Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

Israel’s Three Prophetic Baptisms #5

Saturday, July 14, 2012

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11 KJV).

Do we in the Dispensation of Grace have any relation to the three baptisms of today’s Scripture?

BAPTISM #1: WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism is perhaps the most controversial Bible topic (someone once aptly termed it “religious TNT!”). Christendom argues more about water baptism than anything else. For salvation, or for a testimony only? Sprinkling, pouring, or immersion? Adults only, or infants too? What type of water? Priest or preacher? What words should be said when its administered? How many times forward? Backward?

The above confusion regarding the doctrine of water baptism is immediately dispelled when we, “Study to shew [ourselves] approved unto God, [workmen] that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). When we study God’s Word dispensationally, we understand that all of the Bible is for us, but not all of the Bible is to us or about us.

We are the Church the Body of Christ, so we must be careful to never confuse ourselves with the nation Israel (which the professing “Church” has done for almost 2,000 years!). All this talk in religion about “following Jesus in believers’ water baptism” is predicated on the false presumption that Jesus was water baptized as our example. Actually, He was setting an example for Jews, His kingdom of priests, who needed the Old Testament priests’ ceremonial washing to enter His earthly kingdom (John 1:31).

Water baptism does not belong in our dispensation: Paul wrote, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel…” (1 Corinthians 1:17). There is “one baptism” for our Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 4:5). What is it? “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…” (1 Corinthians 12:13). When someone places his or her faith in Jesus Christ alone as personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit places that person into the Body of Christ. There is no water or preacher/priest involved in our baptism.

Israel’s Three Prophetic Baptisms #3

Thursday, July 12, 2012

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11 KJV).

Today’s Scripture demonstrates that, contrary to church tradition, “baptism” in the Bible does not always mean water baptism. We want to examine the three “baptisms” found in today’s Scripture. By searching God’s Word, we will discover precious truths that traditional Bible teaching overlooks.

BAPTISM #3: “He shall baptize you with fire.”

Read today’s Scripture with its context (John the Baptist is warning Israel’s unbelieving religious leaders): “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire… he [Jesus Christ] that cometh after me is mightier than I… he shall baptize you… with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (verses 10-12; cf. Luke 3:16,17).

Like John’s water baptism and Pentecost’s “Holy Ghost baptism,” this “fire baptism” was prophesied in the Old Testament. The LORD had told Israel through the prophet Joel (2:30,31) that after He would pour out His Spirit: “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come [Christ’s Second Coming].” This will be fulfilled during the seven-year Tribulation, culminating with Christ’s Second Coming to establish His kingdom (Matthew 24:29,30a; cf. Mark 13:24-26; Luke 21:25-27).

Why will Jesus Christ baptize Israel with fire? The context of today’s Scripture (verses 10-12) explains this “fire baptism” is God’s wrath: the fire at Christ’s Second Coming will purge out and remove from earth the unbelieving Jews in Israel (Zechariah 13:8,9; cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Consequently, only believing Jews will remain to ultimately enter Christ’s earthly kingdom (only saved Jews can be God’s priests).

Israel’s Three Prophetic Baptisms #2

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11 KJV).

Today’s Scripture demonstrates that, contrary to church tradition, “baptism” in the Bible does not always mean water baptism. We want to examine the three “baptisms” found in today’s Scripture. By searching God’s Word, we will discover precious truths that traditional Bible teaching overlooks.

BAPTISM #2: “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”

In the context of today’s Scripture, God the Father has sent John the Baptist to water baptize repentant Jews in the river Jordan (verses 1-6). When John sees many Pharisees and Sadducees (Israel’s religious leaders) coming to his baptism, he explains to them that he is baptizing with water, but Israel’s Messiah (Jesus) will later “baptize [Israel] with the Holy Ghost” (today’s Scripture; cf. Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33,34).

