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Fred R. Coulter—January 4, 2014
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Today we are going to cover Restoring Original Christianity for Today. That's above all the letterheads that we send out. That's also how we introduce Church at Home: "Welcome to Church at Home, Church at Home is sponsored by the Christian Biblical Church of God, and we are dedicated to restoring original Christianity for today."
Let's look at it. Let's see what original Christianity really, really is, especially when you look around the world and see all the different forms of Christianity today. You can read in the New Testament where the apostasy started, even in the days of the apostles.
In 1-Tim. 6 we find a very interesting thing that Paul wrote concerning some of the difficulties that were happening, what to do, and how to handle yourself.
1-Timothy 6:3: "If anyone… [that means anybody] …teaches any different doctrine… [teachings, set teachings, pillars and foundations of the Truth] …and does not adhere to sound words, even those of our Lord Jesus Christ… [Don't we have a lot of that today? This booklet, Why Christianity Has Failed in America, shows why.] …and the doctrine [teachings] that is according to Godliness."
Let's see what original Christianity is. It focuses around the one main thing: What is God's purpose? I imagine if you ask some of those who go to Sunday-keeping churches: What is the purpose of God? 'Oh, to forgive our sins and go to heaven.' No, what is the purpose of God?
We'll see God gives us some hints of it clear back in Gen. 1. After God renewed the surface of the earth, He created man on the sixth day. Let's see what He says concerning man. That means man and woman.
Genesis 1:26: "And God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of heaven and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that crawls upon the earth.' And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth…'" (vs 26-28).
The first clue to restoring original Christianity is: What is God's purpose? We have the clues given to us right here: We are made in the image and the likeness of God.
Just in passing, where it says, "Let Us…" (v 26), the Us is never explained in the Old Testament. Those who don't follow or use the New Testament have many conjectures as to what this is. But Jesus answers that in His personal prayer in John 17. This also gives us another very profound statement concerning our purpose. If you don't know the purpose as to why you are here and what is God doing—because He tells us this—how can you possibly know that you belong to God.
John 17:17 becomes important because it shows the action of God the Father and Jesus Christ in our lives, which then is the very central purpose of original Christianity. As Paul wrote, we have to adhere 'to the sound words of Jesus Christ.' Then from there all the apostles were inspired to write what God is doing and our purpose.
John 17:17: "Sanctify them in Your Truth…" We're going to note Truth all the way through. Truth as defined by the Word of God and by God.
"…Your Word is the Truth" (v 17). Here is one of the main things we find with restoring original Christianity for today. None of the traditions of men give us understanding concerning the Word of God. "…Your Word is the Truth."
That's how we're sanctified. Sanctified also means to be made Holy. That also gives us another clue as to what original Christianity is all about. That's why it is not a religion. The atheists define religion very nicely, as a way to control people. We will see God's purpose is entirely different.
Verse 18: "Even as You did send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself… [that's talking about His resurrection] …so that they also may be sanctified in Your Truth. I do not pray for these only… [He said in another place, 'I don't pray for the world.'] …but also for those who shall believe in Me through their word. That they all may be one, even as You, Father, are in Me…" (vs 18-21).
That is by the power of the Holy Spirit. This becomes the great key that unlocks so much in the Bible to understanding: the Holy Spirit is the power of God, and the begettal of God, not a third person in a trinity.
"…and I in You… [He doesn't mention the trinity here at all] …that they…" (v 21). All who believe, the disciples there and all who would believe His Word as spoken through those that God raised up in all generations
"…that they also may be one in Us… [the answer as to who the Us are (Gen. 1)] …in order that the world may believe that You did send Me" (v 21).
Let's see some other things concerning mankind. We know the account in Gen. 2 and 3. Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Rather than following God, they followed Satan the devil and their nature was changed and they were sentenced to death and the suffering in between life and death. Yet, they still had contact with God coming to the east entrance of the Garden of Eden.
That was a profound change in human nature. When God first created them you could say they were neutral. They were neither sinful nor righteous. After they sinned they were sentenced to death, because 'in the day you eat thereof, in dying you shall surely die,' and all their offspring after that. They were also given a nature of evil.
