Evolution of Ecclesiological Heresy

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Evolution of Ecclesiological Heresy

The Church Age and the Elect New Covenant Priesthood of All Believers

One of the great errors of Romanism, Covenant Theology, and Reformed Theology is the continuation of the abrogated Sacerdotalism of the Mosaic Covenant into the New Covenant.  Under the Sacerdotalism of the Mosaic Covenant, only those of the Priesthood of Israel were allowed to minister before God.  Even the Priesthood was divided into various responsibilities according to various families within the tribe of Levi.  Romanism, Covenant Theology, and most of those within the Reformation continued to hold to varying degrees of Replacement Theology.  In their view of the Church, the Theonomic institution of the nation of Israel was cast away by God and was replaced with the Theonomic institution of the Church manifested in the world as State Churches of various denominations. 

For them, the Mosaic Covenant Levitical Priesthood was replaced with a New Covenant Priesthood of clergymen.  Old Covenant circumcision was replaced with New Covenant infant baptism.  Mosaic Covenant sacrifices were replaced with New Covenant sacraments.  It is critical to understand that all of Replacement Theology was merely the invention of men erroneously imposed upon Christianity through the evolution of false doctrine regarding the Church (Ecclesiology) and the false doctrine of Apostolic Successionism in the College of Bishops.  This false doctrine began to develop very early in Church history and was the medium through which the doctrine of the Church was almost completely perverted. 

None of these aspects of Replacement Theology were ordained by Christ and none of them find any support in Scripture.  All aspects of Replacement Theology are suppositions imposed upon the Word of God and erroneously imposed upon Christianity.  This heretical Ecclesiology comes from a complete ignorance of Dispensationalism and historical transitions in the Covenants of God through progressive revelation.  Central to understanding this complete ignorance that brought about Replacement Theology and its heretical Ecclesiology is the failure to understand the new Priesthood of all believers within the New Covenant and the casting away, not of National Israel, but of the Levitical Priesthood of Israel due to their perversion of the Gospel in the Law. 

Romans chapters nine, ten, and eleven are a parenthesis in the epistle dealing nationally and dispensationally with the nation of Israel.  The focus of these three chapters is dealing with the paradox of Israel’s national election while the vast majority of the individuals making up the nation of Israel were not saved (“born again”).  The thrust of these three chapters is the explanation of the gospel as detailed in Old Testament books, how the Old Testament types were fulfilled in Messiah (the gospel in the Law), and what individual Israelites needed to do to be “born again” to become the Spiritual or Faith Seed “in Christ” as the fulfillment of the “Seed” promise to Abraham.

To understand the doctrine of election as spoken of in Romans chapters eight through eleven, we must understand the place of the New Covenant Church of Jesus Christ within the Abrahamic Covenant. 

The explanation of the place of the Church within the unfolding of the Abrahamic Covenant is expanded upon in Romans chapter eleven and in Ephesians chapter two.  This refers to an important essential in understanding the doctrine of election; i.e., the Old (Mosaic) Covenant Priesthood being set aside (Hosea 2:11) and a new Priesthood for Israel made up of both Jews and Gentiles being vocationally called and prepared for the Kingdom Age in all born again believers of the Church Age.  This concept was a “mystery” to the Jews, but is revealed thoroughly in the New Covenant epistles.

“²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. ²⁹ For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: ³⁰ For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. ³¹ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. ³² This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:25-32).

          This New Covenant Priesthood (the Church) is the Melchisedecian Priesthood referred to in Hebrews chapter 5:1-14, of which Christ is High Priest and of which all believers in Jesus Christ from the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) through the end of the Church Age are “members” (Eph. 5:30).  All New Covenant believers are “members” of the “church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23; Col. 1:18) and a “royal priesthood” (I Peter 2:9), not Levitical (the Levitical priesthood is set aside along with the Mosaic Covenant), but Melchisedecian.  This relates to the New Genesis (genealogy) of the “last Adam”; i.e. Christ Jesus and the actual regeneration “in Christ Jesus.”

“¹ For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: ² Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. ³ And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. ⁴ And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. ⁵ So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. ⁶ As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ⁷ Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; ⁸ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; ⁹ And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; ¹⁰ Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 5:1-10).

Jesus Christ has instituted a new priesthood of all believers by the placement of all believers as adult children of God; the priesthood, of which the Aaronic priesthood was a type, and Aaron, as High Priest, was a type of Christ.  Any form of a clergy\laity system should be rejected as an antithesis to the priesthood of the believer.  In the eyes of God, no person is a layman and no person is clergy.  Christ is High Priest and all believers are divided only according to function, not order.

The Reformation’s Ecclesiological reforms did involve many degrees of change.  However, the vast majority of Reformers continued to hold to State Churches with sacerdotal systems and sacramental conferences of God’s grace within hierarchal forms of Church polity.  The vast majority continued to hold to a theonomic world view of the Church’s purpose on earth.  Therefore, the Reformation did not change Augustine’s or Roman Catholicism’s view of Ecclesiology in any real ways except in rejecting Papalism and some of Rome’s sacraments.  They continued to view Church membership, water baptism, and Holy Communion as sacramental (means of conferring grace to participants through the hands of ordained clergymen).  The entrance into the possibility (hope) of salvation was found only through baptism into whatever State Church any particular Reformer viewed as correct.  Reformed Theology continued to be primarily Roman Catholic (Augustinian) in their Ecclesiology.

          The Reformation’s Eschatological reforms hardly changed Augustine’s positions at all (if at all).  Down through the years, we have seen some Covenant Theologians accept the Premillennial position regarding the second coming, but the vast majority of Reformers continued to be Postmillennialists or Amillennialists.  This was due to the fact they continued to hold to an allegorical interpretation of prophecy and the supposition/imposition that God had cast away the nation of Israel and replaced national Israel with the State Church and the Priesthood of Israel with clergymen.  Therefore, their heretical Ecclesiology greatly determined and influenced their Eschatology.  Reformed Theology continued to be primarily Roman Catholic (Augustinian) in their Eschatology (primarily Preterism).

We tend to see things chronologically according to the revelation of Scripture.  Therefore, we see God electing/choosing Abraham to be the father of the nation of Israel.  From the descendants of Abraham, God’s primary elect group changes in the unfolding of “the regeneration” through the next three dispensations.  Election, in the preservation of a remnant through which Messiah (the Promised One) would be born, begins with Israel in Abraham.  It moves to Israel in Jacob.  It then moves to the “firstborn” in Israel and then to the “firstborn” in the Priesthood of Aaron replacing the “firstborn” in Israel.  Then it moves to Christ (upon His death, burial, and resurrection) as the “firstborn” of “the regeneration” and a new High Priest of a new (but previously prophesied) Priesthood of all believers (the “church of the firstborn;” all Church Age saints).  Finally, and ultimately, to the final fold of “the regeneration” in the New Heaven/Earth where all the glorified Redeemed will dwell with their New Federal Head; i.e. the LORD Jesus Christ. 

“²² But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, ²³ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, ²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

   The unfolding nature of “the regeneration” deals with historical paradigms.  For instance, the last historical paradigm was the incarnation, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ followed by the outpouring of the Spirit of God baptizing all believers into the “body of Christ.”  Christ (Son of God/Son of man) is “the firstborn” of this New Genesis and its Federal Head.  The next historical paradigm in the New Genesis is the resurrection/translation of the new Priesthood of Israel (the Church; glorification), followed by the return of Christ to the earth.

          The Church will rule with Christ as kings/priests for 1000 years, and all believers from all dispensations will be resurrected/translated (glorified) to enter the New Heaven/Earth (the final historical paradigm), which is the final fold of the New Genesis.

Therefore, the Word of God, in its progressive revelation, begins with “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” positionally in eternity and ends with Christ as the actual New Federal Head of the New Genesis.  This is what defines “the regeneration” dispensationally.

