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
First Corinthians Chapter Four
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Arrogance related to Success and Achievement:
1. Arrogant presumption can occur when a person has by some standard been labelled or qualified as being successful or the person who has come into public notice, has achieved some kind of public attention may develop an arrogant problem.
2. People who are brilliant or successful in a certain field assume in their arrogance that they are an expert in all fields or subjects. Therefore, in their arrogance they feel qualified to express an opinion on any subject that may come up. The momentum for this tragic flaw comes from success in one field of endeavour which linked with arrogance assumes expertise in every field of endeavour.
3. In the case of the Corinthians, it was their success in the ability to communicate well and debate in their Greek language.
1 Corinthians 4:1
Let a man [attitude of the congregation toward their pastor] regard us [a reference to Paul and Apollos; later they will have two additional pastors namely Timothy and Titus; the congregational members should appreciate their pastor] in this manner, as ministers [in the sense of providing for the spiritual needs of the congregation] of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God [the pastor must teach the mystery doctrines of the Church Age].
Οὕτως ἡµᾶς λογιζέσθω ἄνθρωπος ὡς ὑπηρέτας Χριστοῦ καὶ οἰκονόµους µυστηρίων θεοῦ.
1 Corinthians 4:2
In this case, moreover, it is required in [the soul of] stewards that he might be found [the constative aorist: study and teach; passive voice means that God provides in grace] faithful.
ὧδε λοιπὸν ζητεῖται ἐν τοῖς οἰκονόµοις ἵνα πιστός τις εὑρεθῇ.
Stewards of the Mystery Doctrines:
1. Principle: God uses prepared ministers; the more prepared, the more God can use that minister.
2. The man with the Gift of Pastor-teacher should be spiritually advanced before he takes on the pastorate of a local church. Preferably, he should be in spiritual maturity or very close to it.
3. The steward should know the mystery doctrines of the Church Age very well for he cannot teach what he has not mastered.
4. The steward should understand well the original languages of the Bible and have a good understanding of the ancient history which relates to the Bible.
5. The minister as a steward must emphasize study and teach, study and teach.
6. The subjunctive mood of the verb ‘heurisko’ translated “might be found” means that many pastors are not qualified and are not faithful in this responsibility of teaching the mystery doctrines of the Church Age.
1 Corinthians 4:3
But to me, it is a very small thing [it is meaningless to me, completely insignificant] that I might be evaluated [judged] by you [the Corinthians], or by any human court; in fact, I do not even evaluate myself [and his ministry. Paul knows that it will be the Lord who will evaluate all believers at the Evaluation Platform of Christ after the Rapture of the Church].
ἐµοὶ δὲ εἰς ἐλάχιστόν ἐστιν ἵνα ὑφ’ ὑµῶν ἀνακριθῶ ἢ ὑπὸ ἀνθρωπίνης ἡµέρας· ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ ἐµαυτὸν ἀνακρίνω·
Three false systems of evaluating the minister namely the evaluation by the congregation, by human courts and even by the pastor himself. Both Paul and Apollos were recipients of criticism, nitpicking and maligning by the Corinthians. However, both of these men, knew well that the only evaluation that has importance will be the one conducted by the Lord Jesus Christ after the Rapture of the Church.
Regarding ‘human courts’, even some unbelievers understand such as Gallio that they are not to evaluate Christians.
Acts 18:12-16, “But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat [a human court], (13) saying, "This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law [These religious Jews were implying that Paul violated Roman Law, but Gallio saw threw their deceit and hypocrisy.]. (14) But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of a wrong or of a vicious crime, but it is not [contrary conditional clause], O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you [and your religious bickering]; (15) but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, and there is [a first class conditional sentence] look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters [I am not going to get involved in your religious disputes]. (16) And he drove them away from the judgment seat.”
1 Corinthians 4:4
For I am conscious [aware] of nothing against myself [So, Paul has a clear conscience regarding his ministry], yet I am not by this [self-evaluation] justified [Paul knows that his ministry is not vindicated by his evaluation]; but the one who keeps evaluating [the periphrastic present: Paul is stating very strongly that only the Lord’s evaluation is meaningful to him] me is the Lord.
