Cardinal Doctrines of a New Testament Church by Joseph F. Roberts, ThD, PhD - HTML preview

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Was it because Trophimus did not have the faith? No.

Trophimus was already a believer, a fellow missionary worker with Paul. He did not need a miracle to prove to him that Jesus was divine. Of this II Timothy 4:20 reads:

Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at

Miletum sick. Paul and Trophimus learned that Christian patience could be gained through suffering and tribulation.

Timothy was a missionary companion of Paul.

Timothy was weakened by a stomach trouble. Why did not Paul “lay hands on him” that he might recover? I Timothy 5:23 reads: Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for

they stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities. This is a medical prescription advised by Paul and is not a justifiable ground on which any person can promiscuously take a drink of liquor or wine.

Epaphroditus, another helper of Paul, “was sick nigh unto death,” but Paul did not heal him. Epaphroditus was already a believer (Philippians 2:25-27).

Philippians 2:25-27: 25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send

to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in

labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that

ministered to my wants. 26 For he longed after you all,

and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that

he had been sick. 27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto

death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only,

but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Can People Have Enough Faith for God to Heal Today?

No person can any more have “faith enough” to heal today than he can “have faith enough” to write a new book in the Bible that the Lord would accept. No person can any more have “faith enough” to be able to heal today as in apostolic times, than he can have “faith enough” today to write a new set of “Ten Commandments” that would be acceptable to the Lord. Just as the Lord gave the Law of Moses and the Ten Commandments, as a rule by which Israel was to be guided until Jesus came, after which it was to be abolished as a special guide; even so the gift of miracles was given as a special gift to the believers in our Lord’s day, in apostolic times, and was ordained to last for a limited time. The days of limitation were until the Bible was completed.

If one today had all the faith of all the prophets of God in the Old Testament, and all the faith of the apostles of the New Testament, he still could not work a miracle for the Lord today. The reason is, faith never worked a miracle. It takes power to work a miracle. And while it is true that the gift of miracles was given to those of great faith, it was in an age when God was giving spiritual gifts as credentials to His divinity, until the Bible should be finished, and it does not apply to this day.

Those who had the power to work miracles did not turn any needy person from them with the excuse, “you do not have the faith.” With faith or no faith they healed the needy who 68

came to them, never sent one unsaved away unhealed from any of their services, so far as the Bible records. That our Lord did not require the individual to have faith in order to be healed is evident, even though He often commended their faith. How much faith did the blind man have when he was healed, who did not even know at the time Jesus was the Son of God (John 9:36)? How much faith did Lazarus, the widow’s son of Nain, and Jairus’ dead daughter have, in order to be made whole?

John 9:36: He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I

might believe on him?

Matthew 9:27-29: 27 And when Jesus departed thence, two

blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of

David, have mercy on us. 28 And when he was come into

the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto

them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto

him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying,

According to your faith be it unto you.

Acts 14:8-10: 8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra,

impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's

womb, who never had walked: 9 The same heard Paul

speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that

he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand

upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

How Long Were New Testament Miracles to

Continue?

Micah, the only Old Testament prophet who prophesied of the very birthplace of our Lord (Micah 5:2) is also the only prophet who told the exact number of years miracles should last in the New Testament days, to attest the deity and ministry of Christ, through His church.

Micah 5:2: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be

little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall

he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose

goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Micah 7:15: According to the days of thy coming out of the

land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.

To the casual reader this statement seems incidental. But it is neither incidental nor accidental. It is a forceful providential pinpoint of time concerning which miracles should be the chief attestation of our Lord’s divinity. This prophecy concerning the “him” to whom “marvellous things” (or miraculous things) were to be shown or demonstrated, is no less important today than the very place of our Lord’s birth, was important in fulfilling the prophecy of Micah. Just as the children of Israel were forty years in coming out of Egypt into the Land of Canaan, it is to be understood that Micah prophesied there should be miraculous attestations to the divinity, that were to be shown (visibly demonstrated) for a period of forty years.

