Jesus Christ (God's only begotten son: God in the flesh) died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15). "19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5) “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.“ (Ephesians 2) 'Rightly dividing the word of truth' (2 Timothy 2:15) is the key to understanding your Bible.
“Paul’s gospel must be accepted, it must be believed today, and you can be sure that confusion concerning that gospel through the use of a counterfeit gospel; a gospel that looks so much like Paul’s gospel that you’d not know the difference, if you didn’t clearly know Paul’s gospel, will be Satan’s focus in this age of grace. That’s Satan’s purpose in this age of grace, to confuse Paul’s gospel with a gospel so nearly to it, that we’d not recognize what was missing from it or added to it, and it looks just like Paul’s Gospel. There are many folks out there today, and I hear them all the time, and I hear them in grace circle’s all the time, saying ‘all you have to do is to believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and you’re saved’. How many people believe that today?!
Just about everybody in every assembly in our town believes that. They believe it in the baptist, catholic, pentecostal churches. They believe it in almost every church across the board that Christ died, was buried and rose again, but what do they believe was accomplished by that death, burial and resurrection? That’s the key point! Do they believe it was an all-sufficient reconciliation where the entirety of the world’s sin debt was concerned, or do they believe that they must obtain a new measure of reconciliation every time they sin, and that’s by seeking a new measure of forgiveness from God, that He might be reconciled to them. Who in the world are they asking for forgiveness from? From God, therefore the assumption is that he’s not reconciled when they sin. You see what was going on in their minds? In their minds they were separating themselves from God by their sin, and Paul is saying that he has already reconciled you where your sins are concerned. Who we are and what we have in the person of our Savior is incredible, and I’m using that word in the sense of overwhelmingly wonderful.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Colossians 1:21
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
1 Timothy 2:3-7
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time.
7 Whereunto I [Paul] am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
A brother in Christ had these questions:
If you add anything, or do not understand the concept of reconciliation, does that mean they are lost? Is that how fine a line it is? Is that what Pastor Curt is saying that it is more than just believing 1 Corinthians 15;1-4?
1: If a person believes Peter and Paul’s gospel are the same, saved or lost? In fact, if they teach that the four gospels are the same as Paul’s gospels,saved or lost?
2. If a person says “they believe”, but add “BUT” we try to keep the big 10, we water baptize as testimony, we try and do the Sermon on the Mount, saved or lost?
…so I sent Curt Crist an e-mail, and this is his response:
Hey Daniel,
I sure do have a response. Merely saying the words ‘Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again’…is no more than a recitation of sounds…unless a person knows and believes what he is saying when he says those words. When a person says…’he died for our sins’…does he truly believe what he is saying? Recitation and belief are two different things. It is ‘believing the gospel’ that saves today according to Paul, not just reciting words. If I say ‘he died for my sins’…but I do not believe that his death for my sins accomplished anything where the sins he died for are concerned…I’m uttering words without attaching a meaning to them. For instance, the Pope says that Christ died for his sins, was buried and rose again. You’ll find this in the Catholic Bible. But, the Pope does not believe that the sins Christ died for…have been ‘put away forever’. The Pope would tell you that you need ‘further absolution’ in order to ‘make heaven’. What does that tell you he actually believes… when it comes to the words he has no problem uttering? Do you see the difference. He died for my sins is meaningless unless I know what it means that he died for my sins. That’s not ‘adding to the gospel’…that’s understanding the gospel we’re reciting.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Now, about the second part of the question your friend raises. A person doesn’t have to understand ‘right division’ in order to understand ‘the gospel’ Paul preached. I’m sure there are those who think Peter was preaching what Paul was preaching because they don’t understand ‘right division’. The question would be ‘does the person who does not understand right division’…understand Paul’s gospel? If they do and they believe it…they are saved regardless of what they believe about Peter or water baptism. However, if they think that water baptism saves….that’s another story! Right division doesn’t save, believing Paul’s gospel saves! Of course, spiritual growth (an issue of the Bema, or Judgment Seat of Christ) most certainly depends upon understanding the Bible rightly divided. A person can be saved and not spiritually mature. But ‘spiritual maturity’ is something believers are called to…according to Paul. Hope this answers your friends questions. Let me know how it works out.