οὐδὲν γὰρ ἐµαυτῷ σύνοιδα, ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐν τούτῳ δεδικαίωµαι, ὁ δὲ ἀνακρίνων µε κύριός ἐστιν.
Paul had a pure conscience regarding his ministry. Conscience is defined as the sense or the consciousness of moral uprightness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions, or character together with a sense of obligation to do what is right. So, the conscience is that mental faculty by which one distinguishes between right and wrong, and urges the individual to do what he recognizes to be right and to restrain him from doing that which he recognizes to be wrong.
The conscience is a sense or consciousness in the right lobe related to either moral or spiritual goodness of one's thoughts, motives, decisions, and actions. Therefore, conscience is a faculty, a power, or a principle conceived in the right lobe to determine the quality of one's thoughts, intentions, decisions, and actions. The conscience must be built on a vocabulary that begins with one word: no, or don't. All consciences are started with negative words which forbid doing something. So, the conscience of man is first established by negatives, although eventually there are explanations in both positive and negative terms.
The fifth compartment of the Stream of Consciousness is the Conscience in which is stored norms and standards, and priorities related to the absolutes of Bible doctrine. The Greek word for conscience is suneidesis which means 'to know with an absolute standard.' The English word conscience comes from the Latin, consciari which means "to know with." Conscience is the mental faculty by which one distinguishes between right and wrong and motivates the believer under the Filling of the Spirit to do what is right and not to do what is wrong. Romans 2:15, "in that they show the work of the Law printed in their hearts, their conscience confirming the testimony, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending themselves." Accusing and defending oneself is the function of the norms and standards of the conscience of the believer. Acts 23:1, "And Paul, looking intently at the Sanhedrin, said, 'Brethren, I have conducted myself as a citizen with a good conscience before God up to this day.'" Acts 24:16, "In view of this, I [Paul] myself keep on doing my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men." 1 Timothy 3:9, "but holding to the mystery doctrine with a clear conscience." We never have true happiness in our soul without a clear conscience. 1 Peter 2:19, "For this is grace, if for the sake of conscience toward God, a man bears-up under sorrows when suffering unjustly." 1 Peter 3:16, "and be having a good conscience, so that in the things in which you are slandered, those who malign your good in Christ will be put to shame." The believer in reversionism destroys his conscience through scar tissue of the soul, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later periods of time [the Church Age, and Tribulation] some [believers] will become apostate from doctrine, paying attention to deceitful spirits [false teachers] and doctrines of demons by means of hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience with a branding iron [another word for the destruction of one’s conscience]." The branding iron is scar tissue in the soul from rejection of the truth. Precedence from the humanity of Christ in the dispensation of the hypostatic union is taught in Hebrews 9:14, "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works [false or legalistic standards in the conscience] to serve the living God [you must have a good conscience to serve God]." Metabolized doctrine circulating in the stream of consciousness and its application purifies the conscience from dead works.
2 Corinthians 1:12, "Now this is our boast [esprit de corps], the testimony of our conscience, that we have conducted ourselves in the world and especially in relationship to you, both in holiness [This Greek word is hagioteti based on manuscript evidence and is a reference to the Filling of the Holy Spirit] and honesty [motivation from Bible doctrine], not in fleshly wisdom [human wisdom], but in the grace of God [wisdom learned through God’s grace plan]."
Romans 9:1, “I am telling the truth in Christ [positive affirmation regarding academic integrity], I am not lying [negative affirmation regarding intellectual dishonesty], my conscience bearing me witness [a genitive absolute emphasizing the importance of this joint testimony: everything which Paul says is in agreement with his conscience] by agency of the Holy Spirit.”
The Evaluation Platform of Christ after the Rapture, the only evaluation that counts:
Romans 14:10, “You there, why do you [the weak believer] judge your fellow believer? Or you also, why do you [the strong believer] regard your fellow believer with contempt? For we shall all stand before the Evaluation Platform of God [the Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus Christ].”
