| by Gregory Diaz (Wayne, New Jersey) |
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| Christians are commanded to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 2:3). Christians should be open to gaining a deeper understanding of the bible. Therefore, let us consider one important concept that has not yet been understood, although it is a priority for the church to observe. It is clearly in the bible. It is also clearly in contrast to the wisdom of the world. For this reason, it has been ignored, explained away, or rejected. As Christians we must be willing to follow the bible completely and accurately. Otherwise, there is no point in being a Christian. Of course, unless God gives us ears to hear we cannot hear. However, if God gives us ears to hear and a heart to learn we have the choice to open the door to Jesus. We know that Jesus will come and sup with us if we do. If we have ears to hear we are commanded to hear. Before Herbert W. Armstrong, the founder of the Worldwide Church of God, died he appointed a successor. After some time had passed some people in this organization questioned whether this was the choice of Jesus. They split off to form new organizations. And now, as we get closer to the end of the age, we may wonder how or where Jesus is guiding his church. We know the bible says Jesus is knocking at the door of the Laodicean church. We know the gates of hell do not prevail against it. If Jesus is knocking at the door of the church, he is currently on the outside of it. (Likewise, the Laodicean church has or soon will be outside of the body of Jesus since He spews them out of his mouth.) We should consider that since Jesus is outside of the church, the church ought to be looking for ways to let Jesus inside. Therefore, let us consider that if the Laodicean church does allow Jesus back in it may again become the Philadelphia church. Notice the phrase in Rev 3:12 which says, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and HE SHALL GO NO MORE OUT.” This seems to imply that the Philadelphia era temporarily goes out and becomes the Laodicean church era. It then returns again to the Philadelphia era and goes on to become the wife of Christ. How would Jesus be knocking? We know from the bible that God sets the leadership in the church. We know He first sets apostles. Of course, his choices may be different than ours. As an example, consider the first era church where God chose Saul. Saul was likely the last person the church thought God would call to make an apostle. He was an outsider to the church. He had been persecuting the church! Yet this was God’s choice. The word apostle means one sent. This implies that an apostle is an outsider to those he is sent to. The bible teaches that every church age has an angel or a messenger. Since an apostle is “one sent” an apostle is a messenger. Therefore, apostles are outsiders sent with the message of Jesus to each church era. God tells the church to “try the spirits” (1 John 4:1). He commends the Ephesian era church in Rev 2:2 for having “tried them which say they are apostles and are not.” This instruction is to all Christians yet perhaps even more so to lay members. Consider that there would be no need to try the spirits if there were a human church organization in place to transfer or select leadership. This is a major fault and biblical blind spot in the church. Mr. Armstrong also made this mistake by teaching that he was the only apostle. In John 8:31 Jesus tells us that in order to be true disciples we must continue (learning) in His word. Yet the attitude of the Laodicean church era, the current era says, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing!” This prophecy is now being fulfilled. Christians are taught to be as the Bereans who had “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). We diligently check our bibles during and after every sermon. However, it would seem that the first part of this verse has been overlooked. For example, are Christians ever taught to receive “the word with all readiness of mind” from messengers on the outside of their organizations? Yet this is biblical. The Bereans did this and were therefore blessed to receive the gospel. Let us remember Hebrews 13:2 which says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” It is STILL necessary to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” During the days of unleavened bread Christians are commanded to remove leaven – a symbol of sin. In Luke 12:1 Jesus teaches us to “first of all, beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (According to Albert Barnes’ “Notes on the Whole Bible” and other commentaries the phrase “first of all” has the meaning “above all things beware” etc.) Matt 16:12 tells us this leaven is the DOCTRINE of the Pharisees. Christians should be aware that watching out for this doctrine is the priority of the church of God! It should not be surprising to realize that this is the main topic of most of the new testament. Christians will need to cleanse itself of this leavening. Acts 15:5 shows us clearly what the doctrine of the Pharisees is. It says, “But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Let us carefully consider this chapter and this verse. The question of whether or not gentile believers needed to be circumcised was a great controversy in the early church. Here it is important to understand that a sinner could not be circumcised. Therefore, this question concerns whether or not to allow sinners to enter into fellowship with the church. Let us understand the importance of fellowship. Fellowship is a form of communication and therefore a vital component of the gospel message. We know that God inspired it on Pentecost at the founding of the church. Romans 10:17 says “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Also Malachi 3:16 says “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” Galatians 6:6 says, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” And Hebrews 13:16 says “But to do good and to communicate forget not.” Just as the spreading of iniquity is characterized as a mystery (2 Thes. 2:7) so is the spreading of righteousness through fellowship (Ephesians 3:9). Considering this mystery helps us understand the difference between the old and new covenants. According to the old covenant the sinner should be “cut off from among his people” and therefore severed from the congregation and from God (Numbers 15:30). This is similar to how Adam was removed from the garden of Eden and the tree of life. But now since Jesus paid for our sins, we again have access to the tree of life, to God’s spirit and therefore to fellowship with God and each other. This explains how that “the commandment, which was ordained to life,” Paul found to be unto death (Romans 7:10). The reason is that the law severs us from fellowship since we have and inevitably do sin. And we understand that being severed from God leads to spiritual degradation and death. However, we are now made free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). And this allows us to fulfill the righteousness of the law by regaining access to God’s life-giving spirit. Therefore, it is the penalty of the law, or that severance, that we are no longer under the threat of. The book of Galatians confirms this idea. By this letter we know that even the apostle Peter misunderstood the truth of the gospel. Here Peter by separating from the “sinners of the gentiles” had turned to a false gospel. Now when reading this it should be understood that gentiles always had the opportunity to convert to Judaism. However, they first needed to be circumcised. This involved a complete transformation of beliefs and obedience. Therefore, circumcision should not be considered as merely a physical operation that you either have or haven’t had done. In order to receive circumcision a person must first conform to an acceptable standard of righteousness. Genesis 17:1 says, “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Verse 11 says “And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.” Circumcision is a token or sign for righteousness and is therefore a symbol for it. Therefore, clearly the actual operation of circumcision is not required. However, the essential point is that what it symbolizes is also no longer required. In other words, the idea of living up to an “acceptable standard” of righteousness in order to fellowship with Christians that have already attained or been raised up in that standard is likewise not required. Understanding the letter of Galatians this way shows it to be as relevant today as when it was written. No one can be justified and/or made perfect by the “works of the law.” Or, in other words, no one can be perfected by the threat of being cut off from fellowship. In Galatians 2:16 Paul says, “for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” And in Galatians 3:3 Paul asks “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Notice in Galatians 2:21 Paul says, “for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain”. Here Paul does not say that we do not need to become righteous. Instead, we see him explaining the new covenant method for becoming righteous. Again, we understand as Paul explains this process, that the physical act of circumcision is only the sign of a person living righteously. Notice Galatians 3:2-5. Here Paul is discussing the “works of the law” rather than just the physical operation of circumcision. Here we should understand that the “works of the law” cannot be referring to works of righteousness. This would make no sense at all since the goal of a Christian is to live a righteous and godly life. Rather Paul is again talking about the correct method for attaining righteousness and perfection. Therefore the “works of the law,” and “curse of the law,” must be viewed as the authoritative severance of sinners which had been the policy under the old covenant. Paul is contrasting the fear of being cut off to “the hearing of faith”. In other words, the gospel method of attaining to righteousness is through communication and inspiration. Notice that in Galatians 4:13-15 Paul compliments the Galatians on receiving him. They did not despise him or reject him because of the infirmity in his flesh. In other words, they did not reject him as an imperfect sinner (which they might have assumed because of his infirmity.) Verse 17 again shows us that the doctrine of the pharisees is one of separation. It says, “They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.” We see that the Pharisees are zealous to separate from the uncircumcised. The word pharisee itself means one who is separated. Paul warns in Galatians 5:15 “if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” In other words, “judge not” one another as Jesus said in the sense of authoritative control. Do not “mete out” judgment. This divides the church. Discerning judgment however is very different and necessary. Notice again in Galatians 6:1 how that Paul describes the gospel method of inspiring righteousness through meekness rather than a method of authority. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Note here that Paul is talking about faults. In other words, he is talking about sinners and how to treat them. Let us therefore understand that the definition of right and wrong as defined by the law has not changed. The law still defines sin. Romans 3:20 (Young’s Literal Translation) says “wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.” Romans 7:7 says “…I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, thou shalt not covet.” It is interesting to consider how communication compares to the science of genetics. Through science we know that both healthy and unhealthy genes are passed from generation to generation. Likewise, character may be communicated from person to person. So genetically if a population is isolated it begins to suffer degradation at a faster rate than it otherwise would. In this way a species can go extinct. Likewise, the policy of isolating sinners causes spiritual degradation. However, Christians with access to God’s perfect spiritual DNA can pass on righteousness as lights and as the salt of the earth. Fellowship gives life but separation causes death. The question of circumcision is today as relevant as in the first century. Christians should of course strive to become righteous. However, the correct method of attaining to that righteousness can only be through faith which comes by communication. Christians should not separate from those who have not reached an acceptable “appearance” of righteousness nor restrict them from attending their assemblies. The victory over sin must come from inspiration rather than by the fear of the death caused by severance. This is the difference between the old and new covenants. Therefore Romans 16:17 says to AVOID “them which cause divisions.” It DOES NOT say disfellowship them. Let us not add to God’s word! We must avoid the doctrine of the pharisees. Therefore whether the bible calls this the leaven of the pharisees, the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (the many coming in Jesus’ name “conquering and to conquer”; Matt 24:5, Rev 6:2), the doctrine of Balaam (attempting to curse the utmost; Num 23:13), the doctrine of fornication (Rev 2:24), meats (or doctrines Heb 13:9) offered to idols, blood, things strangled (IE dictatorial strangleholds), or the requiring of circumcision etc. it is all the same idea. It is the doctrine of disfellowshipment. It is the ruling of man’s government over God’s church. It is this leaven that Jesus told his disciples to first beware of. Christians can shine as lights to sinners without becoming sinners. We have the access to God’s holy spirit if we obey him. The idea is that church government must always be executed by the use of supernatural power. By doing this Christians will come out of Babylon. |
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