MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
Second Corinthians Chapter Two
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Let us bow our heads; If we need to use the Recovery Procedure as found in 1 John 1:9, let us do so at this time that we might be in fellowship. (pause) Father, we thank you for the privilege and opportunity to study your word and for the freedom that you have provided for us here in Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.A.; furthermore, we express our appreciation to God the Holy Spirit who will enlighten us regarding the message this evening. We as priests pray this through the person of our Lord Christ Jesus, our High Priest, Amen.
2 Corinthians 2:1
I determined this with myself [he establishes a policy] that I would not come face to face with you again in mental anguish [soul pain, sorrow, grief etc.],
ἔκρινα γὰρ ἐµαυτῷ τοῦτο, τὸ µὴ πάλιν ἐν λύπῃ πρὸς ὑµᾶς ἐλθεῖν·
One can’t communicate when the audience is out of fellowship and hostile; Paul made a quick trip to Corinth after writing 1 Corinthians and was met with great antagonism from mass iconoclastic arrogance, apparently, led by a vicious legalist. When he returned from that trip, he wrote a severe reprimand, his 3rd epistle, a non-canonical one which he entrusted to Titus to deliver (2 Corinthians 12:18) which epistle burned off their hides. As a result of this, there was an even greater reaction.
2 Corinthians 2:2
For if I indeed caused you mental anguish and I have [1st class conditional sentence], who then [when I’m teaching you] cheers me up [When a communicator communicates the Word there is a silent rapport between the communicator and those who respond to his message which encourages the communicator], but the one [the Corinthian] who receives mental anguish from me [This is the one who is to provide rapport with Paul, but instead he is reacting to Paul].
εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ λυπῶ ὑµᾶς, καὶ τίς ὁ εὐφραίνων µε εἰ µὴ ὁ λυπούµενος ἐξ ἐµοῦ;
When a congregation responds to Bible teaching, the communicator is encouraged. The Corinthian believers are now beginning to respond to Paul’s teaching which was given in the form of a severe reprimand, Paul’s third letter to the Corinthians, a non-canonical letter.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10, "Because if I caused you mental anguish [The Corinthians were hypersensitive due to their arrogance] by my letter [Paul’s third letter of strong reprimand] and I did [1st class conditional clause], I do not regret it [after Paul recovered his fellowship] even though I did regret it. [When the Corinthians reacted, Paul reacted to them and began to vacillate. In this temporary vacillation, he had regretted sending that strong reprimand] I perceive that my letter [the 3rd letter] caused you anguish [offended you], but only for a little while [a few months since all four letters were written within a year]. (9) Now [After rebounding in Macedonia and after resuming his spiritual life, Paul again was able to apply accurately toward the Corinthians], I rejoice, not because you suffered anguish [were grieved, distressed], but because you suffered anguish resulting in a change of thinking [they used the Recovery Procedure] for you suffered anguish as God would have it [suffering from the Law of Volitional Responsibility and divine discipline since they were out of fellowship] so that you might not suffer loss of anything [Escrow Blessings in time and eternity] because of us [Paul, Apollos, Timothy, and Titus told them the truth. The Christian cannot make corrections without hearing the truth even though it may hurt]. (10) For mental anguish as God would have it [being hurt by divine discipline] produces a change of thinking [the believer may hurt so much that he finally names his sins to the Father] resulting in a deliverance devoid of emotion [remorse], regret [back in fellowship], but the distress of the world [false solutions to one’s sin problems: feeling sorry for one’s sins, regret, remorse, and the emotional and legalistic concept of ‘Godly Sorrow’ etc.] cause to bring about death [the sin unto death because the believer never gets back into fellowship]."
Corinthian arrogant accusations against Paul:
1. Paul did not maintain his dignity, but lost his dignity when he worked by making tents as per 2 Corinthians 11:7, “Or did I commit sin in humbling myself [by making tents to support himself] that you might be exalted [advance spiritually], because I preached the good news [evangelization and Bible teaching] of God to you without charge? His critics implied that Paul should have allowed the Corinthian Church to provide for his needs. In their inconsistency, they also accused him of embezzling funds from the other churches. In fact, Paul had to work in Corinth since the Corinthians were too arrogant and too self-centered to understand spiritual giving.
