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
Romans Chapter Eight
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Freedom without authority is anarchy; Authority without freedom is tyranny. True freedom is freedom to succeed and freedom to fail.
Our status as Americans: When a people love the criminal more than the police officer, we are in trouble. When the criminals have more rights than the police officer and law-abiding citizens, we are in trouble. When criminals hardly spend any time in jail, but the police officer is gladly sent off to prison, we are in trouble. When becoming an environmentalist is more glamorous than becoming a soldier, we are in trouble. When a people love socialism and Marxism more than free-market capitalism, we are in trouble. When a government wants to go to war to protect allegedly the sovereignty and the property of a people of a foreign nation, but eagerly removes the freedom, property and privacy of its own citizens, we are in trouble. When functioning as the policeman of the world is more important than sending out qualified missionaries, we are in trouble. When emotion and hysteria are the norm when facing a problem but gathering data becomes irrelevant, we are in trouble. When a people become hysterically fearful of a virus no more viral than the flu, but have no fear of the Lord, we are in serious trouble.
When the leadership of a country want to fight a war across an ocean, but has already destroyed its industrial potential for war, has such a huge debt that it could never be repaid, has a worthless fiat currency which is in the process of being rejected, yet it thinks it can finance a world war, has no merchant marine fleet to supply its soldiers in distant lands, has surrendered control of the oceans to the Russian submarine fleet, has its army scattered all over the world, has very few men willing and qualified to fight, won’t even protect its own cities and borders, yet talks about protecting the sovereignty of other distant nations, its sanity must be put into question.
A right thing done in a right way is right; a right thing done in a wrong way is wrong; a wrong thing done in a right way is wrong; a wrong thing done in a wrong way is wrong.
R + R = R: Learning the spiritual life under the Filling of the Spirit is right;
R + W = W: morality in a state of arrogance is wrong; Prayer used as a Problem-Solving Device is wrong for example praying for protection.
W + R = W: taking the Nazarite Vow in the Church Age correctly executed under the instructions of the Mosaic Law is wrong.
W + W = W: Redistribution of wealth via unfair taxation is wrong.
Romans Chapter 8
The principle of this passage is very simple: the plan of God is greater than any pressure, any sin, any failure, any personal suffering or adversity, any historical disaster, or any problem of life.
Verses:
1-17. The new life and sanctification
18-30. The new life and suffering,
31-39. The new life and its challenges
Romans 8:1
Now, therefore [a conclusion from the previous chapter], there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus [Current Positional Truth].
Οὐδὲν ἄρα νῦν κατάκριµα τοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ·
A perfect righteous God demands perfect righteousness. So, a perfect righteous God demands condemnation of unrighteousness. Romans 3:22a, 23, “For there is no distinction [between Jew and gentile] for all have sinned [via the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin at birth] and fall short of the glory of God [with emphasis on God’s righteousness].” Removal of condemnation is related to the clothing of God’s righteousness via the Baptism of the Spirit as per the verse above. Unrighteousness must be replaced with God’s perfect righteousness in order to remove condemnation.
Romans 8:2
For the law [principle] of the spirit of life [our spirituality] through the agency of Christ Jesus [tested and proved the prototype spiritual life as per Isaiah 11:2] has set you free from the law of sin [the carnal state of the believer] and death [perpetual carnality resulting in the sin unto death I John 5:16].
ὁ γὰρ νόµος τοῦ πνεύµατος τῆς ζωῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἠλευθέρωσέν µε ἀπὸ τοῦ νόµου τῆς ἁµαρτίας καὶ τοῦ θανάτου.
Romans 8:3
For the Law [is not a system of power, but can only be implemented by the determination of one’s volition] was powerless in that it was weak through the flesh [with only human power and the former husband, the sin nature], God having sent His own Son [deity] in the likeness of the flesh of sin [true humanity of Jesus without a sin nature] and as a substitute for sin [He who knew no sin became sin for us] he [God the Father] condemned sin [personal sins] in the flesh [of the impeccable Jesus, the only flesh without a sin nature: the work of unlimited atonement].
τὸ γὰρ ἀδύνατον τοῦ νόµου, ἐν ᾧ ἠσθένει διὰ τῆς σαρκός, ὁ θεὸς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ υἱὸν πέµψας ἐν ὁµοιώµατι σαρκὸς ἁµαρτίας καὶ περὶ ἁµαρτίας κατέκρινεν τὴν ἁµαρτίαν ἐν τῇ σαρκί,
Romans 8:4
In order that the righteousness [legal requirements] required by the Law [about 2/3 of the Law; the other dealt with Christology and soteriology] might be fulfilled in us [church age believers using the two powers of the spiritual life], who do not walk according to the flesh [The believer who does not walk according to the Mosaic Law as his spiritual life using human power under the authority of the sin nature: Galatians 5:18], but according to the Spirit [the Filling of the Spirit].
ἵνα τὸ δικαίωµα τοῦ νόµου πληρωθῇ ἐν ἡµῖν τοῖς µὴ κατὰ σάρκα περιπατοῦσιν ἀλλὰ κατὰ πνεῦµα.
The legal requirement of the law is the exploitation of imputed righteousness at salvation by advance to maturity through the filling of the Spirit and the perception of Bible doctrine. In other words, taking advantage of the Logistical Grace Provision. At spiritual maturity, the Lord as the escrow officer will administer the Escrow Blessings. He does this by imputing those blessings to the righteousness which we share by being in union with Him. This not only glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, but the other members of the Trinity as well.
Romans 8:5
For those [believers] who are in conformity with the flesh [with only human power, and the former husband, the sin nature] keep thinking about the things of the flesh [not concerned about God’s plan at all], but those believers who are controlled by the Spirit keep thinking about the things of the Spirit. [How to fulfill the plan of God.]
οἱ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ὄντες τὰ τῆς σαρκὸς φρονοῦσιν, οἱ δὲ κατὰ πνεῦµα τὰ τοῦ πνεύµατος.
A few points for clarification:
1. What the believer thinks depends upon who or what dominates his life. (Who would be God the Holy Spirit; what would be the sin nature)
2. Either the old sin nature dominates the life, concentrating on sin, good and evil, or the Holy Spirit dominates the life, concentrating on Bible doctrine and divine viewpoint.
3. The old sin nature dominates the believer through rejection of the Recovery Procedure and negative volition toward Bible doctrine.
4. The Holy Spirit dominates the believer through the use of the Recovery Procedure when necessary, and constant intake and application of God’s Word.
Romans 8:6
For the thinking of the flesh [believers using only human power, and the former husband, the sin nature controlling the soul] is death [perpetual carnality and reversionism results in the sin unto death as per James 1:14, 15], but the thinking of the Spirit is life [thinking involved in the operational type spiritual life] and tranquility [prosperity].
τὸ γὰρ φρόνηµα τῆς σαρκὸς θάνατος, τὸ δὲ φρόνηµα τοῦ πνεύµατος ζωὴ καὶ εἰρήνη·
A few verses for more clarification:
James 1:14, 15, “But each one [analogy to a man being tempted to fornicate] is tempted when he is lured away [enticed] and entrapped by his own lust [analogy to a female seductress]. Then, when lust has conceived [becomes pregnant: the believer makes the decision to sin], it gives birth to sin [the believer has committed the sin through the use of his volition], and when the sin has become fully grown [the believer continues to involve himself in some sin over a long period of time without the use of the Recovery Procedure and without advancing spiritually], it brings forth death [the sin unto death].”
The analogy here is to a woman tempting a man into fornication or adultery. Metaphorically, lust is personified as a seductress. She tempts him by her seductive body and speech arousing in him, hope of great pleasure and happiness. If the man listens to this Siren while gazing upon her form too long, he will soon be entrapped.
Temptation comes either from our own lusts or from people or from both. Lust always promises a person pseudo happiness. “Being carried or lured away” is the concentration on some lust. The believer becomes “entrapped” when the lust becomes overwhelming that there is no hope of escape.
Temptation from lust is not sin. Sin occurs after the believer consents to some lust. A believer may be tempted by monetary lust, but rejects that temptation. He has not sinned, but if he accepts that lust as his motivation and robs a bank, he has committed the sins of greed and robbery.
If a Christian does not learn the spiritual life and develop love for the God, he will never gain enough motivation to bring his sin nature under control. Each believer tends to have a favorite sin such as jealousy, worry, fear, gossip, fornication, self-pity etc. Year after year the believer commits that same sin without any regard for God and his plan (the believer’s favorite sin grows into adulthood). God in his love for that believer will step by step increase his punishment of that believer. However, if the believer does not respond to the discipline and allows his sin to become fully grown by going through all Eight stages of Reversionism, God will make a sovereign decision to take the failing believer to heaven; this is called dying the sin unto death (Romans 8:13; Numbers 21:6; I John 5:16).
Romans 8:7
Because the thinking of the flesh [the believer functioning in the Cosmic System with only human power, and the former husband, the sin nature] is hostile toward God; for it [the flesh with only human power under the authority of the former husband, the sin nature] does not subordinates itself to the law [the policy and doctrine] of God, for it [the flesh with only human power under the authority of the former husband, the sin nature] is powerless to do so [to execute the spiritual life].
διότι τὸ φρόνηµα τῆς σαρκὸς ἔχθρα εἰς θεόν, τῷ γὰρ νόµῳ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐχ ὑποτάσσεται, οὐδὲ γὰρ δύναται·
A few points regarding hostility toward God:
1. The carnal believer is not the believer who sins but the sinning believer who rejects or neglects the rebound technique (the Recovery Procedure).
2. The carnal believer never properly names his sins to God the Father, and therefore never recovers the Filling of the Spirit, which is an absolute necessity for spirituality.
3. What you think is what you are. Without doctrine in the soul your thinking is hostile to God. This hostility of thinking can only be rectified by means of maximum doctrine resident in the soul.
4. There are three categories of thinking which are hostile to God namely sin, Satanic good and evil.
Erroneous thinking and insufficient power cannot execute God’s plan:
1. Doctrine reveals the plan of God.
2. Doctrine provides the basis for executing the plan of God.
3. The believer must be subordinated to doctrine or he cannot fulfil the plan of God.
4. Without doctrine in the frontal lobe the believer cannot be guided by God.
5. Without doctrine in the right lobe the believer cannot grow spiritually, cannot advance to the objectives, and cannot receive the greater blessings from God.
