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
The Gospel of Matthew: Chapter Six
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
2 Chronicles 7:14, “And if my people [a client nation] who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven; will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We need to pray for our president, our military and civilian leaders every day.
Even though we are facing great economic disaster (no manufacturing to speak of, a reserve currency that is being printed out of existence etc.) and social disaster and maybe even civil war (no truth and virtue in the souls of the American people for the most part), we have the greatest and most powerful spiritual life ever given to a group of believers. So, all we need to do is to learn and apply it!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “At all times, have inner happiness. Habitually, pray. In everything, give thanks for this is the will of God [the Father] in Christ Jesus for you.”
Matthew 6:1
Προσέχετε [δὲ] τὴν δικαιοσύνην ὑµῶν µὴ ποιεῖν ἔµπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων πρὸς τὸ θεαθῆναι αὐτοῖς· εἰ δὲ µήγε, µισθὸν οὐκ ἔχετε παρὰ τῷ πατρὶ ὑµῶν τῷ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
“Beware, that you do not practice your righteousness before men to be noticed by them, otherwise [if you do not heed this warning] you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Grammar: Verbs of caution such as “beware” take the Greek particle “me” (µὴ) with the infinitive.
Practicing righteousness in order to be noticed by men, for example, performing good deeds and prayers in order to receive the approbation of mankind, will not be rewarded by God because the believer is out of fellowship with God and under the control of his sin nature, and when the believer is under the control of his sin nature, he is functioning under and motivated by some lust, and God does not and will not reward a believer functioning under the lusts of his sin nature. Only the good deeds produced while in fellowship with God and Biblically correct prayers of the believer in fellowship will be rewarded by God the Father.
A Christian motivated by illicit desire (lust) from the sin nature cannot please the Lord. Only a Christian applying God’s word by means of the power of the Holy Spirit (i.e. under the Filling Ministry of the Holy Spirit) can please the Lord. Colossians 3:23 states, “Whatever you do, keep functioning from your own soul as to the Lord, and not to mankind.” If the Christian is motivated by approbation-lust, he is living to please people rather than to please the Lord. On the other hand, when the Christian is in fellowship, there will be times when he will please both the Lord and people. For example, a Christian husband who loves his wife as Christ loves the Church pleases both the Lord and his wife. The Christian is either pleasing the Lord as a servant of the Lord or a slave to the lusts of the sin nature.
Matthew 6:2
Ὅταν οὖν ποιῇς ἐλεηµοσύνην, µὴ σαλπίσῃς ἔµπροσθέν σου, ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ ποιοῦσιν ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς καὶ ἐν ταῖς ῥύµαις, ὅπως δοξασθῶσιν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων· ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν, ἀπέχουσιν τὸν µισθὸν αὐτῶν.
“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do [the word “hypocrites” is a reference to the Pharisees and scribes: Matthew 23:13] in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may be honored by men [Matthew 23:5-7]. Truly I say to you they have their reward in full.”
Religious people (those persons, both believers and unbelievers alike, who seek the approbation of God outside of God’s plan) are not rewarded by God, but by whatever satisfaction or pseudo happiness they obtain by fulfilling some lust. For example, many Christians spend their entire lives seeking human approbation rather than seeking the approbation of the Lord via the execution of the spiritual life. After helping the poor, they brag to others about their good deeds. They attend prayer meetings or all- night prayer vigils for the sole purpose of being recognized by people as some great saint. Under compulsion, they contribute ten percent of their income to their local church. All this they do in ignorance of the spiritual life. These are religious people involved in religious functions outside of God’s plan, and therefore cannot be rewarded by Him.
Matthew 6:3-4
σοῦ δὲ ποιοῦντος ἐλεηµοσύνην µὴ γνώτω ἡ ἀριστερά σου τί ποιεῖ ἡ δεξιά σου, (4) ὅπως ᾖ σου ἡ ἐλεηµοσύνη ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ· καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ [αὐτὸς] ἀποδώσει σοι.
“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (4) so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Whatever good a believer does is a private matter between him and the Lord. A believer who is living his life to please the Lord will keep it this way if possible. In the ancient world, the right hand represented doing something good while the left hand represented doing something bad or evil. In this idiom, the right hand doing something without the left hand knowing about it represents doing something good or noble with proper motivation. On the other hand, the right hand [doing a right thing] telling the left hand [doing something in a wrong way namely seeking approbation] means that the person is introducing false motivation into the matter.
Giving to the poor may be God’s will for you, or it may not be. Giving to the poor is a good thing if it is God’s will, but keep in mind that a good or right thing must be done in a right way to be right. If giving is done in a right way, then it is rewardable. However, if giving is done in a wrong way, it is wrong and not rewardable. There are even times when giving itself is wrong. For example, if a Christian man gives financially to a church or to a charitable cause while not properly providing for his family, he is committing an evil and is evil. “He is worse than an unbeliever” according to 1st Timothy 5:8b.
Jesus has just attacked the ostentatious public giving of the Pharisees and scribes (Matthew 6:2). Now, he is going to attack their falsely motivated public prayers (Matthew 6:5-8).
Matthew 6:5-6
Καὶ ὅταν προσεύχησθε, οὐκ ἔσεσθε ὡς οἱ ὑποκριταί· ὅτι φιλοῦσιν ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς καὶ ἐν ταῖς γωνίαις τῶν πλατειῶν ἑστῶτες προσεύχεσθαι, ὅπως φανῶσιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις· ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν, ἀπέχουσιν τὸν µισθὸν αὐτῶν. (6) σὺ δὲ ὅταν προσεύχῃ, εἴσελθε εἰς τὸ ταµεῖόν σου καὶ κλείσας τὴν θύραν σου πρόσευξαι τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ· καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι.
“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites [Pharisees and scribes] for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen of men [motivated by approbation lust]. Truly I say to you they have their reward in full [human approbation]. (6) “But you, when you pray, go into your private room [Jesus places the emphasis on private prayers, not public]; after closing the door [the aorist participle] pray [main verb] to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees [what is accomplished] in secret will reward you.
There is a Greek rule of grammar established by the Greek grammarian Granville Sharp, namely the action of an aorist participle must precede the action of the main verb, regardless of the word order. So, the door must be closed before one begins praying. In this way, your prayers are completely in private. Contrast this with the Pharisees praying in public for all to see.
The emphasis in Scripture is on private prayers though public prayer has a place in the plan of God as well. Many of the great prayers recorded in Scripture were private, for example what should be regarded as the true ‘Lord’s Prayer’ is found in John 17, and other private prayers of Jesus to God the Father as found in Matthew 26:39, 42 at Gethsemane and Luke 23:34 at the place called the Skull. Paul’s private prayers for the Ephesians are mentioned in Ephesians 1:16-19; 3:14-21, and his prayers for the unbelieving Jews in Romans 10:1. The great prayers of Moses are found in Exodus 32:11-13, and in Numbers 14:13-19. Regarding public prayer, Jewish believers fasted and prayed to be delivered from the decree of King Xerxes which prayers were answered (Esther 4:16). On another occasion, the Lord rejected the public prayer of the Jews for deliverance from King Nebuchadnezzar as found in Jeremiah 14:12a, “When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry [of prayer during their fast]. . . ” Certain members of the Antioch Church conducted public prayer regarding the selection of missionaries and were heard (Acts 13:2, 3). When Peter was imprisoned, the Church fervently prayed for his release. Though they prayed fervently, they did not expect an answer to their prayers, a total lack of faith. Nevertheless, the Lord delivered Peter (Acts 12:5, 13-16). Both the Lord and Paul emphasized private praying (Matthew 6:6, I Thessalonians 5:17, 18).
In the Age of Israel, one could pray to God the Son as per 1 Kings 18:36, “At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah, the prophet came near and said, ‘O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and I have done all these things at Your word.’” Even before the Age of Israel, Abraham prayed to his Lord, God the Son as per Genesis 18:23-33. In this chapter, the Lord during his 1st Advent is instructing his disciples to pray to the Father (Matthew 6:6). They did not have to pray through Christ, since the Church Age had not yet commenced. Whereas, in the Church Age, the believer-priest must pray to God the Father through Christ, his high priest. You see, we as priests must pray through our High Priest to God the Father. Hebrews 7:25a, “Therefore, He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God [the Father in prayer] through Him [the Lord Jesus Christ] . . .” John 14:13, “Whatever you ask [the Father] through my person that will I do. . .”) Jesus Christ as our high priest can no longer be the object of prayer, but the channel by which we pray to God the Father.
Matthew 6:7-8
Προσευχόµενοι δὲ µὴ βατταλογήσητε ὥσπερ οἱ ἐθνικοί, δοκοῦσιν γὰρ ὅτι ἐν τῇ πολυλογίᾳ αὐτῶν εἰσακουσθήσονται. 8 µὴ οὖν ὁµοιωθῆτε αὐτοῖς, οἶδεν γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ ὑµῶν ὧν χρείαν ἔχετε πρὸ τοῦ ὑµᾶς αἰτῆσαι αὐτόν.
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition [βατταλογεω / battalogeo: as if you are stammering] as the Gentiles [unbelievers] do for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So, do not be like [do not imitate] them for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
The Greek word battalogeo comes from “battos” and “logeo.” “Battos” was the name of the king of Cyrene who stammered. The noun “battos” took on the meaning of “stammerer,” and then the verb “logeo” (to speak) came to be combined with this noun to form the compound “battalogeo” meaning to speak in a stammer or to use meaningless repetition.
Because God has always known everything, repetition is not necessary when praying to the Father. Religious people like to use repetition like praying ‘10 Hail Marys’ one after another. Though a Christian may know that God is omniscient, he may still use repetitive phrases in prayer as if God the Father was deaf or a slow learner.
Matthew 6:9
Οὕτως οὖν προσεύχεσθε ὑµεῖς· Πάτερ ἡµῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνοµά σου,
“Pray, then in this manner [verses 9-13: a pattern prayer for the disciples], ‘Our Father who is in heaven; let your person be set apart as holy [perfect integrity].
Jesus was teaching the disciples how to pray (Matthew 6:5-13). To make it clear to the disciples, it seems that the Lord being omniscient took a future prayer and used it as a pattern in teaching his disciples, a prayer which will be prayed possibly by one of the great Jewish generals defending Jerusalem just before the return of Christ at His Second Advent.
In the Millennium for the first time in history, the Father’s person will be revered. His righteous and just policy and thinking will be implemented by the perfect rule of our Lord Jesus Christ. And since the Word of God will be universally taught in the Millennium most will have great awe and respect for the Father.
Matthew 6:10
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου, γενηθήτω τὸ θέληµά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς.
‘Your kingdom come [the Millennial Kingdom]; let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
In verses 9, 10, there are three aorist passive participles all dealing with the millennial reign of Christ.
1. Let your person be set apart as holy (as righteous and just)
2. Let your kingdom come
3. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Satan is presently the ruler of the world (John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4) and will continue to rule during the Church Age and the Tribulation. Therefore, during these two periods of history the above three aorist participles cannot and will not be fulfilled. These three participles can only be fulfilled in the Millennium. At that time, the Father’s will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
Matthew 6:11
Τὸν ἄρτον ἡµῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡµῖν σήµερον·
‘Give us [for our benefit: dative of advantage] tomorrow’s bread, today.’
The Greek phrase “ton epiousion semeron” literally means ‘the coming day’ (the next day or tomorrow). Thus, those praying this prayer were asking for their provisions one day in advance. Soldiers many times need to carry the next day’s provisions. So, assuming this is a prayer from a great believer defending Jerusalem in the close of the Tribulation, it would make sense to ask for two days-supply of provisions whereas in the Church Age we are to focus on one day at a time.
Matthew 6:12
καὶ ἄφες ἡµῖν τὰ ὀφειλήµατα ἡµῶν, ὡς καὶ ἡµεῖς ἀφήκαµεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡµῶν·
‘And forgive us our debts [Israel failed in their client nation responsibilities] as [introduces an analogy] we have forgiven our debtors.’
This is not a tit for tat situation for it doesn’t say, “Since we have done these things, do this for us.” It is merely communicating an analogy. If the Jewish believers who are finite and imperfect were able to forgive others in grace, and they did, then logically it follows that infinite and perfect God the Father would forgive them in grace.
Historically, five Jewish client nations failed:
1. The Theocratic kingdom from Moses to Samuel.
2. The United Kingdom from Saul to Rehoboam.
3. The Northern kingdom from Jeroboam to Hoshea.
4. The Southern kingdom from Rehoboam to Zedekiah.
5. Judea, established in the post-exilic period from 516 BC to 70 AD.
God will forgive the Jews of their failures just mentioned above and will restore them at the 2nd Advent and make them the final client nation for the duration of the Millennium.
Matthew 6:13
καὶ µὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡµᾶς εἰς πειρασµόν, ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡµᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.
‘And do not bring us into [more] testing [Jerusalem under siege at the end of the Great Tribulation], but deliver us from the evil one [Satan who is always anti-Semitic will mobilized the armies of the world to destroy the Jews at the close of the Tribulation].
The Jews in Jerusalem will be under maximum pressure just before the Second Advent, and so it appears that some leader will pray for a quick return and deliverance (Christ returns at the 2nd Advent before the 7 years are completed according to Matthew 24:22).
Matthew 6:14-15
Ἐὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώµατα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑµῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑµῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· (15) ἐὰν δὲ µὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑµῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώµατα ὑµῶν.
For if you [disciples] forgive others for their transgressions [they are functioning in fellowship and operating under grace] your heavenly Father will also forgive you [when you, disciples name your sins]. (15) But if you do not forgive others [because you are justifying your implacability, your hatred, bitterness etc. and so refusing to name your sins], then your Father will not forgive your transgressions [because you refuse to use the recovery procedure as stated in 1 John 1:9].
If a believer forgives others who are committing sins against him, then he will remain in fellowship with God. However, if that same believer should react with some emotional sin and so refuse to forgive others, then he loses his fellowship with God. In other words, if the believer uses God’s grace system, he will receive the benefits of God’s grace. If on the other hand, the believer enters into legalism, he will suffer the consequences of his self-righteous attitude of refusing to forgive as God forgives.
Matthew 6:16-18
Ὅταν δὲ νηστεύητε, µὴ γίνεσθε ὡς οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί, ἀφανίζουσιν γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν, ἀπέχουσιν τὸν µισθὸν αὐτῶν. (17) σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,(18) ὅπως µὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυφαίῳ· καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυφαίῳ ἀποδώσει σοι.
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do for they disfigure their faces [as if they are suffering from hunger] to show men that they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full [the approbation of mankind]. (17) But when you fast, put oil on your head [shampoo your hair, apply hair tonic and comb it] and wash your face so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting [this is a private matter between you and God the Father], (18) but only to your Father who is unseen, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
Motivation is important in the spiritual life. When the believer does something to receive the approbation of mankind, he has false motivation. A believer with false motivation is a believer out of fellowship with God. On the other hand, a believer in fellowship seeks the approbation of God. Remember that the spiritual life is right thinking and right motivation, resulting in right decisions and right actions.
Regarding fasting, there is no spiritual value in fasting as such for fasting is merely going without food. (Even the unbelievers fast for a variety of reasons.) However, the believer in fasting increases his ability to concentrate. Furthermore, fasting allows the believer to spend more time in Bible study or prayer since he is able to use the time that is normally spent on preparing for meals and eating (for some people this may be as much as three hours per day) for praying and Bible study. Thus, though there is no spiritual value in fasting (going without food) as such it can be used to gain more time for one’s spiritual life.
Matthew 6:19-21
Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑµῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσιν καὶ κλέπτουσιν· (20) θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑµῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν· (21) ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρός σου, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία σου.
Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on earth [a false scale of values] where moth [eats materialistic things] and rust [corrodes] destroys, and where thieves dig through [the walls] and steal, (20) but store up [accumulate] for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal, (21) for where your treasure is [what you consider most important], there your heart [location of the scale of values] will be also.
This passage, Matthew 6:19-21 is teaching correct values - spiritual values must have priority over temporal values. What is more important to you? Is completing the spiritual life and gaining eternal rewards more important than seeking the things of this earth and gaining temporal fame and wealth? If so, you will become a great believer. If not, you will be distracted by your concentration on the things of this world.
However, don’t distort the meaning of this passage. It is not suggesting that you should sell your new car and beautiful home or to get rid of your bank account. That would be an idiotic application of this verse. It is merely teaching that the believer must have an eternal focus rather than a temporal earthly one. If you are so busy gaining wealth and so have no time to learn and complete the spiritual life, you have the wrong priorities and values.
Matthew 6:22
Ὁ λύχνος τοῦ σώµατός ἐστιν ὁ ὀφθαλµός. ἐὰν οὖν ᾖ ὁ ὀφθαλµός σου ἁπλοῦς, ὅλον τὸ σῶµά σου φωτεινὸν ἔσται·
The eye is the lamp of the body [reveals the capacity of the soul through animation or lack of it]. If your eye is unblemished [no mental attitude sins coming through from the soul etc.], your whole body will be animated [from soul capacity],
If there is light in your soul (God’s Word circulating in the stream of consciousness) then that light will shine through the lamp of your eyes because advanced Christians living the spiritual life are animated.
Unblemished cloth is used to illustrate a phenomenal spiritual life. In ancient times, people bought cloth over the counter. Sometimes the merchant selling the cloth would fold it in such a way as to hide the blemishes in the cloth. A blemish would be analogous to a sin or flaw in the soul. Thus, a blemished eye would imply a believer full of mental attitude sins such as anger, hatred, bitterness, jealousy, envy, vindictiveness, guilt etc. (a believer failing in the spiritual life). On the other hand, an unblemished eye reveals the absence of sins, and thus a believer with a great spiritual life.
Matthew 6:23-24
ἐὰν δὲ ὁ ὀφθαλµός σου πονηρὸς ᾖ, ὅλον τὸ σῶµά σου σκοτεινὸν ἔσται. εἰ οὖν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἐν σοὶ σκότος ἐστίν, τὸ σκότος πόσον. (24) Οὐδεὶς δύναται δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν· ἢ γὰρ τὸν ἕνα µισήσει καὶ τὸν ἕτερον ἀγαπήσει, ἢ ἑνὸς ἀνθέξεται καὶ τοῦ ἑτέρου καταφρονήσει· οὐ δύνασθε θεῷ δουλεύειν καὶ µαµωνᾷ.
but if your eyes are evil [the soul is demonized through demon influence] your whole body will be full of darkness [he lives in darkness]. If then the light which is [should be] in you [by analogy the eye is a lamp which operates from the light in the soul] is darkness [no light in the soul] how great is the darkness [the soul is full of darkness namely Satanic viewpoint which is transmitted through the eyes and affects the whole person: thinking, motivation, decisions and actions are in sync with Satanic viewpoint]? (24) No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammona [the Syrian god of wealth].
If we love the temporal things of this world and operate under the lusts of the sin-nature, we will never advance in the Father’s plan. For example, if gaining wealth is the most important thing in life (cupidity), then we cannot serve God. It is a matter of priorities.
Matthew 6:25
∆ιὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑµῖν, µὴ µεριµνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ ὑµῶν τί φάγητε [ἢ τί πίητε], µηδὲ τῷ σώµατι ὑµῶν τί ἐνδύσησθε· οὐχὶ ἡ ψυχὴ πλεῖόν ἐστιν τῆς τροφῆς καὶ τὸ σῶµα τοῦ ἐνδύµατος;
For this reason, I say to you, stop worrying about your physical life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear [God will provide the necessities of life under the concept of ‘logistical grace’]. Is not human life [on this earth] more than food [for the body] and your body [the location of your soul] more than clothes? Yes, of course [the soul should be emphasized over the body].
The soul has an important function in God’s plan for it is the key to the spiritual life of the believer. If the believer has doctrine in his soul, he will know about logistical grace provision, and other doctrines as well such as the Lord decides the place, manner, and the time of our death. Thus, we are not to use the mentality of our soul to worry about a possible shortfall in food or drink or in clothing.
Matthew 6:26
ἐµβλέψατε εἰς τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν οὐδὲ συνάγουσιν εἰς ἀποθήκας, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑµῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὐτά· οὐχ ὑµεῖς µᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν;
Look at the birds of the sky; they do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Yes, you are.
This verse uses a logical thought process called a fortiori, a Latin phrase literally meaning “with greater reason” to produce an inescapable conclusion through comparison. If God provides for the birds (one of the least of His creatures), then with greater reason will he not provide for his royal family (his precious creatures)? If God provides for birds which he does not personally love, will he not provide for the believer whom he personally loves? The inescapable conclusion is “Of course He will.”
So, if a great depression should occur and you should lose your job, and have no means of supporting your family, then you will be in the same position as the birds of the sky. Both you and the birds will be equally unemployed. Now, since God always provides for the unemployed birds whom he loves impersonally, how much more will he provide for you whom he loves personally?
Matthew 6:27
τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑµῶν µεριµνῶν δύναται προσθεῖναι ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ πῆχυν ἕνα;
Which of you by worrying can add a day [a small span of time] to his life span [another meaning: can add 18 inches to his growth]?
Worry is a mental attitude sin of mental self-torment and anxiety regarding anything in life. It is a disquieting and painful state of mind involving illicit or undue concern over something in life. The painful uneasiness of mind anticipates the worst, and so becomes apprehension in anticipation of danger, misfortune, trouble, disaster, or uncertainty. Worry is a state of restlessness and agitation, producing mental disturbance, uneasiness, foreboding, anxiety, and painful uncertainty.
Worry is a destroyer of the soul's stream of consciousness. If unchecked, it results in mental illness. You get a warning first, often with a physical problem. Worry in the mind is harmful to the body, Proverbs 12:25, "Worry in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word produces superabundance of happiness."
The solution to worry is removed by the "good word," which is the unfailing love of God, which produces a superabundance of happiness, Psalm 100:2, "Serve the Lord with superabundance of happiness." As a result of Bible doctrine circulating in the right lobe of the stream of consciousness, the believer advances to the greatest happiness of this life. This happiness is exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think according to Ephesians 3:20.
You do not have to worry, if you understand the unfailing love of God and have the motivation of reciprocity which is our response to the unfailing love of God. This motivation and the spiritual blessing which comes to the believer who has obtained reciprocal love will easily prevent the temptation to worry.
Matthew 6:28-30
καὶ περὶ ἐνδύµατος τί µεριµνᾶτε; καταµάθετε τὰ κρίνα τοῦ ἀγροῦ πῶς αὐξάνουσιν· οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν· 29 λέγω δὲ ὑµῖν ὅτι οὐδὲ Σολοµὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων. 30 εἰ δὲ τὸν χόρτον τοῦ ἀγροῦ σήµερον ὄντα καὶ αὔριον εἰς κλίβανον βαλλόµενον ὁ θεὸς οὕτως ἀµφιέννυσιν, οὐ πολλῷ µᾶλλον ὑµᾶς, ὀλιγόπιστοι;
And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not work nor do they spin [weave cloth]. (29) In fact, I say to you that even Solomon in all of his glory [the best dressed man in his day and possibly in history] did not clothe himself like one of these; (30) in fact if God keeps clothing the common grass of the field, and He does [clothes with flowers] which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace [they shrivel up], will He not much more [pollo mallon] clothe you? O you, of little faith [failure to apply God’s Word]!
Again we have the use of “A fortiori” logic but this time with the equivalent Greek expression “pollo mallon” i.e. “with stronger reason”. If God provides for the unimportant lilies the most beautiful of clothes (and he does) it follows with greater reason that He must (since God is rational) provide for his beloved children the necessities of life (and He does). If God clothes the common grass of the field which grass has no relationship with him, then with greater reason God will do much more for the believer. If God can provide for grass, which suffers a lot of pressure and abuse (people walk all over it, dogs urinate on it, and the weather tears it up, dries it out, floods it etc.), can God take care of you? Of course, He can; you are much more important to Him than grass!
The testimony of old age: Psalm 37:25 states, “I [David] have been young and now I am old yet I have never seen the righteous [believers] forsaken nor his seed begging for bread.”
Matthew 6:31
µὴ οὖν µεριµνήσητε λέγοντες, Τί φάγωµεν; ἤ, Τί πίωµεν; ἤ, Τί περιβαλώµεθα;
Therefore, do not worry, thinking [The Greek word “lego” can be translated as thinking if the context warrants it], ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Matthew 6:32
πάντα γὰρ ταῦτα τὰ ἔθνη ἐπιζητοῦσιν· οἶδεν γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ ὑµῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ὅτι χρῄζετε τούτων ἁπάντων.
For the gentiles [unbelievers] strive after all of these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.
The Lord always provides for believers the necessities of life. The perfect example of this is the Exodus generation. Even though they were an evil generation of believers for the most part, the Lord provided for their needs for 40 years in their wandering in the desert. There is a reason for this, and that reason is that God loves all believers in history (Psalm 33:5) since all believers receive His righteousness at their salvation. Romans 3:22a, “The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to everyone who believes…”
Matthew 6:33
ζητεῖτε δὲ πρῶτον τὴν βασιλείαν καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, καὶ ταῦτα πάντα προστεθήσεται ὑµῖν.
But seek first the kingdom [eternal kingdom] and his righteousness [imputed righteousness], and all these things [the necessary provisions in life – logistical grace] will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:34
µὴ οὖν µεριµνήσητε εἰς τὴν αὔριον, ἡ γὰρ αὔριον µεριµνήσει αὑτῆς· ἀρκετὸν τῇ ἡµέρᾳ ἡ κακία αὐτῆς.
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has its own worries [Don’t concern yourself with the problems which may occur tomorrow.] Each day has enough evil [trouble] of its own.
Since God provides for our needs on a daily basis, we are to live one day at a time. God provided manna for the Jews one day at a time in the desert in order that they might learn this concept. (The Lord had commanded them to pick up only enough for one day at a time except on the day before the Sabbath.) Some Jews would not trust in the Lord for their daily provisions and so would gather more than a day’s provision. To their dismay, it would become infested with maggots.
Many people spend so much time focused on the past or future that they cannot live for today. Grace gives you the capacity to live one day at a time so that you are not handicapped by the past or hindered by the future.
One Day at a Time:
1. The advanced believer regards every day as unto the Lord, Romans 14:5,6a, “For, on the one hand, this one [the weak believer] considers one day greater than another day, on the other hand, that one [the mature believer] considers every day alike [as from the Lord]. Let each believer be fully convinced in his own mind [the privacy of priesthood in perception].” (6) He who observes the day [the mature believer], observes it to the Lord…”
2. Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart [a soul] of wisdom.”
3. James 4:13-15, “Come now, you [the apostate believer] who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that city, and shall work in that place for a year and we shall both transact business and make a profit.” (14). Yet you do not even know what kind of life you will have tomorrow. You are just a vapor trail in the sky [a mist, wisp of smoke], visible for a short time and then you vanish [physical death].(15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord has willed, we shall both live and do this or that [executing God’s will for our life].”
4. Lamentations 3:22-23, “The Lord’s steadfast love indeed never ceases, for His compassions [anthropopathism for God’s grace in action] never fail. (23) They are new every morning [daily logistical grace provision]. Great is your faithfulness.”
5. Jeremiah 15:16a, “Your words were found, and I ate them [one eats daily]. And your words became to me happiness and the delight of my soul. . .”
6. Matthew 4:4b, “…This man shall not live by bread alone [one eats daily], but by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God [the Father as the author].”
7. John 11:9-10, “Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours in a day? If anyone walks in the day [learns doctrine daily], he does not stumble because he sees the light of this world.(10) But if anyone walks in the night [does not learn doctrine], he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
8. Proverbs 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day will bring forth.”