2. Paul was boastful as per 2 Corinthians 10:8, 12, 13, 15, “For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it. (12) We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. (13) We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field, God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. (15) Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,”
3. Paul was not qualified to teach since he was not one of the original apostles as per 2 Corinthians 3:1, “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? [sarcasm: Paul came to Corinth with a letter of recommendation. Others, false teachers have come in without a letter of recommendation.]; 2 Corinthians 11:5, “For I evaluate myself not to be inferior to the highest apostles in anything.” 2 Corinthians 12:11-12, “I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. (12) The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.”
4. Paul’s bodily presence was not impressive nor his speech (not a strong emotional speaker) as per 2 Corinthians 10:10, “For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." 2 Corinthians 11:6, “But even if I am unskilled in speech [let’s assume this to be true for the sake of argument], yet not in knowledge; but in every way we have made this perfectly clear to you [through their knowledge of the spiritual life].”
5. Paul was a coward and afraid to face them in person, 2 Corinthians 1:23, “Moreover, I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you [Paul would have confronted them and possibly caused an even greater reaction; rather God had Paul write 2 Corinthians that they might be more objective as Titus would teach it to them] that I did not return to Corinth [A large group of legalists in Corinth were calling Paul a coward and so was afraid to face them].
6. Paul embezzled funds entrusted to him, 2 Corinthians 8:20-21, “Taking precaution so that no one will find fault with us in handling large sums of money being administered under our authority; (21) For we have regard for what is honorable [providing forethought for valuable things], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
7. Paul was vacillating, 2 Corinthians 1:17, “When I planned this, did I do it lightly [when he didn’t arrive]? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner [no I don’t] so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no" [instability and great vacillation]?”
8. Paul was deceitful, 2 Corinthians 12:16, 17, “Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! (17) Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you?”
9. Paul was carnal, 2 Corinthians 10:2, “I beg you that when I come, I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people [a large group of believers who have become antagonistic toward Paul and his ministry] who think that we live by the standards of this world [They were saying that Paul was out of fellowship and therefore not functioning under the Two Power Options].
10. Paul was like a kitten when in their presence, but like a lion when on the other side of the Aegean Sea, 2 Corinthians 10:1, “By the humbleness and graciousness of Christ, I appeal to you: I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away! 2 Corinthians 10:11, “Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.”
2 Corinthians 2:3
This is the very thing I wrote to you [Paul expected them to respond to his reprimand, not react] so that when I came, I would not have mental pain from those who ought to make me rejoice [the communicator rejoices when the congregation responds and grows spiritually]; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
καὶ ἔγραψα τοῦτο αὐτὸ ἵνα µὴ ἐλθὼν λύπην σχῶ ἀφ’ ὧν ἔδει µε χαίρειν, πεποιθὼς ἐπὶ πάντας ὑµᾶς ὅτι ἡ ἐµὴ χαρὰ πάντων ὑµῶν ἐστιν.
Paul wrote the reprimand so that when he did come in person it would be pleasant and profitable to teach. Rapport is reestablished once the problems are faced. If the Corinthians should get back into fellowship, Paul has confidence that they will have the same happiness in their souls as he has in his.
2 Corinthians 2:4
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart [mental suffering, pain] I wrote to you [a third letter of reprimand which was not meant for the Canon] through many tears [wept in private] not so that you would be made sorrowful [Paul is not trying to arouse sentimental regret], but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you.
ἐκ γὰρ πολλῆς θλίψεως καὶ συνοχῆς καρδίας ἔγραψα ὑµῖν διὰ πολλῶν δακρύων, οὐχ ἵνα λυπηθῆτε ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀγάπην ἵνα γνῶτε ἣν ἔχω περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑµᾶς.
Paul wrote a severe reprimand to the Corinthians because he cared for them. Love can be expressed in many ways. “Whom the Lord loves, he scourges with a whip.” Even though Paul wrote a severe reprimand, he wept over their failure to execute the spiritual life. Paul more than anyone knew how great is the spiritual life, and so understood the tragedy of not executing it.