Romans 8:8
Therefore, those who are perpetually in the flesh [Carnal Christians functioning in the Cosmic System under the authority of the former husband, the sin nature] are not able to please God.
οἱ δὲ ἐν σαρκὶ ὄντες θεῷ ἀρέσαι οὐ δύνανται.
This phrase refers to both carnal and reversionistic believers under the authority of the ex-husband, the old sin nature. The carnal and the reversionistic believer can be defined as those who continue to recognize the authority of the sin nature even though a divorce has taken place. These Christians have neglected the Filling of the Spirit and have rejected the teaching of Bible doctrine by their right pastor.
Romans 8:9
In fact, you [identification with Christ through the Baptism of the Spirit] are not in the realm of the flesh [under the authority of the former husband, the sin nature] but in the realm of the Spirit [the Indwelling and Filling of the Holy Spirit], assuming that the Spirit of God indwells you. In fact, if anyone does not have the Spirit [indwelling] from Christ [Procession: John 15:26: Christ will send the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father], he is not His [does not belong to God].
ὑµεῖς δὲ οὐκ ἐστὲ ἐν σαρκὶ ἀλλὰ ἐν πνεύµατι, εἴπερ πνεῦµα θεοῦ οἰκεῖ ἐν ὑµῖν. εἰ δέ τις πνεῦµα Χριστοῦ οὐκ ἔχει, οὗτος οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῦ.
This is a reference to Retroactive Positional Truth in which the believer through the baptism of the Spirit is identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which is rejection of the old sin nature as the first husband, identifying with Christ in His physical death which is separation from the old sin nature as the first husband, and identified with Christ in His burial which is divorce from the old sin nature as the first husband.
The unbeliever has no relationship with God. In the Church Age, to have a relationship with God one must be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. All Christians are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit. So, if a person is not indwelt by God the Holy Spirit, he is not a Christian.
Romans 8:10
In fact, if Christ is in you, and He is, on the one hand the body is dead [to Christ under carnal death namely no fellowship with Him] because of the sin nature [as the ex-husband], but on the other hand, the Spirit is life [the new life compatible with the new marriage] because of righteousness [a reference to experiential righteousness].
εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς ἐν ὑµῖν, τὸ µὲν σῶµα νεκρὸν διὰ ἁµαρτίαν, τὸ δὲ πνεῦµα ζωὴ διὰ δικαιοσύνην.
When the believer returns to the sin nature the status is called death. We have been legally married to Christ as of the date of the contract signed at salvation. However, our body is dead to Him when we are committing spiritual adultery with the sin nature.
Romans 8:11
Now if the Spirit from Him [God the Father] who has raised Jesus from the dead indwells in you and he does, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [mortality becomes immortality via the resurrection body at the Rapture of the Church] through the agency of his Spirit who indwells in you [those alive at the Rapture will receive their resurrection bodies via the power of the Holy Spirit].
εἰ δὲ τὸ πνεῦµα τοῦ ἐγείραντος τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐκ νεκρῶν οἰκεῖ ἐν ὑµῖν, ὁ ἐγείρας [τὸν] Χριστὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν ζῳοποιήσει καὶ τὰ θνητὰ σώµατα ὑµῶν διὰ τοῦ ἐνοικοῦντος αὐτοῦ πνεύµατος ἐν ὑµῖν.
A few verses on the indwelling of God the Son and God the Father:
John 14:23b, “We [God the Son and God the Father in the context] will come [predictive future tense] to him [the Church Age believer] in addition to that, we will abide in him [literally: we will take-up our abode with him (means to abide in him)]”
Philippians 2:13, “For it is God [the Father] who is operational in you both to will [God the Father provides the motivation which must bring about good decisions; implication: We have liability to the Supreme Court of Heaven for both our motivation and decisions.] and to be effective [via the spiritual energy provided by God the Holy Spirit] for His good pleasure. [Correct motivation leading to correct decisions resulting in correct action or effectiveness in the spiritual life which pleases God the Father]”
2 Corinthians 13:5, “Be testing yourselves to determine if you are in the doctrine; keep examining yourselves or do you not know this about yourself that Jesus Christ is in you [indwelling of God the Son] unless indeed you fail the test [of doctrine].”
Romans 8:12
Therefore, brethren, we are obligated [indebted], not to the sin nature [from whom we are divorced] that we should live under the domination of the sin nature.
Ἄρα οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ὀφειλέται ἐσµέν, οὐ τῇ σαρκὶ τοῦ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆν·
There are certain obligations that go with high rank. We have the highest rank in life because the moment that we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ we were not simply born again, but we were born into the royal family of God, therefore we have a great obligation, but this verse is not directly stating these obligations. Rather, this opening phrase introduces a negative obligation of the Christian way of life which is related to our having divorced our first husband, the sin nature, which occurred at salvation through the ministry of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
1. This negative obligation prepares the way for the statement of alternatives in the next verse.
2. This negative obligation implies that we can miss the purpose for which we continue to live after salvation if we do not overcome the power of the sin nature.
3. The solution to the problem of the old sin nature is found in each stage of the plan of God. Phase one, salvation: retroactive positional truth breaks the power and the authority of the sin nature; phase two, the believer in time: the experiential power of the sin nature as the ex-husband is broken through advancing spiritually to spiritual maturity; phase three: the sin nature remains in the mortal body at death. So, there will be no sin nature in either the interim body or the resurrection body. Furthermore, all Satanic good and evil is destroyed at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Romans 8:13
For if you live under the authority of the sin nature [reject the Recovery Procedure and the spiritual life], you are destined to die [the sin unto death]; but if, by means of the Spirit, you recognize as dead the actions from the body [by not placing emphasis on the human good produced by functioning in the Cosmic System], you shall live [to fulfill God’s plan for your life].
εἰ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆτε µέλλετε ἀποθνῄσκειν, εἰ δὲ πνεύµατι τὰς πράξεις τοῦ σώµατος θανατοῦτε ζήσεσθε.
For the person who is negative toward doctrine, the person who is careless about the daily reception of God’s Word under a qualified pastor, or who wants to emphasize works and functions of good and evil from the Cosmic System, this person is destined for something namely the Sin unto Death. The present tense is a futuristic present denoting that although the maximum discipline of the sin unto death has not yet occurred, it will occur if the Christian rejects the spiritual life.
We have been discussing human good, and that is exactly what has to be renounced: any system of self-righteousness, any system or panacea for improving the devil’s world.
A few points of clarification:
1. In this verse the alternatives of the Christian way of life are defined. They are defined as far as final objectives are concerned.
2. The Christian will either receive the sin unto death from reversionism or divine blessing from maturity.
3. Either you adjust to the integrity of God or the integrity of God will adjust to you.
4. If you adjust to the integrity of God [by advancing to maturity] the justice of God will provide for you the greater blessings for both time and for eternity.
5. If on the other hand, you are maladjusted through reversionism, then the integrity of God (namely what the righteousness of God demands, the justice of God will execute) will adjust to you by divine discipline and punishment.
6. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is just as dangerous to us today as it was to our first parents in the garden.
7. We must avoid the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil namely Satan’s policy and plan.
8. This verse commands to recognize as dead the actions of the body or human good.
9. This death, then, to the old sin nature is divorce. Positionally the power of the ex-husband has been broken. Experientially this is exploited through the double column spiritual advance toward spiritual maturity.
A few points regarding living your life for God:
1. This is a reference to living a new kind of life, a life which is related to God’s plan and completely eliminates both preconceived notions and motivation related to human good. In other words, this means to live life in compatibility with the character of God and His plan rather than in compatibility with our own concepts of human viewpoint and plan.
2. This means to remove human standards and substitute divine standards.
3. It is impossible to advance to maturity when one is entangled with systems of human good.
4. All believers are tempted at some time in some way to enter a program of human good which is a deviation from God’s purpose for our lives.
The following passage, verse 14-17 deals with the adult advancing believer.
Romans 8:14
For as many as are being led by the Spirit, the God [appositional genitive], these are the adult sons of God [experientially].
ὅσοι γὰρ πνεύµατι θεοῦ ἄγονται, οὗτοι υἱοὶ θεοῦ εἰσιν.
1. In this dispensation, God only guides the members of the royal family through the completed canon of Scripture communicated by a prepared pastor. The more advanced the believer is spiritually, the more amenable and responsive he is to divine guidance “being led by the Spirit,” Maximum guidance, however, is the prerogative and the blessing of the mature believer with maximum doctrine in his soul.
2. Until the Christian reaches spiritual self-esteem, a large part of his guidance comes from self-induced misery, warning and intensive discipline.
3. Guidance from the Holy Spirit implies that the Christian should not lean on other Christians for guidance (counselling). Seeking guidance from others is a sign of weakness and a lack of spiritual growth.
Romans 8:15
For you have not received a lifestyle of slavery for the purpose of fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption, by whom [God the Holy Spirit] we keep shouting, "Abba" [Aramaic for God the Father] Father!
οὐ γὰρ ἐλάβετε πνεῦµα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς φόβον, ἀλλὰ ἐλάβετε πνεῦµα υἱοθεσίας, ἐν ᾧ κράζοµεν, Αββα ὁ πατήρ·
A few points of explanation:
1. The new life in Christ Jesus is not designed by God to be a life of slavery to fear. If the Christian will take the time to learn the spiritual life, he will never be frightened by anything in life in this world.
2. The life of the unbeliever is obviously going to be unstable. The more unstable the historical situation the more unstable the unbeliever will be, but this should not be true for the believer.
3. The unbeliever is married to the old sin nature, but we are divorced from the old sin nature through retroactive positional truth and this has freed us from this slavery.
4. Since we are no longer in slavery to the sin nature, we should not become enslaved to any sin much less the sin of fear mentioned in this verse.
