*TITHES AND GIVING*
part 1
Here are some thoughts about tithe and giving; this is not a complete teaching on the subject, however.
–”*TITHE*” appears in the Bible in 13 verses: Lev27:30,32; Num18:26; Deu12:17;14:22,23,28; 2Ch31:5;2Ch31:6; Neh10:38; Neh13:12; Mat23:23; Luk11:42
–”*TITHES*” (plural) 21 verses: Gen14:20; Lev27:31; Num18:24,26; Num18:28; Deu12:6,11;26:12; 2Ch31:12; Neh10:37,38;12:44;13:5; Amo4:4; Mal3:8,10; Luk18:12; Heb7:5,6,8,9
–”*TENTH*” related to tithe: Gen28:22; Heb7:2,4.

–Tithing teaching is not present in the NEW TESTAMENT, only mentioned in relationship with men of God from the Old Testament (Abraham, Levi).
–In the OLD TESTAMENT, ABRAHAM is the first one to be mentioned to tithe; it is obvious that the idea of tithe did not originate with Abraham: later God commanded tithing in the law of Moses; Abel’s sacrifice of a lamb did not originate with Abel (we don’t read God asking Adam and Abel for animal sacrifices but it is clear that God taught Adam this requirement, as God had sacrificed an animal to dress Adam with the animal skin). Who got the ideas from who: Abel and Abraham learned about animal sacrifices and tithing from God, or God from them?
–Pagan religions were practicing the tithe even before Abraham, animal sacrifices as well, they must have learned about these practices from men of God.
–The Bible only mentions once that Abraham gave tithe to Melchizedek, 10% out of war booty, not of all his personal possessions (he gave 10% of war booty to Melchizedek and the 90% he allowed king of Sodom to take); the Bible does not mention him tithing at any other times but it doesn’t mean he didn’t; if he did, we don’t know to whom or how, there the Bible is silent. Abraham’s giving to Melchizedek was VOLUNTARY, NOT REQUIRED.

–In the LAW OF MOSES, the tithing was REQUIRED, NOT VOLUNTARY and was referring only to the FRUIT OF THE LAND AND ANIMALS, never of money earned through work or from commerce; one traveling from afar was allowed to sell his animals or products intended for tithes, then once arrived in Jerusalem buy replacements Deut14:25. Money could not be brought as tithe but as willing gifts.
–TWO TITHES were required (20%): an annual tithe for the maintenance of the Levites (Lev27:30;Num18:21) and a second tithe brought to Jerusalem for the Lord’s feasts (Deut14:22). Every third year, however, the second tithe was kept at home for the poor (Deut14:28).
–Tithes were brought to the levites and Aaron’s priests; levites (tribe of Levi) were priests’ assistants at the Temple. Today EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A PRIEST 1Pet.2:5,9 and Rev1:6.
–Tithes were brought to the Temple: today EVERY BELIEVER IN JESUS IS THE TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit 1Cor3:16, 6:19 and 2Cor6:16
–Certain tithes were for levites only, others for the priests only, while others were to be eaten by the ones bringing them before the Lord Deut12:17-19 and some tithes for levites, strangers, widows and the poor Deut26:12,13; therefore the widow and the poor were excused from paying tithe, as they did not own land or animals but they could bring gifts to God, see the widow giving 2 mites Luke21:1-4. If a poor woman gave birth and could not bring sacrifice the required lamb, a pair of doves was acceptable, as did Mary and Joseph who could not afford offering a lamb Lev12:8,Luke2:24
–Mat.23:23 Jesus rebukes the pharisees saying they should not forget faithfulness, mercy and love, just as they shouldn’t forget tithes; He didn’t do away with tithes – as they were still under the law until the crucifixion and the law required tithes as an obligation, but Jesus didn’t command tithes either to his disciples before the cross or after.

LOVE OF SELF AND LOVE OF MONEY are alike the roots of much evil, and in the giving of money, as in its acquisition and possession, the Christian is expected to stand upon A GRACE RELATIONSHIP with God. This relationship presupposes that he has first given himself to God in unqualified dedication (2Cor8:5), and a true dedication of self to God includes all that one is and has (1Cor6:20; 7:23; 1Pet1:18,19): his life, his time, his strength, his ability, his ideals, and his property.
In matters pertaining to the giving of money, the grace principle involves the believer’s recognition of God’s sovereign authority over all that the Christian is and has, and is in contrast to the Old Testament legal system of tithing which system was in force as a part of the law until the law was done away (Jn1:16,17; Rom6:14; 7:1-6; 2Cor3:1-18; Eph2:15; Col2:14; Gal3:19-25;5:18).

Tithing, like sabbath observance, both commanded by the Law of Moses, is NEVER IMPOSED on the believer in this grace dispensation. Since the Lord’s day (Sunday) superseded the legal sabbath, so tithing has been superseded by A GRACE SYSTEM OF GIVING which is adapted to the teachings of grace.

CHRISTIAN GIVING UNDER GRACE as illustrated in the experience of the saints at Corinth, is summarized in 2Cor8:1 to 9:15:

*1.CHRIST WAS THEIR PATTERN*
The Lord’s giving of Himself (2Cor8:9) is the pattern of all giving under grace. He did not give a tenth; He gave all.
Some preachers take the tithe as a guiding principle, stating that if under the law one was required to give 10% and in some cases 20%-23%, then the Christian should give beyond. As Jesus said, ”if someone forces you to go with him one mile, go two miles” Mat5:41. However giving should not be grudgingly or stated as a law.

*2.THEIR GIVING WAS EVEN OUT OF GREAT POVERTY*
2Cor8:2 The Corinthians gave: “In a great trial of affliction,” “the abundance of their joy,” “their deep poverty abounded,” “the riches of their liberality.” Likewise, concerning liberality in spite of great poverty, it should be remembered that “the widow’s mite” (Luke21:1-4), which drew out the commendation of the Lord Jesus, was not a part, but “all that she had.”

…see part 2

P Daniel

*SPIRIT FILLING*

We need first to understand the difference between the INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit and the FILLING of the Holy Spirit:

*THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT*

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD the Holy Spirit would come upon someone for a time then leave when the mission of the prophet was finished or when the man of God would sin (see Samson Jud13:7,25;14:6,19; 15:14;16:20); David in Ps51:11 prayed that God would not remove His Spirit from him; but in Ps.89:28-34 God foretold David about the new covenant in which God will chastise sin but will not forsake the believers; see also Is59:21: ”My Spirit will not leave them…”, Heb13:5;

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT PERIOD all believers in Jesus Christ have God’s Spirit living within them continually, being under a new covenant through the blood of Jesus (Jer31:31, Lk22:20, Heb8:8), a new covenant that replaces the old covenant made between God and Israel (Heb7:12,18,19,9:15). The old covenant with its over 670 laws and animal sacrifices was an image or shadow or symbol of the new covenant in Christ (Col2:17,Heb8:5;10:1), new covenant in which the HS does not leave the believer.
(Allow me to use shortcut ”HS” for the ”Holy Spirit”)

–Jn14:16: Jesus promised the H.S. would ‘ABIDE’, remain, stay with us forever; in Greek verb is in continual action mode;
–Eph1:13 also 2Cor1:22: Paul says the believer is SEALED with the HS, or stamped; THE HS IS THE SEAL; letters and objects were sealed or stamped as a sign of royal possession. Seal was made of hot wax that could only be removed by the royal authority, and that only by destroying the seal – and nobody can destroy the HS who is God, not even the Father or Jesus!
–Eph4:30 says you are SEALED UNTIL OR FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION or the day when you will finally be with Jesus, not until you sin then the seal be destroyed and removed from you.
–2 Cor1:22: Paul says the HS is given unto us as an EARNEST, or a deposit, or down payment, or pledge or guarantee of salvation; 2000 years ago, just as today, when you would purchase something you would give a deposit that you can not take back: if you change your mind about the purchase you loose the deposit.
–1Cor3:16, 6:19 and 2Cor.6:16 says that the BELIEVER’S BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HS in which the HS ”dwells”, not ”visits” when you are not sinning and leaves when you sin;
–Rom8:9 says that IF YOU DONT HAVE THE HS THEN YOU DONT BELONG TO JESUS; the conclusion is that if you belong to Jesus you also have the HS; how can you be sure that you belong to Jesus? Just believe in Jesus as your Savior, Jn1:12;3:16;6:47;7:39;
–In the Book of Acts we have a few situations in which the HS was received when the apostles LAID HANDS on the new believers, this happened so that those believers would accept the authority of the apostles, see especially the case of the Samaritans that had no connection with the Jews, or John the Baptist’s disciples that continued to follow John during Jesus’ ministry and even after John’s death and Jesus’ resurrection: Acts8:17, 9:17, 19:6. But in other cases the HS came without laying of hands: Acts2:4, 10:44. Laying of hands was a symbol of identification where the greater laid hands on the lesser, often used in the Old Testament and continued in the New Testament: Mat19:15, Lk13:13, 24:50, Acts6:6;8:17; 13:3;19:6;28:8, 1Tim5:22, 2Tim1:6 (at ordination). In English verses like Acts5:18;21:27, translated ‘laid hands on him’ (to put one in prison) literal translation should be ”throw hands upon”.

*THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT*

–All believers have the HS living in them but not all believers live filled or controlled by the Spirit.
A believer has all of the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit may not have all of him. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the time of our salvation but we are filled by Him when we submit to Him, the degree of our submission is the degree of our HS filling.
The indwelling of HS happens once for all but the filling of HS should happen continually or many times, as we loose the filling through sin but we don’t loose the indwelling of HS.

–An important portion of Scripture that refers to the filling of the Holy Spirit is Eph5:17-21:

”Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

–In these verses being filled with the Spirit is contrasted with being filled or drunk with wine. The idea is one of being CONTROLLED BY GOD’S SPIRIT RATHER THAN BY OTHER FORCES.

*HOW CAN A PERSON BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?*

–A believer in Christ can “quench” or “grieve” the Holy Spirit (1Thess5:19; Eph4:30). Sinful actions can hinder the work of God’s Spirit in our lives. In contrast, when a believer in Christ lives in obedience to God’s will, he can expect to experience the leading or filling of the HS.

–Some think that the filling of the Holy Spirit is an emotional experience that takes place only at certain moments, but the concept of “filling” in Scripture is one of being controlled or influenced by the Holy Spirit. At times living a Spirit-filled life may include emotional or mountain-top experiences. But the idea of being filled by the Spirit is more about an ongoing sense of God’s Spirit working in a person’s life, not a one-time experience. As the believer lives out his faith in submission to Christ, the Holy Spirit increasingly controls or fills his life; this leads to joy, thankfulness, and right relationships.

–To be filled with the Spirit implies FREEDOM FOR HS TO OCCUPY EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES, guiding and controlling us. Then His power can be exerted through us so that what we do is fruitful to God. The filling of the Spirit does not apply to outward acts alone; it also applies to the INNERMOST THOUGHTS AND MOTIVES OF OUR ACTIONS.
Ps19:14 says, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

–It is not praying for the filling of the Holy Spirit that accomplishes the filling. Luke11:13 Jesus’ words, ‘The Father gives the HS to those who ask him’ speaks of asking for the HS through their heart submission, not through the lips: God looks at the heart 1Sam.16:7; Mat.15:8.
Only our obedience to God’s commands allows the Spirit freedom to work within us. Because we are still infected with sin, it is impossible to be filled with the Spirit all of the time, 1Jn1:7-10. When we sin, we should immediately confess it to God and thus renew our commitment to being Spirit-filled and Spirit-led.

HOW DO I KNOW THAT I AM FILLED BY THE Holy Spirit?

I know that I am filled by the HS when:
–when I ELEVATE CHRIST, speaking from Him, as the HS lifts up Christ and does not speak from Himself but Christ’s things: Jn16:13-15

–WHEN I HAVE THE FRUIT OF THE HS, see Gal.5:22-25: ”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also WALK IN [in obedience to] THE SPIRIT.”

–when I love and honor THE TEMPLE OF THE HS, WHICH IS MY BODY, so I place by body in the service of God: mouth to be filled with God’s Word and praises, I bring my ears to hear the Word, I allow the HS to lead my feet and hands, eyes, thoughts and tongue; Rom12:2, 2Cor10:5; decent dressed, no piercings, sexual purity and so on.

–when I LOVE AND HONOR THE BODY OF CHRIST in which the HS has placed me to be one with, 1Cor.12:13, resulting in loving the Church which is formed of all believers in Jesus, Eph2:22;4:2-4

–I am filled by the HS when I love, study and apply in faith the BOOK INSPIRED BY THE HS: 2Pet1:20-21; Eph6:17 the Bible is called ‘the sword of the Spirit’; Rev2:7,11,17,29; 3:13,22; 22:17; 1Pet1:22

–when I WITNESS FOR CHRIST: Acts1:8; we see the apostles and disciples often evangelizing immediately after being filled by the HS: Acts2:14;4:8,31;5:32;6:10; 7:55;8:29;9:17,20;13:4-5; 16:6-10

–when I WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH BUT AFTER THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT: Rom8:4-5,13, 1Cor2:14;

–when I LIVE IN THE LOVE OF GOD, NOT BEING AFRAID OF GOD (1Jn4:18) or fearing death, evil, demons, future, Rev21:8; ”fear OF God” in Hebrew is an expression meaning ”reverence towards God”.

–when I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RESURRECTION, not to the things of this world: Rom8:23

–when I PRAY ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, just as the HS does, Rom8:27

–when I am FERVENT IN THE SPIRIT IN SERVING THE LORD, Rom12:11

–when I WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY WORKS, Gal3:2,3

–when I DON’T FULFILL THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH, Gal5:16,17,25

–when I LIVE IN THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT; sanctification means to be set apart for God’s use and fellowship with God: 2Thes2:13, Jn17:19, 1Pet.1:2

*WHAT SPIRIT FILLING IS NOT:*
–Spirit filling is not speaking in angels’ language; in Acts 2 the apostles spoke in national languages not angelic languages
–Spirit filling is not speaking loud and proud; it could be a still small voice, 1Kings19:12
–Spirit filling is not always miracles and healing: Mat7:22, 2Cor12:7-10
–Spirit filling is not foretelling the future beyond what the Bible foretells, nor always knowing secret things about people, Acts16:16.

Pastor Daniel

*THE HERESY OF ‘SOWING A SEED’*

Many TV evangelists are communicating to their audience that financial prosperity can be obtained by showing enough faith in God to make a donation to their ministry, which they call ‘sow a seed’. Of course a good part of your donation goes in their pocket and some towards humanitarian projects (only for the purpose of advertising their fund-raising).
*Here are doctrinal ERRORS they use to get money from you:*

*1.’POVERTY IS CURED BY THE ATONEMENT’*
Many faith healers preach that through his sacrifice, Jesus has provided automatic physical healing for the body through faith, not only spiritual healing (Is53:5 – ‘by his stripes we are healed’). Some have gone a step further to say that the atonement also delivers us from the ‘curse of the law – poverty.’ Kenneth Copeland said: ‘Jesus bore the curse of the law on our behalf. He beat Satan and took away his power. Consequently, there is no reason for you to live under the curse of the law, no reason for you to live in poverty of any kind…’ (The Laws of Prosperity, p51,54)’ Then why was Apostle Paul poor most of the time? See 2Cor11:27.
The atonement on Calvary did not cure our financial woes. If I am in debt when I obey the gospel, I will be in debt the day after I obey the gospel. Jesus has not promised to deliver me from financial bankruptcy through obedience to the gospel. The blood of Jesus is no more a cure for my financial woes than a cure for my physical hunger and thirst. According to these preachers, Christians in England have more faith than Christians in Zimbabwe…but in England a very small percentage of Christians read the Bible or even go to church! According to these preachers Muslims in Saudi Arabia or atheists in Sweden have more faith than Christians in Zimbabwe, being more rich. We should never evaluate the blessings of God in terms of earthly riches: remember that Satan can make rich also, see Mat4:9;Luke4:6.

*2.GIVING FOR SELFISH REASONS*
The teaching of seed-faith giving encourages one to give in order to get something from God.
The TV evangelists promise their audiences that their problems (whether they are financial, physical, emotional, marital, etc.) will be solved when they have enough faith in God to plant a seed for God to multiply back in his harvest. The ‘seed’ should be planted in the TV evangelist’s particular ministry. Why don’t they ask you to go give to the poor, as Jesus did in Matt19:21?
In Abundant Life (July 1980, p4), Roberts wrote, ‘Solve your money needs with money seeds.’ This teaching on giving appeals to man’s carnal greed and selfishness as motives for giving and thereby undermines the gospel. God does reward a cheerful giver: heavenly rewards are sure but earthly riches are not guaranteed.

*3.THROUGH SEED-FAITH GIVING ONE MANIPULATES GOD*
One distinction between magic and religion is this: in religion one submits himself to the higher will of God; in magic man manipulates a higher power to get things for himself. In seed-faith giving, one plants a seed ($$) which God must cause to grow into a harvest (more $$). Hence, one is able to get anything he wants from God by seed-faith giving. He manipulates God through seed-faith giving. Heresy! The same as Tetzel’s indulgences 500 years ago said: ‘you can buy forgiveness of sins’, the same way these false preachers say you can buy God’s financial blessings.