Like John’s water baptism, this “Holy Ghost baptism” was prophesied in the Old Testament. The LORD had told Israel through the prophet Joel (2:28,29): “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”

In Acts 1:5 Jesus reminded His Jewish disciples, “…Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” John the Baptist, Joel, and Jesus Christ are certainly speaking of the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2). In fact, the Apostle Peter tells Israel on the day of Pentecost that God pouring out His Holy Spirit on them and their speaking in tongues are the fulfillment of what Joel had spoken 800 years earlier (Acts 2:16-18 cf. Joel 2:28,29).

Why is God pouring out His Holy Spirit on Israel? He is preparing them for their kingdom, when His Holy Spirit will empower them to do His will in the earth (Luke 24:47-49)!

Is Mary the “Mother of the Church?”

Sunday, July 8, 2012

“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home” (John 19:26,27 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture teach that Mary, Jesus’ mother, is “the mother of the Church?”

Pagan goddess worship was commonplace in the Roman Empire when Christianity spread during the first centuries A.D. So, “Christian” leaders, hoping to attract heathen followers, slyly adopted pagan practices and teachings. One of these compromises was to give Mary, Jesus’ mother, unscriptural preeminence. Religion took humble Mary (Luke 1:46-55) and exalted her to a godless-like position (today, she is called “the queen of heaven,” the title belonging to a pagan goddess; Jeremiah 44:15-28).

Mary is not the mother of any church in Scripture, and certainly not the Church the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ did not exist until Acts chapter 9 (see 1 Timothy 1:15,16), about a year after today’s Scripture. (The “church” at the time of today’s Scripture was the Messianic Church, those Jews who trusted Jesus as Messiah; Matthew 16:16-19).

In today’s Scripture, notice that Jesus (now crucified) is speaking to one individual, not a group: Mary is not everyone’s “mother,” but a certain disciple’s (allegedly the Apostle John, “the apostle whom Jesus loved”). Notice “thy mother” uses the second-person singular pronoun; Jesus did not say “your mother” (the second-person plural “your” would indicate He is speaking to a group). Of course, you lose this in modern “bibles,” which replace “thy” with “your,” concealing God’s truth.

Joseph evidently died some time earlier. Jesus is Mary’s eldest son, but Jesus is dying. Mary needs a man to take care of her (in the ancient world, single women without a male authority would have no income, often being forced to become prostitutes). At this time, none of Jesus’ half-brothers or half-sisters are believers, so Jesus appoints a disciple (John?) to be Mary’s caretaker. How simple!

Friend, God Himself declares Mary is not our mother. That is pagan heresy and superstition, not Bible.

Jesus Christ: A Minister of the Circumcision #5

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” (Romans 15:8 KJV).

Jesus Christ “was (past tense) a minister of the circumcision [Israel].” Although His earthly ministry was limited to Jews, the context of today’s Scripture explains that God was concerned with saving Gentiles in Israel’s program. God did want Gentiles saved, in light of Israel being saved first.…

  • Romans 15:8 (today’s Scripture): Christ came to fulfill Israel’s Old Testament covenants, especially the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants. Why?
  • Romans 15:9: “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.” This quotes Psalm 18:49, where Israel confesses to God amongst the Gentiles (evangelizing Gentiles in her kingdom).
  • Romans 15:10: “And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.” This quotes Deuteronomy 32:43, another reference to Israel’s kingdom.
  • Romans 15:11: “And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.” Another reference to Israel’s kingdom (Psalm 117:1).
  • Romans 15:12: “And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust” (Isaiah 11:10). Isaiah chapter 11 describes Israel’s Messiah-King (Jesus) and His earthly kingdom!

Had Israel accepted Jesus as her promised Messiah-King, salvation would have gone to the Gentiles through Israel’s rise to kingdom glory (above verses). Sadly, Israel rejected Jesus Christ. Israel was uncooperative with God in evangelizing Gentiles, but God had a plan. In Acts chapter 9, God initiated our mystery program (Dispensation of Grace) to save Gentiles without Israel. “Through [Israel’s] fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles” (Romans 11:11): in our dispensation, the Apostle Paul, not every Jew, was sent to evangelize Gentiles (verse 13).

Once our dispensation closes (rapture), Israel’s prophetic kingdom program will resume. Then, Christ will establish Israel’s kingdom, and redeemed Israel will evangelize Gentiles (not us, but non-Jews outside of the Body of Christ).

Wow! The wisdom of God! 🙂

Jesus Christ: A Minister of the Circumcision #4

Monday, July 2, 2012

“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” (Romans 15:8 KJV).

Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was to Jews only, with two recorded Gentile exceptions (the Canaanite woman and the Roman centurion). As today’s Scripture indicates, Jesus was in accordance with and came to “confirm” “the promises made unto the fathers….”

In the Abrahamic Covenant (circa 2000 B.C.), God swore to Abram that He would make a nation (Israel) of his lineage, and that His salvation and blessings would go to the world (Gentiles) through Israel: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2,3; cf. Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:14).

According to the Davidic Covenant (circa 1000 B.C.), God promised King David that one of His descendants would rule Israel forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16; cf. Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:14,18,27; Luke 1:31-33). “Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me” (Psalm 89:35,36).

The covenants were given to Israel, not Gentiles, so Jesus Christ went to Israel. Christ Jesus came to fulfill Israel’s covenants (“confirm [fulfill] the promises [covenants] made unto the fathers [Israel’s patriarchs, especially Abraham and David]” of today’s Scripture). “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).

Here is God’s method of saving Gentiles in Israel’s prophetic (kingdom) program. Jesus Christ limited His earthly ministry to Israel because Jews were to be saved first by accepting Him as their Messiah-King. Then, He would establish His earthly kingdom, and redeemed Israel would evangelize the Gentiles (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8)! One day, Israel will be a “kingdom of priests” for that purpose (Exodus 19:5,6; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23).

Jesus Christ: A Minister of the Circumcision #3

Sunday, July 1, 2012

“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” (Romans 15:8 KJV).

Why was Christ’s earthly ministry limited to Israel? Today’s Scripture gives us the answer.

In John 4:22, Jesus explained to a (Gentile) Samaritan, “…For salvation is of the Jews.” The Bible says Jesus Christ came to Israel, to save them from their sins (Matthew 20:28; Luke 1:67-75; John 1:11; Acts 3:26). Jesus, in Matthew 15:24, bluntly declared: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But why? Why only Israel? Was Jesus unconcerned about Gentiles being saved? Why was God so focused on saving Israel during Christ’s earthly ministry? Rather than (blasphemously) accusing Jesus of “bigotry” and “racism”—as some foolishly and recklessly assert—we will approach the Bible from the dispensational standpoint, and what amazing clarity there is regarding this oftentimes-confused topic!

When God called Abram (Abraham) about 2000 B.C., He told him: “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2,3). God will bless the whole world through the nation He will make using Abraham, and this nation is Israel. This is the Abrahamic Covenant, which was in force until the middle part of the book of Acts.

Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 60:1-3,14, Isaiah 61:6, Micah 4:1-3, Zechariah 8:20-23, and others show that God will bless Gentiles through Israel: Israel will one day be a kingdom of priests, and Jews will evangelize the Gentiles (this is where Matthew 28:19,20 and Mark 16:15 belong: contrary to religious tradition, these verses do not belong to us). This was God’s plan in redeeming Israel first: this is why Jesus Christ was sent to Israel only. God would save Israel first, and then He would use redeemed Israel to reach Gentiles with the salvation He had given them first (still future).

Jesus Christ: A Minister of the Circumcision #2

Saturday, June 30, 2012

“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” (Romans 15:8 KJV).

The Scriptures explicitly demonstrate that Jesus Christ limited His earthly ministry to Jews (“the circumcision”).

When Jesus Christ chose and commissioned His twelve apostles, He strictly commanded them: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-7). (Most church members are never taught this simple fact of Scripture.)

In Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30, when a Canaanite (a Gentile / Greek Syrophenician) begged Jesus to heal her devil-possessed daughter, the Bible says, “he [Jesus] answered her not a word.” Jesus told His disciples, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). “But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s [Israel’s] bread, and to cast it to dogs [Gentiles]” (verse 26). Jesus reaffirmed that His ministry was to Israel, and He could not give to Gentiles what belonged to Israel (His miracles). This dear Gentile woman recognized Israel’s preeminence, so she agreed with Jesus: “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (verse 27). She recognized that Jesus was sent to Israel, not to Gentiles such as herself and us. Only because she had faith in that fact, Jesus healed her daughter (Matthew 15:28; Mark 7:29,30).