1. Every believer is a royal priest and represents himself before God. After the Rapture of the Church, he will have to give an account to the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Each one of us must stand before the Judgment Seat [Evaluation Platform] of Christ alone. Just as we have to learn how to live our own lives and how to die alone, so we will stand alone in resurrection body before the Lord Jesus Christ and give an account of ourselves to Him.
3. You are responsible for your own decisions. Ignorance is no excuse before the Judgment Seat of Christ. You must give an account for your own thoughts, motives, actions, and decisions. You cannot blame anyone else at the Judgment Seat of Christ for you yourself will be evaluated, judged by Jesus Christ whose evaluation of the believer will be perfect. So, why should any believer judge another when that judgment is imperfect.
4. Do not try to evaluate the work or life or function of another believer. This is the prerogative of Jesus Christ both now and after the Rapture.
5. Each believer must live his own life as to the Lord and avoid meddling in the affairs of another believer.
6. The life of every believer will be evaluated by the Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of destroying human good and rewarding the advance to maturity.
7. The judgment seat of Christ never implies loss of salvation but only evaluation of your life after salvation.
Revelation 22:12, “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to decorate each winner according to his accomplishments.” This verse says that the winners will receive their escrow blessings for eternity at the Judgment Seat of Christ [the Evaluation Platform of Christ].
1. The main purpose of this evaluation is to decorate the mature believers “My reward is with Me”.
2. Sin is neither mentioned at the Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers nor at the Evaluation Platform of Christ for believers. The issue at the Evaluation Platform of Christ will be whether you will receive your Escrow Blessings or not.
3. The issue at the Evaluation Platform of Christ will be the quality of your production. Will you have gold, silver and precious gems or will it be wood, hay and stubble!
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore, stop [the negative ‘me’ µὴ with the imperative means to stop doing what you are doing] judging before the time [the Rapture of the Church followed by the Evaluation Platform of Christ], but wait until the Lord comes [at the Rapture of the Church (the time is uncertain) at which time we will be evaluated; so don’t evaluate others or even yourself] who will both bring to light the hidden things in the darkness [all the things that people do not see for example a person’s motives, and integrity or lack of it] and disclose the motives of men's stream of consciousnesses [one of the things hidden in darkness], and then each man's praise will come to him from God.
ὥστε µὴ πρὸ καιροῦ τι κρίνετε, ἕως ἂν [relating to an uncertain event in the future: no one knows when the Rapture will take place] ἔλθῃ ὁ κύριος, ὃς καὶ φωτίσει τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους καὶ φανερώσει τὰς βουλὰς τῶν καρδιῶν· καὶ τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ.
1 Corinthians 4:6
Now, these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied [as representing another; an Attic Greek word] to myself and Apollos [out of the group of four as per 1 Corinthians 1:12-13] for your sakes, so that by us [Paul and Apollos], you may learn not to exceed what has been written [in my epistles], so that no one of you will become arrogant on behalf of one over against another [of a different kind of believer for they have compared Paul with Apollos etc.].
Ταῦτα δέ, ἀδελφοί, µετεσχηµάτισα εἰς ἐµαυτὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν δι’ ὑµᾶς, ἵνα ἐν ἡµῖν µάθητε τὸ Μὴ ὑπὲρ ἃ γέγραπται, ἵνα µὴ εἷς ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἑνὸς φυσιοῦσθε κατὰ τοῦ ἑτέρου.
“Arrogant on behalf of one over against another” 1 Corinthians 1:12-13, “Now this I say that each of you who says," I am of Paul, on the other hand others say, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas, I am of Christ.” (13) Is Christ divided? Paul wasn't crucified as a substitute for you, was he? Of course not. Or you have not been baptized into the person of Paul, have you? Of course not!”
The Corinthian believers in a state of arrogance were divided into four different groups vying for power. They used the following four names: Paul, Apollos, Cephas and Christ in order to consolidate their power. Three of these groups were formed in part on the basis of baptism, for Paul mentions in the very next verse that he was thankful that he only baptized a few. Some rallied around Paul because he was scholarly and intelligent. Some undoubtedly rallied around Apollos since he was a great orator, around Peter since he was one of the early leaders of the Church, and Christ because he is the God-Man. In effect, they were using status symbols to gain power.