*4.FINANCIAL POVERTY BECOMES A PROOF OF SPIRITUAL POVERTY*
These false prophets say: ‘if someone has a financial need which is unmet, he either does not know about seed-faith giving or lacks the faith to practice it; in either case, his own financial needs manifest his spiritual poverty.’ All the seed-faith doers are still poor (or even poorer after giving, only the ‘prophet’ gets more rich), but the false preachers say they didn’t have enough faith and didn’t seed enough cash…

*SOME SCRIPTURES THAT THE SEED-FAITH PREACHERS USE WRONGLY:*
*1. 3John2* ‘Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may PROSPER and be in health, even as your soul prospers.’ John’s personal wish for Gaius is distorted into a divine promise of financial prosperity for all believers. There is nothing in the text that promises financial prosperity upon the condition of faith in seed-faith giving. John said, ‘I wish’, he didn’t say, ‘I promise you will prosper, if you sow a big enough seed’
*2. Mark10:29,30* ‘Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an HUNDREDFOLD now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.’
I suspect that these TV ministers might correctly understand ‘brethren, sisters, father, mother, wife, and children’ to refer to spiritual relationships, not physical. However, when financial matters are mentioned, the meaning of the terms immediately shifts to literal houses and dollars.
*3.Gal6:7,8* ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ The reaping of this text has no reference to reaping in this life; it refers to life everlasting in the world to come (Mk.10:30). The corruption is eternal damnation in hell. To use this verse to teach that one shall receive financial prosperity by making a donation to a TV evangelist’s ministry is to pervert this text.
*4.2Cor9:6to11* This text plainly states that the harvest which is reaped from sowing is ‘THE FRUITS OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ (9:10). Few verses before this passage, in 2Cor8:16to23 Paul says he has sent brothers to collect the gifts of the church for the brethren in Jerusalem, he didn’t even touched the money personally and did not draw a benefit, being honest and transparent before God and men v20,21.
*5.Old Testament texts*
The TV evangelists cite a number of Old Testament texts to justify seed-faith giving – giving which is done in order to get a blessing from God.
(a) Promises made to Israel as a nation are wrongly applied to specific individuals. God made many promises of prosperity to Israel as a nation on the condition that she would be faithful to God. We are not to understand that every individual in Israel had prospered.
(b) General truths, such as in the Proverbs, are given specific application. The Proverbs condition many temporal blessings upon obedience to the word of God (for example, diligent labor produces prosperity which generally is true, but specifically in many cases many work hard yet their wages are not paid for months by selfish bosses). The wisdom literature also recognizes that time and chance happen to all (Eccl9:11); consequently an individual may do all that the word of God says and still not be prosperous because of circumstances beyond his own control.

*SEED-FAITH TEACHING IGNORES SCRIPTURES:*
1. Scriptures which foretell that the RIGHTEOUS SHALL SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE. Though he was a perfectly obedient Son, JESUS DID NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LAY HIS HEAD (Lk. 9:57); in Matt.17 Jesus had no money to pay the tax and sent Peter to catch a fish and find a coin in the fishes’ mouth; Jesus’ parents had no money to buy a lamb as a sacrifice so just bought doves Luke 2:24; Jesus had no burial place so Joseph from Arimathea gave him his own burial cave Mark15. Jesus taught that the righteous might have to give up their lands and houses because of Christ (Mk.10:29). The Hebrew Christians lost their possessions because of their faith in Christ (Heb. 10:34). Jesus was helped with ministry’s expenses by volunteers Luke 8:3, without Jesus asking them for financial help. Judas was stealing money from the ministry’s purse as he was appointed treasurer, but Jesus did not rebuke him or replace him Jn12:6. Jesus did not feed all the poor of the planet, he didn’t even do miracles to make rich his followers. Acts19:12 miracles through handkerchiefs and aprons did not last throughout all Paul’s life or after him. Jesus said, ‘lay up treasures in heaven’ Mat.6:20.
2. Some FAITHFUL SAINTS WERE NOT PROSPEROUS PEOPLE. The apostle Paul not only suffered persecution, he also experienced hunger and thirst and nakedness, even though he was a faithful Christian (2Cor11:27). Saints suffered in the famines which struck the general populace (Acts 11:27-30), even as did the unrighteous.
*Other points:*
–2Pet2:3 ‘through covetousness … with feigned words make merchandise of you’
–Rom16:18: ‘For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple’
–2Cor12:17 ‘Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?’
–1Tim6:5-6: ‘Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain’
–Luke12:15: ‘Keep yourself from greed of money…’
–Luke8:4-11: ‘seed brought fruit HUNDREDFOLD…Now the parable is this: the SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD’ – not money.
–See also: 2Cor12:14,15; 1Thes2:9; Ps50:9to12; Prov22:16; Matt7:15to23, 1Tim6:9, Heb13:5to9

Seed-faith giving preys on the poor. Those who are attracted to this message are the poor and desperate, who sometimes send their last dollars (even borrow to give) and ‘expect a miracle.’ Like their Pharisee counterparts, the TV evangelists who preach seed-faith giving ‘devour widows houses’ (Matt.23:14), as they build their financial empires on contributions sent in by poor and desperate people.
We do believe in giving: giving to the poor and to the church for the furtherance of the Gospel.
Seed-faith giving is a doctrine of the devil which is causing the general public to lose confidence in Christianity. This doctrine must be opposed.
Pastor Daniel

*THE SOUL AFTER PHYSICAL DEATH*
part 2
Here are other Scriptures often used to support soul sleep after death, but in fact they actually say the opposite.
–1. *Eph5:14 Wherefore, he saith, Awake thou that sleeps, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light”*
This is a quote taken from Is60:1. Both verses refer to the believer’s spiritual condition. Context of verse says it is about the believer living in sin. The status of such a saints is not one of loss of salvation, but temporal loss of fellowship with God, so he has a dead fellowship not a dead relationship as the unsaved. When the believer is out of fellowship with the Lord he is said to be carnal. He is out of touch with spiritual reality. Though he is eternally positioned in Christ, this believer has chosen to temporarily abandon his spiritual convictions to serve the sin nature. Paul scorns the saints for giving into the sins of their pre-salvation life, Eph5:1-15. But the verse can apply also for the unsaved, who are alive physically but dead spiritually; however, verse does not speak of the resurrection, as those who believe in soul-sleep affirm.
–2. *1Cor.11:30 “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep”*
In this passage Paul addresses the sinning believers for disrespectfully partaking the Lord’s Supper. Their notion of taking the drink and the bread became irreverent. So Paul warns them that to continue in such behavior would bring about the discipline of God. First would come warning discipline, weakness, and then sickness if repentance is not forthcoming. Ultimate divine discipline would come in the form of the sinning unto death which is explained in v32, “…that we should not be condemned with the world.”
The sleep referred to in v30 relates to physical death, or physical sleep not soul sleep. The body when dead is said to sleep until the time of its resurrection, but the soul will never sleep after death. Stephen, the first martyr, in Acts7:60 ‘fell asleep’ as he was stoned, praying to Jesus, ”Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”; Jesus who sits at the right hand of the Father (Eph1:20, Col3:1, Ps110:1, Heb1:3,10:12) stood to receive Stephen in His presence, not to put him into soul-sleep or temporary death of soul
–3. *At the rapture of the Church* in 1Thess.4:13-17, those believers who have died, which is noted by the phrase, “those who are asleep”, this event relates to the resurrection of the believer’s dead body joined to that believer’s soul, a soul which comes back with Christ at that time. At death, the soul of the saint instantaneously returns to God. The body is mortal, it is temporal, and due to our fallen adamic nature, it is destined to die, but the soul, which comes from God, is immortal and it shall never die. Our soul only becomes unconscious when we go to sleep because the body is tired. If our souls did not become unconscious we could never sleep, so God triggers the soul to go into a shut down mode while the body recuperates from its day.
If our souls were not in these earthly bodies the soul would need no break. When we die our souls will depart our bodies and return to the place we have chosen in life. The saved soul goes to heaven, and the lost souls go to Hades, the place of the soul which has departed a lost person’s body. The resurrection body will not require rest, so the soul will never be triggered to shut down.
Here in 1Thess4:14 we see Jesus will bring with him the souls of those who bodies sleep in the grave. It is clear that the soul is not in the grave for if this were true Jesus would not be bringing them out of the third heaven. Before the cross they were waiting in the lower parts of the earth, ‘Abraham’s bosom’, see Luke16.
In v15-17 Paul says that at the rapture of the Church those who are still physically alive, that they will not proceed, go ahead, of those who are asleep. Paul is referring to the resurrection of the body, not the awakening of souls. The bodies of the deceased saints, whose souls Christ brings with him from heaven, will be reunited to their resurrection bodies, and when this happens, then we believers who are yet physically alive, then we will be physically changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; in a split second we will be changed from an earthly body to a resurrection body, 1Cor15:51-54. At that point all N.T. saints will be ushered to heaven by our Lord Jesus Christ
–4. 2Cor5:8 ‘*absent from the body and at home with the Lord*’; The aorist tense which shows action undefined, of the Greek words ‘absent’, and ‘present’, referring to ones soul being absent from the body and present with the Lord means this is an automatic transaction that takes place at the moment of death
–5. Jn11:25-26 *Jesus promises that he that believes in Him shall never die, not even temporarily*; ”soul sleep” means a temporary death of the soul.
–6. From 1Cor15:20 we note *Paul speaks of Christ as raised from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept*. So here we have our most notable passage; that Christ also slept after his death. However, once again the sleep refers to Christ’s body in death, not his soul. He said before his crucifixion that in three days he would raise the temple, referring to his body. We read in 1Pet3:18-20 that while Jesus’ body was in the grave, Jesus’ spirit went to Hades – hell – to proclaim (”kerusso” in Greek, not ”preach” but ”announce”) His victory. He descended to the lower parts of the earth, and ministered to those departed, conscious souls, Eph4:8-10. The lost saw their unbelief shaken to the core as they saw Christ releasing the saved on the paradise side of Hades. These things did Christ do while his dead body lay in the tomb on the surface of the earth. On the third day his spirit returned to the tomb and he, being God, raised himself from the dead Jn10:18 and exited the tomb (however the Father and the Holy Spirit are also said to have raised Jesus from the dead).
There is no such thing as the annihilation of the soul, only death of the body. It is the resurrection of the body that redeemed men anticipate, 1Cor15:12-19.
The believer’s spirit and soul have already experienced resurrection at the point of salvation: Eph2:1,5,6,8; Rom6:1-11; Col1:13;2:12,13
–7. From Phil1:23 the Apostle Paul was caught between 2 options, which was to either stay and try to untangle the unrest at Philipi, or die during his Roman imprisonment. *Paul said he would rather die and BE WITH CHRIST*, not ”soul-sleep”.
–8. Rev9:6 *John saw in heaven the SOULS of those slain* for the word of God; some say this is an allegory, which is not true: these souls are talking to the Lord and He answers back, they ask, ”when will God execute judgment”.
–9. Luke20:38 ”*He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for TO HIM ALL ARE ALIVE*” Dead to us – physically – but alive to God – in their spirit. They are alive to God, not to God’s memory as some say. God is not the God of the dead! We call him, ”God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” – is God the God of some dry bones?…(as some say Abraham is just dry bones today, until the resurrection when his soul comes out of the temporary death…)
Jesus concludes to the soul-sleep crowd: ”You greatly err!” Mark12:27
–10. John5:24 ”Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; *but is passed from death unto life*.” It does not say, ”will” but present tense, ”is”; also John6:47 ”has eternal life”, not ‘will have’.
–11. Luke23:43: ‘*I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise*’
–12. Heb9:27: “Man is destined to *die once, and after that to face judgment*” not face soul-sleep (see also Jn3:18)

