of the world. Surely Joseph was a type of the Lord Jesus, Israel’s Messiah.

The final words and death of Jacob are recorded in Genesis 47:27 to 31. He died at the age of 147 years. Joseph died at the age of 110 years. Genesis 50:26.

Now we turn to Exodus 12:37 and learn that about 600,000 Israelites came up out of Egypt about 1490 B.C. This was beside children and women.

According to God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:13 and 14, these Israelites spoiled the Egyptians. Exodus 12:36. And, “the sojourneying of the children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was 430 years.” Exodus 12:40 to 41. They were delivered from Egypt and Pharaoh, because of God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and; Jacob. Exodus 2:24 and 25. The children of Israel were saved from destruction in the wilderness because of God’s covenant with these fathers. Exodus 32:13 and 14. References are made to this Covenant in Leviticus 26:42, Deuteronomy 9:27, Deuteronomy 30:20, II Kings 13:23, Psalm 105:9 and 42, Isaiah 41:5 to 12, Isaiah 51:2 and 3, Isaiah 63:15 and 16, Micah 7:20.

Because of God’s oath-supported covenant given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we behold, today His miraculous preservation of the Jews. They number about 17,000,000, or a little more than one per cent of the inhabitants of the world. We still speak of the Jews as a nation, although they are now scattered among several hundred nations. And the land which God gave to them is being trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Luke 21:24. Then all Israel shall be saved and their land and the kingdom restored to them; for the fathers’ sake. And this is to be in accordance with another covenant which God made with David. II Samuel 7:12 to 20, Romans 11:25 to 30.

The story is told in Ezekiel 36, 37 and 38.

Part 4: Gleanings From the Book of Acts

Posted on December 15, 1935 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

“WITNESS UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.” Acts 1:8

“I SAY THEN, HAVE THEY STUMBLED THAT THEY SHOULD FALL? GOD FORBID; BUT RATHER THROUGH THEIR FALL SALVATION IS COME UNTO THE GENTILES FOR TO PROVOKE THEM TO JEALOUSY.” Romans 11:11.

This Greek word translated “earth” is translated in Acts 7:3 and in 40 other Scriptures, “land”. Therefore, there are some Bible expositors who translate the Greek in Acts 1:8; “unto the uttermost limits of the land”, referring to the land of the Jews. We might agree that it is possible that such a translation was intended by the Holy Spirit, but then we might add that it is not probable.

One reason why these “expositors” have changed the reading from that in the authorized version, is because it is stated in Acts 8:1, that the twelve apostles remained in Jerusalem, and in all of the twenty-eight chapters of Acts there is no record that any of the Twelve preached beyond the limits of Israel’s land. In Peter’s Epistle, written after the “Acts” period, he had been in Babylon.

The Lord Jesus appeared in a vision to Saul of Tarsus in the Jerusalem temple and told him to get out of Jerusalem and to go far hence to the Gentiles. Acts 22:17 and 21. As we travel with Paul in the Book of Acts, we learn that as he journeyed through Asia Minor, Asia, Europe and the Islands, that his custom was to go first into the synagogues of the Jews and testify that Jesus was Messiah. Acts 13:26 to 30; Acts 17:3 and Acts 18:5. And then he would turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13:46 and Acts 18:6.

We must not be too dogmatic in our conclusions when our proof is by the silences in the Scriptures concerning certain facts; but we must admit that it seems rather significant that the first and only Gentile to receive a kingdom blessing from Jesus on earth was a Roman official, that the first and only Gentile (with his household) to receive a message of salvation from the twelve apostles was a Roman official (Cornelius), and that the first Gentile to receive a message of salvation from Paul on his first missionary journey, was a Roman official, (Sergius Paulus). Acts 13:6 to 12.

We recently offered to our radio hearers a book, as a reward for the correct Scriptural answer to this question “Who was the first Gentile to whom salvation came to provoke Israel to jealousy?” This fact is declared by Paul, in Romans 11:11, about 60 A.D., or about 33 years after Christ died and told the Eleven to “disciple all nations”. Matthew 28:19 and 20. Here is the statement: “Salvation is come unto the Gentiles to provoke them (Israel) to jealousy.” Perhaps, in the light of the Great Commission, we have thought and questioned, and still are uncertain, as to why it is stated that Paul turned to the Gentiles because of Israel’s attitude toward his testimony concerning the resurrected Christ, or that salvation was sent to the Gentiles to provoke jealousy. Perhaps we have tried to reconcile Paul’s declaration in Acts 13:46 with the words of Jesus in Matthew 23:33 to 39. Why was it necessarily to Israel first when the Lord Jesus called them serpents and vipers and said “your house is left unto you desolate”? There is not the slightest suggestion, or hint, that provoking Israel to jealousy was in the mind of the Lord when He commissioned His apostles to disciple all nations. Nor will there be jealousy with Israel when that Great Commission is carried out in the age to come, when the Gospel of the Kingdom will again be the King’s message.