Matthew10:28, 29, “And stop being afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear [addressed to believers] Him [God and his plan] who can ruin both soul and body in Gehenna [Lake of Fire: the believer though he will not go to the Lake of Fire, he should have great respect for the power and sovereignty of God.]. (29) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing [1.5 cents before the Fed started unlimited printing]? And one of them shall not fall upon the ground [shall not be killed] apart from your Father’s will.”
The real person is his soul which will live for all eternity. Since no human being can injure or kill the soul, then why should we fear any person. The most that any human being can do is to kill one’s body and that if only God permits. However, the Lord on the other hand can not only execute any person at any time in time but can also cast the unbeliever into the Lake of Fire forever which impacts not only his everlasting body but his soul as well.
The sparrow was the cheapest bird to purchase for food. In those days they ate sparrows just as they do in China today. I was told by a Chinese lady that they are quite delicious, but it takes many sparrows to fill a big Chinese stomach. Even though the sparrow is the least of birds, God the Father has a plan for them which includes providing food, a mate, little ones, protection and a right time for their departure.
The Christian with reciprocal love is very obedient to God’s plan. So, he is consistently in fellowship and is neither experiencing self-induced misery nor divine discipline, and when God’s plan calls for undeserved suffering in his life, he has the humility and integrity to meet such suffering without fear.
A few points regarding fear:
1. Fear is the enemy of thought. Cowardice is the inability to apply knowledge to a situation. Thus, fear and cowardice can only occur when the believer is out of fellowship with God.
2. Honor, and virtue are secondary components of true love, and so cannot co-exist with worry, fear, and anxiety since these are not virtues.
3. Virtue, and honor produces courage which drives out fear.
4. Virtue eliminates all arrogance which includes fear, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, vindictiveness, implacability, and self-pity.
5. Confidence, a secondary component of love toward God motivates courage toward mankind.
6. Fear indicates that the believer is involved in the cosmic system, and therefore, cannot use any of the Problem-Solving Devices of the spiritual life.
7. Fear, like all mental attitude sins is self-punishing and self-destructive. The presence of fear in the soul overflows into the body as well—psychosomatics.
8. If you are afraid, you are out of fellowship for fear and the function of your spiritual life are mutually exclusive.
9. Fear eliminates a personal sense of destiny and the double column advance to occupation with Christ.
10. Fear sees the problem and falls apart, while faith sees the solution and keeps marching to glory. There are three great illustrations of faith: Abraham in sexual death, Moses at the Red Sea, and David against Goliath. Through the Faith-Rest Drill, each of these believers namely Abraham, Moses, and David emphasized the solution rather than the problem and so avoided the distraction of fear.
11. Fear is a sign of arrogance and self-centeredness. Therefore, fear results in the function of three arrogance skills: self-justification, self-deception, and self-absorption.
12. The temptation to have fear calls for the function of the faith-rest drill, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; yes, I will hold you up with the right hand of My Righteousness.” 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a lifestyle of fear, but of power and reciprocal love and sound-judgment.”
13. Fear related to death will not prevent dying, but it will prevent the fulfillment of our very own spiritual life.
14. The more things you surrender to fear, the more things you fear. Today, you may be worried about only one thing; tomorrow about two things, etc. Soon you become so emotionally involved in fear that you have no identity. Irrationality means loss of identity, which means the accumulation of fear until you are afraid of life. Fear is something that, if not controlled, continues to develop in your life until you have no capacity, and as a believer you become a loser.
15. The extent to which you surrender to fear, the greater your capacity for fear and to that extent fear controls more and more of your life. Increasing fear means increasing insecurity, which destroys your capacity for love, life, happiness, and blessing. Under fear, no set of circumstances in life will ever make you happy. There is no way you can have true love or true happiness apart from a healthy mental attitude.
16. The greater your capacity for fear, the more you increase the power of fear in your life. The more you increase the power of fear in your life, the greater your failure to execute the unique spiritual life of the Church Age.
Regarding adoption, the following is taken from ‘The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, page 41 by Merrill F. Unger.
“Roman. Adoption was a familiar social phenomenon, and its initial ceremonies and incidents occupied a large and important place in their laws. By adoption an entire stranger in blood became a member of the family in a higher sense than some of the family kin, emancipated sons, or descendants through females. Such a one assumed the family name, engaged in its sacrificial rites, . . . and to all intents and purposes, a member of the house of his adoption. The tie thus formed could only be broken through the ceremony of emancipation, and formed as complete a barrier to intermarriage as relationship by blood.”
Adoption in the Greek huiothesia and in the Latin adoptio usually occurred at the age of fourteen. As stated above, one could adopt one’s own son or some other more qualified young man. When a Roman boy was said to have reached adulthood, he laid aside his bulla (similar to an amulet) and the toga praetexta of his childhood and took up the toga virilis (of manhood) in a ceremony that signified him becoming a man and a full Roman citizen. Adoption in ancient Rome was practiced and performed by many of the emperors, and the upper classes. For example, a large number of adoptions were performed by the Senatorial class. Succession and family legacy were very important; therefore, Romans needed ways of passing down their fortune and name when unable to produce a qualified male heir. Adoption was one of the few ways to guarantee succession, so it became a norm to adopt young males into the homes of high-ranking families.
Adoption in Roman Society as related to our spiritual lives:
Historically, the believer is adopted as an adult son of God at the point of his salvation. The omniscience of God knew that he would believe in Jesus Christ and so entered that information into the decree (the divine computer) billions of years ago. The sovereignty of God then said, “Elected and predestined” and the printer printed “this Christian is elected and predestined for adoption.” In time the person via his human volition believes in Jesus Christ as his savior and the Holy Spirit then enters him into union with Christ. In union with Christ, the believer is then adopted as an adult son positionally as a result of having been predestined in eternity past.
Even as He [Father] has chosen [elected] us for Himself in Him [the Christian in union with Jesus Christ] before the beginning of the world that we keep on being holy [experiential righteousness on earth] and blameless [resurrection body without the sin nature] in the presence of Him [Father]. 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 (Ephesians 1:4, 5).
Adoption emphasizes God's ability; He makes every person an adult son at salvation. Even though the believer may have had a bad environment, genes and family background, he is now a member of the royal family of God, the highest status possible. Galatians 3:26 states, “For all are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
But when the fullness of time had come, God [Father] sent His Son [First Advent], born of a woman [beginning of His Hypostatic Union], born under the Law, that He might redeem those [Old Testament believers] who were under the Law, that we [Church Age believers] might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:4-5).
When a Christian in the first or second century discovered that he had been adopted by God the Father, this was extremely significant to him. Also astonishing to this early Church Age believer was that both male and female believers were adopted by God and heirs, for in the Roman custom only males could be adopted as heirs.
So, Paul uses the word to remind us that we are spiritual aristocracy of God. Before the Church Age, never were believers entered into union with Christ and adopted as adult sons of God and never again after the Church age will this adoption occur.
Adoption connotes many wonderful things. Adoption connotes responsibility, purpose, and a planned life. Adoption means being given rights, power, and authority; the Christian wears the royal toga of the family of God. Adoption anticipates great blessings; the Christian has God’s signet ring on his finger, and so can utilize the tremendous wealth of God. The Christian is in union with Christ, royal family of God, eternal aristocracy.
Although all Church age believers are adopted into God’s royal family, many do not think or act like members of God’s family. In order to think like aristocracy, the believer must learn the plan of God. In order to act like aristocracy, he must develop humility in order to handle properly the rights, authority and the power given to him. In order to have correct motivation and to appreciate the many blessings which God wants to give his adopted sons, he must develop a love for God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ which love will give him the capacity for blessing.
Royalty should always think of themselves as royalty and nothing else. For example, even though Queen Elizabeth II is a brilliant business woman, this is hardly ever mentioned. She is addressed only as Queen Elizabeth, her royal title. Therefore, on my tombstone, I do not desire the designation Missionary Max or Pastor Max, but Max, a member of the Royal Family of God.
We should be shouting, “Abba” (the Aramaic for God the Father.)” It means a shout of victory, a shout of happiness. This is the expression of great happiness when we finally realize that God has a perfect plan for us, and that includes a day-by-day wonderful plan for our lives. Adoption has the connotation of great blessing. We are now adopted into the royal family of God, and as such heirs of God. Why should we not shout, Abba in excitement and happiness!
Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God.
αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦµα συµµαρτυρεῖ τῷ πνεύµατι ἡµῶν ὅτι ἐσµὲν τέκνα θεοῦ.
If you are ever going to be related to reality as a believer, Bible doctrine must come into your life. It must be related to your life, not as an academic subject but as a part of your life.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16, “Now, we have not received the world’s frame of reference, but [we have received] the spirit [human spirit] from the source of God in order that we may know the things [doctrines] graciously given to us for our benefit by God. (13) which things we communicate not by the teachings taught from human wisdom, but by the teachings taught by the Spirit [Holy Spirit]; we are explaining spiritual things [bringing together spiritual truths] to spiritual apparatuses [to believers with human spirits]. (14) But the soulish man [the unbeliever without a human spirit] does not acquire knowledge of the doctrines [not able to receive spiritual truths] from the Spirit [Holy Spirit] of God for they [spiritual truths] are absurd [senselessness] to him, and he is not able to acquire knowledge [spiritual truths] because they [the doctrines] are discerned from the source of the human spirit [are discerned in a spiritual manner: the Holy Spirit takes the pastor’s accurate teaching and makes it understandable to the human spirit]. (15) But the spiritual [the growing believer] discerns all things [of the Word of God], but he is judicially examined by no one [the privacy of the priesthood], (16) for who has known the thinking of the Lord [title for deity] that he should instruct him [no one], but we have the thinking of Christ [Bible doctrine].”
Biblical truth is learned through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and this becomes resident in the human spirit as well as in the right lobe. Doctrine in the human spirit and God the Holy Spirit are two witnesses testifying that we are the children of God.
A few more points for clarification:
1. Reality about our relationship with God, our purpose in the plan of God, the mechanics of the plan of God, and our objectives for life on this earth after salvation, originate from the transfer of Bible doctrine from the page of the Scripture to the human spirit and unto the soul of the believer. This is accomplished through the ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
2. Reality from doctrine becomes the basis for confidence and security in our relationship with God. The reality of God, the integrity of God, the plan of God, blessings from God, all stem from the same root: doctrine resident in the human soul and human spirit.
