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Rightly Dividing
the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15)
Established
November 2008 Published weekly on Friday
This is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men (and women) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Timothy 2:3-4)
2 Corinthians (5:16-21) (Lesson 14)
Welcome to HBS.
We’re pleased that you’ve
decided to join us today.
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Please
open your Bible at 2 Corinthians 5:16.
2 Corinthians 5
16: Therefore from
now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known
Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
Therefore (because of what
Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection have
accomplished for all mankind) from now on we recognize no one according
to the flesh – our Apostle Paul has stated quite clearly there is
neither Jew or Gentile, because Jesus Christ died for all (v15). Therefore
we are to stop categorizing people: For by one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we
were all made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many (1 Corinthians 12:13-14;
Romans 12:5). Believers are “complete in Christ” (Colossians 2:10);
and unbelievers who reject Christ but embrace the world (Satan’s domain) instead are in fact “enemies of God, and have nothing to do with the riches of His grace (James 4:4).
Even though we have
known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer – this book plainly
says the Jews were expecting a warrior
Messiah, in the likeness of King David, and not a suffering, Servant (Genesis
49:10; Psalm 2:2-5). John the Baptist came
speaking this language to the people saying, “His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing
floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff
with unquenchable fire (Luke 3:17). Doesn’t
that verse read like someone is coming to “clean house?”
According
to the Dead Sea Scrolls, a Jewish sect of Jesus’ time called the Essenes
actually combined the roles of Messiah as warrior and judge into one, imagining
that He would bring a great war between the “Sons of Light” (their pure
community) and the “Sons of Darkness;” (the sinful, rebellious Jews and enemy
Gentile nations that worshipped other gods).
Then
there’s the account of Peter questioning Jesus after His resurrection. The
Lord had presented Himself alive after
His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of
things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3)? Peter the spokesmen for the group said, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring
the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
Which only goes to show their focus was on the kingdom and why not? There were plenty of prophecies in the O.T.
concerning it; they just didn’t understand the timing of the event, even at
this late date (Acts 1:7-8).
The
concept there would be two Messiahs originated with the birth of Jacob’s son
Benjamin. His wife, Rachel, died in
childbirth but before she died she named the child. But Jacob changed the boy’s
name right away and this event caused many Jewish rabbis over the centuries to
consider its spiritual significance.
Here’s the passage: When she was in severe labor the midwife
said to her, “Do not fear, for now you have another son.” It came about as her soul was departing (for
she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. (Genesis 35:17-18)
The
Hebrew name Ben-oni meant “son of my sorrow.” She named him this because she was
dying. But Jacob decided right then and
there to name him Benjamin, meaning
“son of my right hand;” - a stark
contrast, one which the Jewish Rabbis and scribes picked up on and considered
at great length. They finally decided
these two names meant there would be two Messiahs. One would be a suffering Messiah, the Ben-oni, but then there would be
another ruling Messiah, the Benjamin.
There
are approximately 365 Messianic prophecies in the Bible. 353 of these were fulfilled in Jesus Christ
first advent. One of these is Ezekiel
37:24-25 and it actually calls the Messiah the “Son of David.” With Bible
passages such as this one and others like it, a person could easily see why the
Jews believed there would be two Messiahs.
And during the time of Jesus’ first advent, with the boot of Rome firmly
planted on the back of Israel’s neck, so to speak, you can understand why they
were expecting a Messiah in the likeness of the Son of David, a conquering king, and not a meek, servant of the
people riding a donkey into Jerusalem (John 12:14-15; Zechariah 9:9).
But
here’s the thing, they missed seeing
these two Jewish names personified in the One and only Messiah, Jesus Christ
and yet it’s all there in the O.T. When
He came the first time, He was the Ben-oni,
the suffering servant of the people (Isaiah 53:3-4). But when he returns He
will be the ruling Messiah, the Benjamin,
the son of my right hand: And
the LORD will be king over all the earth.
On that day the LORD will be the one and his name one (Zechariah
14:9).
Now
we enter into the Dispensation of God Grace where our Apostle Paul writes: But
when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,
born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law (now
who are these folks… the Jews, right?
