MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
Second Corinthians Chapter Eight
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Let us bow our heads; If we need to use the Recovery Procedure as found in 1 John 1:9, let us do so at this time that we might be in fellowship. (pause) Father, we thank you for the privilege and opportunity to study your word and for the freedom that you have provided for us here in Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.A.; furthermore, we express our appreciation to God the Holy Spirit who will enlighten us regarding the message this morning. We as priests pray this through the person of our Lord Christ Jesus, our High Priest, Amen.
2 Corinthians 8 &9 deals with Giving: So, we will need to cover this subject.
Definition.
1. Giving is an expression of worship to commemorate the grace policy of God.
2. Giving in the Church Age is the legitimate function of the believer’s royal priesthood in worship, both inside and outside the local church. Giving is one of the four categories of Christian service.
a. Christian service related to your spiritual gift.
b. Christian service related to your royal priesthood, which includes prayer, giving, and the execution of the Protocol Plan of God through learning, thinking, and solving.
c. Christian service related to your royal ambassadorship, which includes evangelism, administration in the local church, function on the mission field as a missionary, and function in a Christian service organization.
d. Christian service related to the Laws of Divine Establishment, which includes military service, law enforcement, and governmental function.
3. Giving is the presentation of money or other valuable commodities which may be used in sustaining the ministry of doctrinal communication. These gifts do not pertain to things like building funds.
4. Christian giving may be extended to organizations other than the local church such as missionary organizations, Bible schools, seminaries, media ministries etc. Giving is designed to support communication gifts both within the local church and outside of it.
5. Giving is the means of inculcating teamwork and coordination into the body of Christ.
6. Bonified giving is based on metabolized doctrine and correct motivation. Motivation is the major issue in giving, not the amount given. You give based on the metabolized doctrine in your soul which doctrine provides the correct mental attitude for God loves grace-oriented giving based on his will for your life. Therefore, never give emotionally or impulsively, a sign that your giving is not based on metabolized doctrine and grace-oriented thinking.
7. The unbeliever should not give to support the communicative gifts of a local church since this is the responsibility of the members of the Royal Family of God only. So, no local church should knowingly collect money from the unbeliever. To the contrary, the unbeliever should be warned not to give since he does not have a relationship with God and is not in a position to give as a form of worship.
The Doctrinal Principles of Giving.
1. Giving is an expression of the royal family honor code. Charity is from God; socialism and welfare are from man.
Romans 15:26. For Macedonia and Achaia have decided with pleasure to make a special offering to the poor believers who are in Jerusalem.
Galatians 2:10. They [at the Jerusalem council] only asked us [Paul and his team] to remember the poor; the very thing I was also eager to do.
2. Giving is an expression of free will, without gimmicks and without coercion.
2 Corinthians 8:3. I testify on the basis of their ability and beyond their ability they gave willingly [from their free will].
3. Giving is an expression of mental attitude in every circumstance of life. Even though under adversity, with the happiness of God, Christians give.
2 Corinthians 8:2. That in the midst of severe testing and great pressure, the superabundance of their happiness and their deep poverty overflowed in rich generosity [in giving].
4. Giving must express an attitude toward the Lord before it can express an attitude toward others.
2 Corinthians 8:5. And not even as we anticipated, but they gave first of themselves to the Lord, then they gave to us by the will of God.
Certain members of the Corinthians Church were occupied with Christ and had personal love for God the Father which motivated their giving.
5. Giving depends on spiritual growth resulting in impersonal love.
2 Corinthians 8:7. But just as you excel in everything in faith-rest and in doctrine and in knowledge and in all diligence and in love from you to us, you also excel in this grace giving [means that the individual is grace oriented and has the capacity for impersonal love].
6. Precedence for giving is derived from the dispensation of the Hypostatic Union and is predicated on grace.
2 Corinthians 8:9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich [eternal God], yet for your sake He became poor [took on true humanity], so that you through His poverty [being judged for our sins] might become rich [through becoming members of the Royal Family of God].
7. Giving is a mental attitude related to an overt act. Willingness counts for giving even if you have nothing to give.
2 Corinthians 8:12. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable on the basis of what one has, not on the basis of what one does not have.
Luke 21:1-4. And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. (2) And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. (3) And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; (4) for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.
8. Giving is related to motivation from metabolized doctrine in the right lobe of the soul.
2 Corinthians 9:7. Each one, as he has determined in his right lobe, so give, not from distress of mind or under compulsion or pressure of emotions; for God loves a gracious giver [a believer who is grace oriented which orientation is based on thought].
9. God in His matchless grace provides both the spiritual motivation and monetary capital for grace giving.
2 Corinthians 9:8. And God is able to make all grace abound to you [God providing the motivation], that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have abundance for every good deed [God provides the capital for giving].
10. God in His matchless grace provides both the monetary capital for grace giving and makes it part of your Christian service.
2 Corinthians 9:10. Now He who supplies seed for the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness [giving as related to Christian service].
11. Generosity of mental attitude results in generosity of giving.
2 Corinthians 9:11. You will be made rich in every way, so that you can be generous on every occasion; and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12. Giving is a result of Christian service.
2 Corinthians 9:12. For this service which you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
13. Giving is one of the sacrifices of the priesthood.
Hebrews 13:16. Now, stop neglecting the doing of good and generosity; for because of such sacrifices, God is well pleased.
The principle of giving is related to two spiritual gifts: pastor-teacher and evangelism.
1. The pastor must make an issue out of two things as a recipient of support from believers: the gospel, and what is the Christian way of life after salvation. If you are making an issue out of the gospel and Bible doctrine, then you cannot make an issue out of money.
2. The pastor must never make an issue out of money.
2 Corinthians 11:7b-9. Because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? (8) I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to serve you; (9) and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia, they fully supplied my needs in everything, and I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so [Paul did not and would not ask the Corinthians for financial support].
Paul was supported by other churches and in particular the Philippian Church while he was in Corinth. In this way he could make an issue out of the Gospel and doctrine though many of the Corinthians were very wealthy.
3. The pastor-teacher exchanges spiritual blessing to the congregation for material blessing from the congregation, fulfilling the principle of mutual blessing by association.
Philippians 1:3, 5. I am giving thanks to God for every memory of you, (5) because of your contribution from the first day until now for the purpose of spreading the gospel.
4. Giving reflects the mental attitude of the congregation toward their pastor-teacher.
Philippians 4:10. I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you have been concerned, but you lacked opportunity to give [while Paul was in prison].
5. Giving establishes a partnership between the pastor and the congregation. The congregation provides the financial contribution as they are spiritually blessed by the pastor’s teaching.
Philippians 4:14. However, when you shared [by giving] and became partners with me in my adversity, you functioned honorably.
6. Giving is the application of Bible doctrine on the part of the congregation.
Philippians 4:15-16. And you yourselves also recognize, that in the beginning of my ministry with reference to the gospel, when I had departed from Macedonia, not one church contributed to me in the application of the doctrine of giving and receiving except you Philippians only; because even in Thessalonica you had sent an offering more than once for my needs.
7. Giving is a grace production in Christian service.
Philippians 4:17. Not because I seek the gift, but I seek after the grace production of divine good which accumulates to your account [from gracious giving].
8. Giving to one’s right pastor is maximum blessing to the pastor and pleasing to God.
Philippians 4:18. Moreover, I have received in total all of your gifts, and I have an abundance; I have been filled with blessing, having received from Epaphroditus the things [money] from you, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
9. The responsibility for support of the pastor is the responsibility of the local church. Regarding Church finances, the number one priority is support of the pastor, not the building.
The Grace Concept of Giving.
1. Those who hang on to their money, impoverish themselves. Giving never impoverishes. In spiritual maturity, no matter what you give you never lose.
Proverbs 11:24-25. There is the one who gives generously, yet he becomes more prosperous. There is also the one who [is stingy] holds back what is fitting, and he becomes impoverished. The generous person will be prosperous. He who gives water will also himself be caused to have water.
2. You determine how much you can give from your prosperity. You don’t give if you are broke or if giving would place a hardship on your family.
1 Corinthians 16:2. On the first day of the week let each one of you put aside and save on the basis of his prosperity, that no collections be taken when I come [so that their giving would not be on the basis of pressure].
The True Meaning of Tithing.
1. Tithing was not spiritual giving in the Old Testament. Tithing as a pseudo system of giving in the Church Age promotes arrogance.
2. Tithing was a 10% income tax under the Laws of Establishment delineated in the Mosaic Law for the citizens of Israel only. Believers and unbelievers alike were being charged the same amount of tax. As a tax it was not spiritual giving.
3. There was also a 10% tithe for all Jewish citizens, both believers and unbelievers, for the maintenance of the Levites for their presentation of doctrine. This is not pertinent today.
Numbers 18:21, 24. To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting. (24) For the tithe of the sons [citizens] of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore, I have said concerning them, ' They shall have no inheritance [regarding the division of the Land] among the sons of Israel.'
