What Shall I Do - Part Fifteen Feb 19, 2023 by: John Herbert | Series: What Shall I Do... Audio Study Notes PDF Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Mt 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. We shall continue to look at the opposing outcomes for the eternally saved, based on their choices. The full text of this message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday February 19th 2023 What Shall I Do…….. Part 15 1). Nu 14:1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” We had seen last time that there were three occasions in Jewish History where the nation rejected God’s purpose for them with respect to the Seventh Day, and in so doing, they had kept themselves within the jurisdiction of Satan’s kingdom. They did not complete the separation given through the command to Abraham, ‘Get out from your country, your family and your father’s house’. And the first of these three occasions of rejection we had seen was at Kadesh Barnea, following the first generation’s deliverance from Egypt and God’s leading to the borders of the land of promise. a). The Jews rejection of God’s purpose for them with respect to the Seventh Day, was repeated again by the generation of eternally saved Jews alive at the Lord’s first advent. A rejection that came after the nation had been dispersed among the Gentile nations to bring them to repentance, through and following the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, after the completion of the OT Scriptures which they possessed, Scriptures taught by their religious leaders every week – Mt 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Despite having the OT Scriptures, which they searched, in bodily form in their midst, the very One that Moses had written about, this generation rejected both their King and the Kingdom He had come to offer and pledged their allegiance to a pagan ruler within Satan’s kingdom instead Jn 19:15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” 16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. And this same rejection was witnessed a second time for this same generation at the end of Acts Chapter 28, after the Lord’s resurrection, and the re-offer of the Kingdom of the heavens to them by the Church. A national rejection exemplified in Paul’s use of the words of Isaiah the Prophet to describe the state of the Jewish nation at this time – Acts 28:25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” The words from Isaiah Chapter 6 spoken by Paul to the Jews in Rome at the end of the Book of Acts, are the same words from Isaiah spoken by the Lord to His disciples to explain His use of parables to the Jews in Matthew Chapter 13, after He had left the house. These words from Isaiah were spoken to the nation, by the Lord, on the same day that the offer of the Kingdom of the Heavens was effectively withdrawn from Israel, prior to the Lord’s crucifixion, as a result of the nation’s continual rejection of the message and the Messenger, brought to an apex through the events recorded in Matthew Chapter 12. And to this we can add what amounts to the Lord’s own commentary on Isaiah – Jn 5:37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have [age lasting life] eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life [for the age]. 41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” And the words from Isaiah, as used in Matthew Chapter 13 and Acts Chapter 28, along with the Lord’s commentary in John Chapter 5, provide a summary statement for the reason why national Israel came to a point of no return through their unbelief, firstly at Kadesh Barnea, then at the Lord’s first advent, and again following His resurrection and ascension; a terminal point from which they could not come back because there could be no change of mind on God’s part with respect to what they had done – Mt 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. And let’s note the specific timeframe given in v32 as it applies equally to the generation at Kadesh Barnea as well as the generation, alive, both before and after the Lord’s resurrection and ascension. There can be no forgiveness for the rejection of God’s purpose for them for the Seventh Day, in this age, nor forgiveness for this same rejection in the age to come, the Millennial Kingdom, because of the severity of this type of unbelief. What these Jews had rejected was not only God’s purpose for them with respect to the Seventh Day, but also a rejection of the purpose for their eternal salvation, the purpose for their creation in Jacob, and in effect, rejection of God’s purpose for restoring the earth and creating Man. All expressed through their rejection of the land of their inheritance, an earthly land for the first generation, and a heavenly land for the generation either side of the Lord’s resurrection. b). It is the rejection of God’s clearly stated purpose, encapsulated in the Seventh Day, the Day which is the subject of His written revelation to Man, the Day that His Son was begotten for, that God will not tolerate. Hence the point of no return. 