Curt
This newsletter was sent out, by mail, to those who are on Curt Crist’s subscriber list. In case you want his e-mail; Welcometograce.com
Enjoy.
A LETTER FROM DANIEL, A LISTENER IN NORWAY
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU PASTOR CRIST, CONCERNING THE GREAT WHITE
THRONE JUDGMENT. I WROTE SOMETHING TO ANOTHER GRACE BELIEVER AND
HE DIDN’T AGREE WITH ME. HE QUOTED REVELATION 20:12 WHICH STATES:
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their WORKS.
YES, HE STATED, CHRIST DIED FOR EVERYONE’S SINS BUT ONLY THOSE THAT BELIEVE AND TRUST THE GOSPEL HAVE THAT FORGIVENESS ATTRIBUTED TO THEM.
ACCORDING TO THIS GUY, GOD IS STILL HOLDING THE SINS AGAINST EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT ISN’T SAVED, WHICH MEANS HE’S STILL IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM. THIS SOUNDS CONTRARY TO 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-21. DO YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THIS? THANKS BROTHER! DANIEL
My reply:
Just because God’s justice has been resolved concerning a person’s sins does not mean that person possesses the very righteousness of God himself. The problem is, God cannot dwell with anyone who fails to measure up to his righteous standard! People read the word ‘works’ there in Revelation 20:12 and they automatically assume that ‘works’ in this passage refers to ‘sins’. I believe it is talking about ‘works of righteousness’. See if this same word translated ‘works’ in revelation 20:12 sounds right, (when read the way it’s often translated), as we consider these statements from the Apostle Paul:
Titus 3:5 Not by works (sins?) of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works (sins?) for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
…and let’s be careful not to leave out Ephesians 2:8-9 where Paul wrote..
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works (sins?), lest any man should boast.
You see, the word ‘works’ in these statements is the same word translated ‘works’ in Revelation 20:12, so the word ‘works’ is not always referring to works of unrighteousness as many presuppose (see 2 Timothy 1:9). This is why Paul said that he did not want to be found in his own righteousness which is of the law. Law keeping works were abundant in Paul’s day, as they are in ours! The problem was…Paul’s works of righteousness were insufficient to merit Paul a righteous standing before the Lord (Philippians 3:6-8, Galatians 2:16, 3:10):
Philippians 3:6-8
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed IN Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
The books will be opened at the great white throne judgment, but those in attendance will be judged because their ‘righteous works’ do not measure up to God’s righteousness (his glory; Romans 3:23). Therefore, the decree will be that they cannot dwell with God. As Paul stated in his letter to the saints at Thessalonica, these people will face the sentence of ‘everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord’. There will indeed be ‘weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth’, just as it will be in the kingdom program when the unbelievers of that day find they are not allowed into the presence of their promised ‘King’ (Luke 13:28). Cast out of the Lord’s presence forever! What conscious torment that will be! The bible says, “where their worm dieth not”, and (where) the fire is not quenched”.
I believe what this person is actually saying, is this, Daniel…
“Yes, Christ died for everyone’s sins, but only those who believe and trust the gospel will have their sins actually paid for.” If this is true, then how can God be telling us (through Paul) that we’re to tell those who are lost that God is no longer counting their sins against them because he counted them against his son at Calvary?
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
How can we take the good news message to the lost world, that God is not imputing their trespasses unto them, if God is indeed continuing to count the sins of the lost against them until they believe? Do you see the inconsistency? Does that not sound like ‘religious confusion’ to you? Sure does to me!
Should Paul not rather have said, go to the lost world and say…God hasn’t really reconciled you to himself yet! Thus, Christ didn’t really pay for your sins yet! So, God is continuing to count your sins against you! But if you believe, then, and only then, will Christ’s payment be satisfactory to God the father where your sins are concerned!
Should Paul not have said, “tell the world that god is indeed counting their sins against them, and will continue to do so, until they believe”? You can see how this goes totally contrary to our ambassadorship as God stated it through Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.