True human love is in the soul and has four major components namely knowledge, righteousness, justice and grace. These four give the human being capacity for love which capacity is acquired through the person’s willingness to learn and accept truth. For the unbeliever, there must be the understanding and acceptance of the Laws of Establishment, along with his understanding and ability to forgive in grace (The unbeliever’s capacity to forgive is limited whereas the Christian with maximum doctrine has unlimited capacity to forgive in grace.). For the believer, there must be a complete understanding of God’s love since true Christian love is patterned from God’s love; there must be knowledge of the object of one’s personal love though not required for impersonal; there must be a virtuous righteousness in the soul which is expressed in thinking, motivation, decisions and actions, a righteousness that is never in conflict with grace. (Self-righteousness based on legalism is condemning and critical and has no part in true love. You know the type for example an unbeliever who is vainly proud of his morality or the Christian who is always bragging about all the deeds he is doing allegedly for the Lord.); there must be an understanding of justice and even the proper function of jurisprudence, and how it is applied to circumstances and people. Lastly, there must be the understanding and the application of grace. If not, true love does not and cannot exist.
Impersonal love and true personal love; these two are based upon the same primary components and the same capacities:
1 Corinthians13:4-8a, “Love is not swayed by emotion [is forbearing, self-controlled when subject to annoyance and provocation], love is kind [merciful], love is not jealous, it does not brag [is not shamelessly disrespectful in thought, speech and behavior, insulting, presumptuous], is not inflated with arrogance [the advance stages of arrogance]. (5) does not behave dishonorably [indecently, or unmannerly], is not self-seeking [self-promoting; preoccupied with self, self-indulgent, irrationally ambitious] it is not provoked [does not become irritated, bitter, angry, petty, hypersensitive], does not react to evil [is not mindful of wrongs, does not react to the injustices or wrongs that comes into his life, does not think in terms of retaliation, does not react to hatred or antagonisms], (6) does not rejoice over injustices [violation of truth], but joyfully sides with the truth [rejoices in the truth] (7) It covers all things [keeps all things confidential: true love respects the privacy of another; it literally means to throw a cloak of silence over all things: avoids gossip, maligning, judging, vilification], always believes [advance function of the faith-rest drill] always has confident expectation [regarding one’s personal destiny both in time and in eternity], always perseveres [always maintains its relationship with God in a state of happiness under the testing of the three stages of the adult spiritual life], (8a) Love is never phased out [the components of love always will exist: is not done away with, does not comes to an end],”
In summary, true human love must have four primary components and a number of secondary components which come through learning and understanding truth as delineated in the Scripture. If these components exist in a human, he has capacity for love. If not, he doesn’t.
In the following seven verses, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, we have the incestuous believer back in fellowship.
2 Corinthians 2:5
But if anyone [the incestuous believer] has caused grief [sorrow in the congregation in the past], and he has [1st class conditional Greek sentence], he has not caused mental anguish to me [because of Paul’s capacity for impersonal love], but [you he has grieved] at least part of you [part of the congregation had been grieved over this matter] in order that I may not be over critical of you-all.
Εἰ δέ τις λελύπηκεν, οὐκ ἐµὲ λελύπηκεν, ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ µέρους, ἵνα µὴ ἐπιβαρῶ, πάντας ὑµᾶς.
Background information regarding the incestuous Corinthian believer:
1 Corinthians 5:1-5, "It is actually reported that there is a fornication [adultery, incest] among you [in the church at Corinth] and such a type of fornication which does not exist even among the Gentiles [unbelievers] that one should have his father’s wife [in this case, a Corinthian believer committing incest with his mother]. (2) You have become proud [of this degenerate Corinthian young man who had become a kind of hero to these Corinthians who were apparently bragging about this matter even possibly joking and laughing about it] and moreover you have not mourned [over this horrible sin committed by one of their members] so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst [They should have excommunicated him. Paul will do more than excommunicate him for he will turn him over to Satan for a slow torturous death.]; (3) For I [presently in Ephesus] on my part though absent in body but present in spirit [as if Paul had been there. In other words, Paul has very carefully gathered the facts regarding this situation though not present.] have already judged him who has so committed this as though I were present. (4) In the person of our Lord Jesus [where Paul’s authority resided] when you have assembled [in the next church service] and with my spirit [where Paul’s doctrine resided] by the power of our Lord Jesus, (5) [I have decided] to deliver such a one [the incestuous believer] unto Satan for the destruction of his flesh [to administer the Sin Unto Death] so that [even though his body maybe destroyed by Satan] his spirit [and soul in contrast to his body] may be delivered [by being given a Resurrection body] in the Day of the Lord [refers to the Rapture of the Church]."