In bringing to light the absolute stupidity and irrationality of these divisions, Paul using himself as an example makes it quite clear that there is only one Savior and only one person seated at the right hand of God the Father.
Verses 7-14: Paul attempts to orient these Corinthians to grace.
1 Corinthians 4:7
For who regards you as superior? [They regard themselves as superior] What do you have that you did not receive [This caused the Corinthians to squirm a bit]? And if you did receive it [the spiritual life in grace], and you did, why do you boast [in arrogance] as if you had not received it [the spiritual life in grace]?
τίς γάρ σε διακρίνει; τί δὲ ἔχεις ὃ οὐκ ἔλαβες; εἰ δὲ καὶ ἔλαβες, τί καυχᾶσαι ὡς µὴ λαβών;
The Corinthians:
1. The Corinthian believers lived in a very prosperous city since Corinth was a city with two great ports, one on the east namely Cenchreae for the ships traveling west from Egypt, the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and the coastline of Asia Minor and the port on the west namely Lechaeum for the ships traveling east as far away as Spain, and Northern Africa.
2. Though some were dock workers, the majority were wealthy businessmen, and professional people. In any case, being quite wealthy, they had much time for debate and other leisurely activities.
3. Since the ancient Greek language was the greatest language for the expression of thought, and since the majority of Corinthians were well versed in their language, they were very smart people. Paradoxically, even though they were great thinkers, whenever they came under pressure, they would go to their emotions just like the Exodus Generation. 1 Corinthians 3:1, “And I [Paul, the greatest communicator of Church Age doctrines], brethren, could not communicate to you as to spiritual persons [believers Filled with the Spirit], but as to fleshly ones [believers under the control of their sin natures located in their flesh], as to childish ones [because emotion was their criterion] in Christ [Positional Sanctification].” 2 Corinthians 6:11-12, “O, you Corinthians, our mouths [means of communication by Paul, Apollos, and Timothy] have been opened face to face with you; our stream of consciousnesses have been enlarged [we were prepared]. Therefore, you have not been hindered by us [Paul, Apollos, and Timothy], but you have been hindered by your emotions.”
4. The Corinthians always went to emotion like a small child when under pressure. When they disagreed violently with someone, they became angry. When they faced difficult problems and pressures, they were full of anxiety and worry. When they met someone who was better than they were, they became jealous. If they felt that they had been treated unfairly, they reacted with bitterness. When hearing of a tragedy, they became sad and depressed. These are just a few example of how they would have acted like a small child without the mental capability to solve their problems.
5. Even though the Corinthians were smart people and great in debate, rhetoric and in the expression of thought, they were no match for the greatest language genius of the ancient world namely Paul. Paul will use the sarcasm of Attic Greek, many Attic words, Attic periphrastic verbal constructions and even an Attic unattainable wish to demolish the arrogance of the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 4:8
You already have been filled and stuffed [with the knowledge of the spiritual life and so you are not able to take-in any more, nor do you think that you need any more since in your minds, you have already executed the spiritual life expressing Paul’s sarcasm]; you have already become rich [spiritually, the viewpoint of the Corinthians], you have become kings without us [they did not need the teaching ministry of Paul and his team.]; and indeed, I wish [would that: introducing an unattainable wish] that you had become kings [unattainable in their state of arrogance] so that we also might rule with you [by our association].
ἤδη κεκορεσµένοι ἐστέ· ἤδη ἐπλουτήσατε· χωρὶς ἡµῶν ἐβασιλεύσατε· καὶ ὄφελόν γε ἐβασιλεύσατε, ἵνα καὶ ἡµεῖς ὑµῖν συµβασιλεύσωµεν.
The Corinthians considered themselves, Mature Believers:
1. In a state of blind arrogance, they assumed that they were not only mature believers, but also that they were superior to other Christians.
2. Blinded by arrogance and hindered by emotion, they had not even advanced an inch since the day of their salvation. Most of these Greeks had a high I.Q. and were well educated in Attic Greek. In their intellectual arrogance, they would only listen to someone with a high I.Q. and to someone who could use Attic Greek with proficiency. So, in order to get their attention, Paul used Attic Greek words, an Attic periphrastic, an Attic Unattainable Wish and finally he slammed them with Attic Greek sarcasm.