Pastor Daniel

*THE SOUL AFTER PHYSICAL DEATH*
part 1
The soul does not cease to exist after physical death, nor does it go into sleep or temporal death. (We need to discern the difference between physical death and spiritual death). The Bible clearly teaches us in the New Testament that we continue on after death.
*Soul-sleep, a wrong doctrine*, is seen as a temporary death of the soul; The Bible speaks about resurrection of the body, not about waking up of the sleeping or dead soul; the soul-sleep advocates refer to the Old Testament and obtain their doctrine from 2-3 verses alone, taken out of context, for example:
-Eccl9:5, For the living know they will die; *but the dead do not know anything*, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.”
-Eccl12:7, “then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
In this second verse those that believe the doctrine of soul-sleep, they think the spirit is the breath of life from God which has no consciousness, not an entity or a person. But GOD IS A SPIRIT also (Jn4:24), therefore a person with consciousness, not an unconscious ‘breath’. God created man in His image and likeness, which means that man is a SPIRIT (but man also has a physical body which God does not – but God in Christ took on a human body Phil.2:5-9), also man as a FREE WILL just as God, while animals have instinct, also man is a MORAL creature, just as God is; man is created for FELLOWSHIP which animals don’t have, they gather and live by instinct. Man and God can love and hate.
*When Adam and Eve have sinned, that day they died spiritually*, as God had promised in Gen2:17, they did not die physically but their bodies became mortal; those that believe in soul-sleep, believe the soul goes into sleep when the body dies, therefore they can’t explain how Adam and Eve died the day they ate from the fruit. They have accepted God’s animal sacrificed for them, symbol of the future sacrifice of Jesus, so spiritually they were restored, while the body started dying slowly (aging) until died some 900 years later. God blocked them from eating of the tree of life or else their body would have become eternal in a sin nature state. At death man’s sin nature dies (or at rapture 1Thes4).
Often, the case with people who hold this soul-sleep position and refer to Ecclesiastes forget the context. The first three verses of Ecclesiastes say:
“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” 3 What advantage does man have in all his work which he does *under the sun*?”
Notice that he is writing about things from a human perspective–from that which is “under the sun.” He is not providing doctrinal statements about life after death. From the human perspective, when you die, the dead don’t know anything in that the spirit returns to God who gave it. But neither one of these statements means that the soul ceases to exist. Of course the pro-soul sleep advocate will say that “the dead not knowing anything” means they don’t exist. But again, this is written from the perspective of people on earth. The dead are dead to us, because we are only aware of the material, we cant see the spiritual realm unless God reveals spiritual realities to us (Mat17:1-8, 2Kings6:17).
The Ecc3:21 also says, *”Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”* The Bible says the human spirit will go to judgment and that animals are not eternal, as only man is created in the image of God. But the Ecclesiastes begins writing as a man that knows nothing, as an unbeliever doubting God’s existence (‘upward’ speaking of heaven), and advances towards wisdom, ending the Book of Ecclesiastes with faith, or fear of God.
–Matt17:1-8 the Transfiguration– It is important to note is that *MOSES AND ELIJAH were both alive*: Elijah had been raptured, but Moses had died physically. In other words, they are not united in their resurrected bodies because the general resurrection has not yet happened. Therefore, we can clearly see that there are at least two people who are alive, after death, who are not in their physical bodies but soul-body.
–Luke16:19-31 *LAZARUS and the rich man* – We can see in the story of Lazarus and the rich man that after each have died that both were conscious and self-aware. Jesus is obviously teaching that the soul survives after death. Still, there are those who will say that this is a parable. Of course, the problem with this theory is that parables don’t have proper NAMES in them. In this case there is a specific individual named: LAZARUS. (Why Jesus does not give the name of the rich man? An explanation can be in Pr10:7 ”the name of the wicked shall perish”, so Jesus didn’t consider the rich man worthy to have his name recorded in the eternal Word of God). Also, if it were a parable, then what is Jesus saying with the illustration of consciousness after death and before the resurrection? Why would Jesus use false doctrines in a parable? The most logical answer is that Jesus was teaching us that there is soul-consciousness after death.
–2Cor5:8 – “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be *AT HOME with the Lord*.” If soul sleep is a true doctrine, then how is it possible to be outside of the body and also be home with the Lord? It wouldn’t make any sense.
–2Cor12:1-4 – “Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago, whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows, such a man was caught up to the THIRD HEAVEN. And I know how such a man, whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows, was *caught up into PARADISE*, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”
In order to properly understand this section of Scripture we need to know what is meant by the term “*third heaven*.” In the Jewish theology there were three “heavens.” The first heaven deals with the atmospheric region (Deut11:17, 28:12, Judges5:4, Acts14:17). The second heaven deals with the region of outer space (Ps19:4,6;Jer.8:2, Is13:10). The third heaven is God’s dwelling place (1Kings8:30, Ps2:4, Matt5:16)
So, when Paul says that knew someone who was caught up to the third heaven, he was speaking about entering into that dwelling place of God. What is important is that it occurred either in the body or out of the body of which he did not know. If soul sleep is a true doctrine, it could not be said that such a person who is outside of his body (who had died, or to separate the soul from the body) was also with God at the same time. It just wouldn’t make any sense. Therefore, soul sleep is wrong. Soul sleep advocates do not believe soul exists on its own, they say that the soul is the life of the body and that you are your body. They deny that you are *body*+*soul*+*spirit*, as Paul mentions in 1Thes5:23.
Paul says that before salvation, the human spirit is dead, which means outside of a relationship with God: Eph2:1,5, 4:18; 1Tim5:6, someone can be alive physically but dead spiritually. Also someone can be dead physically but alive spiritually.
Ez18:20, “The soul that sins, it shall die” speaks of spiritual death therefore no relationship: no fellowship with God, not soul-sleep.
For 1900 years Christians have believed the souls of men, lost or saved, are fully conscious immediately at the point of death and remain in such a state forever. Doctrine of soul-sleep arrived in the last 150 years.
Ask yourself; “why would we want to believe God wants us to be unconscious after death, until our judgment day?” Isn’t it rather that Satan wants unbelievers to believe that there isn’t a waiting in hell until the judgment day? And again Satan wants people to believe that after the judgment the unbeliever goes back into soul-sleep, so that the thought about hell and the punishment of God is not so scary. <> That is Satan’s lie!! See our message about hell.
In Mat25:41 says, “Then the king (Jesus) will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me, you cursed ones! Go into the everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels!” *Are angels put to sleep also?* Jude6 says they are bound in chains, also 2Pet2:4, also Rev20:2,7 Satan bound in chains then released (not raised from sleep) for a short time. Men rejecting Jesus and demons have the same condemnation: hell, not soul-sleep.
…see part 2
Pastor Daniel

*SHEPHERDS ACCORDING TO GOD’S HEART* Jer.3:15

The word ‘*SHEPHERD*‘ (‘POIMEN’ in Greek) appears 18 times in the New Testament and 4 times in plural form (in the Gospels); the word PASTOR means ‘SHEPHERD’: Mat9:36;25:32;26:31; Mark6:34,14:27; Luke2:8,15,18,20; Jn10:2,11,12,14,16; Eph4:11; Heb13:20; 1Pet2:25

The word ‘*ELDER*‘ (‘PRESBUTEROS’ in Greek) appears 9 times in singular form and 60 times in plural form in the New Testament. It means ‘a senior’, someone mature or older in age but especially in faith; a member of the Jewish council; examples of verses: Mark14:53; Acts15:6;20:17;21:18, 1Tim5:1,17,19, Tit.1:5, Heb11:2, James5:14, 1Pet5:1,5, 2Jn1:1, 3Jn1:1, Rev4:4,10.

The word ‘*BISHOP*‘ (‘EPISKOPOS’ in Greek, it means over-seer) appears 6 times in singular form and 1 time in plural form in the New Testament: Acts20:28, Phil1:1,1Tim.3:1,2, Tit1:7, 3:15, 1Pet2:25 Jesus is called the Shepherd (Pastor) and Bishop of our souls.