2). Let’s stir ourselves up by way of reminder – Acts 16:30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Through receiving the free gift of eternal life, Christians have been separated from their slavery to sin and separated from their bondage to Satan’s kingdom, pictured through the type of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt – 2 Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. As Christians receive their eternal redemption, so they become ‘a new creation’ in Christ. And to understand the significance of being a new creation, let’s remember that Adam was a new creation for the purpose of rulership in the Seventh Day; Israel was a new creation in Jacob also for the purpose of rulership in the Seventh Day, and Christians are a new creation in Christ for the exact same purpose. And as a new creation, with a positional standing ‘in Christ’, Christians have been called out from the Gentile nation under Satan into which they were born and called out from the present system of rulership of which that nation is a part. Hence, they are ‘the church’ those who are called out – Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13 describes the Christians present position. Christians may still live physically in the Gentile nation within the world system under Satan into which they were born, but there is now to be a change in their allegiance. Like the OT saints in Hebrews Chapter 11, they must confess that they are ‘strangers and pilgrims on the earth’, sojourners seeking a homeland. And just like Abraham, they are to get out from their country, their family and their father’s house in a figurative way, to go to the land that God has promised them. a). And as with national Israel, God has provided everything necessary for Christians to complete their separation from Satan’s kingdom by providing the spiritual food necessary to finish their journey. And just like national Israel and the land of promise, so Christians have been called to receive the Kingdom of the heavens as their inheritance – Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, Mt 21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And in order to receive this promised inheritance, Christians must separate themselves from that which is encompassed in what Scripture calls ‘the world and the things in the world’, to separate themselves from the old man, a separation pictured through the metaphor of the three days’ journey. And this God has made possible through the provision of the wisdom brought forth from above, the Word of Truth – Jn 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. And the wisdom brought forth from above that provides for our separation, our sanctification, has also made possible our transformation, the metamorphosis, that which takes place through the continual process of the renewing of our mind in ‘epignosis’ knowledge – Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in [epignosis] knowledge according to the image of Him who created him……. 2 Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, [Lit. God breathed] and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. And a simple definition for the word ‘epignosis’ would be knowledge upon knowledge, a mature knowledge then; the type of knowledge described figuratively by the phrase ‘solid food’, literally ‘strong meat’ in Hebrews Chapter 5 – Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food [strong meat]. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food [strong meat] belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [those who have been sanctified by the Word of Truth] And contextually, the strong meat referenced in Hebrews Chapter 5 concerns Christ and the Melchizedek priesthood – Heb 5:5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” 6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”…… And the Melchizedek priesthood has to do with God’s purpose for His three firstborn Sons in the Seventh Day. And those who will have a part in that Day will understand all that is contained in the type of Abraham’s meeting with Melchizedek recorded in Genesis Chapter 14. These will be those who eat the strong meat. b). It is the message encompassing God’s purpose for the Seventh Day that the Lord has called ‘the Word of the Kingdom’ in Matthew Chapter 13 and is the subject of the gospel given to Paul to take to the Gentiles, called ‘the gospel of the glory of Christ’ in 2 Corinthians Chapter 4. It is a message that is exclusively for the eternally saved, through which they are to hear, and to exercise faith in, that which God is offering to them, positions of rulership with Christ on His throne as a joint heir during the age to come, the Seventh Day. To have faith with respect to the purpose for their eternal salvation – Re 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ” It is rulership as a joint heir with the King of kings and the Lord of lords, that is the content of the great and precious promises made to all Christians, which will be realized by those from Christ’s body, who will be overcomers, as seen in Revelation Chapters 2-3. This great prize remains on offer to those Christians who are presently in the process of overcoming and it will be theirs if they remain immovable and steadfast to the end – Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. It is this same ‘good news’ concerning God’s purpose for Man in the Seventh Day that had also been given to His adopted firstborn son, Israel Heb 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. The gospel that the writer of Hebrews says, ‘was preached to us as well as to them’, is the same gospel, the same good news concerning Christ coming in His glory, that was preached to the Christians in Rome – Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. The gospel of Christ, not the gospel of grace, preached to the Christians in Rome, had been ‘mixed with faith’ by some - Ro 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. But it had not been mixed with faith by others - Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. Romans 1:18-32 are the verses that deal with