3. Paul had to demolish the arrogance of the Corinthians that they might use the Recovery Procedure and begin their advance in the spiritual life.
4. The Greek word ‘korenumi’ means to be filled, to be gorged with food or beverage and is used in this verse in a periphrastic perfect construction with the intensive perfect implying sarcastically that the Corinthians were completely filled or stuffed with spiritual food and therefore, had no further need of Paul’s teaching.
5. This Attic Greek periphrastic construction consists of two verbs: the present tense of the ‘to be’ verb and the perfect tense of the verb ‘to be filled’. The perfect tense in the perfect periphrastic construction is usually in the intensive form and that is what we have here.
6. The intensive perfect emphasizes the result of having been gorged with spiritual food namely they are now spiritual giants.
7. Even though they were generally out of fellowship, they were able to academically understand the prophecy related to rulership with Christ in the Millennium. Since they assumed that they were spiritually mature, they would for certain, rule with Christ as kings of nations in the Lord’s one-thousand-year reign.
8. Paul then introduces an unattainable wish with the following phrase, ‘ὄφελόν γε’ translated ‘would that’ or ‘I wish that’. This construction is normally used with the aorist tense which is what we have here. Even though Paul had taught them for 18 months during his 2nd Missionary Journey, they, functioning mostly out of fellowship had only academic understanding of the spiritual life, and so had no spiritual growth. They academically had learned about prophecy and also had learned a lot of vocabulary about the spiritual life which unmetabolized knowledge when distorted provided them with the illusion of spiritual growth. So, although they could discuss the spiritual life, they were not living the spiritual life for that would require metabolized doctrine in their stream of consciousnesses.
9. Paul in his sarcasm was thrilled that the Corinthian believers had already locked in these positions of rulership in the Millennium for if he and his team would not be so fortunate, at least they could share in the rulership with these Corinthians.
Paul then made an analogy of himself and his team to the Roman Gladiators fighting in the arena in the Roman Coliseum and the Corinthians being analogous to spectators sitting in the spiritual stands. From the stands, they were criticizing Paul and his team who were doing the fighting on the spiritual battlefield.
1 Corinthians 4:9
For, I think that the God [the Father] has exhibited us apostles, last of all [the apostles in the arena like the gladiators in the last act to fight to the death], as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle [center stage on the field of the amphitheater] to the universe both to angels [both demons and elect] and to mankind [both the unbeliever and the apostate Christian].
δοκῶ γάρ, ὁ θεὸς ἡµᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους, ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθηµεν τῷ κόσµῳ καὶ ἀγγέλοις καὶ ἀνθρώποις.
Ephesians 3:10, “In order that now the multifarious wisdom of the God might be made known to demon rulers and demon authorities [demon bureaucracy] in the heavenly places by means of the Church,”
ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ,
God has put the apostles on display like gladiators condemned to death in the Roman Arena and just as the gladiators shouted, ‘we who are about to die, salute you’ (Nos morituri salutamus) so by application these apostles, along with all great believers both single and married of the Church Age are center stage in the arena of the coliseum to be observed by angels, elect and fallen who are seated in the rising tiers of seats along with all unbelievers and apostate Christians.
Remember that the Church Age is a part of the rebuttal phase of the Angelic Conflict. As a reminder, let’s quickly cover the phases of the Angelic appeal trial.
The Phases of the Angelic Appeal Trial:
1. The Opening Statement, Adam and his wife in the Garden: The opening statement at the beginning of the Angelic Appeal Trial is limited to outlining facts. During the opening statement, each party that is the prosecuting and defense attorneys have the opportunity to introduce core disputes and provide a general road map of how the trial is expected to unfold. In the Garden, the Lord laid-out his strategy which was to prove that He was a loving God and that his institutions and His plan for mankind and angels were perfect. On the other hand, Satan made it quite clear that when he said that he would be like the Most-High God, he really meant that he would be greater than the Lord by demonstrating that his policy and plan encompassing good and evil would be the best for mankind and for angels as well.