Paul doesn’t want to be too critical at this point since the incestuous believer has gotten back into fellowship. So, even though God the Father has completely forgiven him, and Paul has removed him from the Sin unto Death, many believers in Corinth have not.
2 Corinthians 2:6
Sufficient for such a one [the incestuous believer] is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority [the congregation in its ostracism; the case is now closed, so get off of his back],
ἱκανὸν τῷ τοιούτῳ ἡ ἐπιτιµία αὕτη ἡ ὑπὸ τῶν πλειόνων,
As a result of his getting back into fellowship, his self-induced misery and the divine discipline of the Sin unto Death has been removed. The only suffering still weighing on him was the continuous ostracism of a large part of the Corinthian believers who had become self-righteous and implacable: they had lost sight of grace. Once he had used the Recovery Procedure, they should have allowed him back into their church.
2 Corinthians 2:7
So that on the contrary you should rather forgive [on the basis of grace] and comfort [him by having a relaxed mental attitude toward him] otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed [swallowed up] by excessive mental anguish.
ὥστε τοὐναντίον µᾶλλον ὑµᾶς χαρίσασθαι καὶ παρακαλέσαι, µή πως τῇ περισσοτέρᾳ λύπῃ καταποθῇ ὁ τοιοῦτος.
Hebrews 12:15, "See to it [be alert; take personal responsibility for your own soul] that no one comes short of [falls back from] the grace of God [relapse into reversionism], that not one root of bitterness sprouting up distract you [cause trouble by remembering the past sins of others, by remaining implacable and so bringing on new sins], and by it many are contaminated."
How does one give comfort to another? You are not critical, judgmental or maligning the person in question. You give him the privacy to live his life before the Lord. Thus, you are providing a comfortable environment for that person.
2 Corinthians 2:8
Wherefore, I encourage you to reaffirm [assure] your [impersonal] love for him.
διὸ παρακαλῶ ὑµᾶς κυρῶσαι εἰς αὐτὸν ἀγάπην·
This does not mean that the members had to approach him to express encouragement, but that when they did have contact with him, they would treat him as a person and as they would treat others in the church. However, quite possibly the leadership did go to him at some point to let him know that he would no longer be ostracized in the Corinthian Church and that he would be welcomed to come and learn the Word of God.
2 Corinthians 2:9
For in this end also I wrote [rather than to teach this information face to face] so that I might test you whether you are obedient in all things [Will the Corinthians be able to apply the appropriate principles and doctrines from their own souls to this previously incestuous believer! If Paul were present, he would merely use his authority to command forgiveness].
εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ἔγραψα ἵνα γνῶ τὴν δοκιµὴν ὑµῶν, εἰ εἰς πάντα ὑπήκοοί ἐστε.
2 Corinthians 2:10
But the one to whom you forgive [Paul anticipates their forgiveness since this believer is now back in fellowship] something [bragging in the past about his incest in the church], I forgive also [so let him come back into the church]; for indeed what I have forgiven [Though Paul had placed him under the Sin unto Death, there was no implacability], if I have forgiven anything [in the sense of his attitude toward this believer for it is God the Father who actually forgives the sin] and I have [the first class conditional sentence], I did it for your sakes [as a congregation] in the presence of Christ [Since Christ bore on his humanity the punishment of that sin, how could Paul not forgive the incestuous believer].
ᾧ δέ τι χαρίζεσθε, κἀγώ· καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ὃ κεχάρισµαι, εἴ τι κεχάρισµαι, δι’ ὑµᾶς ἐν προσώπῳ Χριστοῦ,
2 Corinthians 2:11
So that we may not be counter punched [taken advantage of] by Satan for we are not ignorant of his devices [strategies, schemes].
ἵνα µὴ πλεονεκτηθῶµεν ὑπὸ τοῦ Σατανᾶ, οὐ γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὰ νοήµατα ἀγνοοῦµεν.
Not only have the Corinthians as it were slugging this incestuous believer, but also slugging Paul. When believers are punching (maligning and judging) other believers, they are giving Satan a chance to counter punch (to defeat Christians).