When human nature and human beings do not follow the laws of God, sin abounds! Every generation gets more evil as evidenced in Gen. 6 where God had to destroy all human life, all animal life. One of the most important things to understand in restoring original Christianity is that human beings have a nature that is a mixture of good and evil. God has set before us the choice as to which way every human being will choose to go! It's automatic!
- those who know the laws of God
- those who don't know the laws of God
Those who know the laws of God, as Jesus said, know what to do, will be in the parable subject to many stripes, because they knew good and didn't do it. Those who did not know or didn't have the law will be beaten with few stripes.
But what happens to human nature? When human nature gets to the point of giving itself over to evil—and we are living in a time again in this generation when that is happening—when good is called evil and evil is called good and sin is exalted and righteousness is rejected, it exposes human nature this way (read Jer. 17:1-8):
Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart… [the human heart] …is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings" (vs 9-10) That's all human beings everywhere, through every generation, at all time.
There is enough knowledge of God that we can say that this also applies to all human beings. God has set it in motion in such a way that these things happen automatically. You don't have to know anything about God to suffer the evil from the wrong choices. You can even do a lot of really good things and receive blessings from God when you do them. But here is what God has set before all human beings. This goes right back to Gen. 3, as well.
Deuteronomy 30:15: "Behold, I have set before you this day life and good… [this is what life is all about] …and death and evil." We see this—don't we?
Just to give you a little example that we saw on the news, which was really quite touching. How many saw the report concerning the 'Little Sisters' serving the poor? The white nuns; all dressed in white are Catholic. That doesn't mean they are converted, but they're Catholic. They go to the very poorest and the oldest. They have taken a poverty vow, they don't take money; they just take what people give to them. They go to the sick, the aged, the ailing, and they serve them, cheer them up, help them along. They do a very good work in it.
That's contrary to what the hierarchy of the Catholic Church does, but here it is. They don't want to have any part of anything to do with birth control or abortion. Here comes ObamaCare! This little group of these little nuns—and they are very humble and I'm sure that they get some blessings from God because of what they are doing—will not sign the release, because the release says that 'you are exempt, but that the insurance company can charge other people in your place to provide contraceptive and abortion.'
So they said, 'We won't do it.' Just sign it and everything will be all right. 'No, we won't do it!' So, they were taken to court. Here you have the whole world upside down, where evil is good and good is evil. That's what happens with human nature. But notice what God says. This was to Israel; they were to do these things in the letter of the law. That becomes important for us to understand when we come to the New Testament.
Verse 16: "In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways…" Everything that God does is based first of all on love:
- His entire creation
- everything that He is doing for mankind
- everything that Jesus did.
But He has set the laws in motion, which are spiritual and they work automatically. God does not have to come and do anything. He has set it so as they work automatically, then you suffer the results or you enjoy the blessings.
"…to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments…" (v 16). As you read the Ten Commandments—and everyone knows about the Ten Commandments—is there one thing difficult to understand about the Ten Commandments? No! Can a person in the letter of the law choose to do those things? Yes! God did not make it impossible to keep the Law in the letter of the Law. But what is impossible to do is to receive eternal life without knowing the purpose and having the Spirit of God! Then we will see the standard that God gives for Law-keeping.
"…and His statutes and His judgments so that you may live and multiply…. [through Adam we all die, but live and multiply] …And the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. But if your heart turn away so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them. I denounce to you this day that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days on the land where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it" (vs 16-18).
So, He gives an eternal record, v 19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live."
Then He says two very important things that follow all the way through in everything that God does, whether in the letter of the Law or whether for the New Covenant which has such a high superior value in what we do:
Verse 20: "That you may love the LORD your God, and may obey His voice, and may cleave to Him; for He is your life and the length of your days, so that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob—to give to them."
We know in the Old Testament they were to love God, but in the New Testament Jesus restates it again, and then we will build from there. Still required today, but in what way? That's what we are going to find out, because that's how original Christianity is restored.
- What did Christ originally teach?
- What did He want us to do?
- What did the apostles write that we should do?
- What is it that God wants?
Obviously He wants us to be good people on the earth. This is where the Christianity of the world misses the whole point. They are not off just a degree or two; they are off 180 degrees, which means they are going in the wrong direction.
This always comes up: Which is the greatest commandment? What did we just read? Love God and obey His voice! Just to summarize, what you have in your hands there in the Bible is the written account of what God has spoken and wants us to know.
Matthew 22:35: "And one of them, a doctor of the law questioned Him, tempting Him, and saying, 'Master, which commandment is the great commandment in the Law?'" (vs 35-36). Let's understand when we read this that we see what Christ is desiring is a full-time commitment to God with your whole life, not only commitment, but that it is a covenant pledge.
Verse 37: "And Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'" That encompasses everything about you: every thought you have, your physical body in taking care of it, your heart, your thoughts, your emotions.
Verse 38: "This is the first and greatest commandment; and the second one is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself"" (vs 38-39).
The other day I was talking with a person and these things came up. I said, 'Wouldn't it be nice—because of all the evil going on in the world and all the difficult things and talking about these knock-out or knock-down attacks that come on people—if everyone in the world would know and keep the Ten Commandments? Think about that. Really when you read them they are easy to understand, especially loving your neighbor.' There's nothing difficult about:
- not murdering
- not committing adultery
- not stealing or not bearing false witness
- not lusting after what your neighbor has
I said, 'When you analyze it, isn't Christmas based on breaking the tenth commandment with all your passion?' She said, 'Yes, that would be true.'
But I don't think she will do it. I don't think that she is an evil person; she's not. But as far as why are you here? and what is original Christianity? what I just brought out here and what Christ has just brought out here is like getting up in a game—just say baseball—and you are at home plate. You've got to get all the way around to score. So this is just a start!
Let's see the other pull of the flesh as Christ told us, and what human nature is like. This also proves another point, which is one of the great understandings of the New Testament: A law exterior to you cannot make you obey it! Remember that the next time you see a traffic sign that says speed limit. It can't make you go fast or go slow. It just defines what is expected; same way with the laws of God! When people choose to reject the laws of God, human nature multiplies, regardless of where it is. Look at the government today. It is lawless beyond belief! So lawless, so uncontrolled that one senator—Rand Paul—is suing the administration and Barack Obama for all the spying they are doing on Americans and people worldwide, which breaks the fourth amendment.
Makes you wonder. You know those big buildings in Utah? Have you seen them? Why are they so big? Especially when you consider on some of the things that you can do.
Now let me just show you this right here. Right while we are having this recorded everything is put on this little chip. They have them up to 32 gigabytes now in these little chips, or more? A lot more! This is like a teaspoon of sand compared to what they are building. Why are they doing it? I'll let you think on that. It's for more than just the citizens of the good-old U.S.A.
Sidebar concerning massive computers: It is said in a recent report that China now has the fastest, most powerful computer in the world. Where did they get all the inner workings of it? From Intel! Do you suppose that the Chinese will be able to keep any secrets on that? You can't even do it with your own cell phone. Even your own computer and your own television have things where they can be tapped into. Even the new cars with the OnStar. They have a little device with the authorities that in case of emergency they can push a little button and listen to your conversations in the car. Think what they're going to do with these mammoth buildings, millions of square feet for the most sophisticated computers that aren't there.
Mark 7:20 tells the story of it all. Remember, when Adam and Eve sinned, they gave permission for Satan to come into their lives. This is why, as we have read many times, that the first thing Jesus did when He came to the earth and then began His ministry when He was about thirty years old, He had to confront Satan the devil and overcome every temptation.
Mark 7:20: "And He said, 'That which springs forth from within a man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, go forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickednesses, guile, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evils go forth from within, and these defile a man'" (vs 20-23).
True Christianity is the process by which all of the evil within a human being can be overcome. That's a special process that comes from God. So, as we saw that we are to love God, now let's come to John 3 and see that God loves us, because within what God has given, whether obedient or disobedient, whether a sinner or righteous, we live and move and have our being in Him. There are different degrees of God's love. This is talking about the love that leads to eternal life ifyou do what Jesus says and what God the Father says.
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world…" Everyone likes to hear this. 'Oh, yes, God loves me.' They also say that God's love is unconditional. It is not; it is conditional! God's love is everlasting, but it is not unconditional. God does not love sin; He hates sin. You have love and then you have judgment. Everyone wants the love; they don't want the judgment.
"…that He gave His only begotten Son…" (v 16). God is responsible for bringing about a complete reconciliation of mankind to God. But mankind also has a participation in it.
"…so that everyone who believes in Him…" (v 16). One thing that is very little defined by the failing Christianity of the world is this:
- What does it mean to believe?
- Does it mean to profess? No!
- Does it mean to accept a reality that God exists? No!
It means that you believe with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your being just like you love God.
"…may not perish… [tells us there are conditions] …but may have everlasting life" (v 16).
Let's see what God has done and how He does it and what we are to do. When Jesus began His ministry, what was the first thing that He said when He came into Galilee?
Mark 1:14: "Now, after the imprisonment of John, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God… [the Kingdom of God is the whole heart and core of what this is all about] …and saying, 'The time has been fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near at hand…'" (vs 14:15)—in the person of Jesus Christ; God coming to speak to His creation as a man. Not from the top of Mt. Sinai where it scared the children of Israel and they didn't want to listen to God anymore.
If anyone asks, 'I wonder what God would say to me if I could talk to Him?' The answer is to get your Bible, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to start with. Those contain the sounds words of Jesus Christ.
"…'The Kingdom of God is near at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel'" (v 15)—whatever Jesus said.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, what did the apostles teach? They were told to go into all the world beginning at Jerusalem. So they began at Jerusalem. Let's see what happened. They preached the same thing.
Let's understand something: Repentance is not just a one-time thing. Repentance is a continuous on-going thing daily as Jesus taught in the model prayer. 'Forgive us our sins and give us our daily bread.' So, it's a daily thing. We're going to see that the requirements of original Christianity go far beyond just law-keeping. It has to do with conversion. It has to do with change of heart, mind, thinking and way of living—everything about you.
Peter gave a resounding sermon about the death and resurrection of Christ and that He died for our sins. It was preplanned by God and carried out the way that God had determined that it would be. Here's a key thing to understand for every human being: If you are coming to God and you are coming to Christ understand this: You want your sins forgiven? Christ died for you! What does that mean? Since He died for the sins of the world and for each one individually it's going to be applied, your sins had part in killing Christ. We'll talk a little bit more about Christ and what He did as we get down toward the Passover time.
Here is what Peter said, Acts 2:36: "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know with full assurance that God has made this same Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." That is powerful to understand. I wonder how many of them that were standing there hearing this sermon were also within the crowd that said to Pilate, 'Crucify Him!'? Could be! Notice what this did:
Verse 37: "Now after hearing this, they were cut to the heart…" (v 37). Something has to happen. In the beginning of the circumcision of the heart is to be convicted of your sins and repent to God with all your being; cut to the heart.
"…and they said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'" (v 37). You can't go back and undo it. You can't go back and undo your sins. You can't go back and change the circumstances, but you can repent.
Verse 38: "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized… [we'll talk a little bit about what it really means to be baptized] …each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you yourselves shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" That is the beginning of true, original Christianity!
Verse 39: "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God may call." We are going to see that those who respond to God and accept Christianity as taught in the New Testament, and live by that, it is said (Rev. 19) that they are the called, the chosen, and the faithful!
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Let's understand something concerning original Christianity—called, chosen and faithful: The Bible tells us in two places: 'Many are called, but few are chosen.' Why are few chosen? Because few repent!
We also know with the parable of the sower that many hear the Word and it doesn't last. Others get involved with riches. Others get involved with things of the world. Others fall away when there is persecution. In order to be chosen, you must answer the call!
How do you answer the call? You repent and your whole life now belongs to God—period!Let's see how God does this and why it is all by grace. As a physical human being, is there anything that you of yourself can do to cause God to give you eternal life? If that could be so then you would be God, because if a man can tell God what to do and He must obey man, then that man is God—correct? That's why it must be the way that God wants!
Romans is the book that tells us how the choosing takes place. You must repent—absolutely must repent! Here is where we are. Rom. 3 is a key pivotal chapter that is also completely misinterpreted in critical verses by the 'Christianity' of this world. Let's see how the Jew, because it went to them first, had an advantage temporarily.
Romans 3:1: "What then is the advantage of the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way. Primarily, in that they were entrusted with the oracles of God" (vs 1-2).
What did they do with it? That actually means not the Jews themselves, but the priests and Levites within the Jewish community preserved the oracles of God; meaning the Word of God, and also the Calculated Hebrew Calendar. Did all of them obey? No! If you are chosen of God and you have an advantage, but they never bring in what if they disobeyed.
Verse 3: "For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?" No man's sin and no man's righteousness can nullify what God is going to do. It can have an effect upon God this way because you obey His voice He will bless you. Or if you disobey His voice the curses will come upon you, automatically. But you are not making God do one thing one way or the other.
If you answer the call of God and God chooses you, you've had your part and God has had His part. That gets to the point that ifyou believe.
Verse 4: "MAY IT NEVER BE!…." What about when there were only Adam and Eve? Did their disbelief nullify God? No!
"…Rather, let God be true but every man a liar… [the nature of men and women] …exactly as it is written…" (v 4). Here is a key verse right here, very important. Every human being has some thought about God or a god or a soul or eternal life.
Here's what all human beings do: "…'That You [God] might be justified in Your words, and might overcome when You [God] are being judged by men'" (v 4).
That's what it means, because this is present tense passive: You, God, are being judged. Not when God is judging man. He is always righteous in judging man, whether for blessing or whether for cursing. This is saying, regardless of the thoughts of men who judge You [God], You are still righteous.
Let's use a modern-day example. Let's start with the religionists. What is it that they judge about God that they don't like? Sabbath, His laws, His Holy Days! They condemn God with that and justify what they do: Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Sunday-keeping, etc. Rather than being justified in God, God's way, they accuse God and justify themselves.
- Does that change God?
- Did God change anything when the Church got all corrupt and apostatized and now in the form in the religions of Christianity of this world?
- Did God change? No!
Verse 5: "But if our unrighteousness…" Our sins, our rejection of God's Word as carnal human beings in the world.
"…brings to reality God's righteousness…" (v 5). Shows
- God is right
- God is true
- God is Holy
- His laws are good,
- His way is right
- everything about God is good
but they reject it!
"…what shall we say? Is God unrighteous to inflict His wrath?…." (v 5).
What do people say? 'Well, if God is a God of love, He wouldn't do that, would He?' God is also a God of judgment. Read Prov. 5, it says there are 'six things that God hates, yea, seven.' Hates! Do a little concordance study with the word hate, what God hates.
- He loves the sinner, if they repent.
- He loves the sinner, because He doesn't bring the penalty immediately of death upon them for sinning.
- He loves the sinner because He sends rain and gives them life,
but that is not equated to the love of God unto eternal life. That's a whole different category.
"…Is God unrighteous to inflict His wrath? (I am speaking according to man's view.)…. [of course not] …MAY IT NEVER BE! Otherwise, how shall God judge the world?" (vs 5-6).
- How are you going to know what is good and evil, right and wrong, unless there is a dividing point between them?
- How are you going to know what to do when you come to the conscious understanding of that this is sin and this is wrong and 'I don't want it.'
- You acknowledge that God is true.
- You acknowledge that God is right.
You are on your way to repentance. How far you go with that, depends on whether you will be chosen or not. You're beginning to answer the call. But then, look what it says here:
Verse 7: "For if, by my falsehood, the Truth of God has shown itself to be supremely great… [God is always right] …to His glory…" He's talking about his preaching and his teaching here in this particular case.
"…why am I still being judged as a sinner?…. [by men]…But not, according as we are being blasphemously charged, and according as some are affirming that we say, 'Let us practice evil things in order that good things may come.' Their condemnation is deserved" (vs 7-8).
It's just like the Christianity of the world. They find out you keep the commandments and you keep the Sabbath and they say to you, 'You're trying to earn your salvation.' Have you heard that? Think on this for a minute. If you love God and obey Him and keep His commandments, whose works are you doing? Yours? or God's?
They keep Sunday and the holidays, what are they trying to do with those? Which God says, 'Don't do.' They are trying to earn their salvation. It gets down to this: When they say, 'You!' Aha, look at the number of fingers pointing back at self.
Verse 9: "What then? Are we of ourselves better? Not at all!.…" We understand human nature. We understand the depths of it. The whole point of conversion is to have a converted mind, which is one of the main goals of original Christianity.
"…For we have already charged both Jews and Gentiles—ALL—with being under sin" (v 9).
Let's stop and think about this for a minute: With human nature, even though you do good, even though you may have a pretty good motivation in doing it, and even if it is something that God says to do, like the 'Little Sisters' in serving the poor. Is their good equated with the goodness of God? No! Why? Though it's what God says? Because Jesus said there is 'none good but God' and He excluded Himself. Most people don't know why He excluded Himself. In other words, no man, anywhere of himself can have goodthat is as good as God's good! Why? Because we inherently have sin within! That's why we need God's Spirit. That is the key to original Christianity!
Paul shows what they are like, v 10: "Exactly as it is written: 'For there is not a righteous one—not even one! There is not one who understands; there is not one who seeks after God. They have all gone out of the way… [that is out of the way of God] …together they have all become depraved…'" (vs 10-12). Sounds like I'm giving a report on Washington, D.C., or you could say all the Middle East.
"…There is not even one who is practicing kindness. No, there is not so much as one! Their throats are like an open grave; with their tongues they have used deceit; the venom of asps is under their lips, Whose mouths are full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes" (vs 12-18). Paul concludes by the same thing we have been discussing here.
Verse 19: "Now then, we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law…" That is the whole world. Keeping the commandments of God does not put you under law. The whole world is under law.
Romans 7:1: "Are you ignorant, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know law), that the law rules over a man for as long a time as he may live?" Everybody in the world is under law. False Christianity says, 'If you keep the commandments of God, you are under law.' It's not just the commandments that we keep. There is something greater than the commandments that is going on and which commandment keeping is just an outer manifestation of it. That is, the spiritual aspect of it.
Let's put it another way: Everyone who does not have the Holy Spirit of God, God's way—there's only one way to get it God's way; you can't get the Holy Spirit of God any other way—is under law.Everyone who has the Holy Spirit of God and is exercising that Spirit of God in their lives is under grace. We'll expand on that, because that's getting right down to: What is true original Christianity?
Here's something very important, this verse, you can read it in UnderstandingPaul's Difficult Scriptures, Appendix Z in the back of the Holy Bible in Its Original Order. We also have it in two other books:
- Judaism—Revelation of Moses or Religion of Men?
- Occult Holidays or God's Holy Days—Which?
In reading and recording the whole Bible, which we are going to have, when I start with the appendices I'm going to read Appendix Z first. That sound familiar? The last shall be first.
Romans 3:19: "…to those who are under the law, so that every mouth… [of every human being] …may be stopped… [they are not going to do it their way] …and all the world… [Doesn't this tell us all the world is under law?] …may become guilty before God." That's why there has to be repentance.
Since eternal life comes from God to us, God has to have the operation to take care of our sins His way, not by what we do. This is why it's very important that you study Appendix Z, so that you can understand this term that we're going to read here:
Verse 20, very key important thing to understand: "Therefore, by works of law…"—which is something we do without the Spirit of God. It's not a matter of law-keeping or no law-keeping, it's works of law. This phrase includes all of the animal sacrifices and rituals at the temple. Hence it includes every sacrifice and ritual of any kind in any other religion, anywhere on the earth: whether it is fasting, depravation, beating your back with whips; whether it is like they do in the Philippines before their Easter service, there are certain men who are crucified on the cross to gain them favor with God. How can that possibly impress God when compared to the crucifixion of Christ?
Any work of any law that you do; don't get all 'discombobbled' with this. We are talking about how you receive the Spirit of God, hence how you receive eternal life! It does not come from us going up to God. It comes from God going down to us. God does the calling; God does the choosing. We, with His Spirit, become faithful.
Verse 20: "Therefore, by works of law there shall no flesh be justified before Him…"—you are in right standing with God. If you're living in sin, are you in right standing with God? No, that's what this booklet, Why Christianity Has Failed in America says. Everything that is done is their way. True Christianity is this: everything about God.
Here is the glory of the law, but that is not the glory of God. The glory of God is something greater: Psalm 119:127: "Therefore I love Your commandments above gold—yea, above fine gold." What about your love for God? He expresses it as sort of a prophecy:
Verse 128: "Therefore I esteem all Your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way." Conversion is this: you totally agree with God in everything! There are some things we don't understand. Hopefully, God will give us the understanding of some of those things.
To be in right standing with God takes a special act of God, because God had to solve the problem because of the sin of Adam and Eve. That problem was the sinfulness of human nature as a sentence for their transgressing against God. How do you solve that problem? How can a person be put in right standing with God? Not by works of law, but by repentance! That's not a work of law, that's
- a change of mind
- a change of heart
- a change of emotion.
- an acknowledgement of the greatness of God
Romans 3:20: "Therefore, by works of law there shall no flesh be justified before Him; for through the law is the knowledge of sin." You need more than just the knowledge of sin. So, with repentance, God always honors that.
How does repentance come? How does repentance come?
- First, you are pricked in your heart.
- Then God begins to act because you are repenting.
What leads you to complete repentance? and daily repentance? Romans 2:4: "Or do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the graciousness of God leads you to repentance?"
You see the goodness of God. Part of that is encompassed in understanding the sacrifice of Christ and how great His sacrifice was.
Romans 3:21: "But now, the righteousness of God that is separate from law…" Why is it separate from law? Because it is an act of God that He does to make you right with Him! That has to be the forgiveness of your sins.
How far does He remove our sins from us? As far as the east is from the west (Psa. 103). That is separate from the Ten Commandments. That is separate from the law of sacrifices. It is greater, because it comes from God! He requires your repentance and true repentance. He will lead you into deeper repentance as you grow in grace and knowledge, as you understand the working of your mind and all the evil that is still there. No one can see it except you and God.
"…separate from law has been revealed… [through Christ] …being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets" (v 21). It was foretold that it would come. That was the witness of it.
Verse 22: "Even therighteousness of God that is through the faith of Jesus Christ…" The word righteousness is also the same root as justification. So the righteousness here is the justification that God gives you! When God removes your sins, you are righteous to the point that you have no sins through the righteousness of God. He justifies you.
If you haven't understood this, up to this point, go back and review it, because this is all necessary so we can understand the profound thing that God is going to do. Remember, this is a very important thing: repentance of sin is through the graciousness of God as He leads you to it! The forgiveness of sin puts you in right standing with God; you are justified. That is the first step toward original Christianity!
This is what it's talking about here, v 22: "Even the righteousness of God that is through the faith of Jesus Christ…" Jesus went through and did what He did to be that sacrifice and His faith in doing it, and your faith in God, because He has done it. What God does is this: He takes the sacrifice of Christ 'en toutoo' and applies it to your life! That's something to think about, really understand when you understand what God is doing.
"…through the faith… [you have to believe] …toward all and upon all those who believe; for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (vs 22-23). Therefore, it takes an act of God to correct this.
Verse 24: "But are being justified freely by His grace…" Your work cannot make God do anything. Through
- His grace
- His mercy
- His forgiveness
- His goodness
"…through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God has openly manifested to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness… [His justification] …in respect to the remission of sins that are past" (vs 24-25).
Let's stop right here because this becomes very important. God does not forgive sin in the future, because they have not yet been committed. Therefore, the Catholics who sell indulgences are committing a great sin against God. Sin is in the present. When it occurs then it is instantly in the past, even one second later. That is a past sin. God never forgives future sin!
Who knows what you are going to do tomorrow? Have you even gotten up and it's a great day and everything's wonderful, then something happens and BANG! it's a disaster and you find yourself sinning? Yes! You repent when it occurs.
"…in respect to the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; yes, to publicly…" (vs 25-26). That's why this was done publicly. That's why this was done within the current cycle of history of the world. That's why it was not done immediately when Adam and Eve sinned. That's why it was not done in ancient past time, because histories get all mixed up and confused. But it was done within the realm of the history that we can verify. You can't believe anything unless you verify it. That's called proving. 'Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good.'
"…yes, to publicly declare His righteousness… [justification] …in the present time… [forward to His return] …that He might be just, and the one Who justifies the one who is of the faith of Jesus" (v 26). Those who are not of the faith of Jesus are not justified. Unless you believe Jesus and His words—where we started—you have no justification.
Verse 27: "Therefore, where is boasting?.… [it comes from God, not what you've done] …It is excluded. Through what law? The law of works? By no means! Rather, it is through a law of faith." Which God does and you respond to.
Verse 28: "Consequently, we reckon that a man is justified by faith…" You must believe in:
- Christ
- His sacrifice
- His shed blood
- that He was God manifested in the flesh
all of that is separate from works of law.
"…separate from works of law." None of that you have done. God has done it. A work of law is what you can do. This knocks the props out of everything the Jews say that they are the chosen people. I would have to say since the fall of Jerusalem you are anything but the chosen people, because you have not responded to Christ.
Verse 29: "Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? YES! He is also God of the Gentiles." He's the God of all human beings, whether they know it or not, whether they understand God or not. That's why God has placed in the Bible the understanding of His plan.
What is He going to do with all these people? He told Adam and Eve, 'Multiply and replenish the earth.' What are we going to do by the time Christ returns with 10-billion living at His return, if there be that many. Right now we're at 7-billion.
Sidebar. The Chinese just lifted the ban on more than two children. Think what's going to happen in China. It's going to be like popcorn seed in a popcorn popper. They are going to have a population explosion. Imagine after all the repression all these years. Imagine what they are going to do to celebrate, even in spite of the fact that they have 2-billion people.
What is God going to do with all these people? All that have lived and died, never understood anything. God never dealt with them. That's why you need to know the plan of God so you understand what God is going to do.
Another thing about original Christianity and God's way and also living that way at the end-time and having the understanding of prophecies, what a fantastic thing that God is going to do, when you consider the second resurrection, which the world knows nothing about, because they don't keep the Holy Days of God. Isn't that something?
This is for us today, v 30: "Since it is indeed one God Who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith…. [those are hard words for Jews to handle] …Are we, then, abolishing law through faith? MAY IT NEVER BE! Rather, we are establishing law" (vs 30-31).
What we will do next time is find out how the law is established!
Scriptural References:
- 1-Timothy 6:3
- Genesis 1:26-28
- John 17:17-21
- Jeremiah 17:9-10
- Deuteronomy 30:15-20
- Matthew 22:35-39
- Mark 7:20-23
- John 3:16
- Mark 1:14-15
- Acts 2:36-39
- Romans 3:1-19
- Romans 7:1
- Romans 3:19-20
- Psalm 119:127-128
- Romans 3:20
- Romans 2:4
- Romans 3:21-31
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Genesis 2; 3; 6
- Jeremiah 17:1-8
- Revelation 19
- Proverbs 5
- Psalm 103
Also referenced:
- Booklet: Why Christianity has Failed in America by Phil Neal
- From the Holy Bible in Its Original Order: Appendix Z: Understanding Paul's Difficult Scriptures
- Books:
- Judaism—Revelation of Moses or Religion of Men by Phil Neal
- Occult Holidays or God's Holy Days—Which? by Fred R. Coulter
FRC:lp
Transcribed: 1-24-14
Formatted: bo—1-26-14
Copyright 2014—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.