4. There was also a 10% tithe for all Jewish citizens, both believers and unbelievers to support the cost of the Lord’s sacrifices. This is also not pertinent today.
Deuteronomy 14:22-23. You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. (23) You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to respect the Lord your God always.
5. Every third year Israel required the payment of a charity-tithe of 10% for those who legitimately needed help.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29. At the end of every third year, you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. (29) The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
6. Spiritual giving in the Old Testament is presented under the word “offerings.” Offerings were given by believers only.
7. In the time of apostasy in Israel, both believers and unbelievers failed to pay their taxes; and believers were not fulfilling their spiritual obligations in giving as well.
Malachi 3:8-10. Will a person defraud God, yet you have been robbing Me. Yet you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ ‘In tithes [income taxes], and offerings [spiritual giving]. (9) To the entire nation you are cursed with a curse, for you are defrauding Me. (10) Bring your entire tithe [taxes] to the treasury, so that there may be food in My house,’ test me in this says the Lord of the Armies. ‘See if I will not open for you the windows of heaven [prosperity] and pour out blessings for you until there is not room enough.
The outline of chapter 8:
1. The example of Macedonia: 8:1-6.
2. The exhortation to the Corinthians: 8:7-15.
3. A personal commendation: 8:16-24.
2 Corinthians 8:1
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches [which included Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea; the members of these churches were able to give even in a state of poverty].
Γνωρίζοµεν δὲ ὑµῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δεδοµένην ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Μακεδονίας,
Grace Orientation:
The Grace Plan of God: God’s plan is based on grace, not some philosophical system of human works. Grace means freely given and undeserved. God does all the giving; we undeservedly reap all this giving. For example, in grace God provides for all believers the same spiritual I.Q. Human I.Q. plus the Filling of the Spirit equals spiritual I.Q. Any Christian who implies or states that he, the one with a high human I.Q. alone is able to learn the deep matters of God is in a state of arrogance and does not understand God’s system of grace. 1 Corinthians 15:10a, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” When we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we became the recipients of the greatest possible endowment of grace, and grace pursues the advancing believer his entire life.
2 Corinthians 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ [the greatest acts of grace took place at the incarnation and on the cross] and the love of God [the Father the author of reciprocal love] and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit [the enabling power of the Spirit].”
Taken from Thieme’s Bible Doctrine Dictionary page 116:
“Grace orientation: The mental attitude of the believer who recognizes that everything he is and will ever be depends solely upon the power and plan of God. Saved by grace, the believer lives by grace. From the realization of this unmerited divine favor comes grace orientation—the attitude of total reliance on God, adjustment to His grace policy, and utilization of limitless grace provisions. All power for executing God’s plan comes from grace (1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Tim. 2:1; Heb. 13:9), and without it, believers could not survive in the devil’s world. Accordingly, Scripture exhorts believers to “stand firm in it!” (1 Pet. 5:12). “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord” reinforces this mandate, for there can be no grace orientation without humility (James 4:10). Nor can there be growth in grace without following the tandem command to grow in the “knowledge of our Lord” (2 Pet. 3:18). Once the believer submits to God’s plan and adapts to grace procedures, he realizes that God alone does the work to meet his needs and solve his problems (2 Thess. 2:16; 2 Pet. 1:2–4). No longer preoccupied with human works and achievement, he relates God’s policy to himself and others. Encouragement, comfort, and self-exhortation come from divine wisdom in his soul, not from his own flawed desires, impulses, and understanding. A relaxed mental attitude is the basis of his conduct, meaning he demonstrates sensitivity and tolerance toward the weaknesses of others (Eph. 4:31–32; 1 Cor. 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:5). By winning the battle over legalism and pride, he invisibly, often unknowingly, represents the grace attitude of Christ to the world (2 Cor. 1:12; 8:9). The greatest heroes of the Bible reached maturity not by their own genius or strength but by fully submitting themselves to the gracious hand of God. David, at one of the lowest points of his life, penned a beautiful testament to God’s matchless grace in Psalm 23, acknowledging that “the Lord is the one who keeps on shepherding me, I cannot and do not lack anything” (Ps. 23:1, expanded translation). The Apostle Paul, humbled by intense suffering, recognized that “when I am weak, then I am strong,” as he fully oriented to his helplessness in light of God’s all-sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:7–10).”
The Axioms of Grace:
1. God is perfect; therefore, His plan must be perfect.
2. A perfect plan can only originate and function from a perfect God.
3. If man can do anything meritorious in the plan of God, it is no longer perfect.
4. A plan is no stronger than its weakest link. For this reason, grace excludes all human merit, all human ability and talent.
5. Legalism (human good produced outside of the plan of God) is the enemy of grace.
6. Therefore, the works of human righteousness have no place in the plan of God.
7. All good produced outside of God’s plan is motivated by human self-righteousness and arrogance.
More about grace:
1. Maximum indoctrination results in grace increase. Notice that grace is related to the intake of doctrine, not our failures and disasters.
2. Grace is the policy or characteristic of the love of God, in providing blessing for the believer in time as well as in eternity.
3. God’s integrity does not depend on man’s sinfulness or the production of human good and evil.
4. The integrity of God is not sponsored by the function of the old sin nature or its trends.
5. Acts of personal sin do not increase grace blessing from the justice of God, but rather increase discipline and punishment from the justice of God.
6. Being under the authority of God’s grace does not encourage us to acts of personal sin, but we are motivated to press on to maturity through the consistent intake of Bible doctrine.
7. Being under the authority of grace means utilization of grace. Utilization of grace means utilization of grace provision for victory over the old sin nature. This means advance to maturity where we both glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and receive those maximum blessings from the justice of God. Those blessings are described as “exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think.”
8. Therefore, the believer cannot perform an occasional act of sin with impunity. There is always discipline. The believer cannot perform an act of human good with impunity. There is condemnation of that human good from the justice of God. And there cannot be a series of sins resulting in evil, or a series of human good acts resulting in evil, without divine punishment to the individuals involved. In other words, we never function under the old sin nature with impunity.
9. Being under the authority of grace rather than the Law does not imply that the justice of God no longer administers punitive action for the believer who chooses to sin, perform human good, or to become involved with evil.
10. Divine justice punishes sinfulness and divine justice blesses growth in grace.
11. Therefore, freedom from being under the Mosaic Law does not imply immunity from punishment or discipline.
Grace does not imply License:
1. Grace is never increased and never advanced by any function of the old sin nature, whether sin or good or evil.
2. Grace is the policy of God. Therefore, the Christian must use God’s grace provision in order to defeat the sin nature.
3. The old sin nature, as an agent of Satan is opposed to grace. The old sin nature’s counter attack comes in the field of Satanic good and evil, but grace is strictly from God.
4. Therefore, we have in this verse a rhetorical question which is a false assumption of two antithetical failures. One of these failures is legalism and the other is antinomianism.
5. The grace of God never encourages sin. To the legalist, a great sinner himself being immersed in mental and verbal sins, grace always appears to give the antinomian Christian a license to sin since the legalist only places emphasis on overt sins. To the antinomian believer, grace is not used to recover fellowship and advance spiritually, but an excuse to keep on sinning. Neither advance under grace and the two power options.
6. Neither legalism nor antinomianism can break away from the ruling power of the old sin nature over life because both are distortions.
7. Only the divine provision and the divine support of logistical grace can exploit the positional victory over the Old Sin Nature.
2 Corinthians 8:2
That in the midst of severe testing and great pressure, the superabundance of their happiness and their deep poverty overflowed in rich generosity.
ὅτι ἐν πολλῇ δοκιµῇ θλίψεως ἡ περισσεία τῆς χαρᾶς αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ κατὰ βάθους πτωχεία αὐτῶν ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς ἁπλότητος αὐτῶν·
“In the midst of severe testing and great pressure”
1 Thessalonians 2:14. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also have suffered these things by your own countrymen [primarily religious Jewish Thessalonians], even as they also by the Jews [the religious crowd in Jerusalem];
The Jewish believers of the churches in Judea were the first ones to be persecuted by their own brethren. The Thessalonians suffered in the same manner from their Jewish countrymen (Acts 17:5-9). As the Jewish believers in Judea remained faithful so you remained faithful to the Lord by growing spiritually under persecution. First the Jewish Christians in Judea were ostracized by friends, relatives, and others in their periphery. When that didn’t work, their businesses were wiped out etc. and some were killed. All the same, they remained faithful. This was the example the Thessalonians did follow.
1 Thessalonians 3:2-4. And we [Paul and Silas] sent Timothy [from Athens], our brother and fellow-worker of God, in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and to comfort you concerning your faith [the whole body of doctrine namely the spiritual life], (3) so that no one should be disturbed by these afflictions [dative of advantage]. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. (4) For indeed, when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction, and so it came to pass as you know.