Some of Satan’s strategies include:
1. Satanic strategy is to discredit the Canon of Scripture with emphasis on the mystery doctrine of the Church Age.
2. Satanic strategy is to discredit believers through involving them in the Cosmic System and Christian degeneracy, so that they in turn shock other believers who then get out of fellowship as well.
3. Satanic strategy is to encourage rejection of Bible doctrine and to by-pass and ignore the intake of Bible doctrine by emphasizing experience.
4. All the strategies of Satan are directed toward the free will of mankind, not the sovereignty of God.
Satan’s strategies against believers include the following:
1. He slanders the great believer by attacking his motivation as per Job 1:6-11, “Now there was a day when the sons of God [angels] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. (7) The Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the Lord and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it [just a little tour]." (8) The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth [the greatest believer on the earth at that time], a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." (9) Then Satan answered the Lord, "Does Job respect God for nothing? (10) "Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land [In other words, he only follows your plan because of this blessing, not because of any love for you.] (11) "But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has [destroy all of his blessings]; he will surely curse You to Your face."
2. He presents the sins of believers before the Supreme Court of Heaven and implies that the believer is not qualified to be a member of the family of God as per Revelation 12:10, “Then, I heard a loud voice in heaven which said, "Now the deliverance [2nd Advent] has come, also his power [of Jesus Christ], even the kingdom of our God [Father’s plan for the millennial reign of Christ], and the authority of His Christ [as ruler of the earth for 1000 years], because the accuser [Satan accuses believers in time for example Job] of our fellow believers who constantly brings charges against them [implying that these sinners should not be members of the Royal Family of God] before our God [before the supreme court in heaven] day and night, has been thrown out [of heaven]."
3. Satan sponsors reversionism and all principles related to Christian degeneracy, 1 Corinthians 10:19-21, “What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? (20) No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons [idolatry] and not to God; and I do not want you to become worshippers with demons. (21) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord [the Communion table requires fellowship] and the cup of demons [demon influence: living in the cosmic system and other Satanic functions]; therefore, you cannot partake of the table of the Lord [to worship at the Eucharist requires the spiritual life] and the table of demons [living in the Cosmic System under demon influence and modus operandi].” 2 Corinthians 11:3, “I am concerned that just as the serpent completely deceived Eve by his craftiness [cunning misrepresentation and the skill of prevarication [the act of avoiding the truth or not giving a direct answer to a question in order to hide the truth] that perhaps your thinking may be corrupted [through degeneracy] from that noble simplicity [characteristic of the souls of heroes] and virtue which is with reference to Christ [The perfect humanity of Christ in Hypostatic Union].”
4. Satan sponsors fear of death to distract the believer from the Protocol Plan of God, Hebrews 2:14-15, “Since, therefore, the children [believers] share common blood and flesh [in spite of the demon attack in Genesis 6], He [Jesus Christ] also himself in the same manner [virgin birth] shared their humanity [of the eight people who survived the flood] in order that through death [substitutionary spiritual death which means that he suffered as a substitute for our spiritual death], he might destroy [neutralize, render powerless] him [Satan] who has the power of death that is the devil. (15) And might deliver those who through fear of death [many believers in the Cosmic System are not sure of their eternal security and so fear death] are subject to slavery [to Satan] all their lives.”
5. He seeks to frustrate the will of God with regard to your life.
(1) The mental will of God, as per Romans 12:2, “Also stop being conformed to this world [through Cosmic One and Two], but be transformed by the renovation of your thinking that you may prove what the will of God is namely the good of intrinsic value [the values in your life rise to a high peak], the well pleasing to God [the will of God is always well pleasing to God], and the mature status quo [fulfilling all the spiritual objectives and so receiving the fullness of blessing from God].”
(2) The geographical will of God for you, 1 Thessalonians 2:18, “Therefore, we desired to come to you, truly I, Paul, both once and twice; but Satan hindered us.”
(3) The operational will of God for you, James 4:7-8, “Therefore, submit to God and stand your ground against the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Come near to God [through spiritual advance], and he will come near to you [provide blessing]. Cleanse your hands, you sinners [use the Recovery Procedure], and purify your hearts [remove the blackout, scar tissue and the garbage from the subconscious], you double-souled believer [a split personality developed through reversionism].” Galatians 5:7, “You [believers] were running well [commendably]. Who hindered you [who cut in front of you and caused you to lose your stride] resulting in your not obeying [in your resisting] the truth [of the spiritual life]?”