Why did many in Israel’s program fail to enter into their promised land?
Hebrews 4:6 says they entered not in because of UNBELIEF. (notice, it does NOT say, they entered not in because they had too many sins to be permitted into the land; those with the fewest sins ‘got the property’. No! they entered not in because of UNBELIEF.
I know I’m being facetious, but i do so to make a point. At the great white throne judgment, those present will be refused a dwelling place in the presence of the Lord for all eternity because of unbelief in what had already been accomplished at Calvary where ‘their sins’ were concerned! Christ paid for those sins and God the father has already accepted the payment for those sins as the author of Hebrews so clearly tells Israel, in:
Hebrews 9:25-26
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Unfortunately Daniel, there are many who refuse to believe in what Christ’s cross-work actually accomplished. Even the pope states that Christ died for his sins, and was buried, and then rose again from the dead. The problem the pope has is the same problem from which the religious world suffers. While they believe in a death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they fail to understand what the ‘for my sins’ part of Paul’s gospel is all about! They refuse to acknowledge that Christ’s death at Calvary actually resolved God’s justice where the sins he died for are concerned. They continue to hang on the notion that God is hanging on to their sins! How sad!
In other words, the sins Christ paid for have not really been paid for at all! God is going to continue to hold on to those sins and keep imputing them to a person until that person comes to belief. Christ has simply stored up some credit these folks can access when they so choose is the idea of ‘religianity’. This renders Christ’s payment for sin ‘a partial payment’, a ‘down payment’, or a ‘future payment’ at best…rather than ‘a completed and satisfactory payment’ as the bible tells us is true!
If what this person has written is true, Daniel, Christ’s death at Calvary did not resolve God’s justice at all! When Christ said ‘it is finished’ (paid in full), should he not have said…’paid in part’? Future payment to made at the point of a person’s belief? You see what ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) who short-change the ministry of reconciliation by short-changing the accomplishments of the cross have instilled in the minds of those who (like the pope) continue to hang on to the notion that God has ‘not’ reconciled the world unto himself as he has said; he only reconciles believers to himself. (Very close to the calvinist idea, is it not? If the truth is known, Daniel, this is really what lies at the core of the reconciliation issue).
Of course, these folks will oftentimes want to turn ‘belief’ into a ‘work’ but scripture fully refutes that idea. Faith is not a work. There is a work concerning those who ‘have faith’. Rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) is one of those works and that work will be judged at the BEMA (judgment seat) of Christ for reward or the loss of reward, not at the great white throne judgment. ‘Faith itself’ is not a work. Satan’s ministers of righteousness are doing a great job in blinding people’s eyes to the reality of what was actually accomplished for all by Christ at Calvary.
The fact is, God has ALREADY reconciled the world unto himself ‘in his mind’ according to the word of God itself. 2 Corinthians 5:18 states as much. God could not have had Paul state it any more clearly than he has! It’s religious individuals who are not reconciled to that fact in their minds:
Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Until they believe Paul’s gospel to be true for themselves, they will not be placed ‘into the person of Jesus Christ’ by the baptizing ministry of the Holy Spirit, and not being ‘baptized into christ’ means these folks are standing in their own righteousness rather than Christ’s righteousness.
This will be the problem at the great white throne judgment, the people there will be dressed in ‘fig leaves’ (their own righteous works – Revelation 20:12), just like Adam was dressed in his, and thus they will be judged to reside throughout eternity in a conscious state of ‘everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord’. Why again? Not because God’s justice had not been totally resolved where their sins were concerned, but because they had rejected the one who resolved that justice. They had rejected the one who died having already paid for their sins. The sin issue has been resolved in its entirety. The gift of salvation has been purchased for all. God will not collect a debt twice! The question is…’will the people of the world for whom the gift was purchased accept the gift’?
A LETTER FROM NORWAY, CONCLUSION….
To accept Paul’s gospel, one must believe that Christ’s cross-work resolved the issue of their sins in the mind of the one to whom the payment for their sins was made; God the father! This is what 2
Corinthians 5:18-21 is telling us. To believe this good news is to be reconciled in your mind (Colossians 1:21), not in God’s. His mind has already been reconciled in that he has counted his son to be sin for the entire human race;
1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
At the point of a person’s belief, that individual is ‘joined to Christ’, thus having Christ’s righteousness freely imputed to their account.
Daniel’s friend seems to believe that Christ satisfied God’s justice for him because he has believed the Gospel, but that Christ’s cross-work has not really satisfied God’s justice for those who have not believed. This would not make this person unsaved because he has indeed trusted that Christ died for his sins, but it surely puts him squarely in the camp of the calvinist’s concept of ‘limited atonement’. I hope he can see this goes entirely contrary to the clear testimony of scripture as given us in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. Why alter God’s word?!
Many, in the religious world today, believe the message set forth by ‘ministers of righteousness’. I sincerely hope he reads the passage in 2 Corinthians over and over again until he allows the truth Paul is revealing there to become ‘truth to him’. His faithful role as an ambassador for Christ, ‘telling the world’ that God has already reconciled them unto himself through the cross-work of his son and is therefore not imputing their trespasses unto them…is dependent upon it. This is the best news the world could ever hear. This is what makes Paul’s gospel the ‘good news’ that it truly is!
No, Daniel, Christ did not become a ‘storage tank for sins’; he is not hanging on to some of those sins for a future day when God will snatch them back off of his son and punish them yet again on someone else! Christ’s cross-work was a ‘justice resolution accomplishment’ for ‘all the sins he bore at Calvary’. Since he died for the sins of all according to the Apostle Paul, people will not be in hell for the sins Christ paid for, they will be in hell for their unbelief in (and thus their rejection of) the one who paid for them! Let’s hope your friend comes to accept Paul’s good news for the good news it truly is!
We know there was ‘an earth’ that was God’s house when Lucifer was the covering cherub. (edition 1)
When Lucifer rebelled, that earth was ‘cursed’. God’s brightness had left and darkness was upon the face of the deep. (edition 1 in a cursed condition)
Then, God revisited (didn’t dwell upon), but revisited the earth; let their be light) and prepared it for the first man. (The redemptive creation in 6 days might be considered edition 2). God had to prepare the earth for it’s human inhabitants.
After Adam’s rebellion, the earth became cursed once again. (edition 2 in a cursed condition)
Not the same as the first judgment with Lucifer’s rebellion, but in a cursed state nonetheless. Thorns and thistles, along with an animal kingdom that became carnivorous. Man had to toil to make the earth produce. A food ‘chain’ now necessary.
During the millennium, the curse will be partially lifted on the earth (edition 2, in a renewed fashion). The animal kingdom and the human creation will once again live in harmony. The extent of this renovation we’re not really told.
Then, after the millennium, there will be new heavens and a new earth (edition 3). One thing we’re told about the new earth is that will be no more sea. (Of course, the inhabitants with new spiritual bodies will not need water for survival as we need now). There will also be no more need of the sun, the moon, or the stars for light, because the God of the universe will light it. The same will be true in the millennium according to scripture as the Lamb will be the light of the New Jerusalem (Israel’s inhabitance). It’s my ‘opinion’ that the earth (3rd edition) will be like the earth (1st edition), but I couldn’t prove that by any means.
There’s so much we can only speculate about because the Bible doesn’t fill in ALL the blanks. In the previous (redemptive) creation, God refashioned the earth to sustain man. That earth was ‘divinely altered’ by Adam’s rebellion. It will be divinely renewed for the millennium. (Same earth but God will do the altering)
The new heavens and the new earth, I believe, will be ‘the same earth’, but in a much different form. God will divinely alter the elements, but it will still be called ‘earth’.
E-mail, Curt Crist. October-14-2010:
The expression ‘from the foundation of the world’ is only used in connection with God’s
program with Israel. That makes sense, in that Israel’s was ‘an earthly program’ and God’s
refashioning of the earth’ was done so that God could ‘repossess it’. Remember, God had
dwelt upon ‘earth’ prior to the refashioning of the earth in Genesis 1. The earth had been
God’s throne room. (See the lesson #108 ‘Why Two Programs’). Since God has given the territory of
his original throne room (Eden) to Israel, it only stands to reason that the statement ‘From the
foundation of the world’ would be used in connection with the earthly program. However,
before the foundation of the world, God had ‘the Body of Christ’ (His heavenly program with
those who have a heavenly citizenship) in mind. Thus, the expression ‘before the foundation
of the world’ in light of the mystery revealed to and through the new apostle, Paul.
E-mail, Curt Crist. April-20-2010.
The Bible talks about a new heavens and a new earth. Even though this is to be the case,
Israel has been promised the earth ‘forever’. Therefore, I believe they will still enjoy a
citizen on the earth (albeit the new earth) when that new earth is established. When the earth
that is to come (the new earth) is established, I believe it will be like the earth that was prior to
Lucifer’s rebellion. In otherwords, I do not believe it will be like the earth during Adam’s day
(an earth that had been refashioned from the earth Lucifer was on), but the earth as it was when
Lucifer was actually performing in his role as the ‘anointed cherub that covereth’. How beautiful and
magnificent was that first earth? We can only imagine. The curse will be partially lifted when the
millennial reign comes into effect. What will it be like when it is is entirely refashioned? Will there
be an animal creation? There will certainly be an animal creation during the millennium.
But, what about for the ‘new earth’? Will that animal creation be able to communicate with man?
Who knows the answer to all these things? We can only speculate. But aren’t they interesting
things to ponder?
Romans 14:10-12
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me [Paul], as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
E-mail, Curt Crist. May 5-2010.
Every grace-age believer will stand before ‘the Judgment Seat of Christ’ (Also called ‘The Bema’).
This judgment is not for sin, but for ‘our work of faith’, our ‘labor of love’ and our ‘patience of hope’. Sins were judged at the cross and therefore, will not be judged again. Our Savior bore them upon himself at Calvary, satisfying God’s justice for them. The judgement believers will undergo is not a judgment for sins, but for our work of faith (that’s how we study the Word of God rightly divided), our ‘labor of love’ (that’s how we relate to one another as fellow members of the Body of Christ) and our ‘patience of hope’ (this has to do with believers who are suffering, putting their patient hope on display (through) that suffering. The statement about ‘according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad’…is in the context of ‘good for reward’ or ‘bad’ (non-reward worthy).This is not a judgment about ‘sins’ but to see the reward-worthiness of the believer. The word ‘fire’ in the expression of ‘the fire will try every man’s works’ is a reference to the refining judgment of God. In other words, it is God who will judge. His judgment is oftentimes referred to as ‘fire’ because ‘fire refines’. God will (in a sense) hit the delete button and all that is non-reward worthy will be deleted to never go into heaven in order to be a ‘look at what I brought’ or ‘look at how I deserve to be here’ testimony. Again, it is not for ‘sins’. Our ‘work of faith’, ‘labor of love’ and ‘patience of hope’ will either stand the test of being ‘good’ (reward-worthy) or ‘bad’ (non-reward worthy). But, rest assured, all your ‘sins’ were already placed upon the Savior at Calvary and he bore them on your behalf. And the good news is, God never collects a debt twice. Christ PAID for you sins. This should motivate us all the more to love him and to serve him by serving others.
E-mail, Curt Crist. September 9-2010
Our ‘work of faith’, of course, has to do with our study of God’s Word in the manner He prescribed through Paul. I believe that most people who have trusted in the finished cross-work of Christ know nothing of the tool of ‘right division’ (2 Timothy 2:15). When they are told about it, they either are open to hear and learn more, or they are closed to that aspect of Paul’s ministry and therefore, not worthy of reward at the Bema. A failure of proper study of His Word is a failure to glory Him in this life. Those who are aware of Paul’s exhortation, and study in the proper manner, by their very study, enable the Holy Spirit to work through their lives on behalf of others who need to learn about it also.
Our labor of love is all about ‘agape’. Here again, its not about ‘reformation’, but about ‘transformation’. The bottom line, again, is our intake of the Word rightly divided. As we take in the Word, that Word is able to ‘transform our thinking’, such that ‘transformed thinking’ begins to manifest itself through transformed ‘relating’. It becomes more about ‘who we have become’, rather than about ‘who we are tying to be’. The more we know about ‘who we were apart from Christ’, and ‘who God made us to be ‘in Christ’, the more we see our own ‘human sin-nature bent’. And thus, the more we can see ‘why’ folks who have not believed the gospel are functioning in the manner they are. The only thing working in their lives is the flesh. And none of us should expect and ounce of goodness (without self attached to it) from the flesh. Unsaved people can do ‘good things’, but only from earthly perspective, because ‘self-elevation’, ‘self-protection’, ‘self-accolades’ lie at the root. God is able to see through all that we think we’ve done for Him that is really ‘self-serving’, rather than God-serving. This is why I believe that most of the Bema rewards will be in those things of which we’re least aware.
Our patience of hope has to do with Romans chapter 8 and being strengthened with His might in the ‘inner man’, rather than trying to get God to alter the circumstances of our outer man. Most folks who consider themselves “Christians” are continually praying for God to ‘fix’ the outer, rather than to strengthen the inner (which, again, comes from a proper intake of doctrinal truth’). The degree of our ‘work of faith’, ‘labor of love’ and ‘patience of hope’ that comes from our staying in, and our study of, His Word, is the degree to which we are glorifying God in the here and now. Paul tells us that our rewards at the Bema (that which remains) will be the degree to which we will be an eternal reflection of His glory through eternity future. In a sense, we could say, the ‘reflection factory of God’s glory’ believers are in ‘this life’, will be directly related to the reflection factory (monument) of God’s glory…they’ll be in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God; The Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ; God’s only begotten son, God in the flesh] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Many (including right dividers) have thought that when Paul states in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 that God has reconciled the world to Himself…that only includes the believers of this present age of grace, and that the sins of those ‘not of this dispensation’ are still be counted against them. Not so! God was in Christ reconciling ‘the world’ unto himself. The first thing this tell us is that ‘ALL PEOPLE’ in ‘ALL LOCATIONS’ have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Now, the second issue that must be addressed is this: does this mean that God is not ‘counting the sins of the world’ unto the world…ONLY IN THIS DISPENSATION? The answer to this can be found in the reason God gives as to ‘WHY’ He is not counting the sins of the world unto the world. Verse 21 gives us the reason. He counted those sins to His Son! Therefore, His justice has been satisfied for all the sins Christ died for. Which leads us to ask…’how many sins did God put upon His Son’? Only the sins of the folks of ‘the dispensation of grace’? Or, did Christ pay for ‘all the sins of the human race’ (past people, present people, and future people) when he took the sins of the world upon himself at Calvary? You see, the way God designed to take care of ‘ALL THE SINS OF ALL TIME’ was to have His Son die for them. Christ didn’t die for the folks of ‘one dispensation only’. He paid for the sins of all the folks of all dispensations. Of course, this was not revealed to the folks of other dispensations as it has been revealed to us through Paul. God gave ‘pictures’ (called shadows) to the folks before this dispensation ‘through the sacrificial system’ which only God knew ‘pointed to Christ’. Keep in mind, that even Adam had a picture he didn’t understand when Christ provided (and slew) a sacrifice for Adam’s rebellion. Without the shedding of blood, scripture tells us, there is NO remission. So, sacrifices for sin (in time past) was merely a picture that God knew pointed to the future death of his Son Jesus Christ. In the case of Israel, the high priest brought two goats to the tabernacle; one was slain as a sacrifice and one was released (the scapegoat). Thus ‘atonement’ was made for the sins of the entire congregation of Israel, once every year. God did not hold the sins of the people of time past against them…if the appropriate sacrifice was brought by the high priest. Of course, Christ became ‘the better sacrifice’ we’re told in scripture. He entered ‘once’ for ‘all’ the writer to the Hebrews stated, never having need to offer himself again. Christ died not only for the sins of ‘ALL PEOPLE’, but for the sins of ‘ALL THE PEOPLE OF ALL THE AGES’. The issue for the folks of time past as well as the folks of this dispensation…is an issue of ‘righteousness’. How can a person who has had his sins paid for become ‘perfectly righteous’ before God? Through ‘taking God at His Word’ scripture tells us, called ‘faith’. This was true for every age as well. It’s just that what God told the people of time past to believe was changed or enhanced as scripture was progressively revealed. Just keep in mind, once the appropriate sacrifice was brought, the sin for which that sacrifice was brought was no longer held against the one for whom it was brought. The good news for us (which the author of Hebrews told Israel) is that the sacrifice for our sins…was Christ and that offering was for ALL…so we don’t have to worry about ‘new sins’ and having a new sacrifice for those sins…brought over and over. This speaks volumes about people thinking they have to ask for forgiveness over and over again…does it not?
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
#1 The Blessing of Reconciliation – a change in status (2 Corinthians 5:18 & 19) #2 The Blessing of Redemption (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:17) #3 The Blessing of Propitiation (Romans 3:25; 1 Timothy 2:6) #4 The Forgiveness of ALL Sin ( Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 2:13) #5 The Blessing of Justification (Romans 3:24-30; 4:5, 25; 5:1:9; Titus 3:7) #6 The Blessing of Sanctification (set apartness) Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 5:30, 32 #7 Crucified With Christ (Galatians 2:20) #8 Died With Christ (Romans 6:8; 2 Timothy 2:11) #9 Quickened With Christ (Ephesians 2:1, 5, Colossians 2:13)
#10 Risen With Christ (Ephesians 2:6; Col2:12; 3:1) #11 Seated Together in The Heavenlies With Christ (2:6) #12 Joint heirs With Christ (8:17; Ephesians 3:6) #13 Indwelt By The Holy Spirit ( Romans 8:9) #14 Sealed By The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) #15 Recipients Of Spiritual Circumcision (Colossians 2:11 #16 We Are a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) #17 Called Saints (1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:18, 2:19; 4:12, 5:3) #18 Hidden With Christ in God. #19 Freedom From The Law (Romans 8:2)
#20 Freedom From Sin (Romans 6:18,22) #21 Delivered “From The Power Of Darkness (Colossians 1:13) #22 Children Of Light ( Ephesians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) #23 Freedom From God’s Condemnation (1 Thessalonians 5:9) #24 Predestined To Union (Ephesians 1:3-4) #25 Predestined to Glorification (Romans 8:29) #26 Predestined To Adoption (Ephesians 1:5) #27 Made Fit For The Inheritance of the Saints in Light (Complete in Him; Colossians 1:12) #28 In The Kingdom of The Son of His Love (Colossians 1:13)
#29 Citizens of Heaven (Phil 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:17) #30 Recipients of God’s Word (Ephesians 6:17; Colossians 1:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:13) #31 Subjects of Grace Dispensation (Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:25) #32 Recipients of The Mystery (Romans 11:25, 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:17; Ephesians 3:3, 9; Colossians 1:26, 2:2) #33 Vessels For Holy Spirit Fruit (Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9) #34 Led By The Spirit (Romans 8:14) #35 Equipped For Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6:13-19) #36 Recipients of Holy Spirit Intercession. (Romans 8:26-28) #37 Objects of His Love (Ephesians 2:4)
#38 Objects of His Grace (Every epistle of Paul) #39 Objects of His Power (Ephesians 1:18-20) #40 Objects of His Peace (Every epistle of Paul) #41 Objects of His Purpose (Ephesians 1:11, 3:11; 2 Timothy 1:9) #42 ETERNALLY SECURE (Romans 8:38-39) #43 God’s Eternal Exhibit (Ephesians 3:10) #44 Promised Reward (1 Corinthians 4:5) #45 Recipients of All Spiritual Blessings
*AGES TO COME (the future): Ephesians 2:7 (Hebrews thru Revelation). Also see "times past" and "but now".
*APOSTLE [apostolos]: A delegate/messenger/spokes man. The greek word "apostolos" was a military rank or title used to designate the commander-in-chief or admiral of the fleet. Paul is the apostle: commander-in-chief of and to the gentiles.
*BODY OF CHRIST: The one new man. The spiritual organism which is the church today. Had its beginning in Acts 9, when The Apostle Paul was saved (1 Timothy 1:16-17). Everyone who is saved is a member of the body of Christ. The second a lost person believes the Gospel of the grace of God, they're baptized BY the holy Spirit into the body of Christ; joined to and identified with the Saviour himself; his test scores (his righteousness, his faith) written on their paper. This baptism abolishes all national, social and sexual distinctions in Christ. Colossians 3:10-11.
*BUT NOW (the present: the dispensation of the grace of God): See Ephesians 2:13+. Acts 9 (Paul is saved on the road to Damascus) thru 28 & Romans thru Philemon. Also see "times past" and "ages to come".
*DISPENSATION [oikonomia]: Economy/administration/household/stewardship.
A God-revealed body of information and instructions given for man's obedience during a certain period of time.
*DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD/THE AGE OF GRACE: The dispensation we're living under right now. A mystery/secret/parenthetical. Revealed and given to the Apostle of and to the gentiles; Paul. Referred to as "but now" in Paul's epistles (Romans thru Philemon). God is not recognizing any nation above any other nation today. He's not dealing with A nation; Israel today, like he did in times past and will in the ages to come. God's focus today are individuals and forming the one new man, in Christ. Jew or Gentile, makes no difference! See "body of Christ".
*FAITH [pistis]: Taking God at his word. Taking your stand where God takes his stand. If you want to know that you have faith, simply take your stand where God takes his.
*GENTILE [ethnos]/THE UNCIRCUMCISION [akrobustia]: A non-jew. Also referred to as heathen, nations, the uncircumcision (unclean, unregenerated) and dogs. See "dispensation of the grace of God" and "body of Christ".
*GIFT [dōron]: Ephesians 2:8-9. A present; no strings attached. Unlike a reward, it isn't something you work for or something you deserve. In order to get a gift you have to receive/accept it. Salvation is the gift of God.
*GOSPEL [euaggelion]: Good message/news.
*GRACE [charis]: Unmerited favor. God doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. God giving us what we do not deserve; Saved from the death and penalty of our sins, rescued from our past condition of spiritual deadness, heaven +++
*JEW [Ioudaios]/THE CIRCUMCISION [peritomē]: Someone of hebrew/jewish origin. Also referred to as the circumcision (clean, regenerated). See “dispensation of the grace of God” and “body of Christ”.
*JUSTIFICATION [dikaiōma, dikaiōsis]/JUSTIFIED [dikaioō]: To render just or innocent. To declare righteous. See "righteousness/righteous"
*PAUL'S GOSPEL/THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST/THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD: The gospel for today. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, 1 Timothy 2:3-7, Ephesians 2:8-9. It's called Paul's Gospel because it was exclusively revealed and given to the Apostle Paul by the ascended, glorified Jesus Christ, as he spoke from heaven.
The Apostle Paul called it "my gospel" in Romans 2:16, 16:25 and 2 Timothy 2:8.
*RECONCILIATION [katallagē]: A change in status. Restoration to favor. Forgiveness. SON issue, not SIN issue! 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.
*RIGHTEOUSNESS [dikaiosunē]/RIGTHEOUS [dikaios]: Basically means the same thing as justification/justified. Innocent, holy, just, meet, right, equitable/equity. The saved are righteous in Christ, because they possess Jesus Christ’s righteousness; God's righteousness-the only righteousness God can recognize.
*RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH/RIGHT DIVISION: 2 Timothy 2:15. Distinguishing between what's written FOR us; for our learning, and what's written TO us: Separating Israel's mail (Genesis thru Acts 8 & Hebrews thru Revelation) from our mail (Acts 9-28 & Romans thru Philemon).
*SANCTIFICATION: Set apartness. The body of Christ.
*TIMES PAST (the past): Ephesians 2:11-12. Genesis (Abram/Abraham) thru Acts 8. Also see "but now" and "ages to come".
*WORD OF TRUTH: The gospel (Ephesians 1:12-14). There are several gospels, and doctrines associated with each gospel, in the Bible. The requirements for salvation and how God has dealt with man have changed throughout history. See "rightly dividing the word of truth/right division".
ROMANS thru PHILEMON 