2. The Formal phase of the Trial, the Old Testament: In this phase of the trial, evidence both direct and circumstantial is gathered and presented. Direct evidence usually includes the following: eyewitness accounts, testimonies etc. Circumstantial evidence usually suggests a fact by implication or inference. Either kind of evidence can be offered in oral testimony of witnesses or physical exhibits, and documents.
During the Old Testament, the Lord demonstrated over and over again through evidence gathered and through testimony for example from such notables as Daniel, Job and Abraham etc. that He is a God of love with emphasis on integrity, wisdom and power and that His plan for mankind is perfect including His Laws of Establishment and His plan for believers. In effect, He proved that there is no one like Him. Satan on the other hand gathered evidence trying to prove that his plan and policy of good and evil is much superior to the Lord’s plan. Satan attempted to prove that his good and evil which includes socialism and tyranny is better than the Lord’s system of nationalism and freedom; his economic system of confiscation of wealth and its redistribution is better than the Lord’s free market system etc. Satan compiled evidence and then distorted the implications to suggest that God is not a God of love. For example, how could a God of love destroy so many people with the flood and how could a loving God destroy those lovely Canaanites living in the Pentapolis? Was it just because the Lord did not agree with their sexual preferences? Furthermore, how could a loving God command the killing of men, women, children and animals in the conquest of the Canaanites?
Satan definitely made an issue out of marriage in both the opening statement and in the formal trial. He argues that since the perfect marriage failed in the Garden, and that none of the marriages in the Old Testament amounted to much, certainly God’s design for two people was a dismal failure. For example, Abraham and Sarah had a horrible marriage most of their marriage life. He was a wimp, and she was a bitch. It was so bad that he was willing to give his wife to the Pharaoh of Egypt and then after leaving Egypt with his wife acquired a mistress as a substitute for relationship with his wife. Then, after Sarah died, he barely waited long enough for her corpse to cool before getting married again. Jacob’s marriage-life was a disaster as well namely two legal wives and two mistresses. Then, there was the greatest believer of the Old Testament, Moses who divorced his first wife and then married an Ethiopian since he could not find any Jewish women with whom he could be compatible. Then, there was David who had over 20 mediocre wives with whom he had 90 worthless sons. Then, in order to secure his final wife, he raped a married woman and then killed her husband. This evidence obviously was accumulated and presented by Satan against God’s design for marriage and family.
3. The rebuttal of Christ during the dispensation of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age: At the conclusion of the defendant's case in this case, Satan, the plaintiff or government (in this case, the Lord) can present rebuttal witnesses or evidence to refute evidence presented by the defendant during the formal trial. This may include only evidence not presented in the case initially, or a new witness who contradicts the defendant's witnesses. For example, Christ defeated Satan’s argument that He is not a God of love. This He accomplished during the 1st Advent by becoming a mediator uniting infinite God with perfect finite mankind and as a high priest offered himself as a sacrifice in order to resolve man’s sin problem through redemption. Thus, the cross became the perfect demonstration of personal and impersonal love both by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the Lord rebuts Satan’s attack against marriage by raising the standards of marriage and relating those standards to the spiritual life in the Church Age as found in Ephesians 5:22-25. In every generation of the Church Age, there is at least one married couple meeting the standards as commanded in Ephesian’s chapter 5 which becomes the strongest possible testimony for the divine institution of marriage and consequently completely rebuts Satan’s argument against marriage.
4. The rebuttal of Satan in the Tribulation: Satan after seeing how the evidence that he had accumulated against the love of God and marriage and other issues as well has been successfully rebutted in the Christo-centric dispensations (the 1st Advent and the Church Age), he decides that any rebuttal would be hopeless. So, he goes to violence.
5. The Closing Statement of the Lord, the prosecuting attorney during His Millennial rule on the earth: The Lord in His closing statement makes it very clear that only He has the ability and the integrity to bring-in perfect environment.
6. The Closing Statement of Satan is the violence of the Gog-Magog revolution. He will go to violence since he will realize that he has lost the appeal trial.