6. Satan tries to neutralize consistent doctrinal perception, metabolization and application, 1 Chronicles 21:1, “Then, Satan stood up against Israel and moved David [by getting David to ignore what he had learned about privacy] to number Israel [by taking a census which attacked accurate application of doctrine].” 1 Timothy 4:11, “But the Spirit [the Holy Spirit is the teacher of Bible doctrine] explicitly teaches that in latter periods of time [between the 1st and 2nd Advents namely the Church Age and the Tribulation] some [believers] will withdraw from doctrine, concentrating on deceitful personalities [demon evangelism recruiting them to live in the Cosmic System] and doctrines from demons [found in the Cosmic System].”
7. Satan tries to destroy the believer’s focus. He uses both Cosmic One and Cosmic Two (the two cosmic systems) to keep the believer from occupation with Christ.
(1) He causes you to get your eyes on self, Genesis 3:4-5, “The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! (5) "For God knows that in the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 1 Kings 19:10, “He [Elijah] said, " I have been very zealous for the Lord [self-righteousness creeping in], the God of the armies; for the sons of Israel [all the citizens of Israel] have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."
(2) Satan causes you to get your eyes on people, Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the Lord, " Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord."” Hebrews 13:6, “So that, we may say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid of what man can do to me [through the use of the Faith-rest Drill]."”
(3) He causes you to get your eyes on things, Hebrews 13:5, “Let your lifestyle be free from the love for money [cupidity: depending on money for happiness or security]. Keep on being content with what you possess [not to love money and things], for He Himself has said in the past with the result that it stands spoken forever, "I will not ever abandon you nor will I ever desert you."”
8. Satan sponsors Christian activism, trying to get the believer to become involved in improvement of his (Satan’s) world through becoming occupied with temporal solutions, such as: improving the environment, “the greatest good for the greatest number,” socialism, social action, the social Gospel, welfare state, and temporal solutions to man’s problems.
9. Satan created and sponsors religion as his most effective strategy against both unbeliever and believer.
Religion:
1. Religion is Satan’s counterfeit for salvation and the spiritual life.
2. Religion is a part of Satan’s plan, a part of his strategy, his ace trump.
3. Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to mankind in history; it is a soul-destroyer for it epitomizes Satan’s policy of evil.
4. Religion is not the same as Christianity. All religions operate on a merit system and use human power and have no relationship with God. Christianity from day one is a relationship with God which relationship operates on grace and uses God’s power and when executed effectively leads to the most fantastic relationship of reciprocal love.
5. Therefore, religion and Christianity are opposing forces in the angelic conflict, they are antithetical and mutually exclusive.
6. In religion, man by man’s efforts seeks to gain the approbation of God through his works, power, talent, abilities etc. Hence, religion is always a form of reversionism under the influence of evil and always includes some system of legalism.
7. In Christianity, God seeks and finds man through the work of Christ, and from that time on it is strictly a matter of grace.
8. Christianity is a relationship with God through regeneration while religion is a relationship with Satan through reversionism. Though Christianity is a relationship with God, Christians can operate outside of God’s grace plan for them. When the Christian operates in such a way, he is said to be religious since he operates on human power and dynamics.
2 Corinthians 2:12
Now, when I came to Troas for the purpose of the gospel [communication of the gospel and doctrine] of Christ and even though a door had been opened [a genitive absolute in the Greek which construction places great importance on this open door] for me by the Lord. [The Lord opened a door (provided a ministry) for Paul in Troas.]
Ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν Τρῳάδα εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ θύρας µοι ἀνεῳγµένης ἐν κυρίῳ,
The Genitive Absolute is when the subject of a clause is in the genitive case followed by a participle in the genitive case. The genitive absolute places tremendous emphasis on this clause “even though a door had been opened.” When the Lord opens a door for a great ministry, he expects the communicator to not only appreciate this opportunity, but also to complete his responsibility. The Christians at Troy were eager to learn the spiritual life from Paul, but just a short way into this Bible Conference which Paul was conducting in Troy, he packed his suitcase and left: an unbelievable failure on the part of Paul.