The Philippians were also under persecution.
Philippians 1:27-30. Only conduct your life in a manner worthy of the good news of Christ, in order that whether I come to see you or remain absent, I may hear about your status quo that you are standing fast [in their spiritual lives, by continuous advance] by means of One Spirit [God the Holy Spirit], in the sphere of one soul, since you have joined in the conflict by means of faith in the gospel. (28) Likewise in no way be intimidated [by allowing fear to enter their souls] by your enemies which is a proof of their success in the ambush, but with reference to your deliverance, in fact, this deliverance is from the source of God. (29) Because it has been graciously given to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on behalf of Him. (30) Since you have the same suffering such as you have seen in me, and even now you are hearing [about my suffering under house arrest in Rome] by me.
“Their deep poverty overflowed in rich generosity”
Giving is an expression of one’s mental attitude in every circumstance of life. Even though under adversity, they shared the happiness of God. Having that mental attitude, they gave even while in deep poverty. He referred to this collection in Acts 24:17; Romans 15:25-28; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Galatians 2:10; and our passage.
“The superabundance of their happiness”
Happiness, sharing the Happiness of God:
James 1:12. Happy is the believer who endures testing [passes the three categories of undeserved suffering] for having become approved [at his evaluation after the Rapture], he shall receive the wreath of life, which he [the Lord] has promised to those who love Him [enduring devotion and reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ].
The greatest happiness comes to the believer who completes the spiritual life, because in doing so, he obtains the happiness which God has designed for him, the mature believer. The happiness of spiritual maturity is a system of integrity and thinking, a happiness not dependent upon people or things, but related to loving God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Since the mature believer has both enduring devotion and respect for God, he has the power, the inner strength to handle any test or suffering in life.
Happiness is related to receiving eternal decorations and crowns. After the believer develops a personal love for Jesus Christ, he will receive his final test in life, then upon passing this test he will be approved by the Lord and receive “The Wreath of Life”. This decoration is awarded to invisible heroes for maximum production of divine good through the execution of the plan of God. Therefore, the wreath (crown) of life is related to the invisible hero's (mature believer’s) production from his spiritual gift, his ambassadorship, and his royal priesthood. The wreath of life is awarded for consistent Filling of the Holy Spirit, consistent perception of doctrine, and consistent use of the Problem-Solving devices resulting in the completion of the spiritual life.
Revelation 2:10. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Note that the devil is about to cast some of you in prison that you may be tested, and you will have special persecution ten times. Keep on being faithful even until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
When a military man or athlete received a wreath in the Greek world or in the Roman Empire, he would also receive great benefits and tremendous wealth. Each wreath included monetary reward, freedom from taxes, children educated at public expense, and a statue of the person erected in the public square. The wreath is used by analogy for the greatest honors and blessings God can give to believers.
Many Christians associate happiness with success, wealth, travel, sex, marriage, children, or with some other pleasure in life. If the believer is ever going to understand the happiness that God wants him to have, he must eventually discard these false ideas.
World’s (Satan’s) Prosperity cannot make one happy:
They sought the World’s Prosperity at the expense of Bible Doctrine:
1. Wealth and Riches as Bill Gates and George Soros
2. Love and Romance as Romio and Juliet
3. Promotion and Power as a general in the military
4. Success and Approbation as in the movie industry
5. Achievement and Recognition as a great scientist or doctor
None of the things listed above are wrong in themselves, and the Lord never criticized any of them. However, when any of the above takes priority over advancing and completing the spiritual life, then the Christian is in deep trouble from having failed the prosperity test.
2 Corinthians 8:3
I testify [for giving testimony in court under oath] on the basis of their ability and beyond their ability, they gave willingly [to the impoverished saints of Jerusalem].
ὅτι κατὰ δύναµιν, µαρτυρῶ, καὶ παρὰ δύναµιν, αὐθαίρετοι
Paul as a witness to their giving: Giving is an expression of free will, without gimmicks and without coercion. Their giving was a sign of their spiritual growth and capacity. Paul is the witness to both their poverty and their happiness, and their mental attitude based on Bible doctrine.
2 Corinthians 8:4
They urgently pleaded with us for the grace-privilege of sharing in this priestly ministry to the saints [the destitute believers in Jerusalem].
µετὰ πολλῆς παρακλήσεως δεόµενοι ἡµῶν τὴν χάριν καὶ τὴν κοινωνίαν τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους
2 Corinthians 8:5
And not even as we anticipated [Paul and his team did not expect this strong desire to give], but they gave first of themselves to the Lord [totally dependent upon the Lord to provide for them an offering in grace], then they gave to us [the overt act of giving is an extension of the soul] by the will of God.
καὶ οὐ καθὼς ἠλπίσαµεν ἀλλí ἑαυτοὺς ἔδωκαν πρῶτον τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἡµῖν διὰ θελήµατος θεοῦ,
Giving must express an attitude toward the Lord before it can express an attitude toward others. They were occupied with Christ and had personal love for God the Father which motivated their giving. God so provided for the impoverished and persecuted Macedonians that they had an abundance to give to the impoverished and persecuted saints in Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 8:6
With the result that we requested of Titus, that even as he had begun [on a previous occasion], so also, he would complete with reference to you, this grace [ministry of giving based on the grace giving of those Christians in Macedonian].
εἰς τὸ παρακαλέσαι ἡµᾶς Τίτον ἵνα καθὼς προενήρξατο οὕτως καὶ ἐπιτελέσῃ εἰς ὑµᾶς καὶ τὴν χάριν ταύτην.
Titus:
1. Titus was one of Paul’s theological students.
Titus 1:4. To Titus, most reliable student [the most reliable member of Paul’s team and for that reason, became Paul’s trouble shooter] according to the common faith [doctrine]. Grace and tranquility (prosperity) from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Savior.
2. Paul would not allow the legalists in Jerusalem in bullying him into circumcising Titus, a Gentile.
Galatians 2:1-10. Then, after an interval of fourteen years [after Paul had left Jerusalem for Damascus in 36 A. D.] I went up again to Jerusalem [Paul’s third trip in 50 A.D.] with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. (2) It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the good news [the gospel followed by his teaching regarding the spiritual life] which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run in vain. (3) But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. (4) But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage [through legalism including the legalism regarding circumcision]. (5) But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
3. Titus who had a great concern for the Corinthians was sent by Paul to straighten them out.
2 Corinthians 8:16: I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. (17) For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
2 Corinthians 2:13. I had no rest in my [human] spirit, not finding Titus my brother [Titus was to come to Troy, but he was too busy dealing with the Corinthians], but forsaking [taking leave of] them [Paul abandoned his strong ministry in Troy], I went to Macedonia.
Why Paul had sent Titus, the trouble shooter to Corinth. For you see, the Corinthians had reacted to Paul’s strong reprimand, his third letter to them which letter he wrote between 1 and 2 Corinthians. So, Titus was sent to Corinth to put down the revolt and to get the Corinthians moving again in the spiritual life. After having accomplished this task, he was to meet Paul initially in Troy, but if delayed to meet in Macedonia.
4. He straightened out the mess in Corinth and then joined Paul in Macedonia.
2 Corinthians 7:5-7. For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest at all [could not sleep], but we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside [outside pressure because of the Corinthian reaction], fears within [sinful stress from reacting to the pressures], (6) but God, who comforts the humble ones [Paul and his companions recovered fellowship with God and resumed their spiritual lives at some point after they had arrived in Macedonia; this they did before Titus arrived], comforted us [they were able to be comforted since they were in fellowship] by the coming of Titus [the report from Titus was encouraging], (7) and not only by his coming but also by the comfort by which he was comforted over you [over your change of attitude and acceptance of authority]. He [Titus] told us about your longing for me [their love for Paul], your emotional reaction concerning me [their tremendous regret regarding their vilification of Paul], your zeal toward me [toward the ministry of Paul], so that I rejoice the more [This report added to Paul’s happiness].
5. Between the first and second Roman imprisonment Paul and Titus visited Crete.
Titus 1:5. For this reason, I left you in Crete that you would set in order what remains, and ordain pastors [literally “old men” from the standpoint of rank and authority rather than age, one of the technical words used for pastors.] in every city, as I directed you.
6. Paul then summons Titus to come to him in Nicopolis just before winter. Paul realizing his time was short, wanted to discuss certain matters with Titus: possibly Titus’s future ministry in Dalmatia. In the spring, Paul would be arrested and taken to the Mamertine Dungeon.
Titus 3:12. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
7. After Titus had completed his work in Crete, Paul sent him to Dalmatia.
2 Timothy 4:10. for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
8. Historical tradition indicates that Titus later on returned to Crete and lived there until he died of a ripe old age.
In summary, as a Gentile Christian, Titus would have been particularly effective in combating the heresy of the Judaizers namely that all Christians were bound by the Mosaic Law and so had to be circumcised. Titus knew this teaching well, for the subject had come up in Syrian Antioch, leading to the Jerusalem Council, of which he had been a part.