In verse 10, we have the contrast between the believer on the battlefield of the angelic conflict and the Christian who is a spectator in the stands. Paul in this verse continued with his sarcasm.
1 Corinthians 4:10
We [Paul, Apollos and others] are fools [because we being criticized are down here on the field] for Christ's sake [motivated to please the Lord], but you [the carnal Corinthians] are wise [in their own eyes and so can criticize] in Christ [union with Christ requires nothing, no spiritual growth, no integrity etc.]; we are weak [dependent on grace], but you are strong [operating on the energy of the flesh]; you are distinguished [prospering and respected in their city], but we are without honor [despised by most].
ἡµεῖς µωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑµεῖς δὲ φρόνιµοι ἐν Χριστῷ· ἡµεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑµεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί· ὑµεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡµεῖς δὲ ἄτιµοι.
Verses 11-13: the Sufferings of the gladiators: In these verses, Paul described some of the undeserved pressures and adversities of being a gladiator, a mature believer in the arena. The believer is blessed when he applies doctrine to the pressures of life which pressures and adversities are different for each believer. Below, we have a list of Paul and his team’s pressures and adversities.
1 Corinthians 4:11
Even to this present hour, we [Paul and his team] both hunger and thirst [many times they suffered hunger and thirst], and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated [the recipients of brutality and violence], and are homeless [they had no certain dwelling places in contrast to how the Corinthians were living; In addition to these pressures, Paul also had great pressure from his tremendous responsibilities.]
ἄχρι τῆς ἄρτι ὥρας καὶ πεινῶµεν καὶ διψῶµεν καὶ γυµνιτεύοµεν καὶ κολαφιζόµεθα καὶ ἀστατοῦµεν
A principle regarding pressure and adversity: Pressure in the spiritual life accelerates one’s spiritual life when application is made under this pressure. Pressure in adversity forces one to reevaluate his priorities. If under pressure, you conclude that your relationship with the Lord is the most important matter, you will have the greatest blessing of your life.
1 Corinthians 4:12
And we toil, working with our own hands [to exert great energy to make a living]; when we are reviled [being harassed, criticized by the Corinthians and others], we bless [we do not retaliate]; when we are persecuted [thrown into jail, scourged etc.], we endure [we handle this without stress etc. signs of great spiritual growth];
καὶ κοπιῶµεν ἐργαζόµενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν· λοιδορούµενοι εὐλογοῦµεν, διωκόµενοι ἀνεχόµεθα,
Though the Christian life has many pressures, adversities and three undeserved suffering tests, all these are designed to make the spiritual warrior strong and noble.
1 Corinthians 4:13
When we are slandered, we try to conciliate [entreat; speak kindly of those slandering]; we have become as the scum of the world [this is how they were viewed by the unbelievers], the dregs of all things [garbage], even until now.
δυσφηµούµενοι παρακαλοῦµεν· ὡς περικαθάρµατα τοῦ κόσµου ἐγενήθηµεν, πάντων περίψηµα, ἕως ἄρτι.
What was Paul’s purpose in explaining these things?
1 Corinthians 4:14
I do not write these things to shame you [shame does not solve anything], but to admonish [to warn with information in order that they can recover from the spiritual failures] you as my beloved children.
Οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑµᾶς γράφω ταῦτα, ἀλλí ὡς τέκνα µου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶν·
1 Corinthians 4:15
For if you in Christ were to have countless pedagogues [persuasive individuals who provided you with false information about the spiritual life such as the Jewish legalists and gave you much attention], yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father [I have sired you spiritually] through the gospel [Paul led most of them to the Lord. So, as a father, he communicated honestly in his concern for their spiritual growth. They are in union with Christ due to Paul’s evangelism of them]
ἐὰν γὰρ µυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν Χριστῷ, ἀλλ’ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας, ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐγὼ ὑµᾶς ἐγέννησα.
A Greek pedagogue was a Roman slave who took the children of aristocrats to school and in so doing provide protection and much attention. Though these children may have had many pedagogues, they only had one father. Furthermore, a pedagogue does not have your best interest in heart like your very own father.