2 Corinthians 2:13
I had no rest in my [human] spirit, not finding Titus my brother [Titus was to come to Troy, but he was too busy dealing with the Corinthians], but forsaking [taking leave of] them [Paul abandoned his strong ministry in Troy], I went to Macedonia.
οὐκ ἔσχηκα ἄνεσιν τῷ πνεύµατί µου τῷ µὴ εὑρεῖν µε Τίτον τὸν ἀδελφόν µου, ἀλλὰ ἀποταξάµενος αὐτοῖς ἐξῆλθον εἰς Μακεδονίαν.
The Scripture records four failures on the part of Paul. His first failure occurred when he had refused to forgive John Mark and therefore, would not take him along on his 2nd Missionary Journey. Secondly, Paul failed when he reacted to the failure and consequent attack of the Corinthians. Thirdly, Paul failed when he deserted a phenomenal ministry at Troy. Finally, Paul will have his greatest failure when at the end of his 3rd Missionary Journey, he will to go Jerusalem when he should have gone to Rome.
Why Paul had sent Titus, the trouble shooter to Corinth. For you see, the Corinthians had reacted to Paul’s strong reprimand, his third letter to them which letter he wrote between 1 and 2 Corinthians. So, Titus was sent to Corinth to put down the revolt and to get the Corinthians moving again in the spiritual life. After having accomplished this task, he was to meet Paul initially in Troy, but if delayed to meet in Macedonia. During the meantime, Paul had reacted to the Corinthian reaction and so was out of fellowship himself. In this state, and having not heard from Titus, Paul panicked and abandoned his great ministry in Troy.
More details are given in the following passage:
2 Corinthians 7:5-7, "For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest at all [could not sleep], but we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside [outside pressure because of the Corinthian reaction], fears within [sinful stress from reacting to the pressures], (6) but God, who comforts the humble ones [Paul and his companions recovered fellowship with God and resumed their spiritual lives at some point after they had arrived in Macedonia; this they did before Titus arrived], comforted us [they were able to be comforted since they were in fellowship] by the coming of Titus [the report from Titus was encouraging], (7) and not only by his coming but also by the comfort by which he was comforted over you [over your change of attitude and acceptance of authority]. He [Titus] told us about your longing for me [their love for Paul], your emotional reaction concerning me [their tremendous regret regarding their vilification of Paul], your zeal toward me [toward the ministry of Paul], so that I rejoice the more [This report added to Paul’s happiness]."
Paul realized that the change wrought by the communicative effort of Titus would be permanent. Being back in fellowship, they had realized how raunchy they had treated Paul (all of their vilification). This emotional reaction was accompanied by a lot of wailing and tears, but eventually they settled down and returned to learning and applying doctrine on the basis of thinking.
A lover’s quarrel and its subsequent recovery have a lot of emotion connected with it. It is romantic, beautiful and even enjoyable, but has no real strength. Just as the only thing that gives marriage lasting power is capacity from virtue accompanied by correct values, so the only true power in the spiritual life comes from consistent perception and application of doctrine. The Corinthians realized this and so now had a zeal, a strong desire toward Paul’s ministry which will eventually make them great believers.
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks [based on our understanding of grace] be to God who always provides us with a victory celebration [the Greek verb triumbeuo, a word related to the Roman Triumphal Procession analogous to the believer’s triumph after getting back into fellowship; in this passage Paul got back into fellowship between verses 13 and 14] in the Christ [in union with Christ, a stabilizing factor] and makes manifest [brings to light through the canon of Scripture] the sweet fragrance [involved in the Triumphal Procession of victory] of his knowledge [of the gospel and the spiritual life] through us [the agents of communicating the gospel and the spiritual life] in every place [Paul’s ministry to the gentiles].
Τῷ δὲ θεῷ χάρις τῷ πάντοτε θριαµβεύοντι ἡµᾶς ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ καὶ τὴν ὀσµὴν τῆς γνώσεως αὐτοῦ φανεροῦντι δι’ ἡµῶν ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ·
In experiential sanctification, we are in and out of fellowship, but in Christ we cannot sin and so we cannot lose that position. This becomes a stabilizing factor in the spiritual life and that is why Paul mentions it here. We zig and zag in experiential sanctification, but never in Positional Sanctification.