these unrighteous Christians. And let’s note something specific about them - Ro 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge [epignosis]……….32 who, knowing [epiginosko] the righteous judgment of God……. [noun and verb form of ‘epignosis’] These Christians in Rome had an ‘epignosis’ knowledge of the gospel of the glory of Christ, they had partaken of the ‘strong meat’ concerning Christ and the Melchizedek priesthood in the Seventh Day. These were not babes, but those who had been trained in righteousness. They understood what was being offered to them with respect to Christ’s Kingdom in the Seventh Day and the salvation of their souls at Christ’s Judgment Seat. They would have been counted as ‘holy brethren’ and were partakers of the heavenly calling and the land of their calling lay before them, the land upon which their attention was to be fixed. c). And that which is at the heart of the matter, with regards to those Christians who are commended in Romans Chapter 1, and those Christians who will experience the fullness of God’s wrath is ‘the faith’ – Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” The end of v17 marks the difference between the faithful and the unfaithful Christian and is taken from Habakkuk – Hab 2:4b… But the just shall live by his faith. And it is this same quotation taken from Habakkuk that is found in Hebrews Chapter 10, just a few verses after the announcement of the willful sin – Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge [epignosis] of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries……………… 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe [have faith] to the saving of the soul. These verses are obviously directed to Christians, but what we see in v26-27, could also describe what we have witnessed with respect to the first generation of Israel at Kadesh Barnea, as well as the generation alive at the Lord’s first advent, both before and following His resurrection. All had heard an ‘epignosis’ knowledge of the truth concerning God’s purpose for the Seventh Day but had rejected that truth to embrace the lie instead, ultimately finding themselves at that terminal point from which there was no return. d). And perhaps needless to say, there is a chilling parallel between these two particular generations of Jews and the unfaithful Christians seen in the second half of Romans Chapter 1 - Ro 1:24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness……….26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions……………….28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge [epignosis], God gave them over to a debased mind…….. We have seen in previous weeks, that there were three occasions recorded in the Book of Acts when God gave the Jewish people over to the consequences of their unbelief. Three occasions, so to speak, when He removed His hands from them and ‘gave them up’ to continue to do what was right in their own eyes and follow the path this would take them on. And we have also seen that there were three recorded occasions, where as a result of their unbelief, two particular generations of Jews, reached a terminal point from which there was no return. And here in Romans we find three parallel statements to those seen with respect to the Jews, when God removed His hand from unbelieving Christians to ‘give them up’ to what seemed right in their own eyes, to follow their own path. And the three statements found in Romans all involve Christians being given up to sexual immorality. The same thing of which Israel is guilty through the nations’ continual involvement with the Gentile nations in the kingdom of Satan – 2 Co 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. That seen in the second half of Romans Chapter 1, is an action on God’s part, that speaks of these Christians having reached the same terminal point of no return typified in the generation at Kadesh Barnea and typified in the generation alive at the Lord’s first advent. The same point of no return we have seen through the writer of Hebrews, in Hebrews Chapter 10. 3). Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. When we look at those Christians seen in Romans Chapter 1, we will realize that through the use of ‘the faith and ‘epignosis’ knowledge in connection with them, that they had left the elementary principles of Christ and gone on to a mature understanding of God’s purpose for the age to come. a). And the two opposing experiences for these Christians written about in Romans Chapter 1, can be seen figuratively in Hebrews 6:7-8, let’s look at those verses again – Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. We see here the same earth that drinks in the rain that often comes upon it. And having received this rain, the earth can then produce one of two things. It can produce ‘herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated’, fruit production associated with blessing from God, or it can produce ‘thorns and briars.’ And if it should produce the latter, then it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. b). The rain provides a metaphor for the Word of Truth, the gospel of the glory of Christ. The same gospel that ‘was preached to us as well as to them’. And what is clearly seen in Hebrews 6:7-8, which we will own for ourselves, is that we all hear the same Word of Truth, we are all fed the same strong meat, the epignosis knowledge which is brought forth from the wisdom above. And as we receive this Word, one of two things will happen. We will continue with this next time though, if we remain and the Lord is willing, and we have prayed. What Shall I Do - Part Fifteen Feb 19, 2023 Speaker: John Herbert Series: What Shall I Do... Category: Sunday Morning Download Audio x
Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Mt 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. We shall continue to look at the opposing outcomes for the eternally saved, based on their choices. The full text of this message can be found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday February 19th 2023 What Shall I Do…….. Part 15 1). Nu 14:1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.” We had seen last time that there were three occasions in Jewish History where the nation rejected God’s purpose for them with respect to the Seventh Day, and in so doing, they had kept themselves within the jurisdiction of Satan’s kingdom. They did not complete the separation given through the command to Abraham, ‘Get out from your country, your family and your father’s house’. And the first of these three occasions of rejection we had seen was at Kadesh Barnea, following the first generation’s deliverance from Egypt and God’s leading to the borders of the land of promise. a). The Jews rejection of God’s purpose for them with respect to the Seventh Day, was repeated again by the generation of eternally saved Jews alive at the Lord’s first advent. A rejection that came after the nation had been dispersed among the Gentile nations to bring them to repentance, through and following the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, after the completion of the OT Scriptures which they possessed, Scriptures taught by their religious leaders every week – Mt 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Despite having the OT Scriptures, which they searched, in bodily form in their midst, the very One that Moses had written about, this generation rejected both their King and the Kingdom He had come to offer and pledged their allegiance to a pagan ruler within Satan’s kingdom instead Jn 19:15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” 16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. And this same rejection was witnessed a second time for this same generation at the end of Acts Chapter 28, after the Lord’s resurrection, and the re-offer of the Kingdom of the heavens to them by the Church. A national rejection exemplified in Paul’s use of the words of Isaiah the Prophet to describe the state of the Jewish nation at this time – Acts 28:25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” The words from Isaiah Chapter 6 spoken by Paul to the Jews in Rome at the end of the Book of Acts, are the same words from Isaiah spoken by the Lord to His disciples to explain His use of parables to the Jews in Matthew Chapter 13, after He had left the house. These words from Isaiah were spoken to the nation, by the Lord, on the same day that the offer of the Kingdom of the Heavens was effectively withdrawn from Israel, prior to the Lord’s crucifixion, as a result of the nation’s continual rejection of the message and the Messenger, brought to an apex through the events recorded in Matthew Chapter 12. And to this we can add what amounts to the Lord’s own commentary on Isaiah – Jn 5:37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have [age lasting life] eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life [for the age]. 41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” And the words from Isaiah, as used in Matthew Chapter 13 and Acts Chapter 28, along with the Lord’s commentary in John Chapter 5, provide a summary statement for the reason why national Israel came to a point of no return through their unbelief, firstly at Kadesh Barnea, then at the Lord’s first advent, and again following His resurrection and ascension; a terminal point from which they could not come back because there could be no change of mind on God’s part with respect to what they had done – Mt 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. And let’s note the specific timeframe given in v32 as it applies equally to the generation at Kadesh Barnea as well as the generation, alive, both before and after the Lord’s resurrection and ascension. There can be no forgiveness for the rejection of God’s purpose for them for the Seventh Day, in this age, nor forgiveness for this same rejection in the age to come, the Millennial Kingdom, because of the severity of this type of unbelief. What these Jews had rejected was not only God’s purpose for them with respect to the Seventh Day, but also a rejection of the purpose for their eternal salvation, the purpose for their creation in Jacob, and in effect, rejection of God’s purpose for restoring the earth and creating Man. All expressed through their rejection of the land of their inheritance, an earthly land for the first generation, and a heavenly land for the generation either side of the Lord’s resurrection. b). It is the rejection of God’s clearly stated purpose, encapsulated in the Seventh Day, the Day which is the subject of His written revelation to Man, the Day that His Son was begotten for, that God will not tolerate. Hence the point of no return. 