When a Roman centurion (Gentile soldier) sent Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal His dying servant, Jesus did (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). Why? In Luke 7:4,5, the Jews said, “That he was worthy for whom he should do this: for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.” Only because this Gentile blessed Israel, God blessed this Gentile (the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3).

Certain Greeks (Gentiles) desired to see Christ, but the Bible never records Him granting the meeting (John 12:20-22).

Could Scripture be any simpler? Christ’s earthly ministry was limited to Israel.

Jesus Christ: A Minister of the Circumcision #1

Friday, June 29, 2012

“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” (Romans 15:8 KJV).

Today’s Scripture clearly explains to whom Jesus ministered during His earthly ministry, but most of Christendom absolutely refuses to believe it.

Someone rightly stated that “Christianity” is merely “bastardized Judaism.” Today, what is called “Christianity” is actually Old Testament Judaism with “New Testament” verses tacked on. The root cause of the abounding doctrinal error and chaos in Christendom is a failure to believe today’s Scripture, and to practice dispensational Bible study, “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). All of the Bible is for us, but not all of the Bible is to us or about us.

The doctrine that God gave us through the Apostle Paul for this the Dispensation of Grace is almost totally ignored today. It was to Paul alone that God revealed our mystery program, the Church the Body of Christ and God’s purpose and plan for heaven (Ephesians 3:1-9). What has Christendom done? It has mostly ignored Paul’s epistles, preferring to steal the Bible verses—especially the Four Gospels—that God gave strictly to Israel. Israel’s doctrine does not belong in our dispensation, yet denominations continue to attempt to obey God’s will for Israel.

For the past 2,000 years, religious tradition has instructed us to obey what Jesus taught in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Entire denominations and churches are built and sustained by “naming and claiming” (actually “taking and faking”) the ceremonies, prayers, doctrines, and promises found in the Four Gospels.

In religion, “Follow Jesus” is a phrase mindlessly and faithlessly uttered. Repeating the so-called “Lord’s Prayer” is greatly emphasized, as is “following Jesus in ‘believer’s baptism’” and “claiming the Beatitudes.” No wonder people are so confused about the Bible! They are claiming verses that belong to a program God is not operating today, and when the verses do not work, the Bible is ridiculed.

Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, ministered only to Israel (the “circumcision”): He was not speaking to us Gentiles (today’s Scripture)!

When Israel’s God Will Come

Monday, June 25, 2012

“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:4-6 KJV).

Today’s Scripture has a two-fold application: the First and Second Comings of Christ.

According to the prophet Isaiah (preaching circa 700 B.C.), Israel’s God is coming:

  • Notice the first part of today’s Scripture: “[Israel]… Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” This is actually a reference to Christ’s Second Coming, when He utterly destroys His (and Israel’s) enemies with fire (Zechariah 14:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 19:11-21). The believing remnant in Israel will then be ushered into her 1,000-year earthly kingdom (Revelation 20:4).
  • The next portion of today’s Scripture was fulfilled 2,000 years ago, when Israel’s God came to her the first time: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (cf. Matthew 11:5,6; Matthew 15:30,31; et al.). Jesus performed these miracles to demonstrate the physical healing and deliverance from sin’s curse that will occur during that kingdom (Isaiah 33:24; Acts 2:22; cf. Hebrews 2:3-5).
  • The ending of today’s Scripture—“for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert”—is another reference to Christ’s Second Coming (see Zechariah 14:8-10, which refers to the earthly kingdom that Jesus Christ will establish).

Isaiah chapter 35 (which you should read in its entirety) discusses the prophecies when Israel’s God will come to her. In hindsight, we see that God was actually referring to two separate events, nearly 2,000 years apart. Israel’s God came… and He will come again!