     Christ is the “firstborn” of “the regeneration.”  God’s foreknowledge regarding election is the foreknowledge of all those throughout the Ages that would trust in the Promised One of Genesis 3:15 Who was born into humanity to crush the “head” (Federal Headship) of Satan taken from Adam through Eve’s deception.  These believers are the “other sheep” referred to in John 10:16.  There were saved people (positional regeneration) prior to the Abrahamic Covenant and the establishment of the nation of Israel and there would be saved Gentiles in the Church Age that would be “born again” into “the regeneration.”  These Church Age believers (saved Jews and saved Gentiles will be the new Priesthood of Israel during the Kingdom Age) will be the “kings” Jesus will be “King” of and they will be the “lords” Jesus will be “Lord” of (Rev. 17:14).  They will rule with Jesus over the restored Kingdom of Israel (a one world Theonomy/Theocracy) in glorified bodies (Rev. 2:27; 3:21).

“⁴ To whom {Jesus Christ} coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ⁵ Ye also {Church Age believers}, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. ⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone {Jesus Christ}, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. ⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient {the rejected Aaronic Priesthood of National Israel}, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, ⁸ And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. ⁹ But ye {Church Age believers} are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: ¹⁰ Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (I Peter 2:4-10).

         

          In an inductive evaluation of the use of the Hebrew word bachar (baw-khar'), it appears to be apparent that the purpose of God’s choosing is service, ministry, or a specific task.  The word always carries with it vocational connotations (not salvational; Eph. 4:1).  This is the common usage regarding God’s electing throughout Scripture.  Innumerable Scriptural examples in usage bear testimony to this common meaning.  Since this election is vocational and not salvational, and since God selects certain groups and individuals for specific tasks, He can unselect them if they fail in His covenant requirements and He can then select others, or another, to fulfill His purpose.  This is what happened with the Old (Mosaic) Covenant priesthood of Israel (Malachi chapters 2 and 3; compare Romans chapter 11).  None of the covenants carry salvational connotations or conditions.  All of the covenants are between God and are with God’s elect.  In other words, God elected and then made covenants with those He elected.  Although some covenants are conditional for God’s blessings, none of the covenants are conditional for salvation.

The Melchisedecian Priesthood of Christ - King/Priest

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18).

“As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 5:6-10).

The very fact of Christ’s present ministry of advocacy before the Father as the believer’s High Priest represents a radical change from the Mosaic Covenant (Dispensation of Law) into the New Covenant (the Church Age).  Since Christ is King/Priest, all believers are members of a Royal Priesthood bringing with this new status all the responsibilities of the Priesthood upon ALL believers of the Church Age.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (I Peter 2:9).

“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6).

This new position is the primary meaning of the Biblical term adoption.  The word adoption is translated from the Greek word huiothesia (hwee-oth-es-ee'-ah).  The word simply means placement as sons.  We would not understand this apart from the doctrine of the Firstborn in the O.T. 

We see God early in Scripture electing/choosing Abraham to be the father of the nation of Israel.  From the descendants of Abraham, God’s primary elect group changes in the unfolding of “the regeneration” through the next three dispensations.  Election, in the preservation of a remnant through which Messiah (the Promised One) would be born, begins with Israel in Abraham.  It moves to Israel in Jacob.  It then moves to the “firstborn” in Israel and then to the “firstborn” in the Priesthood of Aaron replacing the “firstborn” in Israel.  Then it moves to Christ upon His death, burial, and resurrection as the “firstborn” of “the regeneration” and a new High Priest of a new (but previously prophesied) Priesthood of all believers (the “church of the firstborn;” all Church Age saints).  Finally, and ultimately, to the final fold of “the regeneration” in the New Heaven/Earth where all the glorified Redeemed will dwell with their New Federal Head; i.e. the LORD Jesus Christ.  All believers of the Church Age are placed into this new Priesthood as adult children of God through being “born again.”  The O.T. Priesthood was adopted by God to be the “firstborn” of Israel.  They were chosen to this position by their birthright into the family of Levi. 

“And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:1-2).

“Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin-offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread” (Leviticus 8:2).

All Church Age believers now replace the “firstborn” of Israel or the O.T. priesthood.  Therefore, this new priesthood comes as a birthright through the New Birth.  The Church Age priesthood of the believer comes by rebirth. 

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26).

“To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:5-7).

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5).

This corporate entity called the Church and the “body” of Christ is the “tabernacle, not made with hands” referred to in Hebrews 9:11.  It is also what is being referred to in Colossians 1:18 (Christ, the “head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead”) and Hebrews 12:23 (the “general assembly and church of the firstborn”). 

“⁸ The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all {the heavenly Holy of holies and the Throne of grace} was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle {Mosaic Covenant Temple} was yet standing: ⁹ Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; ¹⁰ Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. ¹¹ But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; ¹² Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: ¹⁴ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:8-15).

“¹⁰ For it became him {Jesus Christ}, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. ¹³ And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. ¹⁴ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; ¹⁵ And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. ¹⁶ For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham” (Hebrews 2:10-16).

“¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints {the corporate entity called the Church} which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: ² Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us {the corporate entity called the Church} with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ⁴ According as he hath chosen us {the corporate entity called the Church} in him before the foundation of the world, that we {the corporate entity called the Church} should be holy and without blame before him in love: ⁵ Having predestinated us {the corporate entity called the Church} unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us {the corporate entity called the Church} accepted in the beloved. ⁷ In whom we {the corporate entity called the Church} have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; ⁸ Wherein he hath abounded toward us {the corporate entity called the Church} in all wisdom and prudence; ⁹ Having made known unto us {the corporate entity called the Church} the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: ¹⁰ That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: ¹¹ In whom also we {the corporate entity called the Church} have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: ¹² That we {the corporate entity called the Church} should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. ¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our {the corporate entity called the Church} inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:1-14; this is addressed to the Church at Ephesus and speaks to that group).

          It is clear that the idea of adoption in the Scriptures refers mainly to God choosing His “born again” children to be His “firstborn” and to serve as His New Covenant Priesthood in the Kingdom Age.  All Church Age believers become “the sons of God” (Romans 8:14) when they receive the indwelling Spirit of God (Romans 8:15-16). 

“²⁸ For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. ²⁹ Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. ³⁰ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: ³¹ Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man {Jesus Christ} whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him {Jesus Christ} from the dead” (Acts 17:28-31).

“¹¹ He {Jesus Christ} came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13).

“⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. ¹⁰ For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee” (Hebrews 2:9-12).

          Church Age believers in the New Covenant have a much more intimate relationship with God than did Old Covenant believers.  All New Covenant believers have greater privileges and greater responsibilities.  Although believers from both dispensations are called “sons” of God, the meaning of the word “adoption” places the New Covenant believer on another plain of existence in his/her relationship with God.

“¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:15-17).

“⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:4-7).

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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.

The Defiling Root of Bitterness

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Sermon Audio One

Sermon Audio Two

Two Streams of Grace into the Believer’s Life

Empowerment and Chastisement

“⁴ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. ⁵ And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷ If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? ⁸ But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. ¹² Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; ¹³ And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. ¹⁴ Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: ¹⁵ Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; ¹⁶ Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears” (Hebrews 12:5-17).

The book of Hebrews is filled with warnings to people who think they can believe almost anything, or worship in almost any way, and still consider themselves to be saved.  We have such a warning as this in Hebrews 12:4-17.  The warning regards compromise and is twofold in its application.

1. A professing Christian’s compromise may reveal a lack of understanding (Matthew 13:19) regarding the objective facts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and resultantly misplaced faith.  The warning is that such a person may not really be saved.  This possibility is something those willing to compromise doctrine should carefully consider and evaluate regarding the reality of their own faith.

2. When a professing Christian compromises the truth that he professes to believe, such compromise is sin.  He should expect to be supernaturally chastised for such an act of disobedience.  If chastisement does not happen, he should understand that the lack of chastisement regarding the compromise of the Gospel manifests that he is really not a child of God after all in that God chastises His children when they disobey.  Such a person really fails of the saving “grace of God” (Hebrews 12:15).  The word “fail” in Hebrews 12:15 is from the Greek word hustereo (hoos-ter-eh'-o), which essentially means to come short of in the sense of missing it. 

The question to which Hebrews 12:5-6 refers is the “exhortation” of Proverbs 3:11-12.  In the context of Hebrews chapter twelve, the reference is used to correlate “chastening of the LORD’ as a blessing that belongs to the intimacy of a genuine relationship with God as the believer’s “Father.”  The intent of the correlation is that God does not chastise or discipline people who are not His children “by grace through faith.”  We should not try to escape persecution, afflictions, and/or various kinds of difficult situations through compromise.  God may be using these very things to try the genuineness of our faith (James 1:3). 

“¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: ¹² For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” (Proverbs 3:11-12).

Every believer has filial obligations (that which is befitting to a son or daughter) as the children of God.  As a child of God, a believer is given much more than a mere escape from condemnation.  Every believer who is “born again” of the Spirit of God “by grace through faith” has literally become a child of God.

“¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power {exousia; authority or right} to become {ginomai; to cause to become} the sons of God {referring to a creative spiritual act, not a physical act}, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ Which were born, not of blood {of human descendants}, nor of the will {thel'-ay-mah; here referring to sexual desire} of the flesh, nor of the will of man {thel'-ay-mah; here referring to human determination or by self-effort}, but of God” (John 1:11-13).

The moment a believer becomes a child of God; he takes upon himself the Name of God.  With the Name of God comes all the responsibilities to protect the testimony with which the Name of God identifies him.  To fail in protecting the testimony of what the Name of God represents is essentially what is involved in taking God’s Name in vain, which is the predominant sin of any sin a believer commits.  To take God’s Name in vain is to live in any way that might reflect a distorted image of God in the world.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).

          When God says His children are not to “take” His Name in vain, He does not mean use.  “Take” is from the Hebrew word nasa' (naw-saw') meaning to accept or to carry.  To “take” the Name of God is like a wife taking the name of her husband or as a child takes the name of his father.  This is exemplified in Genesis 4:25-26.

“²⁵ And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. {Seth: Heb. Sheth: that is Appointed, or, Put} ²⁶ And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD {lit., to call themselves by the name of the Lord}” (Genesis 4:25-26).

          Anytime a professing believer lives in a way that is contradictory to the Word of God (any sin, any action, and/or any inaction) that might cause someone to get a false impression of God or what Christianity is all about, that person has taken God’s Name in vain and perverted the glory of God.

“⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient {just what is needed} for me: ⁹ Lest I be full, and deny thee {belie thee; meaning to give a false idea or misrepresentation}, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and {by stealing} take the name of my God in vain” (Proverbs 30:8-9).

          This is why God hates any form of idolatry.  Idolatry causes men to form a false image of God and when they think of God or pray to God.  They form a mental picture and think about that false image in their minds.

          A central concern of a spiritually revived child of God is the sanctity of the Name of the Father.  A true child of God is concerned about his own testimony and image, because his testimony and image misrepresents Who God is and what God allows.  The spiritual child of God is concerned about how he lives, because he is reflecting the image of God through his way of life.

As a believer is confronted in life by persecution, afflictions, and/or various difficult situations, we are to act upon them in two specific ways as directed by God in Hebrews 12:5:

1. “despise not thou the chastening of the Lord”

2. “nor faint when thou art rebuked of him”

The word “despise” is from the Greek word oligoreo (ol-ig-o-reh'-o), which means to disregard.  The idea of the meaning is to give “chastening” little or no value.  The word “chastening is from the Greek word paideia (pahee-di'-ah), which refers to tutorage.  The idea in this word is educational training through practical discipline.  The end result is an outcome where the individual chastened learns to be proactive in his own discipline and begins to acts responsibly according to the Father’s will.

After having taken into careful consideration the loving purposes of the Father in our “chastening,” then we should not “faint when thou art rebuked of him.”  “Chastening” should not discourage a believer, but it should rather encourage him.  When God chastens a believer, He is telling him there is an area of his life that needs his immediate attention.  Although God, like any father, never wants His children to live completely independent from Him, He does want His children to be mature enough that they do not need His constant leading.  He wants them to begin to govern their own lives according to the principles of righteousness established by Him in His Word.  “Chastening” is God working to get us to a place of maturity and self-discipline in our lives. 

“¹ Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. ² For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:1-2).

The words “come short of it” in Hebrews 4:1 are also translated from the Greek word hustereo (hoos-ter-eh'-o), which is translated “fail” in Hebrews 12:15.  The warning regarding coming short of saving faith is continued into the rest of the text of Hebrews chapter four.

“⁶ Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached {to the Jews in the wilderness in the water from the rock and the manna from heaven} entered not in because of unbelief: ⁷ Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. ⁸ For if Jesus {literally Joshua} had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. ⁹ There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. ¹⁰ For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall {the idea is to begin to take flight and then fall to the ground in failure} after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:6-11).

The key to understanding the context of the verses of Hebrews 12:4-17 is found in verse 15; “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God.”  This statement parallels the statement of Hebrews 4:10 and is a similar warning.  The warning is about evaluating the reality of faith.  A faith that has not ceased to trust in “works” (Moralism or Ritualism) for salvation has not rested in Christ’s work and is still lost.  The words “looking diligently” encourage the professing believer to take careful consideration about what verse four says; “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”  The thing to be considered is that you might discover yourself to be short of the saving grace of God.  A similar warning is found in Galatians 5:1-12.

“¹ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ² Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. ³ For I testify again to every man that is circumcised {that a circumcised person is part of the Abrahamic Covenant because of physical circumcision}, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. ⁴ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. ⁷ Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? ⁸ This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. ⁹ A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. ¹¹ And I, brethren, if I yet preach {justification through} circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. ¹² I would they were even cut off which trouble you” (Galatians 5:1-12).

Ephesians 2:8-9 says we are saved “by grace through faith.”  The phrase “by grace through faith” refers to the salvation referred to in the Abrahamic Covenant, which connects to the Protevangelium of Genesis 3:15.  When faith is misplaced in a false belief system or it is not sincere and genuine, it never touches the gift of salvation given by grace.  That kind of misplaced faith is not faith at all and it comes short of that grace and falls out away from it.  Such a person is not closer to being saved, but rather further away. 

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.

Breaking the Shackles of Spiritual Bondage

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Sermon Audio

Breaking the Shackles of Spiritual Bondage

 

         

Bondage to the “flesh” and its desires (lusts) is impossible to escape in the power of the “flesh.”  This is what Paul addresses in Galatians 5:13-26.  Escaping the shackles of bondage of a fallen, corrupt, and carnal nature is the first front of our spiritual battle ground.  The believer must learn to be habitually victorious on this battle front in that victory here is the essential necessity to being used of God for spiritual purposes. 

“¹³ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. ¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ¹⁵ But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. ¹⁶ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law” (Galatians 5:13-18).

          Jesus spoke of this in John 8:30-32 by using the words “continue in my word” to describe what Paul describes as walking “in the Spirit” in Galatians 5:16.  Jesus uses the words “continue in my word” as a defining descriptor of what it means to be His “disciple.”  In other words, it is a contradiction to consider yourself a disciple of Jesus and not live habitually according to the teachings of Jesus.

“As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:30-32).

Most of us are aware of the repeat criminal who spends sentence after sentence in prison.  This is life pattern known as recidivism.  In other words, this person continually returns to destructive life patterns.  These individuals live in a bondage to a lifestyle framed into their personalities that never allows them to be freed from their own carnality.  The reality is that even when they are not behind the physical walls of a state institution, their lives exist in a prison of their own corruption.

Many Christians live in similar spiritual bondage.  Even though they may not commit the crimes that would put them behind bars, they constantly live in the shackles of sin; spiritually dysfunctional in every real way.  They want to be used of God, but cannot escape the bondage of their own depravity.  They tend to destroy the lives around them rather than build others up in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. 

Moment by moment of each day, we choose to what we will be in bondage.  Not all bondage is bad.  Some things to which we are bound are good and righteous.  A man who is committed to his wife and family is bound to them.  That is a good bondage.  A person committed to obedience to God is bound to Him.  That, too, is a good bondage.  These are good bondages because they are honorable and righteous things that benefit everyone involved.  Yet there is a bondage that is totally self-occupied.  This is a matter of a choice of the will; to whom we will yield our will.    The Apostle Paul said:

“I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness” (Romans 6:19).

Bondage to what is right is a noble position.  Yet the important truth here is that we can choose to whom or to what we will be in bondage.  That choice is a gift of God.  Again this is about what Paul elaborates in Romans 8:15-21.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).

“³ Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: ⁴ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, ⁵ To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. ⁸ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. ⁹ But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. ¹¹ I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain” (Galatians 4:3-11).

The truth is that we will always be in bondage to something; “uncleanness” and “lawlessness unto lawlessness” or “righteousness unto holiness.”  The former imprisons us. The latter sets us free.  The only way we can be sure of what is right and what is wrong is to have an absolute standard - a proven standard.  Therefore, righteousness must be determined solely on the basis of understanding the Word of God.  If that is not our final standard, we will ultimately reduce ourselves to our own authority.  In that case we will determine our own morality and immorality.  That is called Secular Humanism.  Unfortunately, the Scriptures record many individuals who claimed to be God’s people, but actually were functionally Humanist.

God warned the nation of Israel: “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8).  Why would God give such a warning?  He gave this warning because He knows that such a mindset will result in spiritual bondage that imprisons.  Was this warning heeded?  We need only look a little latter in their history to find the answer.  

“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).

 

The problem was not that they did not have an earthly king.  The problem was that they failed to recognize and submit to their heavenly King.  This submission is what defines our understanding of the Lordship of Christ.  Lord is not a title given to Jesus by His subjects.  It is a position of authority which He possesses.  To be right in your own eyes makes you king or Lord.  That is a decision of the will that will always cause you to end up in spiritual bondage.  

To recognize God as the supreme authority in our lives, is to recognize He rules by the instruction of His inspired Word (II Tim. 3:16-17).  To live by this revelation is to put ourselves in bondage to Him.  Such bondage actually proves to be freedom.

What has happened to our society as it has decided to abandon, reject, and castigate the absolute moral values of God’s Word?  Here are some statistics from years ago in an article entitled The Way It Ought to Be by Rush Limbaugh:

1. After World War II, 80% of children grew up in intact families with two biological parents who were married to each other.

2. By 1980, only 50% could expect to spend their whole childhood in an intact family.

3. According to social and scientific evidences, children in families disrupted by divorce and out-of-wedlock birth do considerably worse academically, socially, and economically than children with intact families.

4. Children of single parents are 600% more likely to be poor and will usually stay poor.

5. These kids are two to three times as likely to have emotional and behavioral problems.  They are more likely to drop out of school, to get pregnant as teenagers, to abuse drugs, and to get into trouble with the law.

6. Children who grow up in these environments tend to be less successful as adults-particularly in love relationships and in the workplace.

This is the type of bondage that Secular Humanism produces.  Secular Humanism does so while preaching freedom and personal liberty.  The reality is that this giant social experiment with the lives of millions of children is a complete and absolute failure.  Yet, even with the overwhelming evidence against it, people continue to place themselves and their children into the hands of those who want to continue the experiment.  God has made a concluding statement for all of this:

“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up” (Hosea 8:7).

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.