The sweet fragrance of the Triumphal Procession had one meaning for the victors and another meaning for the captives. Every time a Christian is restored to fellowship, he should celebrate God’s victory, a victory analogous to the victory of the Roman Triumphal Procession.
A Triumphal Procession was the greatest of all honors that could be given to a Roman general, a consul or an emperor. This award was given by the Roman Senate to such a person who had a great accomplishment on the battle field. For example, such a military leader would have had to have killed a minimum of five thousand of the enemy in a single day on the battlefield. Thus, there were not many who qualified for such a triumph. In Roman history, there were only 350 Triumphal Processions in the 1000 years of that history. So, during this period only 350 persons ever received this honor though millions of officers and soldiers participated in this procession as being part of the victorious army of the one receiving the Triumph.
In a Triumphal Procession, the one celebrating the victory would begin by riding a white horse through an arch. Then, he and his army would proceed down a path lined with cheering Romans sprinkling perfume and flowers on them, the sweet fragrance of victory. For the captives, this sweet smell was the fragrance of death. In this long parade of the Triumphal Procession, the victorious general etc. would be standing erect in his chariot, pulled by four horses. He would be wearing a wreath of laurel on his head. He would be holding in his left hand a very beautiful scepter made of gold, topped with an eagle, called a baton while in his right hand he carried a laurel branch. He wore a purple toga embroidered with gold. Suspended from his neck was a golden ball. Standing behind the imperator in the chariot was a slave. The slave held an Etruscan crown, encrusted with jewels. The slave would continually repeat the following phrase into his ear as millions of people cheered him, “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi” translated, “so the glory of the world passes away.”
It was a phenomenal honor for both those receiving the Triumph and for his victorious army. The decorations, honors and wealth distributed were immense. By analogy, every believer is a member of this victorious army, whereas the unbeliever would be analogous to the captives on display during the Triumph. The general, consul or emperor receiving this greatest of honors would be comparable to the believer passing Evidence Testing and as a consequence of that, receive his Escrow Blessings for time and eternity.
Paul in the next two verses relates the believer and the unbeliever to the fragrance experienced at a Roman Triumphal Procession.
2 Corinthians 2:15
For we [the believer giving out the gospel] are a fragrance [specifically in this verse to the gospel] of Christ to God among those who are being saved [those who respond to the fragrance of the gospel will by analogy reap the rewards of being on the victorious side] and among those who are perishing [the unbeliever who rejects the fragrance of the gospel will face the Great White Throne Judgment and by analogy will perish just as the captives of the Roman Triumphal Procession].
ὅτι Χριστοῦ εὐωδία ἐσµὲν τῷ θεῷ ἐν τοῖς σῳζοµένοις καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀπολλυµένοις,
In a brief summary, there are two categories of people who smell the fragrance namely those who respond and those who reject just like in the Roman Triumphal Procession where both the victors and the captives smelled the fragrance of the perfume and flowers.
2 Corinthians 2:16
To the one a fragrance [all have the opportunity to smell this aroma of the gospel] out from death [spiritual death followed by physical death] to death [to the 2nd death, the judgment to the Lake of Fire], to the other a fragrance from life [human life followed by the spiritual birth] to life [eternal life with God]. And who is qualified for these things [the fragrance was poured-out on everyone, but only those who believe in Jesus Christ are qualified for eternal life]?
οἷς µὲν ὀσµὴ ἐκ θανάτου εἰς θάνατον, οἷς δὲ ὀσµὴ ἐκ ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν. καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα τίς ἱκανός;
2 Corinthians 2:17
For we [the ones who believe in Christ] are not like the many [the ones who reject Christ and in so doing accept an alternative to the grace plan of God] who huckster [dilute: originally in the Greek, a bartender who cheated by diluting his beverages; the unbeliever dilutes the gospel which is tantamount to rejecting it] the word of God [believing in or teaching a salvation by works], but from discernment [by holding the gospel up to the light of the Word to determine if it is true or not], out from the source of God in the site of God, we [believers] keep on communicating [without dilution] in Christ [we being in Christ, our stabilizing factor, must communicate the pure gospel without dilution].
οὐ γάρ ἐσµεν ὡς οἱ πολλοὶ καπηλεύοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀλλ’ ὡς ἐξ εἰλικρινείας, ἀλλí ὡς ἐκ θεοῦ κατέναντι θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦµεν.