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 Five
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.
Matthew 6:34: Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will care for itself [Don’t concern yourself with the problems which may occur tomorrow.]. Each day has enough evil [trouble] of its own.
Do not be distracted by political figures and parties:
For purposes of illustration, I would like to make the Christians in Client Nation, USA analogous to a beautiful black stallion. When the stallion is healthy and strong, the nation is blessed whereas when it is unhealthy and weak, the nation declines and loses its blessing. The stallion remains strong if 10 to 15% of the Christians are advanced believers and many have reached spiritual maturity and beyond (Those having passed evidence testing); it becomes weak when more and more Christians fail to execute that life and thus fail to obtain spiritual maturity etc. Presently, it appears that less than 1% of the Christians in Client Nation USA are executing the spiritual life. (As Americans know, red represents the Republican Party and blue represents the Democratic Party.) By analogy the color of the tail of this stallion may be red or blue at different times in history; whether the color be red or blue it has no impact on the health of the stallion or lack of it. The stallion only becomes healthy and strong by feeding on the Word of God! If that stallion does not feed on the Word of God, it will become sickly and die. In summary, though a healthy stallion may dictate the color of his tail, the color of his tail cannot change the health of the stallion.
Matthew 5:1-2
Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος· καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ µαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ· (2) καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόµα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων,
When he saw the multitudes [and took an estimate of the situation], he went up into a mountain [unknown], and when he was seated, his disciples came to him. (2) And having opened his mouth, he kept on teaching [the imperfect tense means that he repeated many times] them, saying [the content of his teaching]:
The multitudes contained a large group of people possibly as high as 100,000. In order to properly handle such a large group as this, Jesus would have to organize and train a team. So, Jesus Christ realizing that he needed a trained team separated himself from the crowds. And he did so by going up into a mountain with his disciples. (It would be impossible for a large crowd to follow a person quickly into a mountain.)
Jesus Christ undoubtedly not only taught his disciples about the Mosaic Law, but also about the transitional period of His 33 years and even some information about the Church Age since they would need to understand the transition from the Law to Grace. John 1:17, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized though Jesus Christ.” Thus, more is given to the Church Age believer than to the Old Testament believer.
Jesus sat down to get comfortable that he might be able to teach under the best possible conditions. He then taught his disciples as if he were carrying on a conversation with them (His method was firm, dogmatic, but did not contain ranting or shouting. Furthermore, Jesus did not clown around, but taught accurately using illustrations and parables to communicate his point.
By way of application, it is not the pastor’s responsibility to handle the administration of a local church, but to study and teach and to establish policy. It takes a team to accomplish God’s task on earth in the Church Age. This explains why God the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different people.
The grammatical organization of the first two verses:
Aorist participle “saw” followed by an aorist indicative “went.”
Aorist participle “seated” followed by an aorist indicative “came.”
Aorist participle “opened” followed by an imperfect indicative “kept on teaching.”
Can you see the pattern established? One would expect the last verb in this group of verbal forms to be an aorist, but it isn’t. This breaking off from what is expected puts emphasis on the imperfect indicative “he kept on teaching.” All this action was designed for one thing, namely to teach his disciples.
Matthew 5:3
Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύµατι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
“Blessed are [happinesses to] the destitute ones in spirit [unbelievers who realize the need for salvation] because theirs is the kingdom of heaven [after their response to the gospel message].
When an unbeliever realizes that he is destitute of spiritual assets or any assets which would qualify him to enter into a relationship with God, he is ready for the gospel.
Matthew 5:4
µακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.
“Blessed are [happinesses to] those who mourn [experience sorrow, a form of undeserved suffering] for they shall be comforted [by application of the appropriate truths or doctrines to their suffering].
When the believer is under great undeserved suffering, the only comfort is from what truth has been metabolized in the soul.
Matthew 5:5
µακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονοµήσουσιν τὴν γῆν.
“Blessed are [happinesses to] the humble [great Jewish believers] because they will inherit the Land [of Israel in the Millennium].
Daniel 12:13: “But you [Daniel is about 90, but will live even longer] go your way [keep on living your life] till the end be [of your life]; for you shall repose [great happiness and tranquility in dying: dying grace], and shall stand [in resurrection body] in your lot [a special piece of land that is allotted to him in accordance with the Abrahamic Covenant], at the end of the days [end of the Great Tribulation].”
Matthew 5:6
µακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται.
“Blessed are [happinesses to] those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [to learn and execute the spiritual life and so produce experiential righteousness] because they shall be made full. [If the believer desires God’s word, God will provide whatever it takes to satisfy that desire.]
God will always meet your capacity.
Matthew 5:7
µακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήµονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται.
“Blessed are [happinesses to] the ones showing mercy [applying grace to others] because they will receive mercy [logical progression: grace in action from God in the form of blessing].
The believers who apply grace to both the unbeliever and other believers have the capacity to receive an increase in blessing from the Lord. This is not a tit for tat: blessing for blessing - if I bless others, God will bless me. You cannot enter into a business arrangement with the Lord! (Lord, I’ll give 10% of my measly income to the church, if you will agree to double my bank account.) The Lord does not bless in this manner, but rather on the basis of capacity.
Matthew 5:8
µακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.
“Blessed are [Happinesses to] the pure in the heart [in the mentality of their souls] because they shall see God [develop a great relationship with God].
Pure in the Mentality of the Soul:
1. The believer has metabolized doctrine circulating in his stream of consciousness (doctrine in his frame of reference, memory center, categorical and vocabulary storage, wisdom department and good norms and standards in his conscience) from which comes, right thinking and motivation.
2. The believer is free of blackout and scar tissue of the soul. (Ephesians 4:18)
3. The believer is free of garbage in his subconscious, not like the Exodus generation who projected, from their subconscious, hatred and murder lust toward Moses. Psychologically, self-righteous people repress their mental attitude sins and lusts into their subconscious, and then accuse someone else of their very own sins and lusts. This little psychological trick is called “repression followed by projection.”
Matthew 5:9
µακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί, ὅτι [αὐτοὶ] υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.
“Blessed are [happinesses to] the peace makers [to reconcile: mature believers who evangelize both by the life and by the lip] for they will be called, ‘Sons of God’ [recognized and rewarded with a special title].
Arrogant believers may evangelize by the lip, but they are unable to evangelize by their lives for the unbeliever can see through their façade of self-righteousness. Only the advanced believer has the integrity and virtue to impress the unbeliever, and so, many unbelievers are willing to listen to the gospel message of reconciliation presented by such a believer.
Matthew 5:10
µακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγµένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
“Blessed are [happinesses to] those who are persecuted because of righteousness [the underserved suffering of a mature believer] because theirs is the kingdom of heaven [He will live with the Lord in great blessing and happiness in the eternal state].
The mature believer has the capacity and motivation to handle any kind of suffering that may come his way. He also knows that passing these tests of suffering advances him spiritually and will qualify him for greater blessing in time and in eternity. You may want to read “Christian Suffering” by R. B. Thieme Jr.
Matthew 5:11
µακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑµᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθí ὑµῶν [ψευδόµενοι] ἕνεκεν ἐµοῦ·
“Blessed are [happinesses to] you when people insult and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
The mature believer shares in the suffering of Christ. As Christ was persecuted so the mature believer will also be persecuted. Evil unbelievers and believers will persecute the great believers. (Saul, a believer sought David’s life). Though he suffers, the mature believer is happy. True happiness is not based on the circumstances of life, but on the believer’s relationship with the three members of the Trinity. If the believer has love for God the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ, he will also possess the happiness of God.
Matthew 5:12
χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ µισθὸς ὑµῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑµῶν.
“Rejoice and be exceedingly happy for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The persecution of great believers is nothing new. Satan doesn’t like believers who reach occupation with Christ. So, he will motivate those who are under his authority to persecute such believers.
Matthew 5:13
Ὑµεῖς ἐστε τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς· ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας µωρανθῇ, ἐν τίνι ἁλισθήσεται; εἰς οὐδὲν ἰσχύει ἔτι εἰ µὴ βληθῆναι ἔξω καὶ καταπατεῖσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.
“You [the advanced or mature believer] are the salt of the Land [of Israel], but if the salt has become tasteless [insipid], how [by what] can it be made salty again? It is no longer good [has ability] for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
As salt has the ability to preserve and add flavor to food, so the mature believer is the basis for the blessing and preservation of his nation. As salt which has lost its ability to preserve and to savor food is worthless so the believer who enters into reversionism becomes worthless to his nation and to those around him. Rather than being a preserver of his nation through advance to maturity, he as a believer in apostasy becomes the basis for God to judge his nation. Rather than being a blessing to others, he becomes a cursing by association. In the ancient world, insipid salt was thrown out onto the street and trampled under the foot by those who passed by. Like insipid salt which is trampled underfoot, so the reversionistic believer will experience self-induced misery and be the recipient of divine discipline.
The Lord Jesus Christ as the one who controls history uses his power to preserve and to bless a client nation if that nation has a sufficient number of mature believers. In other words, the Lord blesses people, groups and nations because of their association with great believers. Elijah once complained that only he was faithful to the Word. However, the Lord reminded him that there were 7000 who had not bowed a knee to Baal and for that reason Israel would be preserved (1 Kings 19:10, 14, 18). Moses was so great that the Lord delivered the Jewish people from the Egyptian bondage. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of [identification with] 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; and all were baptized into Moses [identified with Moses and so delivered] in the cloud and in the sea.” Moses was identified with the cloud or Jesus Christ, and the people were identified with Moses, and so the people were able to pass through the sea unharmed. Later at Mount Sinai the Lord threatened to destroy all the Jews and to make a new nation from the loins of Moses, but Moses interceded on behalf of the Jews and the Lord changed his mind (listened to the intercession of Moses) about destroying the nation (Exodus 32:7-14). Did the Jews learn from their Mount Sinai experience? After the Jews had heard the report regarding giants in the land from the reconnaissance team, they refused to go into the land of milk and honey. Again, for a second time, the Lord threatened to destroy all these Jews to a man and then to manufacture a new nation from the loins of Moses, but again Moses interceded on behalf of the Jews and the Lord pardoned them (Numbers 14:11-20).
Matthew 5:14
Ὑµεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσµου. οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειµένη·
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness [live under Satanic thinking], but will have the Light of life [eternal life]” (John 8:12). Jesus Christ is appointing his disciples as lights of the world, the ones who will be responsible to give the light (the gospel) to the ‘Lost Sheep of Israel’.
Jesus is called the light of the world because his thinking illuminates. This illumination begins with the gospel and continues with Bible teaching. When an unbeliever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, he receives some light into his soul. As the believer learns the word of God under his spiritual life, he acquires more and more light [more and more divine thinking].
If the believer is going to effectively give out the gospel to the unbeliever, he must have light (knowledge about the Lord Jesus Christ) in his soul. He must be constantly “walking in the Light” that is learning God’s Word under the authority of God the Holy Spirit. A lighted city on a mountain at night can be seen for miles around and is very beautiful. So, it is with the mature believer. By contrast a believer without metabolized doctrine in his soul is darkened and cannot be seen. The reversionistic Christian (the ignorant believer constantly living out of fellowship) has little if any light in his soul to properly witness either by mouth or by his life.
Matthew 5:15
οὐδὲ καίουσιν λύχνον καὶ τιθέασιν αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸν µόδιον ἀλλí ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν, καὶ λάµπει πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ.
Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket [a large clay pot], but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house [by analogy the world of unbelievers].
An advanced believer living the spiritual life is a light on a lamp stand which light is radiated. From such a believer, the unbeliever will hear the gospel clearly presented, and when in contact with such a believer be the recipient of impersonal love.
By contrast the believer in reversionism is a lamp under a basket giving out no light. The apostate believer is one of the following: a self-righteous legalistic pain in the butt, an emotional non-thinking irrational idiot or some type of hell raiser. If this type of believer does evangelize, he will usually present the gospel incorrectly. However, even if he should get the gospel correctly presented, his life will not impress the discerning unbeliever.
The Christian is either going to become the salt and the light of the client nation or he will become insipid and a lamp under a basket. To become great he must keep advancing, if not he will retrogress. One is either going forward or backward.
If the Christian goes backward, he will enter the Eight Stages of Reversionism.
Reversionism
This process is the way of the reversionistic believer. Reversionism is the way of life the believer chooses when he turns away from God’s plan, will, and purpose for his life and returns to a former belief, a former viewpoint, a former modus operandi. The reversionist (the back slider) has not lost his salvation, but he is under the influence of Satan’s cosmic system. By his own volition he involves himself in sin, Satanic good and evil and suffers the consequences of self-induced misery and divine punishment. Reversionism takes place in 8 stages, as follows:
1. Reaction and Distraction:
If the Christian does not know the Ten Problem Solving Devices or their equivalent, he has no way to solve the problems of this life. If he cannot solve problems, he will react emotionally to difficulties, problems, pressures, calamities, disasters and catastrophes relating to people and circumstances. When the believer reacts, he does so through the sins of emotion and arrogance such as jealousy, bitterness, vindictiveness, implacability, hatred, vilification, self-pity, inordinate ambition and competition, worry and fear, maligning, judging and gossip etc.
Distraction from the spiritual life can be caused by apathy or indifference. Also, the believer can be distracted from his spiritual life by possessing false values. Anything that is more important than learning and executing the spiritual life is a false value. False values lead to false priorities. If the believer has false priorities, he will organize his life around those false priorities and be distracted from God’s plan. Reaction and distraction produce the stress of unhappiness. Under stress, the believer attempt to find happiness.
2. A Frantic Search for Happiness:
In this state of stress, the believer is unhappy. The unhappy believer will try to compensate for his unhappiness by pursuing some form of pseudo happiness. This pseudo happiness promised by the sin nature whether it be something innocuous like traveling or pursing an active social life cannot make the believer happy.
The believer can only be happy when he is fulfilling God’s plan for his life. However, the believer out of fellowship doesn’t realize this, and so tries to find happiness by seeking to gratify his lusts. (A lust is any desire originating from the sin-nature and has many different forms. For example, the believer may develop a particular lust pattern for power, approbation, crusading (trying to force his personal beliefs and ideas onto others), wealth, chemicals (alcohol and drugs) sex or crime.) Though none of these things can produce happiness in the believer’s life, he is convinced that they will. He is deceived by his own sin nature which promises him happiness through pursuing some lust.
3. Operation Boomerang:
Whether the believer succeeds in obtaining the object of his lust or not, his unhappiness will only intensify. If he obtains his objective, his unhappiness intensifies because it did not bring him the happiness that he was expecting. On the other hand, if he does not obtain his objective, he remains convinced that it would have made him happy, and so, continues in his attempt to get it. He throws the boomerang again and again, but he never hits the target; instead, it always comes back to hit him in the head. These expectations and frustrations which do not bring happiness to the Christian only intensify his unhappiness.
4. Emotional Revolt of the Soul:
Seeking pseudo-happiness which results in frustration and depression leads to stage four: emotional revolt of the soul. This is where the believers thinking, decisions and action are all subordinate to emotion. If he feels good, he thinks he is spiritual. If he weeps when singing a hymn, he must love God. If he feels that he loves a person of the opposite sex, he proposes marriage. There is no divine thought circulating in the soul. The reversionistic believer does not make decisions on the basis of truth or principle, but on subjective thinking, feelings and emotions. He has no control over the emotional sins such as fear, worry, self-pity etc. He rejects confession of sins and the learning the word of God because these things are mental processes and as such do not stimulate him emotionally. As emotion gains dominance over the mentality of the soul, it becomes more and more difficult for the believer to reverse his downward spiral since Christians under emotional revolt of the soul become very arrogant and self- centered. In their arrogance they demand things from God and people. When they are suffering either through their own self-induced misery or from divine discipline, they go to prayer which is not even a problem-solving-device and expect or even demand a solution to their self-induced suffering.
Emotional revolt means that emotion replaces thought as the criterion by which one makes judgments and decisions. The believer becomes irrational, egocentric and unstable through emotion for emotion in itself is an empty physiological response; it contains no doctrinal content, no mental function, no norms and standards, and no common sense.
Many Christians fail because of their emotions:
1 Corinthians 3:1-3: "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual persons [believers filled with the Spirit], but as unto carnal [fleshly, belonging to the sin nature], as childish ones in Christ. I gave you milk [basic doctrine] to drink, not solid food [protocol plan], for you were not yet able [to receive it], moreover even now, you are still not able [to receive solid food]. For you are still carnal, for while [there is] jealousy and strife among you, are you not carnal and keep walking in conformity with men [unbelievers]?"[Expects a yes for an answer].
"O, you Corinthians, our mouths [means of communication by Paul, Apollos, and Timothy] have been opened face to face with you; our right lobes have been enlarged [we were prepared]. Therefore, you have not been hindered by us [Paul, Apollos, Timothy], but you have been hindered by your emotions." (2 Corinthians 6:11-12)
“For many keep on walking [living out of fellowship] whom many times I kept on telling you and now even weeping I say [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction [die the sin unto death] whose god is their emotions and whose glory is in their shame. They who keep on concentrating on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18, 19)
5. Locked-in Negative Volition:
Once emotion becomes the criterion for one’s life, he is no longer interested in learning God’s word. So, he begins to live his life by emotion, not thought. In effect, he locks himself into the closet of negative volition. As a result of the first four stages of reversionism, the believer suffers loss of Biblical priorities, Biblical norms and standards and loses control of his life and destiny. This can lead to permanent negative volition toward learning God’s word. If the believer rejects learning God’s word, he can never understand God’s will, plan and purpose for his life. Therefore, he cannot grow spiritually. As a result, all his works are dead works and human good, totally unacceptable to God. He is operating in the energy of the flesh rather than in the power of metabolized doctrine and in the power of God the Holy Spirit.
In his rejection of God’s word he becomes arrogant; he will become proficient in the use of the arrogant skills, so called because they are something that one practices so well that he comes to use them without even thinking, just as one learns to ride a bicycle. There are three arrogance skills, namely:
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Self-justification (One may justify his sins like anger by thinking to oneself, ‘I have a right to be angry or he made me angry.’
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Self-deception (Once the believer rationalizes away his sins, he lies to himself.)
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Self-absorption (completely controlled by his emotional mental sins).
Under self-justification, believers are not taking responsibility for their sins. This automatically brings about self -deception; these believers lie to themselves regarding their spiritual status. They assume that they are great believers when in reality they are totally failing in the spiritual life. Without the power of the spiritual life, these believers succumb to emotional and mental sins which is the third arrogance skill of self-absorption.
6. Black-out of the Soul:
Since the believer in the 6th stage of reversionism has little or no metabolized doctrine in his soul, he has no protection against believing false information. In this status, the believer will believe Satan’s false propaganda (Ephesians 4:17, 18; 1 John 2:11, 1 Timothy 4:1). Only truth in our stream of consciousness is an adequate defense against false doctrine. False information believed and stored in the stream of consciousness will eventually remove all truth previously learned and stored there.
In demon influence, the soul of the unbeliever or reversionistic believer is infiltrated by false doctrine, called the "doctrine of demons" in 1 Timothy 4:1 which comes through the vacuum of the mind, “ But the Spirit [the Holy Spirit is the teacher of Bible doctrine] explicitly teaches that in latter periods of time [between the 1st and 2nd Advents] some [believers] will withdraw from doctrine, concentrating on deceitful personalities [demon evangelism through false teachers] and doctrines from demons.”
"Therefore, I communicate this, and because of the Lord, I insist that you no longer walk as the Gentiles [unbelievers] walk in the vacuum of their mind [faculty of thinking]." (Ephesians 4:17)
7. Scar Tissue of the Soul:
"They are darkened in their way of thinking; they have been alienated from the life of God because of ignorance which is in them, because of the scar tissue of their right lobes." (Ephesians 4:18)
The believer is alienated from the spiritual life that is ‘from the life of God’ for two reasons namely ignorance of God’s plan and hardness of the mentality of the soul. Ignorance begins the process; scar tissue or hardness of the mentality finishes the job. Blackout of the soul merely explains the mechanics of how the believer accumulates false ideas, concepts and doctrine when there is ignorance of God’s plan.
At this point there is no truth in the compartments of the soul: no truth in the frame of reference, memory center, vocabulary storage, categorical storage, in the conscience, momentum [produced by the power of metabolized doctrine in the compartments of the soul and the power of the Holy Spirit, maintained and accelerated through the deployment of the 10 Problem Solving Devices], and wisdom departments (Ephesians 4:18; Jeremiah 7:25-27). Whatever truth resided in the soul in the past has now been replaced by the false principles and beliefs. The soul was designed to function on truth, not in falsehoods. In this state the believer is extremely antagonistic to the truth and to those who teach the truth. By rejecting doctrinal teaching, he has rejected the mind of Christ, the thinking of his Savior (1 Corinthians 2:16).
8. Reverse Process Reversionism
This is the final stage of reversionism, a combination of the sixth and seventh stages. It is the antithesis of being an invisible hero. Everything that is worthwhile and valuable in life is rejected; everything that is useless and nonsensical is accepted. Prolonged residence out of fellowship causes a complete reversal of all mandates, all priorities, and all norms and standards related to the protocol plan of God.
2 Timothy 3:2-5 states, “For persons will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful ones and anti-establishment [totally irresponsible]. Verse 3. Unloving [no capacity for love], implacable, malicious gossips, without self-control, violent and brutal [unreasonable in thinking and action], not lovers of intrinsic good [no spiritual values and skills]. Verse 4. Treacherous [disloyal], thoughtless types [insensitive], having become pumped up with arrogance [manifests itself in legalism, socialism, crusader arrogance, activism, and civil disobedience], lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God [false priorities]. Verse 5. Holding to a superficial form [outward appearance] of the spiritual life, but they themselves have disregarded its power; avoid such ones as these.”
Matthew 5:16
οὕτως λαµψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑµῶν ἔµπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑµῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα καὶ δοξάσωσιν τὸν πατέρα ὑµῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way [by continued advance in the spiritual life] in order that they [the unbelievers] may see your good production [the unbeliever can see to some extent the true capacity of the mature believer], and glorify your Father who is in heaven [by believing in Christ].
This is an exhortation to advance spiritually. When the believer advances into the adult stages of the spiritual life, his light will shine before all by lip and by life for not only will he give out the gospel correctly, but also the unbeliever will see to some extent this believer’s humility, integrity, unconditional love, stability and happiness. So, unbelievers desiring the truth will be encouraged to listen to the gospel.
This passage is not talking about the good deeds produced by the Christians who are under the clay basket, the ones who are progressing through the eight stages of reversionism. In religiosity, many times these believers produce a lot of good deeds which are in effect are wood, hay and stubble 1 Corinthians 3:12, 13). In self-righteousness, they show off their good deeds before the unbeliever, hoping to impress him. However, the smart unbeliever is not impressed by the self-righteousness of this type of Christian.
Although this passage is dealing with the unbeliever, by principle it can apply to the believer in apostasy. Sometimes such a believer upon seeing the greatness of a mature believer will be motivated to recover from his apostasy by getting back into fellowship and advancing spiritually. Their recovery also will glorify God the Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:17
Μὴ νοµίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόµον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι.
“Do not presume that I came [in the 1st Advent] to abolish, abrogate the Law [The Mosaic Law] or the prophets [the rest of the Old Testament]. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.
The Greek word “nomizo” is often the type of thinking connected with the ego and with pride. Apparently, some thought that Jesus Christ would do away with the Mosaic Law. To the contrary, he explains and enhances the Mosaic Law in Matthew 5:21-47.
When the Church Age officially began on the Day of Pentecost in June of 30 A.D, the Levitical Priesthood along with its function of sacrificing animals etc. in the Temple should have ended since it no longer had a legitimate purpose (In the Church Age only the royal priesthood is authorized to function). However, the Lord allowed this illegitimate function to exist for 40 years (30 to 70 AD). Finally, in August of 70 A. D. the Levitical Priesthood was forced to shut down when Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed, along with the Jewish temple in Alexandria. These events completely shut down the function of the Levitical priesthood which will not function again legitimately until the 2nd Advent of Christ.
Matthew 5:18
ἀµὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑµῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ µία κεραία οὐ µὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόµου ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται.
“For truly [idiom: important point of doctrine] I say to you [the disciples], until heaven and earth [the universe in its present state] have passed away [after human history has been brought to completion], not the smallest letter [a reference to the Hebrew yod, the smallest Hebrew letter] or stroke [a reference to the Hebrew vav which is made with one stroke] shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished [Human history comes to an end; fallen angels and unbelievers are cast into the Lake of Fire; the new heavens and earth along with the New Jerusalem are created.].
The New Testament is not in focus here since it has not yet been written. This verse is saying that there will be no changes in the Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets) until human history will have been brought to completion. Obviously, in the eternal state most of what is in the Old Testament will not be relevant.
Matthew 5:19
ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ µίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν· ὃς δí ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος µέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.
“Whoever then annuls [infringes on] one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Keeping the commandments of the Law and teaching others to do likewise, implies that the believer was executing his spiritual life as found in the Age of Israel. On the other hand, disobeying these commandments and teaching others to do likewise, implies that the believer was not executing the spiritual life. In any dispensation, if the believer executes the spiritual which execution develops capacity of the soul, he will be rewarded, if not, he will lose his rewards.
After the Church age began, the Old Testament was no longer the source of one’s spiritual life, though we do use it for instruction. The spiritual life of the Church Age believer is taken from the New Testament epistles.
Matthew 5:20
λέγω γὰρ ὑµῖν ὅτι ἐὰν µὴ περισσεύσῃ ὑµῶν ἡ δικαιοσύνη πλεῖον τῶν γραµµατέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, οὐ µὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.
"For I say to you that if [3rd Class conditional Greek clause] your righteousness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees [very righteous], you will never ever enter [subjunctive of emphatic negation] the kingdom of heaven [the eternal state].
The 3rd Class conditional Greek sentence puts emphasis on the person’s volition. When a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, he receives the imputation of divine righteousness which far exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. If he doesn’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, it won’t. The subjunctive of emphatic negation makes it very clear that no member of the human race will ever become a member of the kingdom of heaven without imputed righteousness.
Matthew 5:21
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις, Οὐ φονεύσεις· ὃς δí ἂν φονεύσῃ, ἔνοχος ἔσται τῇ κρίσει.
“You have heard that it was said by men of old [writers and communicators], ‘you shall not commit murder [Exodus 20:13]’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable for punishment [from the government].’”
Verses 21-47 explains and amplifies the Mosaic Law. The disciples are going to the lost sheep of Israel, and so they must understand the Law well for they will have to deal with people like the rich young ruler, a self-righteous religious unbeliever (Matthew 19).
In this verse we will have a citation of the 6th commandment and later its amplification in verse 22. So, the Mosaic Law not only stated that certain overt actions were sins, but also implied that certain erroneous thoughts were sins as well.
In Israel, murderers whether believer or unbeliever, were to be executed as per the Mosaic Law (Exodus 21:12). Murder is one of the 6 worse sins mentioned in Proverbs 6:16-18, “There are six sins which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him. Haughty eyes [pride], a lying tongue, and hands which shed innocent blood [murder]. A heart that devises wicked plans [evil plotter, conspiracy], feet that run rapidly to evil [since there were no phones one had to run someplace to malign], a false witness who utters lies [perjury], and one who spreads strife among brothers [gossip].”
This verse does not say “You shall not kill.” To the contrary, in the defense of one’s life or the lives of one’s loved ones and one’s own nation, the believer is commanded to kill. For example, if a believer is not willing to fight for his nation when his nation needs him, it is a sin. Initially, the young fighting men of the tribes of Reuben and Gad did not want to assist their brethren in conquering the land on the west side of the Jordan since they already had their lands on the east side. Moses then warned them that if they were unwilling to fight with their brethren to kill the enemy that it would be a sin against the Lord for which they would be punished (Numbers 32:1-23). Numbers 32:23 states, “But if you will not do so [kill the enemy], behold you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out [If a man fails in his responsibility toward his nation, he will fail in his responsibility in marriage and family etc. This would be one way by which this type of person would be punished “your sin will find you out”.].”
Matthew 5:22
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑµῖν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὀργιζόµενος τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ἔνοχος ἔσται τῇ κρίσει· ὃς δí ἂν εἴπῃ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ, Ῥακά, ἔνοχος ἔσται τῷ συνεδρίῳ· ὃς δí ἂν εἴπῃ, Μωρέ, ἔνοχος ἔσται εἰς τὴν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός.
“But I say to you that anyone who is angry [“orgizo”] with his brother shall be liable for punishment [from God], and whoever says to his brother, ‘You bastard’, [calling someone “raka” usually led to a fight] shall be liable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You imbecile [you, mentally retarded believer] shall be liable [to go] into the Gehenna of fire [expression used for the Lake of Fire].
The Greek word “orgizo” means to become angered, enraged, hostile because someone has injured your arrogant pride or to be enraged because of your envy. Anger is a mental attitude sin, and all such sins are punished by God. Furthermore, anger puts the believer out of fellowship with God and so the believer will also be punished for that state of being (in the Church Age this would be tantamount to grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit].
The Greek word “raka” is a Hellenized Aramaic term for utter contempt of a person. In English, it would be equivalent to calling a person a bastard or a “son of a bitch”. If a person called another person “raka”, it would usually result in a fight. If such a fight resulted in damage or personal injury, it would be brought before the Sanhedrin for litigation.
Many Jewish unbelievers would call those who communicated the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ or those who had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ especially family members “morons” mentally retarded or mentally ill. They did this to discourage evangelism and to express their opposition and hatred of the truth. If this attitude continued in their souls, they would die as unbelievers and would be cast into the Lake of Fire after their trial at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:1-15).
Prior to the reign of Josiah, the Jews worshiped false gods in the Valley of Gehenna. At times they even sacrificed their children. When Josiah became king, he wiped-out these evil demonic temples and turned this valley (glen) into a dump for all kinds of garbage. This garbage would then be burnt. So, whenever a Jew would look toward Gehenna, he would see these fires burning. Because of this, Gehenna became a synonym for the Lake of Fire.
Matthew 5:23
ἐὰν οὖν προσφέρῃς τὸ δῶρόν σου ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον κἀκεῖ µνησθῇς ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἔχει τι κατὰ σοῦ,
“Therefore, if [3rd class conditional sentence] you are presenting your gift [food, animal, money etc. offering] at the altar [a part of worship in the previous dispensation], and there [at the altar] you remember that your brother [a fellow Jew] has something against you [because he is the object your anger or hatred etc.],
This is a third-class, hypothetical conditional sentence which provides us with an illustration. Bringing a gift or a sacrifice to the altar was part of worship. (In the Church Age we would say, ‘If you come to a worship service.’) In this verse, the Jewish believer suddenly remembers that he is guilty of committing some sin of antagonism against a fellow Jewish believer. He possibly has some hatred or bitterness toward another believer. So, being out of fellowship he was not able to worship God.
Matthew 5:24
ἄφες ἐκεῖ τὸ δῶρόν σου ἔµπροσθεν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου, καὶ ὕπαγε πρῶτον διαλλάγηθι τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου, καὶ τότε ἐλθὼν πρόσφερε τὸ δῶρόν σου.
Leave your offering there before the altar and go; [follow a course of action or procedure] first be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your offering.
The believer must take the initiative in his confession of sins. Usually, this involved confessing his sin or sins before a Levitical priest and that would be the end of it. However, other times reconciliation would require going to the fellow Jewish citizen (a brother) to solve the conflict that existed. Maybe you cheated your fellow believer out of some money. Obviously, just naming that sin would not be enough. Also, you have to return those funds to your brother and in that way be reconciled to him.
Verses 23 and 24 deal with worship; verses 25 and 26 deal with a lawsuit.
Matthew 5:25
ἴσθι εὐνοῶν τῷ ἀντιδίκῳ σου ταχὺ ἕως ὅτου εἶ µετí αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, µήποτέ σε παραδῷ ὁ ἀντίδικος τῷ κριτῇ, καὶ ὁ κριτὴς τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ, καὶ εἰς φυλακὴν βληθήσῃ·
“Have kind thoughts [a relaxed mental attitude] toward your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way [while you have contact with him] so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
This is a case where you are right, and your opponent is wrong. All the same, if you remain hostile (mental murder), you may end up in jail. However, with a mental attitude of impersonal love, you may be able to resolve the problem and stay out of jail (application of the 6th commandment: mental murder).
At this time in Palestine, the economy was based on agriculture. Most were either famers or in related professions. Just before a planting season, the farmer would usually go to the bank to borrow money in order to buy seeds etc., and so he would remain in debt until the harvest at which time he would normally pay-off that debt. If the crop was a failure his enemy (Someone the farmer had become antagonistic and angry toward: mental murder.) could go to the bank and purchase the farmer’s paper of indebtedness, and if that farmer were unable to pay, he could find himself in great trouble. In such a case, if the farmer remained hostile toward the one who now possessed the paper of indebtedness, he more than likely would be taken to court and thrown into jail. If on the other hand, the farmer’s anger and antagonism toward the other person was removed through getting back into fellowship and applying grace-forgiveness, then that farmer would have a better chance of making some type of deal with the one holding the note of indebtedness and so to stay out of prison.
Matthew 5:26
ἀµὴν λέγω σοι, οὐ µὴ ἐξέλθῃς ἐκεῖθεν ἕως ἂν ἀποδῷς τὸν ἔσχατον κοδράντην.
“Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent [nearly impossible in prison].
In this case a believer with a bad mental attitude (out of fellowship through mental sins of bitterness, anger, hatred etc.) ends up in prison because he refused to forgive the person to whom he was hostile.
Matthew 5:27
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη, Οὐ µοιχεύσεις.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery [Exodus 20:14];’
In verses 27-30 the seventh commandment is used to reveal self-righteousness and mental adultery. Self-righteousness is a sin which has tremendous arrogance associated with it. Wherever religion dominates as was true in Judea at this time, great self-righteousness was produced. Though being extremely arrogant, religious people are always the first ones to condemn overt acts of sin, though involved in the same sin mentally. Should they commit an overt sin, it would always be on the sly. The Jewish religious leaders actually enjoyed stoning to death those caught in adultery; it was an outlet for their cruelty and killer-lust. Most of the religious leaders wouldn’t think of committing overt adultery, but they in their religious finery would take a quick look at a beautiful woman and then quickly turn away as if they were beyond such a temptation. In fact, after turning away, they would then commit mental adultery with her. After their mental adultery had been completed, they would then go around and condemn those who had committed overt adultery. This was unadulterated hypocrisy.
Matthew 5:28-29
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑµῖν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ βλέπων γυναῖκα πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυµῆσαι αὐτὴν ἤδη ἐµοίχευσεν αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ. (29) εἰ δὲ ὁ ὀφθαλµός σου ὁ δεξιὸς σκανδαλίζει σε, ἔξελε αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ· συµφέρει γάρ σοι ἵνα ἀπόληται ἓν τῶν µελῶν σου καὶ µὴ ὅλον τὸ σῶµά σου βληθῇ εἰς γέενναν.
But [amplifies the 7th Commandment and takes it beyond the overt act] I [the final authority] say to you for your advantage that everyone who [the male Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees were the worst offenders in Israel at this time] looks [a quick glance to get an image of the woman] at a woman with lust [when the person gives the nod to lust from the sin nature, the sin nature gains control of the soul and develops mental fantasies, creating images] has already committed adultery with her in his heart [in the mentality of his soul]. (29) “If your right eye makes you stumble and it does [1st class Greek conditional clause: assumed to be true: the basis for mental adultery], tear it out and throw it from you [making a point through hyperbole]; for it is better for you [the unbeliever can produce much scar tissue which in turn destroys faith and so cannot believe in Christ] to lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna [used for the Lake of Fire].
The right eye of a right-handed person is the master eye, the one doing all the work. Since most people are right-handed, the right eye is the illustration here. Each person has a master eye. For example, the left eye of a left- handed person will normally be his master eye. Therefore, if a left- handed person shoots with his right eye, he will be lucky to hit even a large target.
The method of teaching here is teaching by shock. No one who has committed mental adultery is going to rip out his eye that is if he is normal. Also, no normal person is going to cut off his hand (in the next verse) who has committed overt adultery. The Bible does not advocate self-mutilation. Furthermore, mutilation does not stop a person from functioning under lust and committing sins, rather a spiritual solution is required.
Certain sins produce a lot of scar tissue in the soul. This is why certain criminals and terrorist can mutilate and murder a person without any feeling or pity at all. They are totally hardened through their crimes. Scar Tissue (hardness of the heart; stiff necked) is very destructive to the soul; it can even destroy one’s ability to exercise faith. If an unbeliever cannot exercise faith, he cannot believe in Christ even though he may desire salvation at some point. Not only do sexual sins produce scar tissue, but also the sin of rejecting the gospel as well. Esau is a good example. Though Esau undoubtedly heard the gospel many times in his youth from his parents and others as well, he rejected the message over and over. However, when Esau became old, he sought it along with the accompanying eternal blessings, but he did so through tears (emotional revolt of the soul as a result of the buildup of scar tissue), not through faith [already destroyed or covered by scar tissue from his consistent rejection of truth] in the gospel message. Hebrews 12:17, “For you know that even afterwards (in his old age), he desired to inherit the [eternal] blessing [through salvation], he was rejected for he found no place for a change of thinking [The Greek word “metanoia:” to change one’s thinking (about Christ)], though he sought for it [salvation with its eternal blessing] with tears [No one is saved through emotion].
Since all sins were judged on the cross, sin is not the basis for being sent to the Lake of Fire. (This would violate the law of double jeopardy). Hypothetically, if adultery could send a person to the Lake of Fire, then both Abraham and David, two of the greatest believers of the Old Testament would already be in Torments, but they are not.
As these disciples go to the lost sheep of Israel, the greatest barrier to the gospel message will be Jewish self-righteousness developed to the maximum through Judaism. Self-righteous unbelievers are hard to evangelize since they think that they are already righteous enough. Learning that anger is murder, and mental adultery is adultery may help to break through this wall of self-righteousness.
Matthew 5:30
καὶ εἰ ἡ δεξιά σου χεὶρ σκανδαλίζει σε, ἔκκοψον αὐτὴν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ· συµφέρει γάρ σοι ἵνα ἀπόληται ἓν τῶν µελῶν σου καὶ µὴ ὅλον τὸ σῶµά σου εἰς γέενναν ἀπέλθῃ.
“If your right hand makes you stumble [overt adultery or rape committed by the unbeliever], cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into Gehenna.
Again, Matthew is teaching by hyperbole in order to shock the person involved in adultery or rape. These sins are able to destroy one’s faith through the accumulation of scar tissue. Once a person’s faith has been destroyed, he cannot believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior. The one who cannot believe in Christ will go to Gehenna namely the Lake of Fire. Therefore, Matthew is attempting to shock the unbeliever regarding the dangers of these sins.
Matthew 5:31-32
Ἐρρέθη δέ, Ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, δότω αὐτῇ ἀποστάσιον. (32) ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑµῖν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ἀπολύων τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας ποιεῖ αὐτὴν µοιχευθῆναι, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν ἀπολελυµένην γαµήσῃ µοιχᾶται.
“It has been said [introduces a quotation from Deuteronomy 24:1], ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce [Moses permitted divorce for the hardened believers of the Exodus (Matthew 19:8) because they were self-righteous and legalistic, not because there was any adultery committed. However, the Lord rescinded this.];’ (32) but I say [making a change to Deuteronomy 24:1] to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of adultery [not only did Jesus Christ amend the word “uncleanness” as found in Deuteronomy 24 to mean adultery, but also made adultery a matter of a civil suit rather than a criminal one.], causes her to receive adultery [as a responder whereas her new husband commits adultery when there is no right of remarriage]; and whoever marries a divorced woman [where there is no right of remarriage] commits adultery.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4: “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it comes to pass [after an elapse of time] that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some ceremonial uncleanness in her [this expression in the Hebrew is unknown to us, but it definitely is not referring to adultery since adultery was a criminal matter under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 20:10), not a civil one], then let him give her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house [This civil law is not defined for us, but was a legitimate basis for divorce at the time of Moses.], and leaving his house, she may go and become another man’s wife, and if the latter [the 2nd husband] husband turns against [hates] her, and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it into her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband [2nd husband] dies who took her to be his wife. Then her former [1st] husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, since she has been defiled [had sex with someone else: destroyed the authority of her first husband and establishes hypersensitivity in him if he should remarry her]; for that is an abomination before the Lord and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance”.
Matthew 19:7-9: "They [Pharisees] said to Him [because Jesus just spoke against divorce for any reason], `Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate and divorce her?' And He replied to them, `Because of your scar tissue of the soul [Scar tissue from moral degeneracy destroys rapport], Moses permitted you to divorce your wives [even though adultery had not been committed]; but from the beginning [of creation in the garden] it has not been that way. In fact, I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for the reason of adultery [this word includes all unlawful sexual activity] and marries another [woman], commits adultery."
Remember that the Sermon on the Mount in part clarifies and amplifies the Mosaic Law. Since Jewish husbands at the time of Christ were using ceremonial uncleanness as a gimmick for divorce, the Lord explained “uncleanness” as used in Deuteronomy 24:1 is not to be taken as “ceremonial uncleanness”.
Note: We are not dealing with the doctrine of divorce here, but merely explaining the passage, Matthew 5:31-32.
Matthew 5:33
Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις, Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις, ἀποδώσεις δὲ τῷ κυρίῳ τοὺς ὅρκους σου.
“Again [another case regarding the Mosaic Law and giving its proper interpretation], you have heard [when the disciples were taught the Mosaic Law] that the ancients were told [a reference to the Old Testament], ‘You shall not make false vows, but you shall fulfill [discharge your obligations] your vows to the Lord’ [a reference to Leviticus 19:12].
Leviticus 19:12: “You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the Lord.”
Profaning God can involve a vow or just using God in some way for your cause. So, never make a statement in the name of something or someone that is reliable and try to make that something or someone that is reliable stand responsible for your statement. In other words, don’t use someone reliable [like God] to support your false statements or vows. That is tantamount to profaning God. For example, in a church business meeting some deacon, a pillar in the church as it were, may say regarding some matter, “I have prayed about this for a month and so, I know that it’s God’s will (or God has made known to me) that we should do it this way etc.” How does that person know that his plan is God’s will? It is pure arrogance for a deacon or anyone else to state that God supports his plans. Why does this type of profaning God, successful in so many churches? Well, Christians are generally so ignorant of God’s word that they are afraid to oppose anyone who brings in God as a co-signer to their plans.
A statement is no stronger than the person making it. If a person says I love you by God (by Jerusalem, by his dear departed mother etc.) it still is no stronger than the stability and responsibility of that person. If a person is unstable and irresponsible, his statement is meaningless.
Some don’ts: Don’t make a promise that you do not intend to keep. Don’t say you are going to do something because it is convenient to do so and then weasel out of it later. Don’t tell someone that you love them when you don’t. Don’t perjure yourself by attempting to cover up a lie with an oath by God “I swear by God etc.” On the other hand, a Christian should always keep his word no matter what it cost him, and to always be honest for it is part of his testimony as an ambassador of the Lord.
Matthew 5:34-36
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑµῖν µὴ ὀµόσαι ὅλως· µήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὅτι θρόνος ἐστὶν τοῦ θεοῦ· (35) µήτε ἐν τῇ γῇ, ὅτι ὑποπόδιόν ἐστιν τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ· µήτε εἰς Ἱεροσόλυµα, ὅτι πόλις ἐστὶν τοῦ µεγάλου βασιλέως· (36) µήτε ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ σου ὀµόσῃς, ὅτι οὐ δύνασαι µίαν τρίχα λευκὴν ποιῆσαι ἢ µέλαιναν.
“But I say to you, do not make a promise with an oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God [the triumph of the 1st Advent: enthroned at the right hand of the Father] (35) nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet [at the 2nd Advent, His enemies both fallen angels and unbelievers will be made his footstool; this subjection will be completed at the end of His Millennial reign], nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King [the Lord Jesus Christ will rule as the king of the world from Jerusalem during the Millennium]. (36) “Nor shall you make an oath by your head [a Jewish system of taking an oath], for you cannot make one hair white or black [you cannot think red and suddenly have red hair etc.].
What you say or promise should be true without taking an oath (Colossians 3:17). Swearing by honorable institutions or people, holy cities etc. will not add to your integrity or lack of it.
Matthew 5:37
ἔστω δὲ ὁ λόγος ὑµῶν ναὶ ναί, οὒ οὔ· τὸ δὲ περισσὸν τούτων ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ ἐστιν.
“But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no [let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no”; in other words keep your word];’ anything beyond these is out from the evil one [lies are from the father of lies].
The content of verses 38-42 comes from 3 verses: Exodus 21:24, Deuteronomy 19:21, and Leviticus 24:20.
Matthew 5:38
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη, Ὀφθαλµὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλµοῦ καὶ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
An eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth was a system of justice under the government of Israel. A judge in Israel after considering all the evidence and after listening to the eye witnesses would decide the sentencing, and if someone destroyed the eye of another person, the judge would order the eye of the guilty party removed. It was never to be used to justify retaliation or revenge as it was apparently being used in Jesus’ day. Do not solve evil with evil. Two wrongs do not make a right. If you do, you have lowered yourself to the level of evil.
Matthew 5:39
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑµῖν µὴ ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ· ἀλλí ὅστις σε ῥαπίζει εἰς τὴν δεξιὰν σιαγόνα [σου], στρέψον αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ἄλλην·
“But I say to you, do not retaliate against an evil person, but whoever slaps you [someone who is antagonistic] on your right cheek [insults you], turn the other to him also [apply unconditional love: do not react, retaliate or take revenge].
As believers we put all hostility into the Lord’s hands via the faith-rest drill (Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). We do not retaliate. If we do, we are lowering ourselves to the level of the wrongdoer. Two wrongs do not make a right. Furthermore, by taking revenge, you are saying in effect that you are more capable than God. This is blasphemy!
In the ancient world if a King or dignitary entered a city, he would demand obeisance. If a certain person refused to give obeisance, the dignitary would have that person slapped until he did. If not, he would be killed. (If one is repeatedly slapped, either the person slapped would become angry and try to retaliate and be killed on the spot by the body guard or he would submit in his mentality and do obeisance.) If he submitted, the king or dignitary had defeated the person mentally.
Reacting to being slapped illustrates reacting to the antagonism of another person. If someone slaps you, it is usually because that person is angry and possesses hatred etc. toward you. If you slap the person back (react), it means that you are now angry. (Jesus Christ was repeatedly slapped during his Jewish trials, but he did not react.) Your mental attitude will dictate your overt action. It is natural to respond to a slap with immediate anger. To avoid this natural reaction requires supernatural power in the soul.
Matthew 5:40
καὶ τῷ θέλοντί σοι κριθῆναι καὶ τὸν χιτῶνά σου λαβεῖν, ἄφες αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ ἱµάτιον·
“If anyone wants to sue you and take your open necked shirt with sleeves [the “chiton”: went down to just above the knees], let him have your cloak [the “himation” was a mantel which went over the chiton] also.
This is a case in which someone is trying to get what belongs to you: using the court system to steal. (It is not a libel or slander suit). Property is only a detail of life. So, if someone really needs it or just lusts for it, give it to him and even more. Today we would say, if he is suing you for your jacket, give him also your pants. Our life is our relationship with the Lord. Do not let your property hinder your testimony before the Lord.
The person suing you thinks that possessing these things will make him happy, but it won’t especially when they are acquired in an incorrect manner. Your willingness to part with these things will alert him to something greater than possessions namely your relationship with the Lord.
Remember that the Lord is preparing the disciples to go out to the lost sheep of Israel. Later in Matthew 10:10, he will tell them to only take one set of clothing. It is not their possessions, but their message that is important.
Matthew 5:41
καὶ ὅστις σε ἀγγαρεύσει µίλιον ἕν, ὕπαγε µετí αὐτοῦ δύο.
When you are drafted for a year of military service, serve two.
Some people think that this verse is saying that if someone asks you to walk a mile with them, you should walk two. So, someone demands that you walk them home from a downtown area which happens to be a mile. Then as soon as you arrive at his home, you suggest walking another mile back to the downtown area. That would be hilarious. Rather, this verse is talking about public service.
The Greek word “angareuo” is taken from a noun “angaros” which means to draft someone into the Persian Army. At one time the Jews were living in the Persian Empire. The cognate noun to this verb is “angaros” which means a Persian officer or official. For example let’s say that Darius the Great needs some soldiers. He has troops on the Euphrates and is on his way to the Bosphorus. So he sends his “angaros” to locate some men. Let’s say that this officer is on his way to the Negev by way of Israel. On the way he sees a young farmer who has some good horses. He says to the young man, “You are now drafted into the Persian Army for a short period of time to accomplish a mission. You will deliver some supplies to such and such location a fifty mile journey.” The young Jewish man’s attitude should be that if he needs to go 100 miles or more, he would gladly do it. Believers should have a good attitude toward military service or any other public service required by their nation.
Jesus Christ is talking to his disciples. In effect he is telling them that as they go through the land they may be asked or commanded to fulfill some public service especially in time of disaster. They should do so. Sooner or later a person’s nation will face a crisis. It is a part of one’s Christian service to help his nation in such a crisis. (Roman 13:1-7)
Matthew 5:42
τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε δός, καὶ τὸν θέλοντα ἀπὸ σοῦ δανίσασθαι µὴ ἀποστραφῇς.
“Give to him who asks of you [if you can of course], and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
There are two types of financial needs regarding people. One person is simply going to ask for help; the other needs only to borrow some money. The one who wants to borrow has some hope. So, loan him what he needs. The other one who asks in desperation is simply in a hopeless situation. So, you must give to him at the time of his desperation if of course you can. Your mental attitude must be of grace. How much you give is a matter of judgment.
God has blessed you so don’t forget that. The person needing help may be a real cluck and totally undeserving and even obnoxious. It is easy to resent someone who asks for help especially when that someone is a total idiot or mishandled money etc.
This passage is not dealing with the following:
1. A pastor who wants you to buy him a car and so forth in order that he may enhance his ministry.
2. An entrepreneur who wants help in funding his seminary project or other projects related to some ministry.
3. A lazy father who asks for help in supporting his family.
Verses 43-47: Operation grace:
Matthew 5:43
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη, Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου καὶ µισήσεις τὸν ἐχθρόν σου.
“You have heard that it was said [Leviticus 19:18], ‘You shall love your neighbor, [those you have contact with: only this part is in Leviticus 19:18] and you shall hate your enemy’ [what the Rabbis and Pharisees had been teaching to foment a revolution against the Romans].’
Legalism sponsors implacability, hostility, hatred etc. Since the shadow of the Romans was over Judah, the religious people had been encouraging jealousy, bitterness, hatred and other sins. These emotional and mental sins became so great that the Jews lost all common sense and reasonableness and so in 70 A.D., they revolted. They did not heed the command in the following verse.
Matthew 5:44
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑµῖν, ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑµῶν καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων ὑµᾶς,
“But I say to you, love [rather than hate] your enemies [someone who hates you] and pray [rather than maligning them] for those who persecute you [verbal persecution or violence],
The Law says love your neighbors; Christ added the command to love ones enemies. Impersonal love progresses as we move toward the Church Age. See R. B. Thieme Jr.’s doctrine on “Love.”
1. Verbal opposition: bless them who curse you
2. Mental opposition: do good to those who hate you
3. Overt opposition: pray for those who persecute you
Matthew 5:45
ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑµῶν τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ὅτι τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλει ἐπὶ πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς καὶ βρέχει ἐπὶ δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους.
In order that you [the disciples] may become [obviously, manifestly] sons of your father [similar in thinking] who is in heaven for he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous [believers] and the unrighteous [unbelievers].
The sun and rain speaks of blessing in an agricultural economy. Our Father in heaven is gracious to all mankind; we as his sons should manifest this graciousness.
In verses 46-48 we have a challenge to develop and apply impersonal love which requires a virtue which can only come from a great spiritual life. Read R. B. Thieme Jr.’s booklets, “Integrity of God” and “Christian Integrity.”
Matthew 5:46
ἐὰν γὰρ ἀγαπήσητε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑµᾶς, τίνα µισθὸν ἔχετε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;
“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same [most were unbelievers]?
Generally it is true that people are able to love those who love them at least to some extent. If the tax collector the lowest on the social latter was able to love those who loved him, then what merit is there in that? What reward should you expect from God if you are only able to do what the average unbeliever can do?
Matthew 5:47
καὶ ἐὰν ἀσπάσησθε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑµῶν µόνον, τί περισσὸν ποιεῖτε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ ἐθνικοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;
“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Some Christians make a big deal of smiling at and greeting other Christians as if that is a sign of spiritual greatness. Furthermore, they emphasize socializing with other Christians as if somehow that advances a Christian spiritually when even the unbeliever can do that. This they call Christian fellowship! What an unbeliever can do is not the spiritual life and certainly does not prove anything except that a lot of Christians are total idiots when it comes to the spiritual life.
Matthew 5:48
Ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑµεῖς τέλειοι ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑµῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν.
“Then, [When the Holy Spirit identifies them with Christ, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit beginning on the Day of Pentecost] you will be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. [This verse anticipates the Church Age.]
What is the difference between the Christian and the unbeliever? No unbeliever is in union with Christ. In union with Christ, we are perfect which no one can see. The only way that this perfection (perfect virtue) can be manifested in part is through the spiritual life on earth. So, the believer in the Church Age can do something that no unbeliever could ever do namely to treat others with impersonal love namely to love his enemies and to pray for those who persecute him.