These 3 words are used interchangeably by Paul and Peter, they are synonymous, see above verses, speaking of the same person with the office of a pastor. Peter as an apostle called himself a ‘presbuteros’, 1Pet.5:1

We will define here some aspects of the office and work of a shepherd (pastor):

1. He must be *BORN AGAIN* Jn1:12, Eph1:5, Rom8:15;

2. He is an *UNDER-SHEPHERD*, called by Jesus to be a shepherd 1Cor1:1, not self appointed Rev2:20 nor appointed by men Gal1:1.
–A self-proclaimed pastor might have some fruit and foul many, but they cant foul Jesus, see Mat7:22, ‘we have prophesied (preached) in your name, we cast out demons and did miracles…’ Jesus will answer: ‘I have never known you (‘epiginosko’ in Greek means to know in a personal relationship, he was not even born again). Jesus would not appoint as a pastor someone who is not born again.
–An under-shepherd receives instructions from the Great Shepherd 1Pet5:4

3. A good shepherd *FEEDS the sheep the WORD OF GOD*. He does not feed the sheep culture, empty religion and rituals, external behavior, entertainment, denomination or worldly wisdom: 1Cor1:17,20;2:1; 1Tim4:13,16, 2Tim2:2; Ezra7:10, Eph4:11-15.
I was shocked to find out in Harare a pastor advising a young man engaged to a girl, asking him to pay the full huge lobola before marrying them, but he had no money (and the pastor was also charging them a fee for marrying them!) That pastor has never read 2Cor12:14
–A good shepherd does not add to the Word of God orally, in written form or in practice: Rev22:18, Deut4:2, Prov30:6

4. A shepherd’s *CALL IS CONFIRMED* by other shepherds that ordain him under the leading of the Holy Spirit 1Tim5:22, Tit1:5

5. A good shepherd must be able to say, ‘*FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST*‘ 1Cor11:1; we don’t follow a shepherd that does not follow Christ, or else we enter ‘Ditch Ministries’: blind leading blind end up in a ditch Mat15:14, such leader leads the sheep astray Jer50:6

6. A good shepherd *EXALTS CHRIST* not self, not Moses (the law) or any other ‘modern prophet’: Jn3:30, Phil2:9, Rev5:8,12,13;6:16;21:9,22

7. Every shepherd must be *ACCOUNTABLE* to other shepherd(s): Eph5:21
–The shepherds that ordain him can also remove him from office if he goes sideways 1Tim5:19, they cannot remove his call and gifts but can remove him from exercising the office until he repents;
–A pastor is not ‘untouchable’, some pastors use 1Cron16:22 out of context: ‘do not touch the Lord’s anointed’, to say a pastor can do what he wants; that passage speaks of the fact that David being under Saul had no right to remove king Saul from office (or to kill him), only God could
–Saul’s spiritual covering was prophet Nathan; a pastor’s covering is the pastor that ordained him, (if the ordaining pastor died or fell from office then this pastor must choose another pastor to be his spiritual covering and let the church know he is accountable to him and also to his church elders)
–A pastor is not a king, elected for life: Luke22:25-26
–A pastor can’t leave his church as an inheritance to his son as kings do
–A pastor starting a church should elect elders; these elders should be involved in choosing a replacement pastor and it is wise to involve pastors from other congregations in this process

8. Read *MORE QUALIFICATIONS OF A SHEPHERD*: 1Tim3:2-7: He must be able to teach, blameless (not perfect but walking in integrity), if married, then married to only one woman (but can be single as Paul: 1Cor7:7-10,33; Mat19:12,29 speaks of forsaking getting married for the sake of the Gospel); sober (not given to alcohol, drugs, entertainment or anything that can endanger his mental process and self-control); of good behavior; vigilant; Spirit filled; not given to wine (literal Greek: ‘not staying near wine’ means he avoids wine completely to avoid any danger); not striker (not ready to fight physically); not a brawler (literal: not against peace); not covetous; keeping his children under subjection; not a novice; he must have a good report of his present conduct as a Christian (not a good report of his life before being a Christian: his changed life is a powerful testimony)

–Read Tit1:5-16 another list of qualifications for a pastor; also 1Tim3

9. A shepherd *GUARDS THE SHEEP*: Acts20:28; guards the sheep from wrong doctrines, warning them of false teachers as well: Phil3:2; 2Cor11:13,15; 1Tim1:3,20, 2Tim2:17,18; 3Jn9; Rev2:2,6,9,14,15,20,24

10. He recognizes the *CHURCH IS ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD*‘ Acts20:28, 1Tim3:15, not the pastor’s church. Jesus said, ‘I will build My church’ in Mat16:18, Jesus didn’t say to Peter, ‘you Peter will build My church’, neither ‘I Jesus will build your (Peter’s) church’, neither ‘you Peter will build your church’

11. He *GIVES HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP* – Jn10:15, Phil2:30, 1Thes2:8; giving his time or even life if needed (martyrdom)

–Observes when one sheep is missing – Matt18:12
–Goes after the lost sheep – Matt18:12; visits them home; he is available
–Carries the lost sheep on his shoulders – Luke15:5; does not drag/push the sheep or beat it from behind
–A good shepherd is ready to spend of his own for the sheep: 2Cor12:15

12. Is *NOT PARTIAL* James2:1-4; does not give offices in church based on income; does not avoid preaching against sins of the greatest contributors in church

13. He is a *SOWER, PLANTING THE SEED OF THE GOSPEL*: Mat13:3-9, Mat28:18-20 (Jesus said ‘go after them’, not ‘call them to your church building or stadium’ only)
–Acts17:17 Paul was talking daily with people in the market place; street evangelism. Sadly, only cults today do street evangelism
–He that wins souls is wise Prov11:30. Giving money to evangelists does not excuse anyone from evangelizing

14. He is *NOT COMPETING WITH OTHER PASTORS*: Phil1:15-19; He is aware that the harvest belongs to God: Lk10:2

15. He is *READY TO SUFFER FOR THE GOSPEL*: Phil1:29; 2Cor11:24-33; stands for the truth even if in danger to be removed from office by opposing church

16. *NOT A HIRELING* – not on pastoral office for money: 1Pet5:2; he does not charge money for his ‘services’, he does not sell anointing oil or any objects as worship objects
–Pastor can have a wage from the church: 1Tim5:17,18, around the average salary in church or slightly higher (for calls and visitation fares); Lk22:25,26 Jesus says shepherds should not be like kings that demand respect and money (taxes), but through being a servant he gains respect and draws followers of Christ
–At times Paul had refused to receive money from new believers so that they wouldn’t think Paul was after their money 2Cor7:2, 11:7-13, 12:17
–A good shepherd is honest financially before men and God: 2Cor.8:21; he does not collect the money himself but brethren in the church do the collection and counting: 2Cor8:6,18,23,24; Ezra8:25,28-33
–Paul had accepted gifts from the church in Philippi when the church was mature in faith: Phil4:10-18, to be able to start a church in Corinth, from whom he had refused to receive money: 2Cor11:8
–At times in Corinth Paul worked for his needs and the needs of those with him: Acts18:3-5 (in v5 Paul stopped working to give himself fully to preaching as Silas and Timothy had joined him and were most probably working to support Paul’s expenses and theirs) 20:33,34, 1Cor4:12, 1Thes2:9, 2Thes3:8
–He does not kill and eat the sheep, as the shepherds of Israel did: Ez34:1-31; these shepherds were killing the sheep to eat their meat, they were shepherding themselves, v8, instead of shepherding the sheep, they searched their own interest: Phil2:21; they ruled with harshness, did not look for the lost sheep

17. *LEADS GOING BEFORE THE FLOCK*: Jn10:4,5, not pushing from behind. He who pushes from behind is the butcher; David was leading his soldiers by example while Saul put fear on soldiers 1Sam11:7

18. A good shepherd *DOES NOT CLAIM EXCLUSIVITY*: Luke9:49

19. A shepherd is *NOT LOOKING FOR GLORY* but acts as a nurse that cherishes her children: 1Thes2:6,7; he is as a father: 1Thes2:11

20. A shepherd *PRAYS DAY AND NIGHT FOR THE SHEEP* under his care: 1Thes3:10,13; 2Thes1:3

21. A good shepherd is *TRAINING OTHER SHEPHERDS* (no fees!): 2Tim2:2, Mat28:20, without envy, control and competition

22. A good shepherds looks for *TRANSFORMED LIVES*, not changed behavior: Rom12:1,2

23. A good shepherd is *AN EXAMPLE* for others: Phil3:17;4:9

24. A good shepherd is *NOT A ONE-PERSON-SHOW* but involves others in the work (team work; see verses on the Body of Christ)Acts2:14; Paul always traveled with other disciples: Acts20:4 Num11:16, Ex18:25

25. A good shepherd is *NOT A DREAMER OF DREAMS AND DOES NOT INVENT PROPHECIES* but preaches the Book of Prophecies, the Bible: Deut13:1-3a, Ecc5:3,7; Col2:18; Heb1:1-2; 2Pet1:19-21

26. A good shepherds *PLEASES GOD, NOT MAN*: Gal1:10, 1Thes2:4

A good shepherd is to be loved: 1Thes5:12-13 and honored 1Tim5:17, Heb13:7,17-18, Phil2:29, 1Thes5:12.

This is not a complete list, but I believe there are some essential points in here. Also, dont expect perfection from a pastor!

Pastor Daniel

*THE TWO PHASES OF CHRIST’S COMING*

We regard the fact of the two phases of Christ’s coming as the key that is necessary to unlock the meaning of many passages of Scripture that otherwise might seem confusing.

Jesus’ first coming has happened about 2000 years ago.

Here we discuss His second coming, in 2 phases:

*I. THE TWO PHASES CONTRASTED*
1. The first phase will be in the air (1Thess4:15-17); the second phase will be to the earth (Zech14:4).
2. The first phase of His coming will be *FOR* His people (Matt25:6-10; Jn.14:2); the second phase will be *WITH* His people (Jude14; Rev17:14).
3. The first phase His coming will be *as a bridegroom* (Matt25:6-10); the second phase will be His coming *as a king* to judge and to reign (Ps96:13;Zech14:9; Matt25:31; Rev19:15;20:4)
4. At the first phase the *righteous will be taken from among the wicked* (Matt25:6-10; 1Thess4:15-17); at the second phase *the wicked will be taken from among the righteous* (Matt13:40-42)
5. At the first phase *the righteous on earth will meet the Lord in the air* to go away into Heaven with Him (1Thess4:17; Jn14:2); at the second phase *they simply enter into the kingdom here on the earth* (Matt13:43; Matt25:34)
6. At the first phase *unbelievers are left on the earth to be punished* during the great tribulation but also as a last call to salvation (Matt25:10-12, 2Thes1:8, Rev.9:20,21); at the second phase *they are destroyed and cast into everlasting fire* (Matt25:41,46)
7. The *first phase is ever imminent* (Mark13:35, 36; Jas5:8; Rev22:12); the *second phase is to be preceded* by certain definite things (Matt24:14-29; 2Thess2:1-8).

*II. THE TWO PHASES SEPARATED AS TO TIME*
The two phases of Christ’s coming cannot occur simultaneously or in close connection. But note these specific evidences that a period of time will intervene between them:

1. Since at the first phase the righteous will be taken from among the wicked and at the second phase the wicked will be taken from among the righteous (see No. 4 above), it is impossible for the two phases occur in close connection. All the righteous will be taken away at the first phase. Hence there must be sufficient time between the first and second phases for some to be saved.
2. Since at the first phase Christ is to receive His disciples into the “many mansions prepared for them in Heaven (Jn14:2) and at the second phase the righteous on earth are to enter into the kingdom on earth (see. No. 5 above), it is again impossible that both phases occur in close connection.
Those who enter into the kingdom at the second phase must be saved after the first phase.
3. Since the first phase may occur at any time (so far as man knows) and the second phase must be preceded by specific events (see No. 8 above), they cannot occur in close connection. One is imminent and the other is not.
4. There must he sufficient time between the two phases for the “Man of Sin” (2Thess2:3) to be revealed and to run his course. He cannot be revealed until the hinderer is taken out of the way (2Thess2:6,7). The hinderer is the Holy Spirit indwelling every saved person (1Cor6:19).
That the Holy Spirit is the hinderer is proved by the personal pronoun that is applied to him and also in two ways by the process of elimination. The only other theory worth considering that has been advanced is that the Roman government was the hinderer. But the Roman government was taken out of
the way some fifteen centuries ago, and the “Man of Sin” has not yet been revealed. Moreover the Roman government could not prevent the revelation of such a being as he is represented as being, but would rather contribute toward his revelation. The taking out of the way of the Holy Spirit will be
accomplished when Christ takes His people out of the earth, which will be at the first phase of His coming. Sufficient time must elapse, therefore, between the first phase and the second for this monster to run his course, for he is to be destroyed at the second phase (2Thess2:8)
5. Also there must be sufficient time between the two Phases for all the events recorded in Rev7:19. This section of Scripture should include chapter six also, no doubt, but we can be sure that it must begin with chapter seven. For in chapter seven we have the sealing of the servants of God on
earth, and only Jews are sealed. This shows that the first phase of Christ’s coming has taken place already; for, otherwise, there would certainly be some Gentile servant’s of God on the earth.

The hundred and forty-four thousand Jews mentioned as being sealed in this chapter are evidently those that will be saved immediately after the appearance of Christ in the air. And then, to confirm this view, immediately following the account of the sealing of these Jews, we have the innumerable multitude in Heaven (Rev7:9). These, manifestly, are those that were lifted from the earth at Christ’s appearance in the air. Then the second phase of Christ’s coming does not appear until we reach the 19th chapter, and there is every evidence of a general chronological order. Thus the events of the intervening chapters are to take place during the interim between the two phases of Christ’s coming.

The New Testament speaks of but one coming of Jesus, but it clearly reveals that this one coming will consist of two phases, separated by a period of time.

*III. THE FIRST PHASE OF CHRIST’S COMING IS IMMINENT*
We have now shown that Christ’s coming is to consist of two phases, and that these phases are to be separated by a period of time. We undertake here to prove that the first phase of His coming is imminent. Note that we are not attempting to prove that Christ’s coming in judgment and to reign is
imminent. So far as we know, all unfulfilled prophecies referring to this age (and there are many), without violence to them or any other Scriptures, may be fulfilled in the interim between the two phases of Christ’s coming. They must be fulfilled before the second phase of Christ’s coming, but we know of no prophecy that must be fulfilled before Christ comes for His bride. Last prophecy that had to be fulfilled before the first phase of Jesus’ second coming is the return of the Jews in their country (1948).

1. Mark13:25,36 “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at cock crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”
The meaning of watch in this and similar passages is “to take heed, lest through remissness and indolence some destructive calamity overtake one.” Can there be any sensible reason for watching for an event, unless, so far as we know, it may take place now?
2. Jas.5:8 “Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
The Greek word for “draws nigh” is in the pluperfect tense, and means “has come nigh, is at hand.” A similar form of the same word is to be used “concerning things imminent and soon to come to pass.” The verb in the above passage is translated “is at hand” nine times in the King James Version. Matt.26:46 furnishes a good example of its use.
3. Rev22:12 “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be.”
The word in the passage for quickly does not mean suddenly, as some would
have it; but it means “quickly, speedily, without delay”. Good samples of its use may be found in Matt5:25; 28:7,8; Mark16:8; Jn11:29. In the above passage, the coming of Christ is spoken of as God sees it; and a thousand years is as one day with God (1Pet3:8). And it is so represented that the time of it may be uncertain to believers. So far as they know, it may occur at any moment. Therefore, to them it is ever imminent.
Many passages show the practical value of a belief in the imminent coming of Christ. Prominent among them is James5:8, as given above. This passage shows that a belief in the imminent coming of Christ is an incentive to patience and strength in the midst of suffering and afflictions.

*This is the order of future events:*

1. First phase of Christ’s second coming for his saints (the rapture of the church and resurrection of the dead in Christ and probably also the resurrection of the Old Testament saints, followed by the marriage of the Lamb and the rewards judgment for believers 1Cor3:10-15). Verses: 1Cor15:51-53, Heb11:35, 39-40, 1Thes4:13-18, 2Cor.5:1-4, Job19:25-27, Mat8:11

2. The tribulation period (7 years) Dan9:27

3. Second phase of second coming of Christ with his saints: Jude14

4. Battle of Armaggedon Rev16:16, 19:19

5. 1000 years reign of Christ on the earth starting with the resurrection of the saints that died during tribulation Rev20:4-6, Dan12:1-2; conditions in the 1000 years: Satan and demons bound in hell for 1000 years, earth is blessed, purged by angels Mat13:41, humans that came to faith in Jesus during the 7 years of tribulation will be entering the millennium with physical bodies, will marry and have children and nobody dies of getting old but can die as chastisement from God Is65:20, there will be a temple, Sabbaths, sacrifices, Israel will be reigning over the earth with Jesus in the land promised to Abraham, together with the church (believers having glorified bodies and Israel also the nations having normal physical bodies); see also Is35, 60-62,65; Ezek.40-48; Micah 4; Rev.20-22

6. Great battle at God and Magog – Satan is released for a short moment and is motivating many of those that have unglorified physical bodies to rebel against Jesus Rev20:7,8

7. Destruction of the present heavens (universe) and earth Rev20:11, 2Pet3:7-12, Heb1:10-12
8. Judgment of the unbelievers and they are cast into the lake of fire Rev20:14

9. New heavens and new earth 2Pet3:13, Rev21:1, the eternal state. Amen.

*SATAN’S NAMES AND WORK*

*A. THE NAMES AND DESCRIPTIVE TITLES*

1. *SATAN* “adversary, hater, and accuser 1Chron21:1
2. *DEVIL* “slanderer, accuser, deceiver Rev20:2
3. *BEELZEBUB* prince of demons, originally it meant “Lord of Flies”; the Jews later changed it to mean ‘Lord of the Dung Hill’ Mark3:22
4. *BELIAL* it means “good-for-nothing Deut13:13
5. *THE WICKED ONE* He is the evil one, who has no reverence for Christ 1Jn2:13,14; Matt6:13
6. *PRINCE OF THIS WORLD* World politics, business and society are under his domain.
The Lord Jesus did not deny when the devil in the wilderness said the world belongs to him Matt4; Luke4; Jn12:31; 14:30; 16:11
7. *THE GOD OF THIS AGE* 2Cor4:4
8. *PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR* Eph2:2
9. *THAT OLD SERPENT* Rev12:3,9;20:2
10. *DRAGON* Rev20:2
11. *THE EVIL ONE* 1Jn5:18
12. *ANGEL OF LIGHT* 2Cor11:14
13. *FATHER OF LIES* Jn8:44
14. *MURDERER* Jn8:44; 1Jn3:12to15
15. *ROARING LION* 1Pet5:8
16. *RULER OF DARKNESS* Eph6:12

*B. THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN*

There is a general denial that the Devil is a person. To deny such is to deny the Word of God. The Scriptures teach that he is as much a person as the Lord Jesus Christ.

*C. THE ORIGIN OF SATAN*

Satan was a created being Ezek28:15. His position was the greatest of all the angelic hosts, “Thou art the anointed cherub that covers” (Ezek28:14). He was one of the cherubim that overlooked the mercy seat of the temple in heaven.
His name, Lucifer, means “Son of the Morning.” He was created in perfect beauty (Ez28:12,17). Some hold that he was the choir leader of heaven, as the tabrets and pipes were prepared in him the day that he was created (Ez28:13). Others may ask, “Isn’t the 28th chapter of Ezekiel speaking about the King of Tyre?” Yes, to begin with but the inspired writer goes beyond the King of Tyre, and speaks about a person that no human person could possibly fulfill, “Thou hast been in Eden” (Ez28:13). Who could this be but Satan? He was perfect in his ways (Ez28:15) until sin was found in him

*D. THE CAREER OF SATAN*
What was the sin that caused Satan to be? What was it that changed Lucifer into the Devil? It was the original sin of the universe: pride. “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Is14:14). The sin of pride was caused by choosing his own will above the will of God. “I will” (or pride) became the original sin of the universe.
He appeared in the garden of Eden and thrust the human race into sin and death. He came to Job and wrought misery in his life. He tempted David to number the people. He tempted Christ Matt4 and Peter Luke22:32. He hindered Paul in his great work 1Thess2:18. He snatches the Word from people’s hearts (Mark4:15)

*E. THE LOCATION OF SATAN*
He does have access to the throne of God, for he accused Job, and we are told that he accuses the brethren daily. “The accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night” Rev12: l0. It is an error to think of the Devil living in a palace in hell; his location is in the heavenlies (or earth’s atmosphere).

*F. THE CHARACTER OF SATAN*

*1. Has Great Dignity (or position)*; His titles show this. “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out” Jn12:31; also Jude8, 9; 2Cor4:4

*2. Has Great Power* God (Jesus) sent Paul to the Gentiles “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” Acts26:18; also Job1:10-12; Luke11:14,18; Eph6:11,12. The whole world without Christ is under Satan’s control

*3. Has Great Cunning and Deceit* “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” 2Cor11:14; also Matt24:24; 2Cor2:11

*4. Has Great Malignity* “He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” 1Jn3:8; also 2Cor4:4

*5. Has Great Fear of God* “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” Jam4:7

*G. THE WORK OF SATAN:*

*1. He Is the Author of Sin and Tempts Men to Sin* “Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” Matt4:1

*2. He Produces Sickness (but not every sickness) and Has Power of Death* “that through death he (Jesus) might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” Heb2:14; also Luke13:16; Acts10:38

*3. He Lays Snares for Men* “God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth . . . that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” 2Tim2:26

*4. He Takes the Word Out of Hearts* “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart” Matt13:19

*5. He Puts Wicked Purposes Into Hearts* “Neither give place to the devil” Eph.4:27

*6. He Blinds Minds* “The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” 2Cor4:4

*7. He Harasses Men* “…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” 2Cor12:7

*8. He Accuses Men Before God* “The accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night” Rev12:10

*9. He Enters Into Unregenerate Men* “Supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart
of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him . . . [Jesus] riseth from supper” Jn13:2

*10. He Sows Tares Among God’s People* “the enemy that sowed the tares is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels” Matt13:38,39

*11. He Gives Power to the Lawless Ones* “…that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices” 2Cor2:10,11

*12. He Resists God’s Servants* “He shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him” Zech3:1; also Dan10:13

*13. He Hinders God’s Servants* “We would fain have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” 1Thess2:18

*14. He Sifts God’s Servants* “The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” Luke22:31

*15. He Holds the World captive* “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the evil one” 1Jn5:19

*H. THE LIMITATION OF SATAN:*

*1. He Is Not Omnipresent* He can be at only one place at a time. He is a created being, and a created being cannot be in two places at the same time. He is not everywhere, but his followers (demons) are. He can move rapidly to the aid of his agents Luke10:18

*2. He Is Not Omniscient* He is wise; too wise for us, but he is not all-wise. The Devil would know less if we would tell him less. Spiritism is not all trickery. It is demonism, controlled by the Devil. No one can communicate with the dead, but the Devil and his angels know info about the dead and communicate this knowledge to their mediums and can imitate voices of the dead.

*3. He Is Not Omnipotent* He is not all-powerful, though he has more power than we do. He is subject to the Word of God. A good example of this is found in Job 1 and 2

*I. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD SATAN:*

*1. Redemptive Rights Are to Be Claimed by the Believer from God* “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto
the death” Rev12:11; also Eph6:16; Heb2:14; Col2:15; 1Jn3:8

*2. Full Equipment Is to Be Appropriated by the Believer* “Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” Eph6:10,11; also Eph6:12to18

*3. Strict Self Control through being Spirit filled* “Neither give place to the devil” Eph4:27

*4. Vigilance* “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour” 1Pet5:8; also 2Cor2:11

*5. Resistance Is to Be Made by the Believer* “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” Jas4:7;also 1Jn2:14

Pastor Daniel

*WHAT IS SALVATION?*
Part 3

*THE ROLE OF CHRIST’S BLOOD in the Atonement*
The exact role of Christ’s blood has been no small source of controversy within Christian circles. Some have contended that the blood is a symbol for Christ’s suffering and death and that the literal physical blood played a comparatively insignificant role. Christ’s death, they say, provided salvation, not so much His physical blood. Several questions must be considered. Is blood symbolic for Christ’s suffering and death, or does it refer to literal blood? Was the actual physical blood of Christ necessary to provide salvation? If so, did it constitute all that was necessary, or are there other aspects to His sacrifice?

*A. Observations about BLOOD in the Bible*
The word *blood* occurs approximately 99 times in the New Testament. There are approximately 38 references to Christ’s blood. The rest refer to human or animal blood. Here are texts that teach about Christ’s blood in providing salvation.
”And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My *blood* of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” Matt.26:27,28
“…to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” Acts20:28
Also: Rom3:25;5:9; Eph1:7;2:13; Heb10:19;13:12to21; 1Jn1:7; Rev1:5b;5:9;7:14;12:11 1Pet1:2,18,19; 1Jn5:6,8; Col1:20; Heb;9:12; 1Cor10:16a;1Cor11:25,27; Heb12:24a; Mark14:24; Luke22:20; Jn6:53; Jn6:55,56

*B. Conclusions about the Role of Christ’s Blood in the Atonement*

*1. The blood is more than a symbol*. It is understandable to conclude that there was more to Christ’s agony than bleeding. Nevertheless, this truth should not relegate the literal blood to an insignificant factor in making salvation possible. The shedding of blood may not have been the only sacrifice/cost to the Savior. Yet, it was one necessary aspect to Christ’s sacrifice. Salvation could not have been offered without the shed blood. The New Testament clearly stresses the blood of Christ and relates it to all major aspects of the atonement (forgiveness of sins – Matt26:28, Eph1:7; justification – Rom5:9; redemption – Eph1:7, Heb9:12, 1Pet1:19, Rev5:9; reconciliation – Co11:20; and propitiation – Rom3:25).
One of the penalties for sin is physical death. Without the shedding of physical blood, an essential requirement for man’s salvation, there would have been no forgiveness, redemption, propitiation, reconciliation, and justification for mankind (Heb9:22). The “blood” of Christ should not be viewed as just a symbol or as a minor component in providing salvation. However, this is not the same as denying that Christ made additional sacrifices and endured additional pains that were equally vital. Also, it is probable that when the New Testament authors used the word blood, they meant both literal blood and also all other aspects of his suffering and death. Blood means blood, but it also has a deeper meaning: it speaks of a greater death, agony, and sacrifice.

2. Factors other than Christ’s blood are at work in providing salvation. The cross will never be totally understood. We can be sure that there are other factors than the blood at work on the cross. Being a human physically, Jesus bled at His circumcision and when His baby teeth fell out. He perhaps bled in the carpenter’s shop or from traveling on rough roads. He bled when Pilate’s men whipped Him and when the thorns pierced His head. Yet, these drops of blood were, alone, not sufficient for the atonement.
We should first consider that the statement “the wages of sin is death” refers primarily to spiritual death (temporary separation from the Father on the cross Matt27:46). Christ paid the penalty of physical death. It was both literal and absolutely necessary. However, He must have also paid the pain of spiritual death and eternal death. He must have endured not the identical punishment in eternal hell but rather an equivalent punishment. Somehow Christ felt the agony of eternal hell multiplied by billions to pay for the sin of billions, and He did so during those short hours on the cross. Bleeding was necessary, but the difference between Christ bleeding at His circumcision and Christ bleeding as He hung on the cross is that Christ was the sin-bearer at the time He hung on the cross. The flow of blood was necessary, but it had to be the flow of blood at the precise time He was the sin-bearer or else the blood in and of itself would not have accomplished God’s goal.

