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Disciple Maker Ministries is pleased to announce the release of Dr. Ketchum's latest book entitled Jesus Is Lord! This book will be a helpful for Christians trying to understand the issues of Ecumenicism, Legalism, and Mysticism as these corruptions slowly capture Evangelical Christianity today.  Jesus Is Lord! Expository Studies through the Epistle to the Colossians Twenty-two chapters - 188 pages - 6x9 Paperback "Lance Ketchum has done it again! He has written another book that will be extremely useful for pastors, teachers, missionaries, evangelists, and all believers. In this book, he exhibits insightful exegesis of Scripture. His pastoral warmth shines through his writing. This book will be useful to overcome modern Gnosticism, syncretism, church-skipping, and dealing with the Lukewarmite. Each chapter builds upon the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Word." "In addition, Dr. Ketchum explains the historical and cultural influences on the church at Colossi. He explains thoroughly the heretical teachings that influenced the Colossian Church. The questions at the end of every chapter are very helpful for guiding the student of Scripture. The questions will be extremely helpful for teachers in local churches, Bible schools, and seminaries, and for evoking thoughts for sermon preparation by pastors and evangelists." Dr. H. D. Williams $10.00 Plus P & H Printed Book Introductory Price $10.00 EBook mobi (for Kindle) $10.00 EBook epub (for iPAD) $10.00 Interactive PDF   (for many apps with the proper app on their device)

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Anonymous comments will not be allowed. 
Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.

Why Give False Teachers an Audience?

Why Give False Teachers an Audience?

          False teachers are historical constants according to II Peter 2:1-2.  Just as Old Covenant believers had to deal with their “false prophets,” New Covenant believers must deal with our “false teachers.”  The phrase “false teachers” is only used once in the New Testament and that is in II Peter 2:1.  The words “false teachers” are translated from the Greek word pseudodidaskalos (psyoo-dod-id-as’-kal-os).  The prefix pseudes (psyoo-dace’) refers to something fake and untrue.  Therefore, the “false teacher” is both deceitful and wicked in his objectives even though he may not even know he is a “false teacher.”  False teaching leads people into false practices which leads them out of the light and into the darkness of corruption. 

“¹ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. ⁴ For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; ⁵ And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; ⁷ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸ (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) ⁹ The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: ¹⁰ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities” (II Peter 2:1-10).  

          II Peter 2:1-10 is a powerful text defining the operations of the false teacher.  I find six statements by Peter warning believers about how false teachers operate.  These six statements also detail God’s view of how easily people are led astray by false teachers.  Not every teacher is trustworthy.  The answer to the warning is serious Bible study and spiritual discernment.  

1. The false teacher’s work of deception is often done covertly – “privily” (II Peter 2:1).  Your God appointed teacher in your pastor.  He cannot control everything you read or hear from the many false teachers broadcasting their deception over the airways.  These false teachers cannot be confronted or exposed.  In most cases, the pastor does not even know what you are reading, to whom you are listening, or in what way you may have been deceived.  Be careful and listen to your pastor’s warnings.

2. The false teacher’s teaching leads to the denial of the Lordship of Jesus (II Peter 2:1).  The denial of the Lordship of Christ involves lowering God’s standards of holiness, His directives for separation from worldliness, and from those teaching false doctrine.  The false teacher’s message does not ask for discernment, but instead asks for tolerance.   Rebuke and reproof should be the proper response to the false teacher.  The false teacher holds the one being deceived by appealing for tolerance until he is fully understood.  The Lordship of Christ is defined as absolute submission to the authority of the teachings of Jesus Christ in the inspired Words of God.  Peter denied the Lordship of Jesus at first when he denied knowing Jesus and being one of His disciples (Matthew 26:69-75).  Although Peter wept bitterly upon recognizing his failure, Peter continued to deny the Lordship of Jesus when he return to his previous profession as a fisherman after having committed himself to Jesus to make disciples (John 21:15-19).  He denied the Lordship of Jesus again at Galatia when he tolerated the false teaching of the Judaizers (Galatians 2:11-21).