Gentiles had nothing to do with God, the Law, or His covenants), that we (Both Jews and
Gentiles now under the Dispensation of God’s Grace) might receive the adoption as sons (and daughters) - Galatians 4:4-5. (See Matthew 10:5-7, 15:21-28; Romans 15:8)
Paul’s
saying the substitutionary death and ensuing resurrection of Jesus Christ
changed everything. I’m saying just as
the Jews missed seeing Jesus for who
He truly is, many people are not seeing
Jesus Christ for who He actually is today.
I’d like to add to that they aren’t acknowledging Paul’s apostolic
authority either (1 Corinthians 1:1-3).
If Paul were still preaching today; he’d begin by defending his
apostleship…
I’ve
attended more than a few churches that don’t or won’t preach from anywhere else
in the Bible but the four gospels or the words of Jesus Christ. There’s nothing wrong with some of that. The entire Bible is useful for our learning, but to park there week
after week is to perform a great disservice to those in attendance specifically,
and disrespects God’s Church Age Doctrine primarily because Jesus doesn’t
mention it in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.
It also doesn’t help people understand who the Lord Jesus Christ is
today as He relates to the Body of Christ, i.e. His Church. To learn these things we have to go to the
writings of Paul.
- In the Dispensation of Grace God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in the heavens and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11 – Berean Literal Bible).
- He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:20-23).
- The Lord Jesus Christ is known as the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). He is the Cornerstone of the building which is His Church. He unifies both Jew and Gentile from all ages into one body built on faith (alone) in Him.
- Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23) and not any other person here on earth no matter how well know or famous they may be.
- Jesus Christ is the Judge (2 Timothy 4:8). The Lord Jesus Christ has been appointed by the Father to judge the world for their sins and to dispense the rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
- Jesus Christ is known today is as the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).
There’s
so much more, but I think you’re beginning to get the idea. Our Apostle Paul wrote: And
having been found in appearance as a man He humbled Himself, having become
obedient unto death, even the death
of the cross (Philippians 2:8). The
Lord Jesus Christ willingly accepted the role of the suffering servant for all
mankind. He died once for all (Romans 6:10).
However, after His resurrection and especially after His ascension we know Him
in this way no longer.
Jesus
Christ conquered both sin and death at the Cross and as I said, you’re not
going to find this information in the four gospels. The twelve weren’t aware He was going up to
Jerusalem to die, let alone why, even though Jesus told them this would happen (Luke
18:31-34). The only place you’ll find
these things are in Paul’s epistles. This
is why you rightly divide the Scriptures
(2 Timothy 2:15). Some of this book
is written to gentiles, some of it is written to the nation of Israel, and some
of it is written to God’s one Church,
i.e. the Body of Christ (1Corinthians 10:32). The entire Bible is known
as the Word of Truth, but it’s not all written to you and me directly. The Grace Age began with the calling of our
Apostle Paul (Acts 9) and not at Matthew 1:1.
Let’s
go to verse 17:
2 Corinthians 5
17: Therefore (because Jesus
Christ defeated both sin and death at the Cross) if anyone is in Christ, he (or she) is a new creature
(creation is a better word see Galatians 6:15); the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
There’s
another Bible passage from Paul that expresses the same idea but expands the
meaning, so please go to Romans 6:4 in your Bible. Therefore
we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was
raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in (what)
newness of life.
So we too might
walk in newness of life; rescued from Satan’s slave market we are now dead to
sin and alive to God. Our Apostle Paul
expressed it this way: and it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me; and the life which I
live in the flesh (how I am to behave 24/7/365) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for
me (Galatians 2:20).
Is
your spirit starting to pick up the message?
If not, I have one more: and that you be renewed in the
spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness
and holiness and truth (Ephesians 4:23-24).
Righteousness,
holiness, and truth these
are things associated with God and not the world-at-large
where you’ll find the opposite of truth, holiness, and righteousness.
We
are no longer to be slaves to sin for he
(or she) who had died is freed from
sin (Romans 6:7).
For
the old things passed away; behold, new
things have come (v17). For all who are being led by the
Spirit of God, these are the sons (and daughters) of God (Romans 8:14). Instead
of seeking to gratify the flesh or chasing after momentary pleasures and
thrills, Believers rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in all truth (Galatians
5:17). They seek to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10a).