*The Meaning and Extent of the ATONEMENT*
A. The Old Testament Term Atonement
As a Biblical word, atonement is strictly an Old Testament term concerning animal sacrifice. The verb kapar (Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement) occurs approximately 102 times, and 3 various noun forms have a total of about 52 uses. Atonement seems to be a complex idea with many aspects.

1. One aspect of atonement is the *COVERING OF SIN OR EXPIATION OF SIN* (i.e., to remove or wipe out sin’s guilt and obligation). The priests covered the mercy seat (Hebrew: atonement seat) with blood. Rom.3:25 and Heb.9-10 seems to teach that sins were temporarily covered under the Old Testament system but were not permanently removed. Christ’s sacrifice definitely expiated (removed) sin. It is probably wise to view Old Testament atonement as the covering of sins, the temporary removal of sin’s obligation, until Christ could come.

2. A second aspect of atonement is propitiation or the *DIVERSION OF WRATH*. If a Bible student had to choose one New Testament concept that is most closely related to the Old Testament term atonement, it would have to be propitiation. The most common translation used in the Septuagint for the Hebrew kapar is the Greek term for propitiation. Furthermore, Heb2:17 is a key text that relates the work of a priest (in the context Christ) to making propitiation by sacrifice.
”Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make *propitiation* for the sins of the people” Heb2:17
”For he said, “I will appease (Hebrew, atone) him with the present that goes before me. Then afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me” Gen32:20
Prov16:14 refers to a wise man who seeks to atone (appease or pacify) the wrath of a king. The idea of propitiate needs to be included in the definition of atonement.

*C. The Extent of the Atonement*
“Five-point” Calvinists assert Christ died for only the elect. While acknowledging that many fine Christians believe in this “limited atonement,” the Bible teaches an unlimited atonement. There is a sense in which redemption (2Pet2:1), reconciliation (2Cor5:19;Col1:20), and propitiation (1Jn2:2) occur for the whole world. Texts that teach unlimited atonement include the following:
“…Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Jn1:29
“For God so loved the *world*…” Jn3:16; Jn4:42
”…and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the *whole world*”1Jn2:2
…also Jn6:51;12:32,47;Acts17:30;2Cor5:19;1Tim2:4,6;4:10; Titus2:11;Heb2:9;2Pet2:1

Pastor Daniel

*WHAT IS SALVATION?*
Part 2

Some think Christ paid a price to Satan to secure human release from bondage to Satan, which is not biblical, Satan did not take the blood of Jesus as payment, but God the Father required the blood as a sacrifice for sin.
Redemption is the sinward aspect of the atonement. We are redeemed from sin Rom.3:23-24, Col.1:14, from trespasses Eph1:7, from lawless deeds Titus2:14, from transgressions Heb.9:12,15, and from our former futile way of life 1Pet.1:18-19. Teaching that believers are redeemed from the law’s curse is not so different from teaching that we are redeemed from sin Gal.3:13,4:5. It was sin that caused the law to curse man and obligated man to the law’s penalty.

*RECONCILIATION is the Manward Aspect of the Atonement*
The truth of reconciliation presupposes that man was/is God’s enemy. The enmity of man toward God is taught not only in contexts concerning reconciliation Rom5:10; Col1:21,22, but also in many other verses Luke19:27; Rom.8:7, “carnal” referring to unsaved; 1Cor15:25; Phil3:18.
”…because the mind set on the flesh (unsaved) is *hostile toward God*; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” Rom8:7
”For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are *enemies of the cross* of Christ” Phil3:18
It is also evident from experience that the unsaved are antagonistic toward God. To complete the picture we must add that God loves his enemies (Jn3:16; Rom5:8). The estrangement was man’s fault. It was man who had caused the alienation. Man turned his back on God and wandered from Him. God is blameless. However, God reacted to man’s hostility with righteous and holy indignation. Therefore, it would be true to say that the hostility was mutual.
Man viewed God as an enemy, but God also viewed man as His enemy. The difference was that man was being sinful in his hostility toward God, while God was fully justified in His hostility toward man. The doctrine of reconciliation considers how the work of the cross affected the strained and hostile relationship between God and Man.

”For if while we were *enemies*, we were *reconciled* to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” Rom5:10
”And although you were formerly *alienated* and *hostile* in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now *reconciled* you” Col1:21-22
”For He Himself is our *peace*, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the *enmity*, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might *reconcile* them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity” Eph2:14-16

Scriptures use reconciliation in the ordinary sense to change a relationship for the better. The relationship is changed from enmity and hostility to friendship and peace.
The Bible gives two aspects, or phases, for reconciliation. In an *objective sense* reconciliation occurred in the past on the cross. The *whole world* was reconciled whether believing or unbelieving Jn3:16, 1Jn2:1,2. However, in a *subjective sense* the *individual* becomes reconciled to God at the *time of conversion Jn1:12*. These two phases to reconciliation can be observed in the Biblical texts on the subject.
”For if *while we were enemies, we were reconciled (universal)* to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation (individual)” Rom.5:10-11

Paul tells his readers that, in one sense, they were reconciled to God *in the past* at the time of Christ’s death; but in another sense they have been *now*, at the time of salvation, reconciled to God. Is as if God and man were angry with each other and each turned his back to the other but now God turned facing towards man with open arms and awaits that man turns towards God, by believing in Jesus.
”Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ *reconciling the world* to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” 2 Cor.5:18-20

”…and *through Him to reconcile all things (universal) to Himself*, having made peace *through the blood of His cross*; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you (individual) in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” Col.1:20-22

The two phases of reconciliation are universal reconciliation and individual reconciliation:

a. *UNIVERSAL RECONCILIATION* occurred at the cross. It certainly does not mean that all have been saved or that all have ceased to be God’s enemies.
2Cor.5:19 “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, *not counting their trespasses against them*.”
Christ has paid for all mankind’s sins. If someone enters hell, it will be because of indifference to Christ 2Thes1:9, Jn3:18. Nobody goes to hell because of sin but punishment in hell will indeed be according to men’s sin Rev20:12, just like Christians are not saved by works (Eph2:9) but will receive rewards in heaven according to their works 1Cor3:12-15

b. *INDIVIDUAL RECONCILIATION* occurs at the time of salvation (when one receives Christ by faith).
Hostility and antagonism cease and are replaced by fellowship, friendship and peace (the words peace and reconciliation in the same context:, Rom5:1,10,11;Eph2:14-16;Col1:20

*PROPITIATION: The Godward Aspect of the Atonement*
To say Christ propitiated God means He removed the offense of sin and thereby turned God’s wrath away. Other synonymous ways of explaining the concept include the following: the cross *pacified* God’s anger, *appeased* God’s anger, and *placated* God’s anger. Christ’s death *satisfied* the righteous *wrath of God* so that His wrath was turned away (diverted) from us. Thus, just as redemption is the sinward aspect of the atonement and reconciliation is the manward aspect of atonement, so propitiation is the Godward aspect of atonement.
Redemption pictures man as a slave held as a hostage in sin. Reconciliation pictures man as an enemy who is estranged from God. Propitiation pictures man as a guilty criminal whose offense has rightly angered the Judge.

*Definition of PROPITIATION*

a. *God is angry about sin*: Jn3:36; Rom1:18,12:19; Eph5:6; Col3:6; 2Thess1:7,8; Heb10:31,12:29; Rev6:16;19:15,20:11-15

b. In Ex32 Moses is trying to persuade God to not “consume them from off the face of the earth” in His holy anger. Then in Ex32:14 reads, “and the Lord was propitiated to preserve His people.” By his intercession Moses diverted God’s anger away from the idolatrous nation. Another Old Testament example where words from the propitiation word-group refer to *appeasing anger* is Ps130:3,4. Verse three teaches that all men are guilty of sin and that none could stand before God’s wrath if God were not gracious: “If Thou, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” Then verse four uses a member of the propitiation word group to explain that God’s wrath need not bring destruction: “For with thee is propitiation.” The word in this context means the *satisfaction or diversion of wrath*.

c. *Propitiation in the New Testament*
The words of the propitiation family (Greek: ilasmos) occur only a handful of times in the New Testament. The verb (to propitiate) appears in Luke18:13 and Heb2:17, and two Greek noun forms (both translated propitiation) appear in Rom3:25; Heb9:5; 1Jn2:2 and 4:10. Finally, the adjective (propitious) occurs in Heb8:12 and Matt16:22.
Rom3:25 is a key text both in the book of Romans and in the doctrine of propitiation: “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.” Is the idea of God’s wrath in the context? Beginning in Rom.1:18, Paul’s goal in the first section of Romans has been to establish that all are guilty sinners threatened by God’s holy wrath. He states, “For the *wrath* of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness on men” Rom1:18. The apostle goes on to say in Rom2:6-8 “who will render to every man according to his deeds…to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, *wrath* and indignation.” Before this wrathful God, all are sinners (Rom3:10,23) and all are guilty (Rom3:19). It is within such a context that Rom3:25 asserts Christ Jesus is a propitiation.

…see part 3