1 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore, I exhort you, be imitators of me [imitate Paul’s spiritual life; in other words, imitate their spiritual father as children imitate their parents].
παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑµᾶς, µιµηταί µου γίνεσθε.
1 Corinthians 4:17
For this reason, I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son [the spiritual son of Paul] in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways [the teaching of spiritual life] which are in Christ [to teach the correlation between positional and experiential truth], just as I teach everywhere in every church.
διὰ τοῦτο ἔπεµψα ὑµῖν Τιµόθεον, ὅς ἐστίν µου τέκνον ἀγαπητὸν καὶ πιστὸν ἐν κυρίῳ, ὃς ὑµᾶς ἀναµνήσει τὰς ὁδούς µου τὰς ἐν Χριστῷ [Ἰησοῦ], καθὼς πανταχοῦ ἐν πάσῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ διδάσκω.
1 Corinthians 4:18
Now, some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you [Since Paul was not present, they spoke boldly].
ὡς µὴ ἐρχοµένου δέ µου πρὸς ὑµᾶς ἐφυσιώθησάν τινες·
At this moment, the Corinthians were without a pastor, and as a result of this, some had become arrogant. For you see, one of the responsibilities of a pastor is to hinder arrogance in the congregation by his teaching and if necessary, by discipline. For example, if some member of the congregation is gossiping about another, he must be warned to stop and if that person will not stop, then to be removed from the congregation.
What does the Scripture say about arrogance? Proverbs 13:10, "Through arrogance comes nothing but strife; but wisdom is with those who receive instruction." Proverbs 16:18, "Arrogance precedes destruction, and before a fall a lifestyle of arrogance." Proverbs 29:23, "A person's arrogance will bring him low, but a lifestyle of humility will attain honor." Isaiah 13:11, "I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity [cosmic involvement]. I will put to an end the arrogance of the proud. Furthermore, I will humble the pride of ruthlessness [tyranny]." James 4:6, "God gives greater grace. This is why the Scripture says [Proverbs 3:34], `God makes war against the arrogant [believer], but He gives grace to the humble [believer].'" 1 Pet 5:5-6, "In the same way, young men [the members of the congregation], be under the authority of the pastors. All of you [in the congregation], fasten yourselves to each other with grace thinking, because `God makes war against the arrogant and gives grace to the humble.' Therefore, humble yourselves under the powerful hand of God, that He may promote you at the proper time." Romans 12:3, "For I say through the grace which has been given to me and to everyone who is among you: Stop thinking of self in terms of arrogance, beyond the point of what you ought to think, but think in terms of sanity for the purpose of being rational without illusion, as God has assigned to each one a standard of thinking from doctrine.” The believer's arrogant lust for ascendancy in life destroys the right priorities in the Christian way of life and replaces them with a false scale of values and gives him false goals in life. Arrogance emphasizes self and people to the exclusion of God emphasis.
1 Corinthians 4:19
But, I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power [the energy of the flesh; these arrogant Corinthians were talking a good fight, but not living the spiritual life].
ἐλεύσοµαι δὲ ταχέως πρὸς ὑµᾶς, ἐὰν ὁ κύριος θελήσῃ, καὶ γνώσοµαι οὐ τὸν λόγον τῶν πεφυσιωµένων ἀλλὰ τὴν δύναµιν,
1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words [boasting, maligning, criticizing etc.] but in power [the two power options].
οὐ γὰρ ἐν λόγῳ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἀλλí ἐν δυνάµει.
1 Corinthians 4:21
What do you desire [a call for a decision]? Shall I come to you with a rod [the ministry of exhortation and discipline], or with love and a spirit of gentleness [with emphasis on teaching many subjects without having to get tough]?
τί θέλετε; ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρὸς ὑµᾶς, ἢ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύµατί τε πραΰτητος;
If these Christians continue in carnality, Paul will exhort them harshly and bring discipline upon them if necessary. However, Paul would rather come to them with emphasis on teaching. It is much more comfortable for pastor and congregation when the pastor can teach in a relaxed way to a responsive congregation. However, there are times when he must get tough.