3. The false teacher’s “ways” are “pernicious” and they result in giving Christianity a bad reputation (II Peter 2:2).  The word “damnable” and the words “pernicious ways” are both translated from the Greek word apoleia (ap-o'-li-a).  The intent is that the false teachings of the false teacher ruin or destroy the lives of people.  False teachings give believers permission to involve themselves in practices that God’s Word says will defile them.  This is the distortion and perversion of God’s requirement in sanctification for His enabling grace.  Paul warns of this is Romans 12:2.  When someone is “conformed to this world,” he is made worldly, defiled, and cannot be enabled to be used of God.  “Pernicious” is a good translation in II Peter 2:2 because it means a harmful effect coming from a gradual and subtle methodology.  The outcome of any degree of corruption of the doctrine of separation provides an equal degree of entrance into these “pernicious ways.”

4. False teacher’s use artificial, man-made doctrines to capture souls to follow their leadership for their own personal gains (II Peter 2:3).  One central corruption of doctrine is to emphasize love while sacrificing doctrinal purity for the purpose of false unity.  The false teacher is motivated by “covetousness.”  “Covetousness” is translated from the Greek word pleonexia (pleh-on-ex-ee'-ah).  The word means fraudulent and greedy.  In other words, the false teacher’s teaching is intent to promote him and gain him followers.  The second descriptor is the word “feigned words.”  The word “feigned” is from the Greek word plastos (plas-tos'), which refers to molded or shaped in order to get a determined outcome.  The intended outcome of their corrupted methodology is to “make merchandise” of people.  The intent is that the false teacher wants to make a profit out of people’s giving for the false teacher’s own personal gain.  The false teacher is greedy of “filthy lucre” as well as a desire for fame and power. 

5. False teachers will not be spared from God’s judgment and are destined for a special day of reckoning reserved just for them (II Peter 2:4-10).  Up to this point, the warnings have been about following false teachers.  Now the warning is extended to the false teacher’s themselves.  Even in these warning to the false teachers, there is a continued warning to those will to accept their false teaching in that those who accept the false teachings will share in the judgment of the false teachers.  Christ commissioned the men He called to preach with feeding His sheep.  Clearly His intent was that His under-shepherds would teach believers correct doctrine.  These under-shepherds were responsible for maintaining purity of doctrine.  They certainly would not allow someone to teach who held to any kind of false doctrine.  Therefore, pastors will be held responsible for the preachers they allow to teach from their pulpits. 

6. False teachers are not afraid to speak critically and accusingly of “dignities” - the truly sanctified in the Body of Christ (II Peter 2:10).  A subtle tactic of false teachers is to ridicule and diminish those with which they disagree.  A pastor’s integrity and trustworthiness is very fragile.  Most people want to believe the worst about others.  Therefore, it is a very easy thing to destroy men in spiritual leadership if those men do not meticulously guard their integrity. 

          Clearly II Peter 2:1-10 is a text that defines separating false teachers from influencing believers away from “the faith.”  False teachers should not be given an opportunity to influence others with their false doctrines.  When it comes to Bible teachers we are unfamiliar with, it is important to differentiate between giving someone a hearing and giving someone an audience to which he might speak.  A hearing is usually private amongst a few involved in a discussion.  Giving someone an audience is to present the speaker to a larger group as an authority with an assumed degree of credibility.  When a speaker is given an audience, he is also given some degree of credibility.  Recently, in the last decade, some have sought to justify giving false teachers an audience, and thereby minimizing their compromise, by calling such compromise platform fellowship or academic fellowship.  Such practices, and those that condone such practices, are trifling with truth. 

          For centuries, Reformed theologians (clergy) and Roman Catholic theologians (popes and priests) practiced some radical separation to keep their various sectarian and state churches pure.  They imprisoned, tortured, and murdered the citizens of their states to force them to comply with their doctrines.  The Anabaptists were persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and murdered by both the Roman Catholic Theonomists and the Protestant Theonomists.  The Anabaptists were willing to suffer and die rather than allow for the corruption of the Gospel and their Ecclesiology.  They suffered and died for BOTH the Gospel and a free church Ecclesiology of individual soul liberty and congregational polity. 

The Anabaptists never went to war with the Theonomists.  They never tried to establish their own state church.  Instead, they wrote their doctrinal statements with their own blood and manifested a coalescence of their beliefs with thousands of their own deaths.  This is what defines militant separation.  They certainly would not have given those seeking to kill them an audience for their false gospel, and their false doctrines of Theonomy and Kingdom Constructionism. 

          The present day discussions about the practice of separation are really nothing more than a new Ecumenicism, only this new Ecumenicism excludes theological liberals.  This is kum-bay-ya philosophy within some undefined mystical entity called Christianity in a broad ecumenical definition of the Church.  The failure is both a Gospel issue and an Ecclesiological issue.  False beliefs regarding either the Gospel or the Church make a mess of how one practices separation.  The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are really not the issue.  All within this broad spectrum of mystical Churchianity believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  They do not agree on what defines a biblical response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and will not even discuss these beliefs because when they do discuss these issues, their pseudo-unity dissolves like salt in water. 

          II Peter 2:7 tells us that God “delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.”  Lot was a saved man.  The word “vexed” means he was worn down by social harassment from his chosen peer group.  This is what happens when people who know better continue in dialogue with those they know to be disobedient.  They may not be fully convinced by the dissenters, but they will be softened toward them.  They will become sympathetic towards the dissenters and tolerant of their views.  This should not happen.  The dialogue should be private and the conversation about doctrine should be unbending and dogmatic.  There should be no compromise.  The false teacher must be reproved, rebuked, and rejected.  Then, the false teacher should be publicly marked as a false teacher with public warnings issued about him (Romans 16:17-18).

God delivered Lot and his two daughters from death in the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, but God did not deliver him from the consequences of his own corruption.  In drunken depression from the loss of his wife and property, Lot is seduced by the desperation of both his surviving daughters.  Lot fathers to sons from the incest with his daughters.  These two sons would become the patriarchs of the nations of Moab and Ammon.  These two nations and their descendants would provide continual strife, oppression, and war for the nation of Israel until the second coming of Jesus Christ.  We cannot escape the consequences of compromise.  Although God forgives, the consequences of compromise flow forward in time effecting thousands and millions. 

“⁶ Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: ¹¹ Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ¹³ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us” (II Timothy 1:6-14).

Anonymous comments will not be allowed. 
 Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.

The Church is One New Man

BOOKSTORE LINK

The Priesthood of the Believer

Expository Studies through the Epistle to the Ephesians

Chapter Twenty

The Church is One New Man

We must be careful to note the words “in himself” in Ephesians 2:15.  There is a Dispensational transition issue here of critical importance.  The importance is the difference between being in Adam and being “in Christ Jesus.”  In Adam refers to condemnation and God’s curse that promises the total destruction of the first creation.  “In Christ” refers to the New Creation and the promises of glorification and the creation of a new Heaven/Earth.  

The Dispensational transition issue is that Christ Jesus is the “firstborn” (Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:15, 18) of “the regeneration” (Matthew 19:28; those resurrected AND glorified).  The next wave to hit the shores of “the regeneration” will be all “born again” believers after the day of Pentecost (Hebrews 12:23; I Thessalonians 4:16-17).  The third wave to hit the shores of “the regeneration” will be all “born again” believers martyred for Christ by the followers of the Antichrist during the Tribulation.  These believers will be resurrected and glorified at the second coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4-6; along with the Old Testament saints). 

“¹⁴ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶ And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷ And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁹ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹ In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²² In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-22).

Another critical issue in the words “in himself” in Ephesians 2:15 is to differentiate between union and unity.  The text is talking about union, not unity.  This can be simply illustrated by the marriage of a man and a woman.  It is easy to see their union in the marriage covenant.  The union of a man and a woman in marriage should never be dissolved in this life (Matthew 19:6).  However, their unity is not easily achieved and is regularly broken.  Unity is the hard work of a marriage relationship (Ephesians 5:22-32).  Union with Christ does not automatically translate into unity with Christ.  This is equally true of believers within local churches.  It is also a consideration necessary for cooperation between local churches.  These issues are dealt with extensively in Ephesians 4:1-16.  It is a radical mistake to presume unity automatically exists in union.  Union and unity are not the same. 

As Ephesians 2:14-22 details, clearly the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant were intended to extend beyond the physical descendants of Abraham to “whosoever.”  Clearly this is inclusive terminology, not exclusive terminology.  Church Age believers are integrated into the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant.  However, Church Age believers are not under the Law (the Mosaic Covenant).  The Mosaic Covenant was added to the Abrahamic Covenant because of “transgressions.”

“¹⁹ Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. ²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ²² But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. ²⁶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:19-29).

Clearly from the context of Romans chapters nine and ten, the Holy Spirit inspired choice of the word “whosoever” is intended to be a summary word that connects all “born again” people from all nations of the world to the eternal promises of God within the Abrahamic Covenant.  This is a truth constantly repeated in God’s progressive history with Abraham. 

“¹ Now the LORD had 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 shew thee: ² 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: ³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

Obviously, the intent of the word “whosoever” has the intent of universal application to anyone wanting salvation.  In simple words, salvation is universally available to “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13).  There are no Jewish boundaries or ethnic limitations upon the universal availability of God’s free gift of salvation.  The only exclusion that can possibly be applied here is to those unwilling to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by an action of faith in repenting of sin, believing the objective facts of Gospel, confessing Jesus as Jehovah, calling on the Name of Jesus to save in helpless desperation, and receiving Jesus Christ in the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit, thereby being regenerated. 

          The inclusive intent of “whosoever” is also very much a part of God’s dispensational transition in the progressive unfolding of the Abrahamic Covenant from the Mosaic Covenant into the New Covenant in Christ’s Blood.  This “whosoever” aspect of this transition into the New Covenant from the Mosaic Covenant was specifically revealed in the prophecy of Joel. 

“²⁸ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: ²⁹ And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. ³⁰ And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. ³¹ The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. ³² And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call” (Joel 2:28-32).

          Undoubtedly, the primary focus of the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 has to do with the Tribulation period (“the terrible day of the LORD”) between the rapture of the Church and the second coming of Messiah.  The message of the prophecy is not merely to Israel or national Jews living at that “terrible day,” but to all people groups, cultures, ethnicities, and/or language groups.  People from any of these groups could call upon the Name of Jehovah in faith in order to be “delivered” from the terrible judgment of God upon the nations of the world.  Although all nations inclusivistically would be judged, any individual from any of those nations (“whosoever”) could cry out to Jehovah in faith to be delivered. 

          Both the Apostle Peter in Acts chapter two and the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter ten are quoting from the text in Joel chapter two.  They are giving us a complimentary hermeneutic regarding how this text is to be understood through dispensational transitions.  Peter’s statements in Acts chapter two and Paul’s statements in Romans chapter ten give us the parameters of explanation in how the phrase “whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered” is practically expressed through faith in Jesus Christ and the accomplishments of the objective facts of the Gospel.  Although there is some clarification and explanation of what it means to “call on the name of the LORD,” the “whosoever” remains to be an inclusive term.

          During the Dispensation of Law and under the Mosaic Covenant, worshipping God came through a very definitive set of God ordained rules, sacrifices, and special days.  However, once the fulfillment of the Law was completed in Jesus Christ, the door into the regeneration no longer came through the Gospel in the Law.  Jesus became the Door into “the regeneration” to “whosever will.”  Ever since the completion of the work of redemption in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, no one needs to become a Jewish proselyte once he/she is saved.  “Whosoever will” can be saved and delivered.  This is the Gospel of the Church Age and the Gospel of the Kingdom.

“¹⁶ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. ¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:16-17).

          Ephesians 2:14 tells us Jesus “is our peace.”  Sin introduced friction and enmity into human relationships and into our relationship with God.  Union with Jesus provides positional peace with God.  Unity with Jesus provides the yielded believer with practical peace with God in that yielding to His will naturally removes the friction that is produced from unbelief, doubt, and rebellion.  Union is the result of being saved “by grace through faith.”  Unity is the result of justified people living “by grace through faith.”  Extremely mature faith is the faith that is able to trust God with every aspect of one’s life by simply yielding to God’s will in every situation of life regardless of the consequences.  Peace with God comes through our union with Christ.  The peace of God comes through our unity with Christ.  It is the peace of God in our lives that enables the yielded believer to live in peace with others.  Paul spoke of this in Romans 12:9-21.

“⁹ Let love be without dissimulation {any false or contradictory aspects}. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ¹⁰ Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; ¹¹ Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ¹² Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; ¹³ Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. ¹⁵ Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. ¹⁷ Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:9-21).

          It is only through a righteous and fully yielded relationship to the “Head” that the “body” can ever live in peace with others or with God.  This is equally true of any potential for peace between Jews and Gentiles, between the rich and poor, or between those highly educated and those uneducated.  The words “he is our peace” in Ephesians 2:14 open a whole new world of existence for the yielded believer when his union with Christ also grows into unity with Christ.  The idea is that the Cross-work of Jesus Christ does not only reconcile lost sinners with God.  The Cross-work of Jesus Christ reconciles Jewish believers and Gentiles believers with one another.  However, this reconciliation is only available through the medium of salvation.  This is how Christ will establish peace in the world.  The Antichrist will offer a false peace through worldly manipulations and phony peace covenants.  Only Jesus will bring in true peace at the beginning of the Kingdom Age.

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).

          It seems apparent that the Antichrist will make a “covenant” of peace “with many” nations, probably offering peace by offering the enforcement of peace by the military powers under his control.  It is also apparent from Matthew 24:5 that he will not come in his own name, but pretending to possess power and authority from God.  He will come disguised as God’s Christ offering a pseudo-peace. 

“¹ But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. ² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ³ For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. ⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (I Thessalonians 5:1-4).

          The terms Jew and Gentile are intended to include all nationalities and language/ethnic groups.  The term Gentile refers to anyone that is not a physical descendant of Abraham.  Jews and Gentiles were separated by God choosing Israel as a nation through which the promised Messiah would be born.  Jews entered into the Abrahamic Covenant “by grace through faith” just as Abraham did.  Then God gave those within the Abrahamic Covenant another Covenant known as the Mosaic Covenant.  The Mosaic Covenant was added to the Abrahamic Covenant because “transgressions.”  “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (Galatians 3:19).  Once Messiah finished the universal propitiation of God for all humanity, the Mosaic Covenant that was intended to keep the Jews pure as a nation, was no longer a needed “middle wall of partition” between Jews and Gentiles.  Salvation would unite Jews and Gentiles in “one new man” – the Church or the “body of Christ” with the living, glorified Jesus as its eternal High Priest and “Head.” 

Jesus removed “the middle wall of partition” by fulfilling every aspect of the moral and ceremonial Law.  Jesus lived a sinless life (II Corinthians 5:21) and fulfilled all the ceremonial and sacrificial types that merely were shadows of which He is the reality. 

“¹ Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; ² A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. ³ For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. ⁴ For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: ⁵ Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Hebrews 8:1-5).

“¹ 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. ² For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. ³ But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. ⁴ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. ⁵ Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: ⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. ⁷ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ⁸ Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; ⁹ Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. ¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ¹¹ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: ¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ¹³ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. ¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. ¹⁵ Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ¹⁶ This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; ¹⁷ And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. ¹⁸ Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:1-18).

The Mosaic Covenant described in detail how the Tabernacle in the wilderness and the Temple in Jerusalem were to be built.  There was a wall that separated the Court of the Gentiles from ever entering the Temple.  There was also a dividing wall between the Outer Court and the Holy of Holies.  Only the High Priest of Israel could enter the Holy of Holies and then only once each year.  After the death, burial, resurrection/glorification of Christ, all of these walls became unnecessary.  All believers of the Church Age have immediate and unlimited access to God.  This new privilege of the Church Age is probably the least understood of all privileges and the least used.  This misunderstanding is revealed when people see a church building necessary to prayer and worship, the replacement of Old Testament sacrifices with New Testament sacrifices, and the replacement of Old Testament priests with New Testament clergy.  All of these practices, rituals, and hierarchy completely deny the radical change that took place in the beginning of the New Covenant.  Jesus has provided rest to all believers from all of the shadows of rituals, liturgies, and Sacerdotalism.  In defining the labor of the new life in Christ, a major aspect of that definition is escaping from all the rituals, liturgies, and Sacerdotalism to enter into the freedoms of grace in the New Covenant where the believer can now worship God “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

“¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. ¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. ¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need’ (Hebrew 4:11-16).

The word “enmity” in Ephesians 2:15 is an apposition to the words “middle wall of partition” in Ephesians 2:14.  An apposition is just another word or phrase that describes a previous word or phrase in another way.  How Christ accomplished the removal of “middle wall of partition” and how He “abolished in his flesh the enmity” is detailed in Ephesians 2:16 - “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” 

“¹⁸ Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; ¹⁹ But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ²⁰ Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, ²¹ Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (I Peter 1:18-21).

“²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: ²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. ²⁵ For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (I Peter 2:21-25).

The point of fulfilling the Law is that the Law testified against us.  The Law condemned us as all guilty before God.  The Law offers no help and no grace.  The Law simply pronounces the sinner guilty before God and deserving of eternal separation from God in Hell. 

“⁹ Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰ How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. ¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: ¹² And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. ¹³ For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: ¹⁵ Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. ¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:9-16).

“¹⁸ Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. ²⁰ Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ²¹ That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:18-21).

“⁷ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. ⁸ But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. ⁹ For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. ¹⁰ And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death” (Romans 7:7-10).

“¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; ¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. ¹⁶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: ¹⁷Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ” (Colossians 2:13-17).

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Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.