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, A.D. 30, John 2:11. Add forty years to this, in agreement with Micah’s prophecy, and one has the year A.D. 70, at which time the special gifts (spiritual gifts) all ceased, except faith, hope, and charity, I Corinthians 13:13. It was in this year A.D. 70, that Titus of Thespasia led his soldiers to the destruction of Jerusalem and utter destruction of the Temple of Hebrew worship, which has never been restored.

Our Lord prophesied of this destruction, exactly thirty-seven years before the event, A.D. 33. It happened as He predicted, Matthew 24:2, and in the very year that the special spiritual gifts also ceased.

Matthew 24:2: And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all

these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left

here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown

down.

It is generally believed that those who had received these special gifts retained them until their death. For instance, 70

John, who wrote the book of Revelation, had the gift of inspiration, and he wrote the book of Revelation about A.D.

96, evidently retaining the gift until his death, or until the last book of the Bible was finished.

I Corinthians 12:1 reads: Now concerning spiritual gifts,

brethren, I would not have you ignorant (unenlightened).

There then follows a three-chapter explanation of the different spiritual gifts, their purpose, and how long they were to last. All gifts came of the one Spirit, I Corinthians 12:4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Nine particular gifts are mentioned, verses 8-10. 8 For to

one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another

the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another

faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by

the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to

another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to

another divers kinds of tongues; to another the

interpretation of tongues: All these gifts were given for the edifying and advancement of the church’s growth and influence. The order in which Christ began to give these gifts, which number increased until the close of Pentecost, is recorded, I Corinthians 12:28, which reads:

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,

secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles,

then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of

tongues.

Chapter twelve concludes with an admonition to something better. Then chapter thirteen introduces the gift of charity (love), verses 1-7. 1 Though I speak with the tongues of

men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as

sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have

the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all

knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could

remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and

though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity,

it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is

kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not

puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not

her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,

endureth all things. Verse 8 then states that prophecy (the gift of prophecy) should one day fail, that tongues (the gift of tongues) should one day cease, and knowledge (the gift of knowledge) should one day vanish away. The time when such should occur, Paul asserts, should be when “that which is perfect is come.” Paul knew the part of the will of God by inspiration and part of it by study, but he longed for the time when he could know the entire will of God (by reading the Bible) as he was known. And Paul submitted that when the

“that which was perfect was come” (the Bible was completed) then these gifts should be taken away.

He then concluded, “And now (Greek, ‘nun,’ now and henceforth) abideth faith, hope, charity, these three (spiritual gifts); but the greatest of these is charity” (I Corinthians 13:13). If there had been the gift of tongues left that would have made four, the gift of healing would have made five, or the gift of miracles would have made six, or the gift of inspiration would have made seven, etc. But the Bible affirms that when the perfect law of liberty was completed, men came to the “measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ,” there should then and thereafter remain only three spiritual gifts, James 1:25; 2:12; Ephesians 4:10-14.

James 1:25: But whoso looketh into the perfect law of

liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful

hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in

his deed.

James 2:12: So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be

judged by the law of liberty.

Ephesians 4:10-14: 10 He that descended is the same also

that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill

all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,

prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and

teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work

of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the

knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the

measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we

henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and

carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of

men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to

deceive;

Why Should One Pray for the Sick?

Some ask, “If the days of miracles are over, why should people pray for the sick? Do you not believe in divine healing?” The answer is, men should pray for the sick because the Lord commands it, but they should also send for the doctor, for the Lord also sanctions this. The Lord heals today, and all His healing is divine healing. He is the same

“yesterday, today and forever.” But this does not mean that He does or has His will done exactly the same way in every age. He changes not, but He does change His ways of dealing with men.

God is the same in nature, attributes, holiness of character, and purpose for the ages that He has always been, but He is not making new worlds every day, speaking audibly from heaven every year, or sending Jesus into the world to die again every year. He deals with people of different ages in different manners.

The Old Testament taught the need of medicine and the use of medical means as a God-ordained means of healing. In like manner so does the New Testament teach for people of this age, when the gift of miraculous healings has ceased in 73

the purpose and ordination of God. Examine the following Scriptures:

II Kings 20:7-9: Means of healing Hezekiah (divine healing). 7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they

took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 8 And

Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the

LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house

of the LORD the third day? 9 And Isaiah said, This sign

shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the

thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten

degrees, or go back ten degrees?

Proverbs 17:22: Solomon’s testimony that medicine does good. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a

broken spirit drieth the bones.

Matthew 9:12: Jesus affirmed the sick need a physician. But

when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be

whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

James 5:14: James advised the use of medicine (oils were used both for internal and external purposes as the main medicine). Is any sick among you? let him call for the

elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing

him with oil in the name of the Lord:

III.

CAN THE DEVIL EMPOWER MEN TO WORK

MIRACLES?

That only our Lord can or does do divine healing today and that such is generally done by means (never instantaneous acts of men) is evident form the Scriptures. One should pray for the sick, then send for the doctor, just as he prays, “Give us our daily bread,” then used the job the Lord gives him to get his bread. The same God who instructs men to pray for the sick also instructs them to pray for bread and expects them to use every means at hand to get their bread, then he will divinely bless those means and give them healing of 74

sickness and bread for food, but not by miraculous rain of manna from heaven or laying on of hands.

The Devil can empower men to perform miracles. The miracles are inferior to the miracles of our Lord, just as counterfeit money is inferior to standard money. Yet, the Devil is a fake, in essence of nature. The Devil has had false prophets, apostles, very religious fellows, in most every age.

One of the chief claims of these false religionists, preachers of the Devil, is their claim of power to work miracles.

Pharaoh’s “magicians” (sorcerers), practitioners of witchcraft, necromancy, and legerdemain [sleight of hand], duplicated the miracles of Moses and Aaron three times, except their miracles were done by the power of the Devil and were inferior to those of the Lord.

Exodus 7:10-12; Rods to serpents.

Exodus 7:20-23; Water to blood.

Exodus 8:6, 7; Frogs.

The New Testament condemns sorcery (miracles by the Devil’s children).

Acts 8:9-24; Simon the Sorcerer claimed to be “the mighty power of God.”

Acts 13:6-12; Elymas the Sorcerer, “the child of the devil, perverter of righteousness.”

II Corinthians 11:13-15; “lying preachers,” acting like angels of light.

I John 4:1; Spirits of false prophets to be tried or tested.

Matthew 24:4, 5, 24; “shall do signs,” in the last days, deceive many.

I Timothy 4:1; “Some shall heed doctrines of devils.”

Revelation 13:13, 14; 16:13-16; “These are the spirits of devils working miracles.”

Matthew 7:15, 22, 23; “In thy name,” they shall claim to work them, but to such Jesus shall say, “Depart, ye workers of lawlessness, I never told you to do any such.”

From the above passages it is evident that our Lord and His apostles foresaw the end time, then wrote warning of religious deceivers, such as the fake radio “handkerchief”

healers and TV fake-and-fraud film producers who claim to do divine healing just like the Lord did it in His day.

Such are practically always “apparent, innocent, angels of light,” II Corinthians 11:13-15, else no one would be deluded into following them.

The Devil is himself the master deceiver. He advertises his work and workers with bright lights, tinsel, music, and depraved counterfeit-beauty, as an angel of light. The more the counterfeit looks like real money, the more dangerous it is. The Devil has this much sense. Consequently he has his agents place great emphasis on doing things in the name of the Lord. They appear in beguiling beauty to deceive. A study of the Devil and his tactics may help one to recognize the apostles of Satan a little better.

Conclusion to Declaration #9: We believe that spiritual gifts and miracles ceased at the completion of the Bible and only faith, hope, and love remain.

Declaration #10

10. We believe that Man was created in the image of God and lived in innocence until he fell by voluntary transgression from his sinless state, the result being that all mankind are sinners.

There are several passages that we want to consider that pertain to this declaration. The first passage we will consider is found in Genesis 1:26.

Genesis 1:26 KJV 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after

our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and

over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and

over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

This passage is part of the initial account of the creation. We find that God is “elohiym” which as it is used means “Three Strong Ones.” The Trinity is making the statement. You will note that the plural pronoun “us” is used and the word “our” is also used. The word “man” that is used is “adam”

which means “ruddy”. Literally, it refers to “mankind.” This is backed by the use of the pronoun “them.” The word “dominion” refers to “reign, rule.” The scope of the dominion is spelled out in this verse. Mankind is to have dominion over all the life that is on the earth with the exception of man. There is no stipulation concerning the rule of man over man indicated in this verse.

The next reference is from Genesis 3:6-24.

Genesis 3:6-24: KJV 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good

for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to

make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also

unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both

were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig

leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice

of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam

and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst

the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said

unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the

garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And

he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree,

whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man

said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the

tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is

this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me,

and I did eat. 14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou

hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of

the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days

of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and

between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt

bruise his heel. 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy

sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;

and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of

thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying,

Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt

thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it

bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the

sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;

for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou

return. 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the

mother of all living. 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD

God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said,

Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now,

lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and

live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden

of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out

the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and

a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of

life.

These passages give us the account of the fall of Adam and Eve. Verse 6

gives us the three-fold method of temptation that Satan uses on all mankind.

I John 2:16: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust

of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

This was just the start. First Eve looked and saw that the tree was good for food, lust of the flesh. Second, she saw that it was very pleasant to the 79

eyes, lust of the eyes. Third, she wanted to become wise, the pride of life.

Convinced, she took of the fruit and then gave it to Adam. There is no indication in these verses that Adam was forced to partake of the fruit. The moment that Eve disobeyed God by ignoring His command, she immediately became separated from God. At that moment she was lost and in need of a Savior. Did Adam sense this? My belief is that he did.

He made a willful choice to side with Eve. Eve may not have understood the full ramifications of her actions, but Adam knew what the results would be. He made the choice to stay with Eve. He could have resisted her, but he chose not to.

A point that we should never forget, sin was already present in the earth before the fall of mankind. When it first entered into the world, we have no idea. It was not expressed upon mankind until Adam sinned by disobeying God’s commands. Sin was present but not activated until Adam, by his disobedience, activated it. An example of this is the Millennial Reign of Jesus. Sin has not been done away but it is not of any consequence until Satan is loosed at the end of the thousand years. In other words, it is suppressed until Satan’s release for a small season.

As soon as Adam disobeyed God’s command, they realized they were naked. Before sin became present, it did not matter. Only afterwards did it matter that they were naked. I believe that their choice of the fig leaves as garments is a picture of what happens when man tries to do something to make himself/herself adequate to meet God. The fig leaf is rough and very scratchy, totally unsuited as clothing. Just as the fig leaf is unsuitable for clothing, any and all works for salvation are just as unsuited to save us.

You should note that these “clothes” only covered the genitals and midriff areas of the body. Eve did not cover her breasts. When they realized that God was walking in the garden, they hid themselves. They realized that their coverings were not adequate to hide their “nakedness” from the eyes of God.

We should understand that the “LORD God” as used in these verses refer to Jesus. God the Father cannot be in the presence of sin, but God the Son and the Spirit can be. Adam and Eve had personal fellowship with Jesus before the fall.

When Jesus began to ask questions, it was not for Him to get the information, but rather for Adam to admit what had happened. Jesus already knew what they had done. An individual must admit to God that he or she is a sinner before Jesus can save him/her. Once again the pattern is set that will be what must be done thereafter. What a picture these verses present to us about salvation.

Verse 15 is the first prophecy concerning the first coming of Jesus. Hatred is put between Satan and Jesus. Obviously, Jesus does not hate, but Satan certainly does. The arena is set for the strife between good and evil, which is still present today.

God puts curses upon Adam, Eve, and the serpent. Of course, the serpent was a being that apparently could walk upright before the curse. Satan used the serpent to communicate with Eve. Unmentioned in these verses is the apparent ability for Adam and Eve to be able to communicate with the animals. Sheep obviously were present in the garden because one (or more) of them gave its life for the garments that Jesus made for them. We also should note that death had no presence on earth until the death of the sheep in order that Adam and Eve would have clothes. It is not insignificant that sheep were used to make the clothes. Another picture of Who would die for mankind, Jesus, Who was and is called the “Lamb of God.” John the Baptist would be the first to call Him the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

John 1:29: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the

Lamb of God!

As if to show Adam and Eve that their fig aprons were not adequate, Jesus gave them “coats of skins” to clothe them. These “coats” were literally

“robes.” The robes covered them completely, thereby putting another picture before us concerning salvation. No works of man (the fig aprons) can ever be adequate enough to take care of his sin, but the clothing (coats of skins) provided by Jesus can.

It appears that Adam had not named his wife until verse 20. He then names her “Eve,” mother of all living. The Hebrew word for “living” is a very 81

vague word when translated into English. It could include everything that is living but the context of this verse causes us to restrict the usage to mankind and not to anything else.

Verses 22-24 are verses that tell us of something that we have never seen on this earth, but will someday when we get to heaven, the tree of life. We find its presence in the Garden of Eden, but this is the only time we see any reference to it until we read the book of Revelation. It is used as an example in several passages scattered throughout the Bible, but they are not the actual tree of life.

Revelation 22:2: In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the

river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and

yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the

healing of the nations.

Roberts Theology says that the reason God placed Cherubims at the entrance to the Garden of Eden is because it was still present on the earth until the time of the flood. The tree of life had been moved to heaven and the garden perished because of the flood. Can I prove this? No, not exactly. There are some reasons that cause me to draw this conclusion.

First, there would have been no need for the Cherubims if there were no people to keep out of it, which suggests to me that it still remained in existence long after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden.

Second, there is no reference to the Garden after the time of the flood. The flood is referred to, but not the Garden. All of this and more leads me to believe that the Garden of Eden was still present on the earth until the flood, but that the tree of life was removed just before the flood so that the Garden could be destroyed in it.

The next passage that is used in the proving of this declaration is Romans 5:12.

Romans 5:12 KJV 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the

world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all

have sinned:

This passage reveals to us that sin entered into the world by only one man, and we know this man to be Adam. Even though it was present, it was not allowed to be active until Adam disobeyed God. This caused sin to be rampant throughout the earth. Death is caused by sin. All mankind has this sentence of death on him unless he submits to the salvation provided by Jesus, which is revealed in the next proof text.

Romans 5:19 KJV 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made

sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Because of Adam’s disobedience, we all were born sinners. This by itself presents us a very gloomy and hopeless lifetime until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and receive His righteousness.

Conclusion to Declaration #10

There really is not a way to reduce this declaration down to a simple statement without losing part of the meaning. It must stand as it is: We believe that Man was created in the image of God and lived in innocence until he fell by voluntary transgression from his sinless state, the results being that all mankind are sinners.

Declaration #11

11. We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary for all mankind and is efficacious only to those who believe.

This declaration establishes the fact of the suffering and death of Jesus.

We find that He was our Substitute in order to provide salvation for all mankind. The declaration includes a word with which many may not be familiar. That word is “efficacious.” This word means: “Producing or capable of producing a desired effect. Producing the desired effect; having power adequate to the purpose intended; effectual in operation or result.”

Simply put, while Jesus died for all mankind, it is only effective for those who chose to believe in Him. This constitutes a willful decision on the part of the individual. Salvation is there available for any who will accept, but it only “works” for those who believe and accept Him as their Saviour.

We have several proof texts for this declaration. The first one to consider is Isaiah 53:6.

Isaiah 53:6 KJV 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned

every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity

of us all.

Numerous times humans are referred to as “sheep.” The reason for this is the temperament of a sheep closely parallels those of humans. Those that have believed and trusted in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, are referred to as “His sheep.” So, it is not surprising that Isaiah refers to mankind as sheep. He refers to the major tendency of sheep to stray away from the flock. He is actually saying that mankind is lost without Jesus and has been/is pursuing his own way, the way of a sinner. God has laid all of mankind’s sins on Jesus.

The next passage to consider is Hebrews 2:9.

Hebrews 2:9 KJV 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than

the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour;

that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

In this passage we find the fact that Jesus was to become man and being lower than the angels. His purpose was for the suffering of death for the sins of mankind. It shows that He laid aside the glory and honor that was His to come to the earth as a Man in order to become the sacrifice for all men. God the Father made it possible for this to happen.

The next passage to consider is I Peter 2:24.

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on

the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by

whose stripes ye were healed.

This verse establishes the fact that Jesus became sin or our behalf and was hung on a cross (tree) for our salvation. Because of this, we can then be

“dead” to sins and capable of living righteous, literally, living the right way, God’s way. We are healed from our sins by His suffering on the cross.

This verse also presents to us what we should be, righteous. Only through the suffering and death of Jesus was this made possible.

“Being dead to sins” means that we should be unresponsive to sins. Many other passages indicate that we should not respond to sin and its temptations. We can live righteously if we choose. Again, it is a willful choice to either live this way or not. It is up to the child of God.

The next passage is I Peter 3:18.

1 Peter 3:18 KJV 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just

for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the

flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

This passage establishes the fact that Jesus only died one time for our sins.

He was just, we were unjust. He did this so that we might be brought to God. He was put to death as a man, but He was made alive by the Holy Spirit. The word quickened means “made alive.”

The next passage is II Peter 3:9.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some

men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that

any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God is not negligent in fulfilling His promises. Men may think that He is when those promises do not come about in the timeframe that they think it should. He has never failed, and He never will. This passage also sets forth the fact that God is very patient with man, longsuffering. It is not His will that any man should perish, in other words, not be saved thereby condemning themselves to the eternal lake of fire. It is not His “declarative will” but rather His “permissive will” concerning the salvation of mankind.

It is not what He would desire, but to do anything else would take away mankind’s free will to make his own decision. His desire is to all men to come to repentance, but He will not force anyone to make that decision.

The last passage that we will consider in I John 2:2.

1 John 2:2 KJV 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours

only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

To fully understand this verse, it is necessary to get an understanding of the meaning of the word “propitiation.” I was taught that the word meant

“covering.” Technically, that is what it could mean, but let us get a little broader definition. I like the way the Century Dictionary expresses it:

“That which propitiates or appeases; that which furnishes a reason for not executing a punishment justly due for wrong-doing; specifically, in the New Testament, Christ himself, because his life and death furnish a ground for the forgiveness of sins.”

When God looks at us, He sees the blood of Jesus that covers us and makes us holy in God’s sight. It makes us “as if we had never sinned.” Of course, we are talking about the spirit of man, not of the flesh. Other passages teach us that once the spirit of a man has been redeemed, that spirit never sins again. Naturally, we cannot say the same of the flesh. That we are in a constant battle with the flesh does not have to be a remembrance for us, we are fully aware of it especially if we are doing our best to serve the Lord. The battle between the fleshly man and the redeemed spirit man is a constant.

Jesus was made the Propitiation not only for those of us that have believed, but also for the entire world (mankind). As we have seen from one previous verse, it is made available for all, but will not be effective to any but to those who believe and accept Jesus as their Saviour.

Conclusion to Declaration #11

Simply put, the declaration can be remembered this way: We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus as our Substitute was made available for all mankind but only effective for those who believe.

Declaration #12

12. We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the bodily resurrection of His saints.

For this declaration we consider the proof texts and then we will examine what His resurrection means to us.

The first text is from Matthew 28:1-7.

Matthew 28:1-7 KJV 1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn

toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other

Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake:

for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled

back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was

like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the

keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered

and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,

which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come,

see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples

that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into

Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

This passage establishes the fact of Jesus’ resurrection but not the time of His resurrection. While we are not considering the time of His crucifixion, it is important to mention it. Careful study of the Scriptures reveals to us that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday and placed in the tomb before evening when the new day began. Three days and three nights cannot be obtained with a Friday crucifixion. I realize that is an extremely popular teaching and there are many explanations that try to explain it away, but a literal three days and three nights cannot be obtained with it. Jesus was placed in the tomb on late Wednesday before the day Thursday began, which would have been at sundown. For calculation sake, let us say that He was placed in the tomb at 6:00 PM on Wednesday evening. Three days and three nights would have Jesus rising at the same time on Saturday.

Therefore, when the “Marys” came to the sepulcher, Jesus had already risen, and the sepulcher was already empty for several hours. Many want to place His resurrection at dawn on Sunday morning, but that is not what 90

the Scriptures record. Matthew condenses things together in these passages. He records the earthquake, the angel coming and rolling back the stone from the door, a description of the angel, and the Roman soldiers fainting away. The angel instructs the women to tell the disciples that He would meet them in Galilee, as He had previously told them. An entire series of sermons have been built around these passages of Scriptures. This is merely a short overview.

The next passage comes from Acts 1:9-11.

Acts 1:9-11 KJV 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they

beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold,

two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of

Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is

taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have

seen him go into heaven.

This reference gives us the account of His Ascension. According to Matthew’s account, Jesus had just finished giving the disciples the Great Commission. When He was finished with that, He was taken up out of their sight. They continued to look up into the heavens as if He would return in just a few minutes. He had not only given them the Commission, but also had instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the day of Pentecost when they would be empowered to carry out the Commission.

The angels told them that Jesus would come just as He was taken away.

They did not say that it would be hundreds of years later that it would happen.

We now consider I Corinthians 15:42-58.

1 Corinthians 15:42-58 KJV 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It

is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in

dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in

power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is

a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The

first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a

quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but

that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first

man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly,

such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image

of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this

I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;

neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a

mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a

moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet

shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be

changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this

mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have

put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then

shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up

in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But

thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus

Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that

your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

In these verses, the Apostle Paul contrasts the physical (natural) body with the spiritual body. He emphasizes that as we have had a natural body, we will have a heavenly one. He also lets us know that there will still be children of God living when Jesus comes again. He actually tells us exactly when that resurrection will take place. It will be at the sounding of the last trumpet. The only trumpets the Bible gives us relating to the end-time of mankind are the trumpets found in the Book of Revelation.

There are seven of them. While not going in Revelation to look at those (that is a complete separate study in itself), it is important to realize that Paul says when that seventh (the last trumpet) trumpet shall sound, that is when the resurrection will take place and the living will be given their glorified bodies. The “dead” in Christ will be united with a heavenly body and then both groups will live and reign with Him.

Paul gives us something in which to rejoice: the corruptible being done away and the incorruptible taking its place. Sin will be vanquished, and death conquered. We are to rejoice and remain steadfast because we labor not in vain.

The next reference is I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant,

brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as

others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose

again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are

alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them

which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven

with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:

and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and

remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the

Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore

comfort

one

another

with

these

words.

Paul is addressing the church at Thessalonica. Apparently, those church members were concerned about those who had already died. Paul assured them that they were fine, and that Jesus would bring them with Him when He returned. Those that had already died would be united with a glorified body and then those that are still alive with be caught up and join them in the clouds. This is to comfort us that our loved ones who have already gone on to be with the Lord with be meeting us again someday.

There is one particular phrase that I should like to bring to your attention.

This phrase is found in verse 15 and verse 17. That phrase is “alive and remain.” As most of you probably know, I do not believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. My belief is that the saints will be resurrected, and the alive saints will be changed sometime after the middle of the Tribulation 93

Period. One of my reasons for believing this is the lack of mention of any saints on the earth after the middle of the tribulation. Another of my reasons is found in this phrase that Paul used in writing to the Thessalonians. There is no doubt that Paul is talking about the end-times and the second coming of Jesus. The word “alive” simply means that: physically alive, still living, not dead yet. Then after the conjunction “and”

Paul uses the word “remain.” We understand the word in the English to still be where one was. The Greek, however, renders an interesting, but different word than what we would understand it to commonly be: survive.

The inference is that the times are very troubled, and survival is not that common. Is this not to what the Bible refers during the end-times? To me it is noticeably clear inference that the saints will go through part of Tribulation Period. Some will refer to the fact that the saints will not be under God’s wrath, and that is absolutely true. Some will forget that Satan will be given free reign at the beginning of the Tribulation Period. God’s wrath does not come about until the saints are gone. A close study of the end-time events reveals this. That is the reason that the fact of the saints’

resurrection should be of great comfort to us.

I said at the beginning of this declaration that I wanted to see what the resurrection of Jesus means to us.

IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE PROOF THAT CHIRST DIED.

Proof by His broken body. John 20:27 KJV 27 Then saith he to

Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither

thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Proof that sin has been punished. Isaiah 53:5 KJV 5 But he was

wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the

chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are

healed.

Proof that Christ was made a curse for us. Galatians 3:13 KJV 13

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse

for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

IT MEANS THAT GOD WAS SATISFIED WITH CHRIST'S

DEATH.

God resurrected Christ by His power. Ephesians 1:19-20 KJV 19

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,

according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in

Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right

hand in the heavenly places

God resurrected Christ to His right hand. Acts 5:30-31 KJV 30 The

God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a

Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

God by the resurrection proves Christ's Sonship. Romans 1:4 KJV

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit

of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

IT MEANS THAT PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED.

David prophesied the resurrection. Psalms 16:9-10 KJV 9

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall

rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou

suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

The resurrection was promised to the Fathers. Acts 13:32-33 KJV

32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was

made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their

children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the

second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Christ prophesied the resurrection. Matthew 20:19 KJV 19 And

shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify

him: and the third day he shall rise again.

IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE A GOSPEL TO PREACH.

It was the theme of Paul's gospel. 2 Timothy 2:8 KJV 8 Remember

that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according

to my gospel:

It is the basis of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:14 KJV 14 And if

Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also

vain. 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your

sins.

It is important in the plan of salvation. Romans 10:9 KJV 9 That

if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in

thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

IT MEANS THAT WE CAN BE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD.

Justification is based on Christ's resurrection. Romans 4:25 KJV

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our

justification.

Justification brings no condemnation. Romans 8:1 KJV 1 There is

therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who

walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Justification brings peace. Romans 5:1 KJV 1 Therefore being

justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE A HIGH PRIEST IN HEAVEN.

A High Priest at God's right hand. Hebrews 10:12 KJV 12 But this

man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the

right hand of God;

A High Priest that makes intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25 KJV

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto

God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

A High Priest that is preparing a place for us. John 14:2 KJV 2 In

my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have

told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

IT MEANS THAT BELIEVERS HAVE LIFE AFTER DEATH.

Christ has the keys to Hell and death. Revelation 1:5 KJV 5 And

from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of

the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved

us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 18 I am he that liveth,

and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the

keys of hell and of death.

Christ's resurrection assures us of the resurrection. 2 Corinthians 4:14 KJV 14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise

up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Christ's resurrection assures believers of Heaven1 Peter 1:3 KJV 3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which

according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively

hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an

inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,

reserved in heaven for you,

Conclusion to Declaration #12

There is no simpler way to state this declaration that as it is already stated: We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the bodily resurrection of His saints.

Declaration #13

13. We believe in the premillennial, personal, bodily return of Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age. This event will include the resurrection of the righteous to eternal heaven, and the Millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the unrighteous unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire and that the righteous shall enter into the heaven age.

This declaration is actually a rather short one. The first part—sentence—

of the declaration is the declaration itself. The second sentence is an explanation or clarification that is added to it. There are several passages that are given as proof texts, which we will examine in detail.

The first one comes from John 14:1-6.

John 14:1-6 KJV 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God,

believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were

not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I

go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto

myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye

know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know

not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith

unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the

Father, but by me.

To get the background and setting of these verses, we must refer back to the chapter previous to this one, chapter 13. In that chapter, Jesus was at a supper that was held a short time before the Passover. It also holds the account where Jesus reveals that He would be betrayed by one of the twelve. It also is where Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. Chapter 14 is a continuation of chapter 13. The disciples were greatly saddened by the revelation that He would be betrayed and by one of their own numbers.

This is why Jesus says in verse one for them not to be troubled. He reveals to them that He would be going away. He is going away to prepare a place for them, and by extension, since He has not returned as yet, for us as well.

Jesus also establishes the fact that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

There is no other besides Him. He also reveals that He is the only Way to God the Father.

The next passage to consider is I Thessalonians 4:13-18.