Furthermore, Titus was a faithful servant of the Lord and a dedicated aide to Paul. He must have been trustworthy and dependable, since Paul appointed him to lead works in Corinth, Crete, and Dalmatia. Indeed, Paul calls him “my partner and fellow worker” as per 2 Corinthians 8:23. Knowing the difficult situations in both Corinth and Crete, we can infer that Titus was an insightful man who could handle problems with grace.
2 Corinthians 8:7
Moreover, just as you excel in everything [both materially and spiritually, but only the spiritual assets are mentioned since they will provide the motivation for giving]: in faith [the Faith-rest Drill], and in [metabolized] doctrine, and in knowledge [understanding and using all the Problem-solving Devices], and in all diligence [mental attitude] and in the love [impersonal love] we have kindled in you see that you also excel in this grace giving [they must give from this impersonal love].
ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ ἐν παντὶ περισσεύετε, πίστει καὶ λόγῳ καὶ γνώσει καὶ πάσῃ σπουδῇ καὶ τῇ ἐξ ἡµῶν ἐν ὑµῖν ἀγάπῃ, ἵνα καὶ ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ χάριτι περισσεύητε.
Bona fide giving depends on the consistent intake of God’s Word and subsequent doctrine in the Stream of Consciousness. This subsequent metabolize doctrine produces a phenomenal mental attitude and great capacity for love which provides capacity for giving.
Faith-rest Drill:
Living by Faith, a Drill producing Tranquility:
Walking by faith is a drill which must be practiced. This drill of applying God’s word to one’s difficulties and pressures produces tranquility in the soul. When the believer lives by faith, he applies Biblical promises, principles and doctrines by faith to his experience. Living by faith is trusting in God’s thinking, not one’s own false thinking. If the believer is able to trust God regarding all matters in his life, his soul will be in a state of tranquility, namely a soul free of mental agitation caused by mental and emotional sins.
For example, God is perfect justice and as such he can only be perfectly fair to all of his creatures. Moreover, he is perfectly fair to them all the time. If this is true and it is, then God is perfectly fair to you every second of every day. If that is the case, then why do you say, in your self-pity, "People and life are unfair to me?" Don't you realize that if a person treats you unfairly, God can discipline that person and provide extra blessing for you?
When the believer applies God's word to his problems and pressures, he will possess tranquility in his soul. Tranquility means two things: complete confidence in God and freedom from mental agitation caused by emotional and mental sins. When the believer is controlled by such sins as fear, worry, anger, hatred, jealousy, bitterness, self-pity etc., he will have stress in his soul. For example, if he worries about his family problems, stress will occur (problems + emotional or mental sins = stress). Stress produces an agitation in the soul, whereas living one’s life by faith produces a phenomenal tranquility in the soul (problems + walking by faith = tranquility).
Living by Faith has always been a part of the believer's spiritual life. Abraham was promised a great progeny by God through his wife, Sarah who was at the time barren. At first, Abraham did not have the spiritual strength to believe this promise and in discouragement assumed that his progeny would come through Eliezer (Gen. 15:2, 3). Even when Abraham was 86 years old, he still did not believe that God could manufacture a progeny through his wife, Sarah (Genesis 16:1-3, 16). The Lord certainly would not have encouraged Abraham to produce his progeny through adultery (Gen. 12:2; 13:16).
This promise was initially given to Abraham when he was still residing in his hometown, the 3rd Dynasty of Ur (Ur of the Chaldees).
Genesis 12:1-2 states, “Now, the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country [the 3rd Dynasty of Ur], and from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land which I will show you, (2) and I will make you a great nation [obviously through his wife since God does not condone adultery], and I will bless you.”
Then, though he was commanded to go to a new land in Canaan he went instead to Haran, a city to the east of Carchemish on the Euphrates. After his father died [a forced separation], he at age 75 departed Haran (a city his father Terah had named after his son, Haran who had died in the 3rd Dynasty of Ur) for the new land which God had promised him. (Genesis 12:4). After arriving in the new land, it still took Abraham more than 24 years in the Levant, in Canaan to accumulate enough Bible doctrine in his soul to believe that he would have a son through Sarah.
Romans 4:19-21. And so not becoming weak in that faith, he completely understood his own body which had become [sexually] dead when he was approximately one hundred years old likewise, he completely understood the deadness of Sarah's womb [had passed the menopause]. (20) He [Abraham] staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith giving glory to God (21) and being fully persuaded that what God had promised [a son through Sarah], God is able also to perform.
You see, as Abraham learned more and more about God, his confidence in God increased.
Romans 10:17. So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
The believer listens to the Word of God today, and a little faith is developed. Then he listens tomorrow, and a little more faith is developed, and then the following day, and he continues to do so for his entire life. In this way his faith becomes stronger and stronger.
This stage-by-stage development of faith is illustrated by one of the Hebrew words for faith, “Qawah.” Qawah is a strong rope that does not break even under great pressure and is used to illustrate the strong faith of the mature believer waiting on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31). In order to make this strong unbreakable rope, one begins with a single strand of rope which would easily breaks under pressure. However, when this single strand is twisted around a second strand and then around another and another until it becomes thick, a strong rope is developed. The principle is as follows: as more and more strands are twisted together, the stronger the rope becomes. This process involved in making a strong rope depicts how faith is developed in stages. The first strand of faith is extremely weak. However, as the believer twists more and more strands of faith together, he will eventually have a strong faith. As baby believers, our faith is like a single fine thread. It has no strength at all. However, as the believer learns more and more doctrine, he develops a strong ropelike faith. At that point he can walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Before the Church Age, the spiritual life of the believer emphasized living by faith. For example, the Jews of the Exodus generation were taught how to walk by faith while they were still in Egypt. They were all taught about the promise which God had made to Abraham namely that God would give the Jewish people a country of their own, a prosperous land, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Before Joseph died, He made the Jews promise to take his bones out of Egypt and bury them in the promised land. So, when Joseph died, he was embalmed and placed in a vault above ground. So, every time a Jewish family living in Egypt would pass by the vault of Joseph, the Jewish Father would relate this story to his children. The story of how God had promised the Jews a promised land. In this way they learned to trust in the Lord. They were taught that their spiritual life was to trust in the promises and doctrines of God just as Joseph believed the promises and doctrines of God.
When God gives a spiritual life to the believer, he is going to test him regarding that life. Therefore, the Jews were tested regarding their spiritual lives as they were leaving Egypt at the Red Sea. As the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day, God the Son, the only manifest person of the Trinity, led them deliberately into a trap. He led them into a cul-de-sac at the Red Sea. There were mountains to the north and south and the Sea was to their front. Suddenly, behind this great multitude of Jews, arose a great cloud of dust. Pharaoh Amenhotep II was leading the greatest military force in the world at that time. Facing this great military force were over a million untrained Jewish slaves. The only Jewish people with any military training were Moses and possibly Joshua and Caleb. This was a hopeless situation from the human viewpoint. However, nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). All the Jews had to do was to believe what God had promised them.
God’s promise of a land of their own:
Exodus 3:7-10. Then the Lord said, "I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, (8) and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (9) And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. (10) Come, I will send you [Moses] to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.
God also promised the Jews of the Exodus that they would worship him at Mount Sinai (Mount Horeb).
Exodus 3:1. Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Exodus 3:12. And he said, certainly I [God] will be with you [Moses], and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain [Mount Horeb, Mount Sinai].
How did the Jews of the Exodus respond to these promises stated above?
Exodus14:9-12. The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army and overtook them [the Jews] encamped at the sea, by Pi-ha-hi'roth, in front of Ba'al-ze'phon. (10) When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after [pursuing] them; and they were in great fear. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord [help, help]; (11) and they said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt [apparently they were cremated as slaves] that you have taken us away to die in the desert? What have you done to us, in bringing us out of Egypt? (12) Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.
Although there were more than one million Jewish adults, only Moses and possibly Joshua and Caleb had the spiritual strength to apply the promises of God to this hopeless situation. While the majority of Jews were immersed in fear and screaming about dying [no faith application of the promises of God],
Exodus 14:13. Moses said, "Do not fear. Stand still [in your souls] and watch the deliverance of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you today.
The Jews should have passed this test, but they kept concentrating on the problem namely the advancing Egyptian military, rather than the solution, trusting in God’s promises. Initially, Moses concentrated on the advancing Egyptians in order to understand the situation, but when he realized that their situation was militarily hopeless, he concentrated on a divine solution, a solution based on his confidence in God and the promises which God had given him. So, he walked by faith and remained very calm in this tense situation.
Now, after God had delivered the Jews from the Pharaoh, they sang beautifully praising him for their deliverance (Exodus 15:1-18) but singing does not imply spiritual strength. These believers were not praising and singing because they respected and loved God. They were expressing their appreciation to God for having delivered them. Their appreciation was based on their emotional relief from being delivered, not on their appreciation for the Lord. To these Jews the most important priority in their life was their safety, not a harmonious relationship with God. Praising God and singing hymns has meaning if one has a close relationship with God based on knowledge. However, if the believer is ignorant of God and God’s plan, his relationship with God will be related to emotion. An emotional relationship has no strength!
One can relate to a hymn cognitively or emotionally or both since a hymn contains both lyrics and melody. The purpose of the lyrics is to stimulate thought whereas the purpose of the melody is to stimulate one’s emotions pleasurably. If the believer understands and appreciates the lyrics of a hymn only then can he benefit from his singing and at the same time enjoy the melody. However, if the believer does not understand and appreciate the lyrics of a good hymn, his singing becomes a meaningless emotional activity related only to the melody as the following few verses will illustrate. The following is the singing of the Jews on the far side of the Red Sea.
Exodus 15:2. The Lord is my strength and song, and he has become my deliverance. This is my God, and I will praise him. My father's God; I will extol him.
Exodus 15:15. The chiefs of Edom were dismayed; the leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
Exodus 15:22-24. Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. [That is why the place is called Marah.] So, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What are we to drink?’
Three days after the Jews sang “the Lord is my strength,” they demonstrated that they had no spiritual strength at all for they immediately began complaining under this simple pressure. Then, one year later after singing how brave they would be in combat, and how fearful the Edomites, Moabites and the inhabitants of Canaan would be of them, the Jewish army refused to enter the land and wept all night in their fear of the Canaanites. So, the Edomites, Moabites and the inhabitants of Canaan didn't need to worry about that generation of Jews for those men were too cowardly to fight their way into the land (Numbers 14:1-11). You see, a believer can sing and praise God until he passes out from exhaustion, but all of this is meaningless unless that believer has strength in his soul from knowledge of God and rapport with God through his understanding and appreciation of God’s plan.
These Jews produced sinful emotion on one side of the Red Sea and non-sinful emotion on the other side of the Sea. They swung from one end of the emotional spectrum (fear) to the other end (relief from being delivered). Only Moses and possibly Joshua and Caleb had divine thought in their souls and true capacity for life. So, when they sang, it had meaning.
During their first year in the Sinai Peninsula, every time they had a pressure situation, they would worry and fear about their safety and never even once considered God’s provision and plan for their lives. So, they continued to complain and complain until they died in the desert for the majority of these Jews never learned to apply the Word of God by faith to their experience.
Hebrews 4:2, 3. For we also have been evangelized as they had been [evangelized with result that they had believed: the Jews of the Exodus generation were believers], but the word they heard [after salvation] did not profit them, because those who heard it [God’s word taught by Moses and others] did not mix it [knowledge of the Word] with faith [no faith perception due to their carnality]. For we who have believed [in the promises, principles and doctrines of God’s word] enter into the rest [of contentment and tranquility from trusting in God].
The Jews used faith in salvation; now they needed to apply God’s promises by faith to this pressure situation at the Red Sea. If one does not use faith for salvation, it is hopeless, so also if one does not use faith in the spiritual life, it is hopeless.
Colossians 2:6. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus your Lord [a metaphor for believing in Jesus Christ as one’s savior], so be walking in him [the spiritual life after salvation which involves both faith-perception and faith-application].
We used faith for salvation, now we must use faith for the spiritual life. The only difference is the object of faith. In salvation, the object of faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. In the spiritual life, the object of faith is the thinking of Jesus Christ.
To the Exodus generation, security was more important than applying Bible doctrine. As a result of their false priority, they became involved in the emotional sin of fear. Fear is not only an irrational state of emotion, but it is also a destructive sin. God does not answer prayer when the believer is out of fellowship and controlled by his sin nature. The Jews should not have prayed the prayer of “help, help.” Rather, they should have prayed to the Father thanking him for this opportunity to watch the Lord’s power in delivering them at the Red Sea. Fear however destroyed their perspective of the situation.
Principles related to fear:
1. It is possible to learn a lot of doctrine and yet fall apart in a sudden pressure situation.
2. Sudden disaster often places the believer in a panic situation resulting in a failure to apply doctrine to that situation.
3. The difference between fear and courage is important in a crisis situation. The courageous person is able to think under great pressure, whereas the person with fear is not able to think rationally under pressure. The difference is the ability to concentrate under pressure. Now, if you have a problem concentrating in normal situations, you will surely have a problem concentrating under pressure in an abnormal situation.
4. A coward is a person who cannot think under pressure, whereas a courageous person can think under pressure.
5. Concentration is not only required in learning Bible doctrine, but even to a much greater extent in applying Bible doctrine. This is especially true when historical disaster occurs, because in historical disaster one has two categories of pressure namely personal and national and sometimes even international.
6. Adversity and great pressure can easily cause stress when the believer fails to apply to that situation. When a believer is under stress, he is not able to think objectively.
7. Many disasters come suddenly and with great intensity. So, these disasters can easily hinder the believer from concentrating on the promises and doctrines of the Word of God.
Now back to Exodus and quoting again Exodus 14:11a, “They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?” Now keep in mind that these Jews did not have to leave Egypt. Moses did not force them to leave. Arrogant people never take responsibility for their decisions. Furthermore, Moses was only God's agent. It wasn't his idea to bring the Jews out of Egypt; it was the command of God. God was going to remove the Jews from Egyptian slavery in order to make them a special nation (client nation) in history, a tremendous privilege and honor. (Exodus 3:6-8)
A coward dies many times, but a brave man dies only once. Under fear emotion controls the soul. When emotion is in control, the believer becomes irrational. In a state of irrationality, he assumes that he is already dead. This was true of the Exodus generation. In a state of irrationality, they possessed a false view of their situation. Their false viewpoint was that they were already dead. The true view was that God would deliver them.
Exodus 14:12. Is this not the word which we spoke to you in Egypt? Let us alone that we may be slaves to the Egyptians because it is better for us to be slaves to the Egyptians than to die in the desert.
Initially, when the Jews heard that God was going to remove them from slavery, they welcomed the idea.
Exodus 4:31. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
However, once the Egyptians started to give them a hard time, they changed their minds about going.
Exodus 5:21. And they said, may the Lord look upon you and judge you [Moses and Aaron]! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials [through the Plagues] and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.
Exodus 6:8, 9. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord. Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement [from lack of Biblical application] and cruel bondage.
Principles of Stress:
1. Adversity is outside pressure of life; stress is inside pressure of the soul.
2. Stress is caused by oneself; adversity is caused by self, by others or circumstances.
3. Adversity is inevitable; stress is optional.
4. Stress destroys the spiritual life of the believer. Therefore, the believer must name his sins to God the Father as soon as possible.
5. There is a definite relationship between stress and cognition, namely stress lowers cognition.
6. Stress makes a person forgetful and impairs the memory. Therefore, stress impairs the ability to learn.
7. Stress affects a person's perception of reality. At the Red Sea, the Jews with stress in their souls considered themselves already dead.
8. If a person remains in a stress-situation too long, all of his cognitive ability will be destroyed, and he will enter into a psychotic state.
People controlled by emotion and possessing false priorities easily succumb to fear when pressure occurs. Only the stable Christian with doctrine in his soul is able to handle the pressures of life. If the Faith-rest Drill or some other Problem-solving Device is not used when the believer faces a difficult problem or pressure, he will easily enter into a state of fear. In a state of fear and stress, he cannot solve his problems rationally.
Impersonal Love for all Mankind, a part of the Adult Spiritual Life:
1 Corinthians 13:13. Now, there remains [in the Church Age] faith [representing spiritual childhood], confidence [which represents reaching spiritual self-esteem] and love [the adult spiritual life, starting with impersonal love], these three [faith, confidence and love], but the greatest of these is love.
Faith represents spiritual childhood and includes the use of the Faith-rest drill, grace and doctrinal orientation. Confidence represents spiritual self-esteem and is the entrance-way into the advance stage of the spiritual life. Love represents the adult believer and includes love for the God the Father, unconditional love for the human race, sharing the happiness of God and occupation with the Lord. “The Greatest of these is Love” is not only true in the Church Age, but also in the Eternal State.
Spiritual Self-Esteem, a prerequisite to Impersonal Love:
Spiritual Self-Esteem takes shape in the soul as the Christian becomes grace and doctrinally oriented. Relating this to the 10 Problem Solving Devices, this development would begin at the 6th Problem Solving Device and increases as the Christian progresses into spiritual adulthood and peaks out at occupation with Christ.
Spiritual Self-Esteem is based on confidence, self-worth and one’s status as a member of the royal family of God. Self-esteem is confidence in what one knows, and in one’s ability to put that knowledge into operation. What has been a characteristic of a few great leaders in history is now available to each of us as believers. It is confidence in God, confidence in the Word of God metabolized in your soul and circulating in your stream of consciousness, not a confidence based on one’s human intelligence, education, family tree achievement or success. Self-esteem is also ones estimated worth or value. Since spiritual assets have the highest value and worth, the more spiritual assets that the believer is able to acquire and put into operation, the greater becomes his estimation of self. Since this self-estimation is not based on human merit or abilities, but rather grace acquired assets and abilities, it does not produce arrogance.
Reasons why the believer can love himself without becoming arrogant: In the status of spiritual self-esteem at the 6th Problem Solving Device, the Christian loves himself because in his soul exists grace and doctrinal orientation, the faith-rest Drill, understanding and appreciation for the Filling of the Holy Spirit and knowledge regarding the Recovery Procedure and as he advances in the spiritual life, his spiritual self-esteem will be enhanced by his love for God, his unconditional love for all people and his happiness and occupation with Christ. He loves his own person because he is a member of the Royal Family of God, a royal priest and an ambassador for Christ.
Human self-esteem many times is related to arrogance manifested in a superiority complex. On the other hand, spiritual self-esteem is never related to arrogance. The more the Christian functions consistently in fellowship with God, the more his spiritual esteem flourishes. On the other hand, if he starts spending too much time out of fellowship pursuing the lusts of the sin nature, his spiritual esteem that he once possessed will begin to diminish and eventually completely disappear. Once obtained, spiritual self-esteem must be maintained by continuous intake and application of God’s Word.
Other Scriptures:
He who gets wisdom, keeps loving his own soul [spiritual self-esteem]; He who guards understanding shall find the absolute good [spiritual prosperity]. (Proverbs 19:8)
Jesus answered in Mark 12:29-31, ‘The most important one is this, “Listen O’ Israel, the Lord is our God; the Lord is unique [adverbial form of the Greek word heis should be translated as ‘unique’], and you shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart [the mentality of the soul where metabolized doctrine resides], and with all your soul [the entire soul] and with all of your understanding [of doctrine] and with all your strength [from virtue]. The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [the Old Testament capacity for spiritual self-esteem].” (a quote from Deuteronomy 6:4, 5; Leviticus 19:18)
Since we are of the day, let us obtain spiritual self-esteem [the Greek word nepho] after we have put on the breastplate of doctrine and love and as a helmet, the confidence in doctrine. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
The Greek word nepho means to be self-controlled, to be well balanced, freedom from excess compassion, rashness and confusion, the honor of individual worth, a serious regulation of the powers a person has been given (the two power options).
The passage below is not only true of impersonal love, but of true personal human love as well.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. Love is not swayed by emotion [is forbearing], love is kind [merciful], love is not jealous, it does not brag [is not shamelessly disrespectful in thought, speech and behavior, insulting, presumptuous], is not inflated with arrogance [the advance stages of arrogance]. (5) does not behave dishonorably [indecently, or unmannerly], is not self-seeking [self-promoting; preoccupied with self, self-indulgent, irrationally ambitious] it is not provoked [does not become irritated, bitter, angry, petty, hypersensitive], does not react to evil [is not mindful of wrongs, does not react to the injustices or wrongs that comes into his life, does not think in terms of retaliation, does not react to hatred or antagonisms], (6) does not rejoice over injustices [violation of truth], but joyfully sides with the truth [rejoices in the truth] (7) It covers all things [keeps all things confidential: true love respects the privacy of another; it literally means to throw a cloak of silence over all things namely avoids gossip, maligning, judging, vilification], always believes [advance function of the faith-rest drill] always has confident expectation [regarding one’s personal destiny both in time and in eternity], always perseveres [always maintains his relationship with God in a state of happiness under the testing of the three stages of the adult spiritual life]. (8a) Love is never phased out [falls down, done away with, comes to an end],
Joseph, the husband of Mary is a good example of the above though he lived before the Church Age.
In the Matthew passage, Mary becomes pregnant apart from Joseph after being legally married to him via the contract signed by his and her parents. This was why Joseph was so concerned when he had discovered that she was pregnant. Since he knew that he did not bring about her pregnancy, he initially assumed that she had committed adultery. After he was informed in a dream by an angel of the Lord regarding the truth of this matter, he went ahead with the ceremonial phase of the marriage (Matthew 1:20).
Matthew 1:19. Joseph, her husband, being virtuous [a righteousness related to grace orientation] did not desire to make a public display of her. He desired secretly to divorce her.
Joseph was not only moral, but also possessed the virtue acquired from the spiritual life. Morality was designed for the security, stability, protection and blessing of a group of people in a national entity and as such requires only human power and determination for execution. Virtue, on the other hand, relates to the inward function of the soul and comprises attributes such as grace-orientation, love for God the Father, unconditional love directed toward members of the human race and occupation with Christ.
Morality without virtue can very easily be corrupted (distorted) by arrogance resulting in a moral, but weak person. Morality combined with arrogance produces great self-righteousness. A self-righteous individual assumes that his morality equals perfection. From his imagined perch of perfection he evaluates, criticizes, judges, and maligns others. However, he is far from perfection. He understands neither God nor God’s plan; he understands neither himself nor the people whom he judges and maligns.
Believers and to some extent unbelievers can avoid this “moral degeneracy” related to the distortion of morality. With authority orientation and humility, moral unbelievers who possess some appreciation of grace can avoid much of the stench of self-righteousness. The believer on the other hand can go much further, for through the execution of the spiritual life he is able to remove self-righteousness and develop great virtue.
Joseph possessed and demonstrated this virtue obtained from the spiritual life. He didn’t get angry at Mary when he first discovered she was pregnant. He didn’t malign her. He didn’t call her “a dirty and faithless adulteress” as other men, facing a similar situation would have. He didn’t feel sorry for himself and say, “How could she do this to me?” He didn’t become bitter and demand that she be stoned to death under the requirements of the Mosaic Law, which stated that adultery was not only a sin, but also a crime:
If there is a virgin, betrothed [contractually married] to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death. The girl because she did not cry out in the city [she consented], and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. Thus, you shall purge the evil [adultery is more than a sin] from among you. (Deuteronomy 22:23-24)
Because Joseph was a man of great humility, he did not feel any personal disgrace in this matter. On the contrary, he was only concerned about Mary’s feelings and security. He wanted to protect her from disgrace and personal harm. Therefore, he decided not to bring her before the Jewish court system, but to divorce her secretly. In a state of great humility and objectivity, he was able to apply grace toward his wife and so was able to avoid any subjective reaction.
Impersonal Love as an Obligation:
1. Impersonal love is the only perpetual debt of the Christian, a debt which he pays as the need for impersonal love arises.
2. The debt of love denotes a duty, a responsibility on the part of all the royal family of God.
3. Remember that impersonal love has two sides; one side is possessing a relaxed mental attitude; the other side is not to harbor any mental sins toward others such as anger, jealousy, bitterness, etc. Hence, love is a freedom from mental attitude sins and if one is free of mental sins, he will be free of verbal sins which destroy the privacy of the priesthood.
4. While the believer is able to close-out his monetary debts through the necessary payments, he is to perpetuate his obligation of impersonal love both toward the unbeliever and believer. Thus, the obligation of love is a debt which the believer is always making instalments, but never retires the instalments until he retires from this life.
2 Corinthians 8:8
I am not commanding you [giving must never be forced or coerced], but testing [for the purpose of approval] the genuineness of your love by comparing it with the diligence of others [the churches in Macedonia].
Οὐ κατí ἐπιταγὴν λέγω, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἑτέρων σπουδῆς καὶ τὸ τῆς ὑµετέρας ἀγάπης γνήσιον δοκιµάζων·
The Macedonians are an example for the Corinthians and the reason they were a good example was because the Macedonians gave from their poverty without violating their family responsibilities. Some gave only in their souls; others gave what they could give. Having done so, they prove that it is not the amount one gives, but the doctrinal motivation behind the giving. So, this is a perfect illustration for the wealthy Corinthians that it is not the amount donated, but the spiritual concepts involved, the response to God’s love through the intake of Bible doctrine.
2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich [eternal God], yet for your sake he became poor [true humanity in hypostatic union depriving himself of the use of his deity when that use would be in conflict with God the Father’s plan] so that you through his poverty [being judged for sins on the cross] might become rich [in all the provision of time and eternity].
γινώσκετε γὰρ τὴν χάριν τοῦ κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὅτι διí ὑµᾶς ἐπτώχευσεν πλούσιος ὤν, ἵνα ὑµεῖς τῇ ἐκείνου πτωχείᾳ πλουτήσητε.
The article on ‘kenosis’ is taken from Thieme’s Bible Doctrine Dictionary page 155 by R. B. Thieme Jr.
“Kenosis: The theological term that describes how Christ, the eternal Son of God, laid aside the function of His deity and became a true member of the human race.
Kenosis takes its name from the Greek verb kenoō, “to deprive oneself of a rightful function, to debase oneself.” As stated in Philippians 2:6–7, “although He [Christ] existed in the form of God,” He “emptied [kenoō] Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant.” The Son of God humbly took upon Himself the form of a servant, becoming true humanity in order to reveal God’s grace to the world and pay the penalty for human sin. In becoming man, the Lord’s eternal deity, His preincarnate glory (John 17:5), was veiled but never surrendered.
Voluntary obedience. The doctrine of kenosis affirms that while not relinquishing any attribute of His deity, Jesus Christ willingly restricted the independent use of certain divine attributes in compliance with the Father’s plan and purpose for the First Advent. By His own volition, the Son subordinated Himself to the Father’s authority and mandates (Heb. 10:5–7). Even under intense pressure and testing, Jesus Christ concentrated on the doctrine in His soul and relied exclusively upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit to sustain and guide Him in the devil’s world (Matt. 4:1–10; John 3:34). The humanity of Christ never used His divine nature to benefit Himself, provide for Himself, or glorify Himself. In Matthew 4:3–4, for example, Jesus refused to satisfy His hunger by turning stones into bread, as this would have been a violation of kenosis.
From humiliation to glorification. Jesus Christ, “becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” suffered the lowest degradation as His perfect humanity bore the divine judgment for sin (Phil. 2:8). “Though He was rich [in eternal deity], yet for your sake He became poor,” so that anyone who believes in Him may receive the gift of salvation (2 Cor. 8:9). The self-imposed limitation of kenosis ended with the glorification of Christ—His resurrection, ascension, and session at the Father’s right hand—after His mission for the First Advent was accomplished (John 19:30; Phil. 2:9–11; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:6–10; 10:12).”
The article on ‘Incarnation’ is taken from Thieme’s Bible Doctrine Dictionary page 138 by R. B. Thieme Jr.
“Incarnation [from Lat. incarnari, to be made flesh] (1) Refers to Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, being “revealed in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16) and dwelling on earth as undiminished deity and true humanity in one person (John 1:14; 10:30). In His incarnation, the Son of God took on a flesh-and-blood body that experienced normal growth, human limitations like hunger, pain, and fatigue, death by crucifixion, and resurrection (Matt. 16:21; Luke 2:52; John 19:33; Heb. 2:9). See hypostatic union. (2) The approximately 33-year period (ca. 4 B.C. to A.D. 30) during which God the Son lived on earth as the God-man.”
Hypostatic Union, briefly stated:
The Hypostatic Union: The doctrine of the hypostatic union was confirmed by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D.
Definition: In the person of the incarnate Christ are two natures, divine and human, inseparably united without mixture or loss of separate identity, without loss or transfer of properties or attributes, the union being personal and eternal. The two natures of Christ maintain their complete identity though being joined in personal union forever. The attributes of His human and divine nature belong to their corresponding natures though the attributes of either nature belong to the one person of Christ. Each nature has its own attributes that adhere to that nature. There is no mixture of the two natures to form a third substance or hypostasis. The human nature always remains the human nature and the divine nature always remains the divine nature.
Further elaboration: It is impossible to transfer an attribute of one nature to the other nature without destroying that nature. The essence is composed of the sum total of its attributes. A change of attributes involves a change of essence. Therefore, there is no change in the essence of deity or the essence of humanity. The focus of the doctrine concerns the union of two natures, divine and human in one hypostatic union, one person. The word “nature” comes from the Greek word ousia, the present participle of eimi, which means “that which is one’s own.” It means essence and it means being. It is the persona of the unique person of the universe.
Beginning with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, a human nature was inseparably united forever with the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Since the incarnation, Jesus Christ is true humanity and undiminished deity in one unique person forever. Since the first advent, it is no longer the divine nature alone which is expressed in His person, but the human nature as well. Therefore, From the time of the virgin birth, our Lord Jesus Christ will always be undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever. Whatever the Bible says about either the divine or human nature of Christ must be attributed to the entire person. Whatever is true of either nature is true of the entire person of Christ in hypostatic union. Jesus Christ is not two persons, but one person with two natures. Jesus Christ is the God-man, undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever
Biblical Documentation of the Hypostatic Union.
1. John 1:1-2, “In eternity past, there always existed the Word [deity of Christ], and the Word was face-to-face with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”
2. John 1:14, “And the Word [the deity of Christ] became flesh [true humanity] and tabernacled among us [as the God-Man], and we saw His glory, glory as of the unique one from the Father, full of grace and doctrine.”
3. Romans 1:3-4, “Concerning His Son [deity] who was born from the seed of David according to the flesh [humanity], (4) who was marked-out, [by the Divine Decree] Son of God [emphasizes the identity of Christ before the virgin birth/incarnation] by means of power according to the Holy Spirit [the Proto-type Spiritual Life given to the humanity of Christ as per Isaiah 11:2] by means of resurrection from death [physical death; the plural of this noun is many times used for the singular], Jesus Christ our Lord.”
4. Romans 9:5, “And from whom is the Christ in so far as the flesh is concerned, who is God, sovereign over all.”
5. Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the flashing forth of the glory, and the exact image of His essence; also sustaining all things by the Word of His power, having Himself accomplished purification for sins [the function of His humanity], He [his humanity] was caused to sit down at the right hand of the majesty on high.”
6. 1 Timothy 3:16 is a summary of the dispensation of the hypostatic union. “And by common acknowledgment, great is the mystery of the spiritual life: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.”
7. Hebrews 2:14, “Therefore, since children [homo sapiens] share blood and flesh, He also partook of the same [became true humanity], in order that through [his substitutionary spiritual] death, He neutralized [rendered powerless] Satan who had the power of death.”
8. Philippians 2:5-10, “Keep on thinking this [correct thinking and correct values] within you which also was in Christ Jesus. (6) Who, though He existed in the essence of God, did not think equality with God a gain to be seized and held [to remain as God only], (7) but deprived himself [He did not use his deity in violation of the Father’s plan for the 1st Advent; for example, he did not use miracles to solve his personal problems] taking on the form of a servant, having come to be in the likeness of men [but without a sin nature and without Adam’s Original Sin], (8) and being found in outward appearance as a man [inwardly he was different]. He [the volition of his soul in his human nature] humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of [the substitutionary spiritual] death [He was punished for the consequences of our spiritual death that is our personal sins] that is the death of the cross. (9) Therefore, also, God highly exalted Him and gave Him a title [King over kings and Lord over lords] which is above every title, (10) that at the title of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father.”
2 Corinthians 8:10
And here is my advice [giving must be based on the free function of one’s volition] about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
καὶ γνώµην ἐν τούτῳ δίδωµι· τοῦτο γὰρ ὑµῖν συµφέρει, οἵτινες οὐ µόνον τὸ ποιῆσαι ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ θέλειν προενήρξασθε ἀπὸ πέρυσι·
Hence, there is an issue of volition in giving. No one can put pressure on you to give. You should never give from emotion or because someone has pressured you into giving. Giving must come from what you are spiritually, the intake of doctrine and the use of the same.
1 Corinthians 16:2. On the first day of the week let each one of you put aside and save on the basis of his prosperity, that no collections be taken when I come.
2 Corinthians 8:11
Now, finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means [as the Lord has prospered you; because of greed, some Christians never give even though the Lord had prospered them].
νυνὶ δὲ καὶ τὸ ποιῆσαι ἐπιτελέσατε, ὅπως καθάπερ ἡ προθυµία τοῦ θέλειν οὕτως καὶ τὸ ἐπιτελέσαι ἐκ τοῦ ἔχειν.
You determine how much you can give from your prosperity. If a person is having a hard time meeting his financial responsibilities, then obviously he should not give. Furthermore, you should never give if that giving should place your family under a hardship. If the Lord has prospered you, and you understand that the Lord has prospered you in grace, then as a ministry you can give in grace as well. This is merely a test of grace orientation.
Just as some Christians will not give due to their greed, so certain believers gathered more than they needed because of greed. Exodus 16:20 But they did not listen to Moses [in greed, they gathered more manna than they could eat], and some left part of it until morning [couldn’t eat it all], and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.
2 Corinthians 8:12
For if the willingness is there [the desire to give], the gift is acceptable on the basis of what one has [which is willingness; if you have nothing but survival funds, the willingness counts for giving], not on the basis on what one does not have [in other words, just because you do not have any money, doesn’t mean that you cannot give since giving is measured by your willingness to give].
εἰ γὰρ ἡ προθυµία πρόκειται, καθὸ ἐὰν ἔχῃ εὐπρόσδεκτος, οὐ καθὸ οὐκ ἔχει.
2 Corinthians 8:13
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality [giving in grace and receiving in grace].
οὐ γὰρ ἵνα ἄλλοις ἄνεσις, ὑµῖν θλῖψις· ἀλλí ἐξ ἰσότητος
2 Corinthians 8:14
At the present time your plenty [the Lord had prospered the Corinthians financially, and so they could give as the Lord had prospered them] will supply what they need [the destitute Jews in Israel needed financial assistance], so that in turn their plenty [the gift offering to these destitute Jews] will supply what you need [an opportunity to give from impersonal love]. Then, there will be equality [both parties would be equally benefited],
ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ τὸ ὑµῶν περίσσευµα εἰς τὸ ἐκείνων ὑστέρηµα, ἵνα καὶ τὸ ἐκείνων περίσσευµα γένηται εἰς τὸ ὑµῶν ὑστέρηµα, ὅπως γένηται ἰσότης·
2 Corinthians 8:15
As it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little [depending upon one’s capacity]."
καθὼς γέγραπται, Ὁ τὸ πολὺ οὐκ ἐπλεόνασεν, καὶ ὁ τὸ ὀλίγον οὐκ ἠλαττόνησεν.
Exodus 16:15-18. When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" [in Hebrew: ‘man hu’ and in English we say ‘manna’] For they did not know what it was, and Moses said to them, " It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. (16) "This is what the Lord has commanded, 'gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an Omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.' "(17) The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. (18) When they measured it with an Omer, he who had gathered much had no excess [because he had the capacity to eat more], and he who had gathered little had no lack [his capacity was not as great as the former]; every man gathered as much as he should eat [as his capacity dictated].
So, what is the point? Giving is based upon one’s spiritual capacity to give.
2 Corinthians 8:16
I thank God, who put into the heart [soul] of Titus the same concern I have for you.
Χάρις δὲ τῷ θεῷ τῷ δόντι τὴν αὐτὴν σπουδὴν ὑπὲρ ὑµῶν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ Τίτου,
2 Corinthians 8:17
For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
ὅτι τὴν µὲν παράκλησιν ἐδέξατο, σπουδαιότερος δὲ ὑπάρχων αὐθαίρετος ἐξῆλθεν πρὸς ὑµᾶς.
2 Corinthians 8:18
And we are sending along with him the [his] brother [appears to be Luke] who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
συνεπέµψαµεν δὲ µετí αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀδελφὸν οὗ ὁ ἔπαινος ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ διὰ πασῶν τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν
2 Corinthians 8:19
And not only this, but he has also been appointed by public vote under the authority of the churches as a travelling companion in this grace-offering which is being administered by us with our willingness for the glory of the Lord.
οὐ µόνον δὲ ἀλλὰ καὶ χειροτονηθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν συνέκδηµος ἡµῶν σὺν τῇ χάριτι ταύτῃ τῇ διακονουµένῃ ὑφ’ ἡµῶν πρὸς τὴν [αὐτοῦ] τοῦ κυρίου δόξαν καὶ προθυµίαν ἡµῶν
2 Corinthians 8:20
Taking precaution [constantly avoiding this] so that no one will find fault with us in handling large sums of money being administered under our authority;
στελλόµενοι τοῦτο µή τις ἡµᾶς µωµήσηται ἐν τῇ ἁδρότητι ταύτῃ τῇ διακονουµένῃ ὑφí ἡµῶν·
2 Corinthians 8:21
For we have regard for what is honorable [providing forethought for valuable things], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
προνοοῦµεν γὰρ καλὰ οὐ µόνον ἐνώπιον κυρίου ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνώπιον ἀνθρώπων.
Principles of Administering financial funds:
1. Money given to the Lord’s work by the believer priest must be properly administered.
2. Reliable people must be appointed by the church to collect and account for the use of funds.
3. Money must be handled by more than one person to avoid any appearance of dishonesty or misappropriation.
4. The handling of valuable funds must follow a procedure that assures security.
5. Those who administer funds must be motivated for the glory of the Lord. In other words, they must be occupied with Jesus Christ and well-motivated.
Further Explanation:
1. Money given by churches must be handled under good administration.
2. This administration of money by the local church demands a proper system of collection, a system which brings out the spiritual nobility of the individual without coercion.
3. There must also be proper accounting by those with administrative gifts.
4. There must be honesty in the administration of money which has been given from love as an expression and commemoration of grace.
5. The administration of money must be honest before the Lord and honest before man.
6. The procedures for handling money must be worked out ahead of time to ensure security and proper administration of the grace offering.
Corinthian arrogant accusations against Paul:
1. Paul did not maintain his dignity, but lost his dignity when he worked by making tents as per 2 Corinthians 11:7, “Or did I commit sin in humbling myself [by making tents to support himself] that you might be exalted [advance spiritually], because I preached the good news [evangelization and Bible teaching] of God to you without charge? His critics implied that Paul should have allowed the Corinthian Church to provide for his needs. In their inconsistency, they also accused him of embezzling funds from the other churches. In fact, Paul had to work in Corinth since the Corinthians were too arrogant and too self-centered to understand spiritual giving.
2. Paul was boastful as per 2 Corinthians 10:8, 12, 13, 15, “For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. (12) We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. (13) We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field, God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. (15) Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,”
3. Paul was not qualified to teach since he was not one of the original apostles as per 2 Corinthians 3:1, “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? [sarcasm: Paul came to Corinth with a letter of recommendation. Others, false teachers have come in without a letter of recommendation.]; 2 Corinthians 11:5, “For I evaluate myself not to be inferior to the highest apostles in anything.” 2 Corinthians 12:11-12, “I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. (12) The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.”
4. Paul’s bodily presence was not impressive nor his speech (not a strong emotional speaker) as per 2 Corinthians 10:10, “For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." 2 Corinthians 11:6, “But even if I am unskilled in speech [let’s assume this to be true for the sake of argument], yet not in knowledge; but in every way we have made this perfectly clear to you [through their knowledge of the spiritual life].”
5. Paul was a coward and afraid to face them in person, 2 Corinthians 1:23, “Moreover, I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you [Paul would have confronted them and possibly caused an even greater reaction; rather God had Paul write 2 Corinthians that they might be more objective as Titus would teach it to them] that I did not return to Corinth [A large group of legalists in Corinth were calling Paul a coward and so was afraid to face them].
6. Paul embezzled funds entrusted to him, 2 Corinthians 8:20-21, “Taking precaution so that no one will find fault with us in handling large sums of money being administered under our authority; (21) For we have regard for what is honorable [providing forethought for valuable things], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
7. Paul was vacillating, 2 Corinthians 1:17, “When I planned this, did I do it lightly [when he didn’t arrive]? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner [no I don’t] so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no" [instability and great vacillation]?”
8. Paul was deceitful, 2 Corinthians 12:16, 17, “Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! (17) Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?”
9. Paul was carnal, 2 Corinthians 10:2, “I beg you that when I come, I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people [a large group of believers who have become antagonistic toward Paul and his ministry] who think that we live by the standards of this world [They were saying that Paul was out of fellowship and therefore not functioning under the Two Power Options].
10. Paul was like a kitten when in their presence, but like a lion when on the other side of the Aegean Sea, 2 Corinthians 10:1, “By the humbleness and graciousness of Christ, I appeal to you: I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! 2 Corinthians 10:11, “Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.”
2 Corinthians 8:22
We have sent with them [Titus and Luke] our brother [unknown], whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you [Corinthians].
συνεπέµψαµεν δὲ αὐτοῖς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡµῶν ὃν ἐδοκιµάσαµεν ἐν πολλοῖς πολλάκις σπουδαῖον ὄντα, νυνὶ δὲ πολὺ σπουδαιότερον πεποιθήσει πολλῇ τῇ εἰς ὑµᾶς.
“Our brother”
1. Interpretation: He is an unknown believer with the gift of administration. He has been sent along with Titus and Luke.
2. This is a case of emphasizing a ministry of grace rather than a personality.
3. In the administration of the financial affairs of the local church, it takes a lot of unknown and unheralded heroes of administration to accomplish the job in a manner pleasing to the Lord.
4. God knows them very well and blesses their efforts in His service.
5. Administration in the local church is a part of Christian service.
2 Corinthians 8:23
As for Titus, he is my partner [he is in charge of and made responsible for the delegation] and co-worker among you; as for our brethren [collection team: Luke and the unknown believer], they are agents [apostoloi] of the churches, the glory of Christ.
εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, κοινωνὸς ἐµὸς καὶ εἰς ὑµᾶς συνεργός· εἴτε ἀδελφοὶ ἡµῶν, ἀπόστολοι ἐκκλησιῶν, δόξα Χριστοῦ.
2 Corinthians 8:24
Therefore, [since I endorse this delegation] be demonstrating the proof of your love [in your giving] and of our reason for boasting about you.
τὴν οὖν ἔνδειξιν τῆς ἀγάπης ὑµῶν καὶ ἡµῶν καυχήσεως ὑπὲρ ὑµῶν εἰς αὐτοὺς ἐνδεικνύµενοι εἰς πρόσωπον τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν.
In giving we demonstrate our love for God. We do not demonstrate love for God by the amount we give, but by our attitude.