3. Illustration: “In the mouth of two witnesses it [a fact] is established” as per Deuteronomy 17:1. The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and teaches it to the human spirit. These then become the two witnessed who testify that we are the children of God.
Romans 8:17
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.
εἰ δὲ τέκνα, καὶ κληρονόµοι· κληρονόµοι µὲν θεοῦ, συγκληρονόµοι δὲ Χριστοῦ, εἴπερ συµπάσχοµεν ἵνα καὶ συνδοξασθῶµεν.
1. Heirship demands blessing. To be the heir of God, the Father requires comparable blessing.
2. Heirship, then, is related to the concept of blessing from the integrity of God in time and in eternity. The imputation of divine righteousness is the first step in providing blessing from the integrity of God.
3. Because God the Father imputed to us His righteousness at salvation, He is able to provide many other assets including Logistical Grace provision and will provide a resurrection body at the Rapture of the Church which blessings are for all believers.
4. However, for the greater blessings of Escrow Blessing, we must suffer with Christ. He suffered undeserved suffering as His humanity was advancing spiritually, so we must pass all the undeserved suffering tests namely Providential Preventive Suffering, Momentum Testing and finally Evidence Testing. At our spiritual maturity, He as our Escrow Officer will give us our Escrow Blessings for time. This is apparently imputed to the righteousness which we share in union with Him. After passing Evidence Testing, He will roughly double our Escrow Blessings and then at the Evaluation Seat of Christ shortly after the Rapture, He will distribute to us, our eternal Escrow Blessings.
Romans 8:18
For I conclude that the sufferings of the present period of time [undeserved suffering] are not comparable to the glory [receiving of one’s Escrow Blessing for eternity] which is destined to be revealed in us.
Λογίζοµαι γὰρ ὅτι οὐκ ἄξια τὰ παθήµατα τοῦ νῦν καιροῦ πρὸς τὴν µέλλουσαν δόξαν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι εἰς ἡµᾶς.
This verse contains the outline of the paragraph, verses 18-30. Basically, there are two thoughts namely the sufferings of the present time, verses 19-27, and the glory which is destined to be revealed in us, verses 28-30. In this outline we see three categories of present suffering, described by three groans: the groan of nature, verses 19-22; the groan of the mature believer, verses 23-25, and the groan of the Holy Spirit, verses 26-27. After these three groans, a promise to the mature believer in verse 28. Then follows the glory which is destined to be revealed in us, verses 29-30.
Three things to remember:
a) There is no comparison between the suffering of the mature believer and the rewards and blessings to that mature believer in eternity;
b) No suffering in maturity is greater than the capacity of doctrine resident in the soul. No suffering in maturity is greater than the rewards and the blessings of the eternal Escrow Blessings;
c) Time is just a drop in the bucket or better yet in the ocean compared to eternity, and suffering in time cannot be compared to blessing in eternity.
Verses 19-22: The Universal Suffering of Nature
Romans 8:19
For the confident expectation of creation [the material universe] waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God [the royal family and the Old Testament believers at the Second Advent].
ἡ γὰρ ἀποκαραδοκία τῆς κτίσεως τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τῶν υἱῶν τοῦ θεοῦ ἀπεκδέχεται·
Nature eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God at the 2nd Advent. The reason is explained in the next two verses.
1. The material universe went into undeserved suffering at the fall of man (Genesis 3:17,18). Since then, the material universe has been in bondage waiting to be delivered at the 2nd Advent.
2. The Second Advent removes the curse on nature and restores it to its pristine perfection. The personification of nature sets up a parallel to the undeserved suffering of the adult believer. Therefore, the next time you get pricked by a thorn, don't blame the plant.
3. The material universe is not alien to mankind since in the Garden of Eden nature was designed for man's pleasure and was in alliance with the human soul. There is an affinity between nature and man's soul though much of that affinity is gone due to the curse. Nature can only be the total ally of man in the garden and in the Millennium.
4. If the irrational material universe personified stands in eager anticipation of the Millennium how much more as rational creatures should we eagerly anticipate the Millennial reign of Christ.
5. Since the adult believer has eternal values, only he receives undeserved suffering for only he can appreciate it and profit from it. Now the growing believer may receive a little undeserved suffering, but the Christian in the Cosmic System receives none. If a suffering nature can anticipate the Second Advent with enthusiasm much more the suffering adult believer.
6. God demonstrates to a few advancing believers through undeserved suffering that happiness can be just as easily related to unpleasant circumstances as pleasant circumstances. There is no circumstance in this life which is greater than divine provision for the believer advancing to maturity.
Romans 8:20
For the creation [nature] was subordinated [at the Fall] to futility [void of purpose] against its own will, but because of Him [God the Father] who has subordinated it in the time of hope [Jesus Christ at the 2nd Advent].
τῇ γὰρ µαταιότητι ἡ κτίσις ὑπετάγη, οὐχ ἑκοῦσα ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα, ἐφí ἑλπίδι
When Adam sinned, nature was put under the curse namely undeserved suffering, and it continues in that status until the 2nd Advent. Genesis 3:17-19, Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you [nature shares in Adam’s punishment] In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. (18) “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; (19) By the sweat of your face, you will eat bread till you return to the ground because from it you were taken; For you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Nature was innocent but nature suffered along with man.
For when the Church is celebrating the wedding feast at the 2nd Advent, a shocking thing is going to occur with regard to nature or the material universe. There is going to be a complete and total change, so that when the Church steps outside from the wedding feast it is going to see a different world.
Isaiah 35:1, 2, “The desert and the wilderness will be ecstatic [to dance around in a circle] in great happiness; and the desert will rejoice and blossom like a crocus. (2) It will blossom profusely, it will both rejoice with rejoicing and sing with happiness; the glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the majestic royalty of our God.”
The material universe personified suffered when Adam committed the original sin, and since then the material universe has been in bondage, undeserved suffering, waiting eagerly to be delivered at the second advent at which time, Christ introduces His millennial reign in which nature will be restored to its pristine beauty in keeping with the perfect environment of the Millennium.
Romans 8:21
Therefore the material universe itself also shall be set free from the slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory [at 2nd Advent] with reference to the children of God.
ὅτι καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ κτίσις ἐλευθερωθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς δουλείας τῆς φθορᾶς εἰς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν τῆς δόξης τῶν τέκνων τοῦ θεοῦ.
1. It takes a lot of discipline and authority for a large group of people to have freedom. Many people however think of freedom as equality which could not be further from the truth. When you think of freedom, you should think of establishment, privacy, the sacredness of private property, the lack of infringement from a federal government.
2. Nature not only shares the condemnation of mankind, but at the 2nd Advent also shares the glorification (resurrection body) of mankind.
3. Just as God turns cursing into blessing for mankind, so God does the same for the material universe (the illustration for undeserved suffering).
4. Christ is the glory of God. The mature believer is the glory of Christ. Nature at the 2nd Advent is the glory of the mature believer.
5. While nature shares in man's condemnation and corruption, it will also share in man's glory at the redemption of his body and its manifestation.
6. The elevation of the believer through ultimate glorification means the elevation of nature through its ultimate restoration (restoration of its pristine glory).
7. The corruption of nature reveals the corruption of mankind. The future glory of nature reveals the future glory of regenerate mankind.
8. The material universe or nature under the curse still points mankind to the existence of God as per Romans 1:20.
9. However, nature’s slavery to corruption results in man having to work for a living. Man must till the ground. The material universe shares man’s condemnation through Adam’s original sin. This is why there are thorns in nature etc.
10. Because nature or the material universe is now in slavery to corruption it becomes necessary for God to provide laws for nature as He has provided laws of establishment for corrupt humanity.
The phrase: “into the freedom of the glory with reference to the children of God” is a reference to the believer in ultimate sanctification living with Christ forever.
Romans 8:22
For [explanatory] we know [perception of Bible doctrine in the past with the result that we know] that [delineates the content] the entire material universe groans [from great suffering] along with us [adult and mature believer in undeserved suffering] and suffers the pains of childbirth together with us until now.
οἴδαµεν γὰρ ὅτι πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις συστενάζει καὶ συνωδίνει ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν·
1. From the fall of man to the present, nature has shared in man’s condemnation at the fall, and has shared undeservedly.
2. The devil rules the world of corruption. Therefore, the devil rules the world of corrupted people and corrupted nature. Compared to what Adam had, the devil rules a junk pile.
3. Nature shares undeservedly the curse of mankind. But since nature was designed by the Holy Spirit to be the glory of man, when man lost his glory at the fall, nature had to go along with it.
4. Nature will continue under the curse throughout the rest of the Church Age and the Tribulation. However, at the Second Advent, nature will be redeemed for the perfect environment of the Millennium. Why? Because nature is the glory of man. Once the second advent occurs nature’s curse and suffering are terminated permanently.
A few more point of clarification:
1. With all of natures present beauty, it suffers. The beauty of nature at present is analogous to the beauty of the mature believer. Both are in the principle of undeserved suffering, and yet both have a fantastic beauty.
2. Even as nature receives great undeserved suffering, so does the adult and mature believer as in the next verse.
3. The pain of child birth is intense. Therefore, it is used to personify the suffering of nature at the present time. Nature is like a woman in labour; she is in agony until delivery takes place. The birth occurs at the second advent; in the meantime, there is the intense suffering of nature.
4. Neither undeserved suffering in the mature believer nor the undeserved suffering in nature is ignored by the integrity of God for there is tremendous compensation in the field of blessing.
5. Nature at the 2nd Advent will be redeemed and again become the glory of mankind.
The Undeserved Suffering (the groans) of the Mature Believers verses 23-25.
Romans 8:23
And not only nature but also ourselves [mature believers] even though possessing the first fruits from the Spirit [imputation of Escrow Blessing in time], even we ourselves groan [from undeserved suffering] within ourselves, eagerly anticipating the adoption, that is, the resurrection of our body [Adoption into the family of God means that we will eventually receive a resurrection body in order to spend eternity with God].
οὐ µόνον δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τοῦ πνεύµατος ἔχοντες ἡµεῖς καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς στενάζοµεν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπεκδεχόµενοι, τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν τοῦ σώµατος ἡµῶν.
The phrase, “And not only they, but ourselves also,” is the beginning of the development of the analogy.
1. The believer from adulthood to maturity is given undeserved suffering as a divine blessing.
2. Therefore, this suffering must be distinguished from divine discipline and punitive action from the integrity of God. This suffering is undeserved and is designed for great blessing. As a blessing, it must be imputed to the imputed righteousness of the Christian.
3. When suffering comes to the mature believer, it is not designed to detract from blessing but to add blessing to blessings.
The phrase, “though possessing the first fruits from the Spirit.” The Filling of the Spirit, contributes in some way to the present character or state of maturity. In other words, the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the metabolization of doctrine contributed to the spiritual advance of the believer.
A few points for further clarification:
1. The first fruits from the Spirit are tantamount to blessings imputed to the believer at the moment of maturity adjustment to the integrity of God.
2. These blessings are first fruits, a down payment of blessing and rewards to be given in our eternal state.
3. The blessings and rewards of eternity are also a real imputation in which the justice of God imputes both reward and blessing to the divinely-prepared home or target, the resurrection body, a body minus the old sin nature.
4. The best things in life glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in time and are parlayed into eternal rewards and blessings which glorify the Lord Jesus Christ forever.
5. Therefore, if the integrity of God is able to provide the mature believer in time Escrow Blessings, the most difficult, it follows a fortiori that the integrity of God will also provide the mature believer without a sin nature, Escrow Blessings for eternity at the Evaluation Throne of Christ, the least difficult.
6. Escrow Blessings in time are imputed to the righteousness which the mature believer possesses in union with Christ; Escrow Blessings in eternity are imputed to the mature believer’s resurrection body.
Escrow Blessings should not be confused with Logistical Grace.
What about the blessings, or apparent blessings which the believer receives between salvation and maturity adjustment to the integrity of God? The answer is given in three points:
a) What appears to be blessing between salvation and maturity is the divine support of logistical grace.
b) Logistical grace includes many wonderful things such as food, shelter, clothing, protection, accurate Bible teaching if desired, and other blessings as well.
c) While these things are wonderful beyond description, they cannot be compared to the greater blessings imputed at maturity adjustment to the integrity of God.
The phrase “even we ourselves groan within ourselves” is explained in a few points:
1. The ‘groan’ is the reality of undeserved suffering from the integrity of God to the mature believer.
2. To be suffering, it must hurt, therefore the groan which personalizes the suffering.
3. No matter how great or what the category of suffering is administered to the mature believer, it is designed to aid him in consolidating what he has learned and to strengthen him, also to intensify his relationship with the members of the Trinity.
4. No suffering, disaster or calamity can defeat the prepared believer.
5. Undeserved suffering does not hinder the adult or mature believer’s growth; rather when these suffering tests are passed, the believer progresses to the next level of spiritual growth, and blessing.
The phrase “waiting for adoption” connotes the idea of waiting for someone and is used by Paul in the sense of waiting eagerly or eagerly anticipating. The present tense is a customary present which denotes what habitually occurs when the advanced believer faces adversity and suffering. Especially, the mature believer under great suffering eagerly anticipates his adoption into ultimate sanctification in resurrection body.
Romans 8:24
For with reference to that confident expectation [ Escrow Blessings in eternity] we have been saved [It all begins at salvation]. Now when a confident expectation is seen it is not a confident expectation. So, who has confident expectation for what he sees?
τῇ γὰρ ἐλπίδι ἐσώθηµεν· ἐλπὶς δὲ βλεποµένη οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλπίς· ὃ γὰρ βλέπει τίς ἐλπίζει;
The phrase, “For with reference to that confident expectation” is anticipation of the receiving our Escrow Blessing in our resurrection-body. Regarding the phrase, “who has confident expectation for what he sees” is not a present reality but a future one with God forever. We cannot see heaven and all of its details, but anticipate the reality of heaven, the reality of eternity, and as mature believers we anticipate the rewards and blessings.
Romans 8:25
Now if we have confident expectation for what we do not see, and we do, then through perseverance [happiness under the pressure of undeserved suffering] we stand in eager anticipation.
εἰ δὲ ὃ οὐ βλέποµεν ἐλπίζοµεν, δι’ ὑποµονῆς ἀπεκδεχόµεθα.
A few points for clarification:
1. Hope (confident expectation) is confidence of reality before the reality occurs.
2. Once the reality occurs the confident expectation is replaced by the reality.
3. In time, every believer because of the judicial imputation of divine righteousness and the sharing of the Lord’s righteousness, immediately possesses the first of a series of confident expectations regarding blessing.
4. The believer who receives the imputation of Escrow Blessings for time has confident expectation of receiving his Escrow Blessings for eternity.
Verses 26 & 27 - Groaning of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:26
And also in the same way the Spirit Himself gives a helping hand in our weakness [believers in apostasy], for we [fellow believers] do not know how to pray as we should [for believers in apostasy], but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings [which implies the believer’s status is not good] too deep for words [cannot be expressed with words].
Ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τὸ πνεῦµα συναντιλαµβάνεται τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ ἡµῶν· τὸ γὰρ τί προσευξώµεθα καθὸ δεῖ οὐκ οἴδαµεν, ἀλλὰ αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦµα ὑπερεντυγχάνει στεναγµοῖς ἀλαλήτοις·
Human language has its limitations. So, it is nearly impossible for a Christian to pray properly and adequately for an apostate believer in the Cosmic System. In this case, it requires the divine communication of God the Holy Spirit to adequately and effectively pray for the believer in apostasy.
Romans 8:27
(And He [God the Father] who keeps searching the hearts [the stream of consciousnesses of believers] knows what is the thinking of the Spirit) because He [the Holy Spirit] makes intercession on behalf of the saints according to the will of God [the Father],
ὁ δὲ ἐραυνῶν τὰς καρδίας οἶδεν τί τὸ φρόνηµα τοῦ πνεύµατος, ὅτι κατὰ θεὸν ἐντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἁγίων.
Since God the Father knows what is in the stream of consciousness of the believer and also knows the thinking of God the Holy Spirit, these prayers do not require communication. Omniscience communicates with omniscience.
Romans 8:28
We [the elite Christian who understands well the spiritual life] know in fact, that to those [mature believers] who love the God [the Father], He causes all things to work together for good [intrinsic good: rewardable production] to those who are called according to a predetermined plan [God’s Protocol Plan for the believer in the divine decree].
οἴδαµεν δὲ ὅτι τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεὸν πάντα συνεργεῖ εἰς ἀγαθόν, τοῖς κατὰ πρόθεσιν κλητοῖς οὖσιν.
In the divine decree according to a predetermined plan, God the Father caused all things through the Ten Problem Solving Devices to work together for intrinsic good. Since only the mature Christian can apply all ten Problem Solving Devices, this verse only applies to him.
The believer who rejects the spiritual life lives his entire life in Satan’s cosmic system. He goes through all stages of reversionism. He spends his entire life under intensive divine discipline until he comes under dying discipline. God cannot work anything for good [divine production] since he has rejected the Father’s plan. He has rejected the means of producing intrinsic good manufactured from divine power.
The Christian who spends his entire life functioning under cosmic power has rejected the two power options of the spiritual life namely the Filling of the Spirit and the power of metabolized doctrine. Therefore, he has no capacity for problem solving, for life, love, or happiness.
God has a system for causing all things to work together for good, but it depends upon the use of the Problem-Solving Devices. God the Father solved every problem in human history in eternity past. However, if the believer does not use the Problem-Solving Devices, he is not able to benefit from these solutions which God the Father has provided.
Romans 8:29-30 Printouts and Volitional Freedom within the Divine Decree
Romans 8:29-30
[We know] that whom He foreknew [the believer was in the mind of God in eternity past] He also predestined conformed ones [via Positional, Experiential and Ultimate Sanctification] to the image of His Son [Positional Sanctification: Jesus placed into the Prototype Divine power system; Experiential Sanctification: Jesus lived the Protype Spiritual Life; Ultimate Sanctification: Jesus glorified via His resurrection, ascension and session at the right hand of God the Father], that He might be the first-born among many brethren [Church age believers]. (30) And whom He predestined, these same ones He also elected, and whom He elected, these same ones He also justified [via the imputation of divine righteousness], moreover whom He justified [declared righteous and qualified to live with God forever], these same ones He also glorified [a reference to Ultimate Sanctification namely the receiving of a resurrection body for all believers and maximum glorification of God occurs when the Lord is able to distribute Escrow Blessing to the resurrection body of mature believers].”
ὅτι οὓς προέγνω, καὶ προώρισεν συµµόρφους τῆς εἰκόνος τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν πρωτότοκον ἐν πολλοῖς ἀδελφοῖς· (30) οὓς δὲ προώρισεν, τούτους καὶ ἐκάλεσεν· καὶ οὓς ἐκάλεσεν, τούτους καὶ ἐδικαίωσεν· οὓς δὲ ἐδικαίωσεν, τούτους καὶ ἐδόξασεν.
Foreknowledge, predestination, election, justification, and glorification are words which only apply to the Church Age believer, never the unbeliever. These verbs in verses 29 and 30 are all in the aorist tense, which means they occurred simultaneously in the mind of God in eternity past. To use the analogy of a computer we could say that these were all simultaneous printouts from the computer of the Divine Decree. Whereas, the omniscience of God programs the computer as we will see.
Foreknowledge
In order to understand foreknowledge, we must first understand the omniscience of God, and how it related to the Divine Decree. The omniscience of God knows all the knowable simultaneously about his creatures. God knows every thought, motivation, decision and action of every person in history. He knows not only the actual outcomes that occur in history, but also all the possible outcomes. So, he knows every motivation, thought, decision and action that you could have made, but didn’t, and every motivation, thought, decision and action you did make. For example, had you chosen to reject Jesus Christ, God knows exactly how you would have lived out the rest of your life, and even the effect that your rejection of Christ would have on world history. The omniscience of God is infinite and based on omniscience decreed from His sovereignty the actual, on the other hand, the foreknowledge of God makes nothing certain, but merely foreknows all your motivations, thoughts, decision and actions. (Remember that Foreknowledge is a printout from the information fed into the computer of divine decree.)
God does not think sequentially since his knowledge is eternal and simultaneous. His knowledge is not limited by time, a concept which was created specifically for the human race (Genesis 1:14). Thus, the omniscience of God has always known every person who would believe in Jesus Christ and every person who would not. So, trillions of years ago, it was as if God typed your name onto a computer file and next to your name he typed “Believed in Jesus Christ.”
Many Christians are ignorant of the election of God, and so their thinking is incorrect regarding God’s plan of salvation for mankind. They assume that God specially chose them to become Christians since they were elected in eternity past not knowing that God elected them after foreknowing that they would believe. They think that God must think chronologically as they do. They think that if God elected them trillions of years ago, then He must have chosen them while personally condemning their unbelieving neighbor to hell. This is applying our limited knowledge to God. God does not wish for a single soul to perish! To believe that God would wish such a thing blasphemes the righteousness and grace of God:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His uniquely born son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God [the Son of God in eternity past] who desires all mankind to be saved and to come to the metabolized knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3, 4)
God always knew who would believe in Christ and become Christians. In this way, God elected them in Christ [only believers in union with Christ are elected], because in his mind they were in union with Christ trillions of years ago (Eph. 1:4). The omniscience of God always knew that you would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, after typing “Believed in Jesus Christ” next to your name and the names of all other people who would believe in Jesus Christ, He then made a separate printout of all these names, with the file name: “Whom He foreknew.”
Since the normal human mind thinks rationally, it may be helpful to see the rational order regarding these matters. Rationally, omniscience occurred first, then the divine decree declaring all those who believed in Christ, and finally the printout of all “Whom he foreknew” to believe in Christ.
The omniscience of God merely typed into the computer of the divine decree the facts about each Christian. There is no coercion involved in any person’s decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God created all men with freewill; freewill means that each man has freedom to accept or reject salvation. When a person chooses to reject Christ, he is condemning himself to eternal life in the Lake of Fire. When you chose to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, a decision which entitled you to eternal life in heaven, you used your free will to do so.
Predestination – God’s provision in eternity past
Predestination is a part of God’s decree providing everything the Church age believer needs to execute His plan, purpose and will. God provided in the Divine Decree everything the Christian would need. He provided logistical grace, solutions to all of the believer’s problems, deserved and undeserved suffering, and great blessing for the believer who advances in the spiritual life. For some believers, he predestined that they would die the ‘sin unto death’ (1 John 5:16) since he knew that they would never fulfill his plan in time. For others he predestined that they would die with the greatest possible blessing and happiness since he knew that they would become mature believers.
Predestination coordinates with omniscience so that the free will of man is never violated. God never turns your yes into no and your no into yes. God’s omniscience typed into the computer of divine decree the thoughts, motivations, decisions and acts of every Christian. Based on this information God was able to design a predestined plan for each believer. For some it means great blessings in time and in eternity; for others it means great misery in time and loss of the greater blessings in the eternal state.
God’s sovereignty predestined certain blessings for all Christians even though many believers would fail to carry out their spiritual responsibilities. God’s sovereignty predestined that every Church age believer would receive 40 spiritual assets at salvation and a resurrection body at the rapture of the Church.
God predestined for all Christians to be ‘conformed to the image of His son’ through positional, experiential and ultimate sanctification. Through positional sanctification, we are ‘conformed to His image’ by being clothed with his characteristics (Gal. 3:27).
Through experiential sanctification some Christians will choose to make use of God’s provision for advancement in the spiritual life. These are the believers who follow God’s plan and advance to spiritual maturity, in doing so becoming conformed to the characteristics that the humanity of Jesus Christ acquired through the spiritual life given to him. Through ultimate sanctification, all believers will be freed of their sin nature as they are given a resurrection body like that of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God predestined us conformed ones to the image of His son because Jesus Christ as the first born needed a royal family to rule, needed a priesthood to complement His, needed a double portion of blessing.
Among the royal family of God in the Church age, Jesus is the firstborn. Firstborn connotes rulership, priesthood, and the double portion. Jesus Christ is the ruler over the Church and will rule over Israel in the Millennium. Jesus was decreed a high priest after the order of Melchizedek in eternity past. It became a historical reality when he became the God-Man. In the future Jesus Christ will receive his double portion namely two kingdoms. He will rule over the Kingdom of Israel as the Son of David; He will also rule over the Church as the King over Kings.
The Greek words of Calling and Electing
The Greek verb ‘eklego’ means to select, to choose, to elect. The cognate noun ‘ekloge,’ and the cognate adjective ‘eklectos’ also have the meanings choice, election, elected. For example, the adjective is used for the election of Israel (Isaiah 45:4 in the Septuagint), Christ (Isaiah 42:1) and the Church Age believers (1 Peter 2:4). These cognates are the usual words used for election. However, the Greek verb ‘kaleo’ and its cognate adjective also can be used for election, but with a slightly different emphasis.
The Greek verb ‘kaleo,’ the Greek adjective ‘called’ (kletos), and the Greek noun klesis are cognates and used of unbelievers and believers. When the Greek verb ‘kaleo’ is used of unbelievers, it is translated ‘called’ or ‘invited.’ “God is faithful through whom you were called [invited] into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). When this same verb is used of the believer, it can be translated ‘elected.’ It emphasizes that the person had responded to the call of God at gospel hearing and so has now entered into the plan of God.
The adjective ‘kletos’ (cognate of ‘kaleo’) can also have the meaning ‘chosen’ (elected) for the Classical Greek lexicon, ‘Greek English Lexicon by Liddell & Scott gives two meaning to ‘kletos:’ the first meaning is ‘called, invited’ and the second meaning is ‘called out, chosen.’ This very adjective is used in Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who are called [chosen, elected] according to His predetermined plan.
The same is true of the verb ‘kaleo’ as it is in Romans 8:30. God the Father invites the unbeliever into his plan and into fellowship with His Son. If the unbeliever responds to this call, he is elected into the Father’s plan. The call of God and His election are closely related. Therefore, in Romans 8:30, it states “For whom He predestined, He also elected [these have responded to the call of God resulting in their election].” Just as the cognate adjective has both the meanings ‘call’ and ‘chosen’ so the verb is used with both meanings in Scripture.
Election, Justification, and Glorification
Election is the believer’s entrance into the plan of God and expression of God’s sovereign will for his life: that every person elected into his plan has the best. (At the first birth, God selected you; at the second birth, God elected you.) To demonstrate this, he deposited in eternity past great blessings for the Christian in time as well as eternity. Many Christians will not receive these greater blessings because of their spiritual failure. Since they refuse to grow spiritually and develop a love for him, these blessings cannot be predestined to them although it is God’s desire for them to have these greater blessings (Eph. 1:3; 3:19, 20). The equal privilege and opportunity of election means there never has been and never will be a Church age believer who did not have exactly the same privilege and same opportunity to fulfill God’s plan, to reach spiritual maturity, and to receive the fantastic blessings provided for him by God the Father in eternity past.
Even though justification is a printout of the computer of the divine decree, it comes into effect for the individual when he makes a decision to believe in Jesus Christ. When this wonderful decision occurs, he is immediately given the righteousness of God. Once righteousness has been imputed, he is then justified: that is, declared perfectly righteous and qualified to live with God forever.
Every Church age believer is glorified when he receives his resurrection body at the Rapture of the Church. Furthermore, the mature believer is glorified when God provides for him the greater blessings both in time and eternity. When God made Paul the greatest man of doctrine in the Church age, not only was God glorified, but so was Paul. After his evaluation by the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul will be given the Crown of Glory, the Crown of Life and the Crown of Righteousness. When others see Paul wearing his crowns, they will recognize Paul as one of the greatest men of history. Paul will have many blessing and privileges that others will not have. This will be a part of Paul’s glory. Paul used his volition to glorify God; God will in turn clothe Paul with great status, recognition and blessing.
A few points for clarification:
1. Technically each one of us entered the plan of God at the moment we believed in Jesus Christ.
2. In eternity past the omniscience of God knew that we would make this decision and so entered it into the computer of the divine decree as a reality.
3. Therefore, our entrance into the plan of God from the divine viewpoint occurred before history began.
4. There can be no greater security than to realize that before human history your entrance into the plan of God was known and guaranteed.
Conclusion:
Omniscience preceded the decree, whereas Election, Predestination, Foreknowledge, Justification, and Glorification are ‘printouts’ from the decree. Election is the sovereignty of God desiring the highest and the best for the believer. Election connotes entrance into the plan of God whereas Predestination is the sovereign provision of God, namely his plan for the believer. Foreknowledge acknowledges only what is in the decree about the believer but makes nothing certain (does not put anything into the decree and does not decree anything). God justifies the believer when he receives the imputation of divine righteousness at the point of salvation. Not only is God glorified when he can bless the believer, but so is the believer.
Verses 31-39 - Challenges to the new life:
Romans 8:31-32
“Therefore, face to face with these things, to what conclusion are we forced? If God is for us, and He is who can be against us? [No one can prevent God’s promotion of the Christian either in time or in eternity. The following a fortiori is given as evidence.] (32) God, who did not even spare His own Son, but as a substitute for all of us He delivered Him over to judgment, how [introducing an a fortiori] shall He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”
Τί οὖν ἐροῦµεν πρὸς ταῦτα; εἰ ὁ θεὸς ὑπὲρ ἡµῶν, τίς καθí ἡµῶν; (32) ὅς γε τοῦ ἰδίου υἱοῦ οὐκ ἐφείσατο, ἀλλὰ ὑπὲρ ἡµῶν πάντων παρέδωκεν αὐτόν, πῶς οὐχὶ καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα ἡµῖν χαρίσεται;
A fortiori is a Latin phrase meaning “with stronger reason.” It is a system of logic using comparison comparing a conclusion with some other conclusion or recognized fact, as inferred to be even more certain or inescapable than the two conclusions it combines. In other words, it takes an accepted fact and by comparison produces an inescapable fact and a confident conclusion. So, a fortiori uses an inferential conclusion as being more conclusive than another reasoned conclusion. This stronger fact or conclusion is so powerful that it cannot be denied, it is an inescapable conclusion. This inescapable conclusion produces confidence in the Christian using it.
Two conclusions:
1. God the Father punished the humanity of Christ for all of our sins. A. the most difficult logically; B. as unbelievers; C. as enemies of God; D. from impersonal love;
2. God the Father will graciously give us all things. A. the least difficult logically; B. as believers; C. as His beloved family; D. from personal love;
By comparing these two conclusions, we can dogmatically and confidently conclude that God the Father will graciously give all things to the Christian who will execute His plan for it is much easier for the justice of God to provide blessing for the mature believer than to impute our personal sins to Christ for judgment.
Romans 8:33
Who will bring accusation against the elect of God? God is the One who justifies [declares righteous].
τίς ἐγκαλέσει κατὰ ἐκλεκτῶν θεοῦ; θεὸς ὁ δικαιῶν·
There are two erroneous sources of accusation, and these produce the action of the verb. The first erroneous source is Satan who is constantly judging believers as per Job 1:6-11; Zechariah 3:1, 2; Revelation 12:9, 10. The second source of unauthorized judging and maligning is the believer as per Matthew 7:1, 2; Romans 14:4, 10. In the plan of God there is no provision for either Satan or another believer judging or condemning another believer.
1. When a believer judges another believer, he is guilty of the sin of spiritual bullying.
2. Every believer is responsible to God and God only for his own life and his own actions.
3. Maligning, judging, gossiping, and condemning other believers is blasphemy against the integrity of God.
4. The integrity of God does not need help. The only time a believer is authorized to evaluate another believer is for the purpose of separation, recommendation, or evaluation as one in authority (a supervisor).
5. When one has authority over others, he must evaluate a believer, or anyone else, under his command or authority in accordance with the principles of evaluation authorized for that command or that office.
6. God has not seen fit to ask our advice or solicit our help. Furthermore, even when Satan brings accusation against us as believers, God the Father has assigned us a defence attorney, the Lord Jesus Christ as per 1 John 2:1, 2.
Romans 8:34
Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One having died. Yes, rather, having been raised, who is on the right hand of God, who also petitions on behalf of us [Jesus Christ acts as our defense attorney].
τίς ὁ κατακρινῶν; Χριστὸς [Ἰησοῦς] ὁ ἀποθανών, µᾶλλον δὲ ἐγερθείς, ὃς καί ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ, ὃς καὶ ἐντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἡµῶν.
1. The Christian is not to malign or condemn another believer. This is not his prerogative.
2. The plan of God is greater than the legalistic opinion of some ignorant or carnal or reversionistic believer.
3. The act of declaring a believer ‘not saved’ is a challenge to the plan of God, and obviously a challenge to the grace of God.
4. It should be noted immediately that our salvation does not depend upon human opinions or observations of any legalist, any spiritual bully, any gossip or maligner.
5. Since Christ Jesus was the one condemned for our sins no one else has the right to condemn us.
6. Personal sin is not an issue in condemnation from the integrity of God; Adam’s original sin is the only issue. Original sin is the issue by real imputation at birth to the sin nature resulting in condemnation.
7. Personal sin is not the issue in salvation because Christ who received the judicial imputation of our sins on the cross is the issue.
8. Therefore, when you make an issue out of someone else’s personal sins you are in a state of blasphemy, as well as being sinful in the area of gossip, maligning, judging and condemning.
A few more points for clarification:
1. Maligning or judging or gossiping is an advance on the previous verse because of the added implication that one cannot be born again and commit certain sins. That is the false conclusion of legalism.
2. This condemnation of pronouncing some believer not saved because of some specific sin, alleged or real, challenges the plan of God in that it implies that the work of Jesus Christ on the cross was not efficacious.
3. However, our salvation does not depend on human opinion. It depends upon the Lord Jesus Christ being judged for our sins.
4. Since all personal sins in human history were judged at the cross there is no sin a believer can commit which could cancel his salvation.
5. To imply or to state that a believer can lose his salvation because of some sin is the quintessence of legalism and arrogance.
6. The plan of God is greater than the worst sin ever committed by a believer.
7. The sins of the believer are subject to divine punishment and discipline, but this does not include loss of salvation.
8. The saving work of Christ on the cross is greater than any sin, any good, and evil which the carnal or reversionistic believer is capable of performing.
9. If Jesus Christ is our defence attorney in heaven, what right does any believer have to judge us? That is the point. Jesus Christ functions as our lawyer who approaches the bench on behalf of His erring clients.
Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation [circumstantial pressure], or anguish [mental pressure], or persecution [legitimate for the mature believer], or famine, or nakedness [deprived of the necessities of life], or danger [from criminals, political persecution, war, natural dangers and danger from social degeneration, etc.], or sword [military, crime or violence]?
τίς ἡµᾶς χωρίσει ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ Χριστοῦ; θλῖψις ἢ στενοχωρία ἢ διωγµὸς ἢ λιµὸς ἢ γυµνότης ἢ κίνδυνος ἢ µάχαιρα;
A few points for clarification:
1. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ any more than anything can separate Jesus Christ from His perfect integrity.
2. Since God’s perfect integrity resides in us God loves us, and always will. He cannot dislike or reject His integrity, wherever He finds it.
3. Just as God the Son cannot reject His own integrity, so the believer cannot be separated from the love of God.
4. Since we possess the righteousness of God imputed judicially, and since we possess the righteousness of Christ through union with Christ, we are the objects of the love of Christ in this passage and the objects of the love of God the Father in Romans 8:39.
5. Because of the permanence of imputation, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, and furthermore nothing can separate us from the love of God the Father.
6. No catastrophe or disaster of life is greater than the person of God or His plan.
7. For the mature believer every catastrophe of undeserved suffering is added blessing.
Romans 8:36
As it stands written [a quote from Psalm 44:22] "For your sake we are being put to death the whole day [a reference to Nero's reign]; we have been imputed as sheep for the slaughter [the martyrdom of mature believers].
καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι Ἕνεκεν σοῦ θανατούµεθα ὅλην τὴν ἡµέραν, ἐλογίσθηµεν ὡς πρόβατα σφαγῆς.
Technically, martyrdom is the death of a mature believer through undeserved suffering. Psalm 44:22 is quoted as the prophecy of dying grace to the writer of Romans as well as other mature believers. This Psalm actually contains a description of what mature Jewish believers had to suffer as a result of their stand for the Lord, and therefore it is quoted by Paul to apply to the comparable sufferings of the Church Age believer.
A few points for clarification:
1. This is a prophetic statement by Paul to describe contemporary history under the rule of Nero. Nero murdered many Christians and others as well.
2. The year in which Paul wrote this line was A.D. 58. Just four years before Paul wrote this, A.D. 54, Nero was able to come to the throne because his mother poisoned his step father, Claudius.
3. The phrase, “during the whole day,” is the whole day of the reign of Nero which would terminate just a few weeks after Nero executed Paul.
Romans 8:37
Nevertheless, in all these things [dying blessing for the mature believer in martyrdom] we win the supreme victory [by passing this form of Evidence Testing] through Him [God the Father] who has loved us [the creation and deposition of Escrow Blessings].
ἀλλí ἐν τούτοις πᾶσιν ὑπερνικῶµεν διὰ τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡµᾶς.
Escrow Blessings
A. The definition of escrow.
1. An escrow is a written agreement entered into by three parties, the grantor [God the Father], the grantee [you], and the depositary [our Lord Jesus Christ as the escrow officer], for the transfer of certain benefits.
2. The sealed agreement of God the Father as the grantor to be conveyed, is made contingent on some future happening or on the performance of some act by the grantee, and is delivered to the depositary and held by him pending the occurrence of that event or the performance of the required act by the grantee.
3. When the event has taken place or the grantee has performed the specified act, the depositary delivers to him the agreement and the deposit.
4. The depositary or custodian is allowed no discretion, but must follow strictly the terms of the agreement as it concerns the other two parties.
5. The date of our escrow blessings is eternity past.
6. The conditions of the escrow are fulfilled by us in the execution of the unique spiritual life of the Church Age.
B. Scripture.
1. The sealed agreement of God the Father as the grantor is found in the verses which use the phrase “the riches of His glory”. Ephesians 1:2-3, “Grace to you for your benefit and prosperity [escrow blessings] from God the Father [the grantor of our escrow blessings] and our Lord Jesus Christ [the depositary for escrow blessings]. Worthy of praise and glorification is the God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (escrow blessings) in heavenly places in Christ [the escrow officer].”
2. Ephesians 1:18, “I pray that the eyes of your heart [your stream of consciousness] may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the confidence of His calling, what are the riches of the glory [escrow blessings] of His inheritance to the saints.”
3. Ephesians 3:16, “that He would give you on the basis of the riches of His glory [escrow blessings] to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner person.”
4. Philippians 4:19, “My God will supply [make full, fill up] every need of yours on the basis of His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
5. Colossians 1:27, “to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of the mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the confidence of glory.”
6. In 1 Corinthians 2:9, escrow blessings are a part of our portfolio of invisible assets, “However, as it stands written, ‘Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard and no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.’”
7. This same principle existed for the Jeshurun [experientially righteous] believers of the Old Testament, Proverbs 8:18, “With me [the personification of Bible doctrine] are riches and honor [for time], enduring wealth and prosperity [for eternity].”
8. The escrow blessings deposited by God the Father in eternity past are called in Ephesians 3:8, “the inexhaustible riches in Christ.” Our escrow blessings have been deposited with or in Christ.
C. The Analogy to the Eternal Escrow.
1. There is an eternal escrow and there are three parties in that escrow. The grantor is God the Father, who has placed Himself under legal obligation in eternity past to provide two categories of special and unusual blessings, both temporal and eternal, for the grantee, the believer who fulfills the protocol plan of God. The depositary or custodian is God the Son. In eternity past, both categories of blessings were deposited with our Lord Jesus Christ in escrow, pending the grantee’s future advance to spiritual maturity. The grantee is the Church Age believer. Under the protocol plan of God and the sovereign will of God, expressed in the doctrine of election, the Church Age believer is obligated to fulfill the contingency prior to the transfer of blessings from escrow.
2. So, the escrow of blessing was transferred in eternity past by the grantor, God the Father, and delivered to the depositary, Jesus Christ, pending the performance of the grantee, the Church Age believer in the protocol plan of God.
3. Temporal blessings on deposit are transferred to the believer when he fulfills the protocol plan of God in time, not to be confused with logistical grace blessings given to all believers.
4. Eternal blessings are transferred to the mature believer after the Rapture at the Judgment Seat of Christ, where the winner is awarded special rewards.
5. The sealed agreement with two categories of blessings were delivered to Jesus Christ in eternity past. This emphasizes grace.
6. First God created the blessings, even before He expressed His sovereign will in election and before He designed the protocol plan of God in predestination, Ephesians 1:3.
7. Sharing the righteousness of Christ is the target or basis for the transfer of temporal blessings; glorification in resurrection body is the target or basis for the transfer of eternal blessings.
D. Amplification of the Escrow Analogy.
1. In eternity past, the blessings deposited in escrow were made contingent on the future performance of the obligee. In other words, your advance to spiritual maturity in the protocol plan of God is the contingent for the transfer of your blessings out of escrow to you.
2. Spiritual maturity is the point that we leave behind the lesser blessings of logistical grace and move into the sphere of the superior blessings.
3. Therefore, when the grantee, under the enabling power of the Holy Spirit and momentum from metabolized doctrine, attains spiritual maturity, he receives the first installment of blessings from the depositary, Jesus Christ which installment is increased substantially after passing Evidence Testing. The second installment is conveyed to him at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
4. In summary, God the Father is the grantor. He delivered in eternity past to God the Son, the depositary, both temporal and eternal blessings for every believer in compatibility with His sovereign desire in election.
5. These blessings are held by Christ as the depositary, pending the grantee’s fulfillment of the protocol plan of God.
6. The temporal blessings in escrow must not be confused with logistical grace blessings. Ephesians 3:20 describes these greater blessings as “exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think.” By contrast, logistical grace blessings are sustaining blessings.
7. God’s highest and best is in escrow for you, and He has provided you with equal privilege in the royal family of God and equal opportunity in the protocol plan of God to receive these escrow blessings.
E. Election, Predestination, and Escrow Blessings.
1. The sealed agreement of eternity past is therefore analogous to a modern escrow. The grantor, God the Father, deposited these two categories of blessings in escrow for every believer, pending his advance to spiritual maturity by the use of His equal privilege and equal opportunity.
2. In coordination with these special blessings deposited in our Lord Jesus Christ as the depositary, God the Father elected the believer for these blessings in eternity past.
3. God the Father willed the highest and best for every believer and put that highest and best into escrow before He elected that highest and best. In other words, He showed His good faith by depositing in escrow your highest and best first. Then He elected us, giving us equal privilege and equal opportunity, along with the protocol plan of God as the vehicle of conveyance.
4. Under predestination, God provided the protocol plan of God as the means of conveyance, the means of the grantee performing the required act to receive these blessings.
5. The combination of escrow blessings, election, and predestination in eternity past guarantees the conveyance of those blessings to any Church Age believer who is a winner.
6. However, not all grantees are winners. In human history, the sovereignty of God and the free will of man coexist by divine decree. You can use your free will to completely fail to receive these blessings. Therefore, in eternity there are winners and losers, rich and poor forever. The tragedy of this is that all believers have the equal privilege and opportunity to receive their escrow blessing but few receive them.
7. The righteousness of God demands escrow blessings from the justice of God to any believer who executes the spiritual life. The righteousness of God demands that every believer have equal opportunity to execute God’s plan and receive escrow blessings. The justice of God guarantees that this happens.
F. The Spiritually Rich and the Spiritually Poor.
1. The spiritually rich are those winners in the protocol plan of God who receive the transfer of their blessings from the escrow.
2. The spiritually poor are losers in the cosmic system who are still supported by God’s logistical grace. Although they have equal privilege and equal opportunity, they don’t receive their escrow blessings simply because they’re negative, through either ignorance or cognizance.
3. The spiritually poor cannot lose their salvation and will receive their resurrection body at the Rapture, but they will receive no escrow blessings at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
4. In this context of the escrow, cosmic believers are double losers and the poorer for it. Their first loss is in time. Though they had equal privilege and opportunity at salvation, they failed to fulfill the protocol plan of God. Hence, their escrow blessings for time remain on deposit forever as a memorial to their failure. They are a double loser because, as a result, they won’t receive their eternal escrow blessings either.
5. Hence, losers are under divine discipline in life. Although their names are still recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life, they are omitted from the honor’s list in eternity.
6. Logistical grace extends equal opportunity to every believer, beginning on the day of his salvation, to receive his escrow blessings. Every believer is kept alive by logistical grace long enough so that he could become a winner.
7. Therefore, every loser is a loser by his own decisions. Every believer must take the responsibility for his own decisions in eternity future.
8. Some believers exploit the equal opportunity of election and predestination and fulfill the protocol plan of God in time. Losers do not. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, they become double losers.
9. Time provides the opportunity for the grantee to attain God’s highest and best under election.
G. Relation Back Doctrine.
1. This legal doctrine states that the escrow is irrevocable from the date of deposit into escrow.
2. That which God the Father deposits into escrow with our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be withheld from us once we have fulfilled the obligations of reaching spiritual maturity.
3. We must fulfill the obligations of the escrow document prior to the distribution of our escrow blessings.
4. The date of deposit (eternity past) is the date of irrevocability. The date of conveyance is the date of the fulfillment of the conditions - the day you reach spiritual maturity.
5. If the conditions are not fulfilled in time, then the escrow blessings remain in escrow forever as a memorial to lost equal opportunity. The loser believer can see his escrow blessings on deposit in heaven forever as a memorial to equal opportunity. The loser believer does not lose his salvation, but does lose his escrow blessings for time and eternity. He will live forever in heaven with only lesser blessings.
H. Concluding Principles.
1. The fulfillment of the protocol plan of God in time leads to a rich entrance into the eternal kingdom.
2. This dramatizes the importance of the spiritual life under the enabling power of the Holy Spirit and the consistent perception of doctrine and its spiritual metabolism.
3. Nothing dramatizes the protocol plan of God more than the spiritual blessings held in the eternal escrow.
4. What brings your blessings out of escrow?
a. Stay in the protocol plan of God; quickly rebound to get back in after sinning.
b. Remain under the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
c. Metabolize the doctrine you learn.
5. How will you know when you’re in spiritual maturity? You will recognize your spiritual blessings!
6. Your escrow blessings are actually a conveyance from the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, the depositary, to the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ in you by virtue of your union with Him. So “in Christ” has added significance as both positional truth and escrow truth. As He Himself said, “I am the truth...”
7. The challenge is found in Hebrews 10:35-36, “Therefore, do not throw away as worthless your confidence, which keeps on having great distribution of blessing. For you keep on having need of perseverance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive the deposit which was promised.” The greater blessings in life and in eternity are not a matter of prayer, but the execution of the unique spiritual life of the Church Age.
Romans 8:38-39
So, [for] I stand convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither present things nor future things, neither power, (39). Neither height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God [the Father] which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
πέπεισµαι γὰρ ὅτι οὔτε θάνατος οὔτε ζωὴ οὔτε ἄγγελοι οὔτε ἀρχαὶ οὔτε ἐνεστῶτα οὔτε µέλλοντα οὔτε δυνάµεις (39) οὔτε ὕψωµα οὔτε βάθος οὔτε τις κτίσις ἑτέρα δυνήσεται ἡµᾶς χωρίσαι ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡµῶν.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God
Because we are positionally in union with Christ, we share the Love that God the Father has for the son. There is nothing that can separate us from that love. To emphasize this point, Paul even classifies six specific categories (4 couplets and 2 individual categories) to cover the complete range of influences which believers may be deceived into thinking will separate them from their position in Christ and thus nullify their salvation.
1. Neither death nor life…
Whatever circumstances you face in the dying stages of your physical life,
there is nothing in death that can separate you from the love of God. You may die as a total spiritual failure, but you still cannot be separated from your relationship with God. Also, nothing in life can separate you from God's love. You may become so depressed and bitter about life that you may renounce your salvation or commit suicide, but you are still in union with Christ.
2. …neither angels nor principalities…
Even though angels and angelic organizations both elect and fallen possess tremendous power, they do not possess enough power to separate you from God's love. Satan possesses tremendous power, yet he is unable to break the bond that exists between the church age believer and God.
3. …neither things present nor things to come…
There is nothing in our present nor in our future that is able to separate us
from the love of God. Some people have a great imagination about the future. They might imagine a hydrogen bomb detonating near them and consequently vaporizing their body. However, even if a bomb does vaporize your body, it cannot destroy your soul and your relationship with God.
4. …nor powers…
No human organization can separate you from God’s love. Neither a communistic power nor the power of the ‘deep state’ are able to remove you from your position in Christ, and if you cannot be removed from this position, then God’s love toward you cannot be nullified.
5. …nor height nor depth…
No one in the heavens (height: not even God), nor any creature in the heart of the earth (depth: in Hades) is able to separate you from the love of God. You may blast off in a rocket and travel millions of miles from the earth, but you cannot separate yourself from God. You may fall into a deep pit within the earth, but this cannot separate you from God's love.
6. …nor any other creature…
At the time of writing, this could have referred to Nero, the Roman emperor who became infamous for his brutal persecution of Christians. This refers to any unbeliever possessing greater power than you. No matter how powerful a person may be, his power is nothing compared to God's. In any good relationship there has to be security. Therefore, when we believe in Jesus Christ, God provides eternal security for us. We are his children forever. Having confidence in this fact, we can now concentrate on developing a wonderful relationship with him.