Well, it was interesting to read the different responses as to the Gentiles to whom salvation was sent to provoke Israel to jealousy. Some, of course, think that the woman at the well was a Gentile, and that the sinners of her village whom she brought to Jesus were Gentiles. But Matthew 10:5 teaches us that there was a difference between Gentiles and Samaritans and the woman’s statements in John 4:12, John 4:20 and John 4:25, should convince any student of the Word that she was not a Gentile. Others think the Syrophoenician woman of Matthew 15:21 to 28 is the correct answer. Where does it say she was saved? Where is the Scriptural proof that any Gentile was saved while the Lord Jesus was on earth? If a Gentile had been saved while Jesus of Nazareth was witnessing to Israel, under the law, as the Minister of the circumcision, would that saved Gentile have become a member of the Body of Christ, or a proselyte, that is, a Jew by religion? Acts 2:22. Romans 15:8. Galatians 4:4. Remember, Jesus and His Twelve were under the law, obedient to the faith and practice of the true Jewish religion, while He was on earth. Luke 2:21 to 24. Luke 4:16. John 7:10. Luke 22:7 and 8. Let us be careful of what we mean when we speak of following Jesus.

If the Roman centurion, of Luke 7:1 to 8 and Matthew 8:1 to 12, was saved, he did not receive salvation to provoke Israel to jealousy. He received the answer to his petition and response to his great faith, by the intercession of Israel. Luke 7:3 to 5. Israel helped him to secure the blessing.

Others said that the message of Peter and the Eleven on the day of Pentecost was for both Israel and the Gentiles, because Peter declared, “this promise is unto you, and to all that are afar off.” Acts 2:39. There are several reasons why this answer is Scripturally incorrect. One reason is, if we are included in the “afar off” Gentiles, the promise has not been fulfilled, and moreover no true messenger of the Lord preaches to Gentiles, or Jews, today, Acts 2:38, as God’s message of salvation. It is inconceivable that Peter had the Gentiles in mind in 33 A.D. when he specifically declared, in 40 A.D., that it was unlawful for him to come to a Gentile. Acts 10:28. It was after that vision of Peter, recorded in Acts 10:1 to 28, that we hear the words of the apostles rejoicing over God’s acceptance of the Gentiles. Acts 11:18. All that Peter and the Eleven were preaching was in fulfillment of Israel’s prophecies. Acts 1:16; Acts 2:16; Acts 2:30; Acts 3:21 and 24; Acts 10: 43; Acts 15:13 to 17. The “afar off” Israelites of Acts 2:39 are the “afar off” Israelites of Daniel 9:7. They were not Gentiles.

We do greatly err when we open the door of salvation for the Gentiles before God opened that door. In Acts 15:7 we have the record as to when God opened a door in the land of the Jews, by Peter’s mouth; and in Acts 14:27 we have the record as to when God opened the door for Gentiles by Barnabas and Saul. Now the details concerning the first open door are given in Acts 10:1 to 47; and the door opened by Paul in Acts 13:6 to Acts 14:1.

This should convince us that the Scriptures mean exactly what they say in Acts 11:19. “preaching the Word to none but Jews only.” This should be the final word that the Ethiopian eunuch was a Jew by religion. This should convince us that the people in the city of Samaria, to whom Philip preached, were not Gentiles. Acts 8:5 to 17. Here is an important suggestion All Scripture should be studied as to whether it applied, as to time, before or after the statement of Acts 14:27.

Of course, the greatest number of guesses was, that Cornelius was the first Gentile to whom salvation was sent to provoke Israel to jealousy. But is that answer Scripturally correct? From the Record it seems that he and his household were the first Gentiles to whom any one of the Twelve preached and also the last Gentile, so far as we can learn by reading the Book of Acts. But it did not provoke Israel to jealousy after Peter had explained that Cornelius acknowledged that Israel had the only true God, the only true religion, that Cornelius feared God, prayed to Him, stood well with Israel, and gave alms to Israel. Acts 10:1 to 3; Acts 10:22. Peter preached to Cornelius the Word which God sent to Israel. Acts 10:36. Peter declared, in the name of Israel’s God, that Cornelius would be accepted because he feared God and worked righteousness. Acts 10:34. Doubtless Cornelius was an uncircumcised proselyte. It was Israel’s prophets who foretold this salvation through Israel’s Messiah. Acts 10:43. And the Israelites rejoiced over the salvation of Cornelius. Acts 11:18.

It is well to remember that Peter with the Eleven had the keys to the kingdom of heaven, that the Twelve are yet to judge the Twelve Tribes of Israel; and that the Twelve Apostles and the Twelve Tribes are linked together in the New Jerusalem. Matthew 16:16 to 18; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 21:12 to 14.

THE TWELVE AND PAUL

Does it not seem somewhat inconsistent that our Premillenarian Bible teachers so vigorously protest against confusing Israel with the Church and yet most of them teach that Paul carried right on with the Twelve, working under the commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20 the keys of the kingdom of because of the number “twelve” and because Matthias had to be chosen in fulfillment of Scripture to maintain the “twelve”, because the twelve apostles kept together in Israel’s land until Cornelius was saved, and because thereafter it was ordered by the Holy Spirit that the Twelve, represented by the pillars, were to go to Israel with Israel’s Gospel and turn over to Paul the responsibility of going to the Gentiles with different messages which he received in different revelations from the risen Christ. Galatians 2:7 to 9; Galatians 1:11 to 17; Ephesians 3:1 to 11; Colossians 1:24 to 28; II Timothy 1:9 to 11; I Timothy 2:5 to 7.

In Acts 15:7 we have recorded the words of Peter, that God chose him to represent the Twelve in preaching to the Gentiles. And now, you and I have some questions in our minds. How do we reconcile Acts 15:7 with Galatians 2:9; that Peter was God’s choice to preach to the Gentiles and yet he was to confine his preaching to Israel? What need was there for Paul, if Peter was God’s choice for the Gentiles and if Peter continued preaching to Gentiles and Paul perpetuated the ministry and message of the Twelve under the Great Commission? Think prayerfully and diligently in your attempt to answer this question. Where will Paul be when the Twelve shall sit on twelve thrones with the Son of man judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel? Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30. Why was it that Israel accepted Peter’s explanation as to why he preached to the Gentiles and when Paul gave his authority for going to them they wanted to tear him to pieces? Acts 11:1 to 18; Acts 22:21 to 30. If Paul was acting under the general instructions of Matthew 28:19 and 20, why did he need a special revelation to preach a different message to the heathen, and why did he declare that Gentiles obtained mercy through Israel’s unbelief? Galatians 1:11 to 18; Romans 11:30. and why Acts 13:46 and Acts 18:6 and Acts 28:28? Good why’s, answer them.

If we will carefully, prayerfully, spiritually and studiously compare Acts 13:46; Acts 18:6; Acts 28:25 to 28, with Galatians 1:11 to 18; Romans 11:11; Romans 11:30 and Ephesians 3:8 and 9, we shall certainly be persuaded that the Apostle Paul had a ministry of revelation, as well as a ministry of confirmation; that he had a ministry which more than supplemented the ministry of the Twelve, one that superseded that ministry. In order that we might understand Paul’s ministry during the “Acts” period, we must understand his two-fold program as declared by him in I Corinthians 9:20 to 22, “as one under the law” and “as one not under the law”.

Quite a number of our radio friends wrote in that in the Thirteenth of Acts we find the first Divine Record of Gentiles being saved to provoke Israel to jealousy. And perhaps they are Scripturally correct. Let us read Acts 13:47 to Acts 14:5 and see that we find there the first record of the salvation of Greeks; and that salvation stirred the Jews to more than jealousy. Let us not confuse the Grecians of Acts 6:1 and Acts 11:20 with the Greeks of Acts 14:1. The Grecians were Jews. The Greeks were Gentiles.

Let us turn to Acts 13:6 to 12 and read that very interesting and symbolic lesson. Here we have the story of BarJesus, the disobedient, gainsaying Israelite, blind for a season, and Sergius Paulus who “when he saw what was done, believed.” Paulus was astounded at the doctrine of the Lord. All Gentiles should be. Because of Israel’s blindness for a season, because of Israel’s unbelief, the Gentiles have obtained mercy and salvation. Read it in Romans 11:6 to 32. Great story! BarJesus means the child of Jehovah-Saviour. Israel is so called in the Scriptures. The individual Gentile, Sergius Paulus, and the individual Jew, BarJesus, are representative and symbolic. With the close of Acts 13, we have a group of Jews provoked and judged and a group of Gentiles saved. “All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Romans 10:21. Israel the people. How long is “all day long”, until Matthew 23:39 or until Acts 28:25 to 28? Write down your answer.

Now read carefully Acts 13:40 and ponder it in your mind and heart and do not follow in the steps of so-called Bible teachers who have made the serious blunder of having Israel judged and set aside with Matthew 23:31 to 39. “Beware lest it come”. It had not yet come. The blindness and Divine judgment, pictured in Romans 11:3 to 32, fell upon the Nation with the quotation from Isaiah 6:6 to 9. Read it in Acts 28:25 to 28. And read Matthew 23:31 to 38 with Luke 21:20 and Matthew 22:8, and know that God’s judgment, pronounced by Christ while on earth, was postponed until after the “Acts” period closed. Then it was that God sent His army. But He is to send another army. It was then (about 69 or 70 A.D.) that Jerusalem was compassed with armies and their desolation nigh. Jerusalem will again be compassed with armies. Compare Matthew 13:14 and 15; John 12:40 and 41, Acts 28:25 to 28 with Isaiah 6:6 to 10.

The Little Word “But” in Ephesians

Posted on December 15, 1935 by Pastor J. C. O'Hair

The word “but” occurs twenty-five times in the Epistle to the Ephesians. It is interesting and instructive to read the significance of each occurrence. Let us study several of these “buts”.

Ephesians 2:4 and 5:

“BUT” God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).”

In verses one to three of this chapter we read of the miserable condition of the unsaved sinner, his black record, his dark past, his helpless and pitiable, ruined state. He is everything he ought not to be by nature. He is dead. Religion could not benefit such a man. There is nothing within to offer any hope. Forms and ceremonies prove futile. Any attempt to remedy the disease or get rid of death by trying to do something for God will result in absolute failure.

“But God.” Now something worth while may happen. The sinner is powerless and dead. The living God is omnipotent. With Him all things are possible. He created the heavens and the earth. He delivered Israel from Egypt and led them dry-shod across the sea. He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him far above in the highest heavenlies. Surely the supernatural God, with such supernatural power, can do something for the natural sinner who will allow Him to. God is rich in mercy and great in love. Note what He did for those poor, lost, ruined, condemned, dead sinners. “Quickened (made alive) with Christ . . . hath raised us up together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:5 and 6. “By grace are ye saved.”

These redeemed sinners, together with you and me, if we are saved by God’s grace, are going to be put on exhibition as sinners saved by grace in the ages to come, all to the glory of the person and work of the Son of God’s love. Ephesians 2:7.

In, verses eleven and twelve, lest we should forget what we were before we became God’s workmanship, God reminds us again that we were Christless, Godless and hopeless.

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ:’ Ephesians 2:13.

Then follows the second “but”.

This is how the great transforming work is done. “But now”. Emphasize the “now”. What a change! What a difference! “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” “Far off;” the past. “‘Nigh;” the present. How? By the once-for-all suffering and sacrifice of Christ. By Him we were brought to God. I Peter 3:18. The two factors in the believer’s salvation are God’s grace and the precious shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even the sinner’s saving faith is the gift of God. So salvation is, from beginning to end, all by grace; and nothing but grace.

Let us read the third “But” in Ephesians 5:8. Here we have another “but now”.

Ephesians 5:8:

“For ye were sometimes darkness, BUT now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”

To the redeemed sinner God here says, “ye were” “ye are”. You have heard that testimony of one of God’s faithful saints, “I am not what I ought to be: I am not what I hope to be: but, by the grace of God, I am not what I once was.” “Ye were darkness.” “But now”. “But now ye are light in the Lord.” Think of it! Christ is the light of the world! The believer is in Christ. In Christ he is light. There is no real spiritual light or life outside of Christ. There is no place of Divine blessing outside of Christ.

How should those who have light in Christ walk? “Walk as children of light.” And what else? Read the “buts” in Ephesians 5:3 and Ephesians 4:20.

We give three other “buts”. Ephesians 4:15:

“BUT speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.”

Ephesians 4:7:

“BUT unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”

Ephesians 5:18:

“And be not drunk with wine, BUT be filled with the Spirit.”

From these verses we learn that we are expected not only to abstain from worldly habits, ungodly practices, from yielding to former lusts, but to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, and to give forth a clear positive, uncompromising, unmixed testimony concerning God’s message for saint and sinner in this day of grace “speaking the truth in love”. For this life of peace and victory, for this worship and service, every member of the Body is given grace. Moreover, to do all that God desires of His children, His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained for us, the believer must be filled with the Holy Spirit. As we walk in the Spirit, we shall fulfill the righteousness of the law, we shall manifest the fruit of the Spirit. But in order to walk well pleasing unto the Lord and worthy of the calling wherewith we are called, we must faithfully, diligently, spiritually and prayerfully study the Word of truth, rightly divided, so we shall know our calling and not walk in the path the Lord marked out for Israel.

Study the other “buts” in Ephesians.