2). Let’s stir ourselves up by way of reminder – Acts 16:30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Through receiving the free gift of eternal life, Christians have been separated from their slavery to sin and separated from their bondage to Satan’s kingdom, pictured through the type of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt – 2 Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. As Christians receive their eternal redemption, so they become ‘a new creation’ in Christ. And to understand the significance of being a new creation, let’s remember that Adam was a new creation for the purpose of rulership in the Seventh Day; Israel was a new creation in Jacob also for the purpose of rulership in the Seventh Day, and Christians are a new creation in Christ for the exact same purpose. And as a new creation, with a positional standing ‘in Christ’, Christians have been called out from the Gentile nation under Satan into which they were born and called out from the present system of rulership of which that nation is a part. Hence, they are ‘the church’ those who are called out – Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13 describes the Christians present position. Christians may still live physically in the Gentile nation within the world system under Satan into which they were born, but there is now to be a change in their allegiance. Like the OT saints in Hebrews Chapter 11, they must confess that they are ‘strangers and pilgrims on the earth’, sojourners seeking a homeland. And just like Abraham, they are to get out from their country, their family and their father’s house in a figurative way, to go to the land that God has promised them. a). And as with national Israel, God has provided everything necessary for Christians to complete their separation from Satan’s kingdom by providing the spiritual food necessary to finish their journey. And just like national Israel and the land of promise, so Christians have been called to receive the Kingdom of the heavens as their inheritance – Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, Mt 21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And in order to receive this promised inheritance, Christians must separate themselves from that which is encompassed in what Scripture calls ‘the world and the things in the world’, to separate themselves from the old man, a separation pictured through the metaphor of the three days’ journey. And this God has made possible through the provision of the wisdom brought forth from above, the Word of Truth – Jn 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. And the wisdom brought forth from above that provides for our separation, our sanctification, has also made possible our transformation, the metamorphosis, that which takes place through the continual process of the renewing of our mind in ‘epignosis’ knowledge – Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in [epignosis] knowledge according to the image of Him who created him……. 2 Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, [Lit. God breathed] and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. And a simple definition for the word ‘epignosis’ would be knowledge upon knowledge, a mature knowledge then; the type of knowledge described figuratively by the phrase ‘solid food’, literally ‘strong meat’ in Hebrews Chapter 5 – Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food [strong meat]. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food [strong meat] belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [those who have been sanctified by the Word of Truth] And contextually, the strong meat referenced in Hebrews Chapter 5 concerns Christ and the Melchizedek priesthood – Heb 5:5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” 6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”…… And the Melchizedek priesthood has to do with God’s purpose for His three firstborn Sons in the Seventh Day. And those who will have a part in that Day will understand all that is contained in the type of Abraham’s meeting with Melchizedek recorded in Genesis Chapter 14. These will be those who eat the strong meat. b). It is the message encompassing God’s purpose for the Seventh Day that the Lord has called ‘the Word of the Kingdom’ in Matthew Chapter 13 and is the subject of the gospel given to Paul to take to the Gentiles, called ‘the gospel of the glory of Christ’ in 2 Corinthians Chapter 4. It is a message that is exclusively for the eternally saved, through which they are to hear, and to exercise faith in, that which God is offering to them, positions of rulership with Christ on His throne as a joint heir during the age to come, the Seventh Day. To have faith with respect to the purpose for their eternal salvation – Re 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ” It is rulership as a joint heir with the King of kings and the Lord of lords, that is the content of the great and precious promises made to all Christians, which will be realized by those from Christ’s body, who will be overcomers, as seen in Revelation Chapters 2-3. This great prize remains on offer to those Christians who are presently in the process of overcoming and it will be theirs if they remain immovable and steadfast to the end – Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. It is this same ‘good news’ concerning God’s purpose for Man in the Seventh Day that had also been given to His adopted firstborn son, Israel Heb 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. The gospel that the writer of Hebrews says, ‘was preached to us as well as to them’, is the same gospel, the same good news concerning Christ coming in His glory, that was preached to the Christians in Rome – Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. The gospel of Christ, not the gospel of grace, preached to the Christians in Rome, had been ‘mixed with faith’ by some - Ro 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. But it had not been mixed with faith by others - Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. Romans 1:18-32 are the verses that deal with these unrighteous Christians. And let’s note something specific about them - Ro 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge [epignosis]……….32 who, knowing [epiginosko] the righteous judgment of God……. [noun and verb form of ‘epignosis’] These Christians in Rome had an ‘epignosis’ knowledge of the gospel of the glory of Christ, they had partaken of the ‘strong meat’ concerning Christ and the Melchizedek priesthood in the Seventh Day. These were not babes, but those who had been trained in righteousness. They understood what was being offered to them with respect to Christ’s Kingdom in the Seventh Day and the salvation of their souls at Christ’s Judgment Seat. They would have been counted as ‘holy brethren’ and were partakers of the heavenly calling and the land of their calling lay before them, the land upon which their attention was to be fixed. c). And that which is at the heart of the matter, with regards to those Christians who are commended in Romans Chapter 1, and those Christians who will experience the fullness of God’s wrath is ‘the faith’ – Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” The end of v17 marks the difference between the faithful and the unfaithful Christian and is taken from Habakkuk – Hab 2:4b… But the just shall live by his faith. And it is this same quotation taken from Habakkuk that is found in Hebrews Chapter 10, just a few verses after the announcement of the willful sin – Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge [epignosis] of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries……………… 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe [have faith] to the saving of the soul. These verses are obviously directed to Christians, but what we see in v26-27, could also describe what we have witnessed with respect to the first generation of Israel at Kadesh Barnea, as well as the generation alive at the Lord’s first advent, both before and following His resurrection. All had heard an ‘epignosis’ knowledge of the truth concerning God’s purpose for the Seventh Day but had rejected that truth to embrace the lie instead, ultimately finding themselves at that terminal point from which there was no return. d). And perhaps needless to say, there is a chilling parallel between these two particular generations of Jews and the unfaithful Christians seen in the second half of Romans Chapter 1 - Ro 1:24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness……….26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions……………….28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge [epignosis], God gave them over to a debased mind…….. We have seen in previous weeks, that there were three occasions recorded in the Book of Acts when God gave the Jewish people over to the consequences of their unbelief. Three occasions, so to speak, when He removed His hands from them and ‘gave them up’ to continue to do what was right in their own eyes and follow the path this would take them on. And we have also seen that there were three recorded occasions, where as a result of their unbelief, two particular generations of Jews, reached a terminal point from which there was no return. And here in Romans we find three parallel statements to those seen with respect to the Jews, when God removed His hand from unbelieving Christians to ‘give them up’ to what seemed right in their own eyes, to follow their own path. And the three statements found in Romans all involve Christians being given up to sexual immorality. The same thing of which Israel is guilty through the nations’ continual involvement with the Gentile nations in the kingdom of Satan – 2 Co 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. That seen in the second half of Romans Chapter 1, is an action on God’s part, that speaks of these Christians having reached the same terminal point of no return typified in the generation at Kadesh Barnea and typified in the generation alive at the Lord’s first advent. The same point of no return we have seen through the writer of Hebrews, in Hebrews Chapter 10. 3). Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. When we look at those Christians seen in Romans Chapter 1, we will realize that through the use of ‘the faith and ‘epignosis’ knowledge in connection with them, that they had left the elementary principles of Christ and gone on to a mature understanding of God’s purpose for the age to come. a). And the two opposing experiences for these Christians written about in Romans Chapter 1, can be seen figuratively in Hebrews 6:7-8, let’s look at those verses again – Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. We see here the same earth that drinks in the rain that often comes upon it. And having received this rain, the earth can then produce one of two things. It can produce ‘herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated’, fruit production associated with blessing from God, or it can produce ‘thorns and briars.’ And if it should produce the latter, then it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. b). The rain provides a metaphor for the Word of Truth, the gospel of the glory of Christ. The same gospel that ‘was preached to us as well as to them’. And what is clearly seen in Hebrews 6:7-8, which we will own for ourselves, is that we all hear the same Word of Truth, we are all fed the same strong meat, the epignosis knowledge which is brought forth from the wisdom above. And as we receive this Word, one of two things will happen. We will continue with this next time though, if we remain and the Lord is willing, and we have prayed.
