Whereby When Ye Read, Ye May Understand My [Apostle Paul's] Knowledge in the Mystery of Christ - Part 1539

"My people perish for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) With this in mind, I thought there is no better time than now -- today -- to begin addressing some of the unfounded myths that circulate concerning the scriptures.

First and foremost, we need to recognize that the "New Testament" was written in Greek, not Hebrew. How did it come about? King James I and IV authorized the translators to translate the Greek into English without fear of death, as Foxes Book of Martyrs details about the lives of those who tried to do the same but suffered much at the hands of men.The rationale was so that every man could understand the scriptures for themselves -- which was prophesied afore -- when the Lord spoke His Word through the prophets. [As an aside, let me say that in memory of those slain for proclaiming the Word of God as truth, Foxes Book of Martyrs (which details many of the persecutions and untimely deaths of believers in Jesus by faith) was chained to church alters with the Word of God]

Second, the Leviticus law and commandments were given to the Jews/Israelites and not to the Gentiles, which is why Jesus summarized all of the old covenant law into two commandments on the new testament side. That is, "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is ONE Lord, [Thus, we are to] love the Lord with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength and [by extension of His love] love one another." (Mark 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 6:4; Hebrews 9:1-19)

Apostle Paul adds to this when he speaks specifically to the Gentiles who believe in Jesus by faith -- you and I who are not Jews -- "as touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication."  (Acts 15:19-20; Acts 21:25; I Corinthians 8:1-6) The reason Paul specifically writes to "the Gentiles who believe" is because until one believes in Jesus by faith, we are all under the law -- under sin. (Galatians 2:16, 21; Galatians 2:17-19; Ephesians 1: 3-14; Ephesians 2:7-22)

The Lord designed the mystery and doctrine of Christ that way to equalize everyone (i.e. there is now no difference between Jew or Gentile in this current dispensation of grace). But the law had to serve as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, because when we are honest, we recognize that we (in and of ourselves) could never live up to these commandments. Remember, Jesus said if one even looks at a woman, he has committed adultery, or if one has harboured hate for his brother in his heart, he has committed murder.

So the law was a shadow of good things to come -- the Lord of glory's last will and testament to His beloved creation. (Hebrews 10:1) But as the Holy Ghost signified, the way into the holiest of all could not be made manifest while the first tabernacle (the old covenant and its ordinances) was yet standing.

This is why it is written -- "For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgression that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance .... so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:15-28)

Jesus paid the ultimate price once and for all, enduring the cross and despising the shame so that we might know His love and kindness and mercy and peace which surpasses all human understanding. God became our Saviour. The Lord Himself came forth as a mighty man. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11; John 3:16; Titus 3:4-7; Isaiah 42:13)

And because God made us in His own image, He feels our infirmities. He feels our heartache and loss. He understands firsthand how we can never measure up to Him. Still, His love intervened, and He prepared Himself a body so that we can be redeemed because of the precious blood He shed on the cross. And, as such, He has a purpose for each and every one of us.

His love isn't the love of this world. How can I say this? Because every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and doesn't just privilege one segment of people over another. The rain falls on both those who are good and evil. He makes the sun shine forth, and the seasons to come regardless of whether we have made a decision to live for Him.

But God in the heavens did not stop there. Rather, after His kindness and love, God became our Saviour. Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. (James 1:17-18) The Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us -- God manifest in the flesh -- chose us in Him before the foundation of the world because He purposed in Himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ -- in whom also we have obtained an inheritance -- that we should become the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. (Ephesians 1:1 -23)

This is why those of us who live in this dispensation of grace are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God when we believe in Jesus (who is both Lord and Christ). He fulfilled the law that we could not ever achieve, and it was His precious blood shed on the cross, and His grace to us, that allows us to understand the mystery of Christ that was decided before the foundation of the world. Therein, lies our hope.

So having said all this, let me encourage one and all to study the New Testament for truth and taste and see that the Lord is good! Many blessings too. Stand in the offering plate.