Verses
18-19:
2 Corinthians 5
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled
us (whether
Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free men and women, and no matter your position in
life) to Himself through Christ and gave
us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has
committed to us the (what) word
of reconciliation (v18-19).
When
a word appears more than once in a verse, a paragraph, or a chapter, God wants
us to pay attention to it. The word reconciled/reconciliation appears x4
above so true Believers are to take note.
The Greek word for reconciled is
Katallasso (pronounced:
kat-al-las’-so), Verb, Strong’s Greek # 2644, and it means: to
change or exchange- as in currency; to return to favor with; or to receive one
into favor. Basically, it means to change or exchange and thereby bring together that which was alienated,
meaning rebellious humans who were once far-off,
i.e. enemies of God.
Now all these things are from God – It was because God loved the world that He sent His one
and only Son to die for it (John 3:16).
Salvation is totally from God (John 6:44, 65; 2 Corinthians 8:16-17;
Ephesians 1:4, 2:8-9), we need look nowhere else for it, but people must
respond in faith to the gospel or
God’s invitation to be saved.
Reconciliation is a major
theological truth. God exchanged Christ Jesus’
righteousness for mankind’s sins (5:21).
The Lord died in our place. The
Bible verses 5:16-21 and Romans 5:10-11 are the definitive passages on this
theological term. In plain English they
are saying reconciled sinners are not
just friends, they are known as family with God the Father. Restoration of the relationship damaged in
the fall from Grace brought about by
Adam’s sin (Genesis 3:15) has been made complete in Christ Jesus.
But
there’s more; and gave us the ministry
of reconciliation – the Lord Jesus Christ became our reconciliation if you’re a true Believer that is. If that’s the case, we have the
responsibility to share the gospel
of reconciliation with others. Not only do we share in Jesus’ death but we
have a role to play in His ministry as well, and the message that saves is
really quite simple. There’s nothing
simple about God’s plan to save mankind.
I’m not saying that. I’m saying
the gospel, itself, is not hard to understand.
God was in Christ –
this
is the issue that trips many people
up. They don’t understand or won’t
believe that God the Father was in Christ Jesus of Nazareth, reconciling the world to Himself (Galatians 1:3-4).
I’ve met so many people in the church that aren’t aware it was the second
member of the Trinity, the Son of God, that created everything in the beginning
(Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:13-17) and the reason for this is quite simple, the
churches aren’t teaching God’s Word, or aren’t teaching it properly. I helped a Baptist pastor see this one Sunday
morning a few years ago and he’d been preaching for more than 30 years. I’m not boasting, mind you, I’m merely saying
if the leaders of the church aren’t aware of it the people in the pews (who
aren’t studying their Bibles at home
on their own) definitely aren’t going to be aware of it.
Once
people start asking questions about Jesus Christ, eventually the discussion
ends up at Calvary, at the Cross, and this is the ideal time to mention the gospel. This is the most important information they
will ever hear and this is where our responsibility kicks in. We must be ready when the time comes to step
up and speak the truth and that will come right
from this book. We must hold Christ
Jesus up to the world for He has committed
to us the word of reconciliation.
In
case you haven’t noticed, the unsaved people are not running to your church to
be saved or standing in long lines out by the front door. Since this is the situation and the lost need
to hear God’s invitation, every Believer needs to speak up when the Holy Spirit
opens the door of opportunity.
Not counting their
trespasses against them – this comment takes us back to what Paul said in
5:14-15a: For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one
died for all, therefore all died… and He died for all. All means
all and not just some.
Hold
onto that fact, while you flip on over to Romans, chapter 4:25. Not only did Jesus Christ die a death for all; His death paid the penalty for
everyone’s sins, past, present, and future.
I’m going to go with what this book says at all times and let the Bible commentators
continue to argue and dispute Bible verses like this one: He who
was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because
of our justification (NASB).
This
book says the true Believer is justified
in Christ Jesus even though we still commit sin (Romans 7). You see, it has nothing to do with our
faithfulness, but everything to do with the faithfulness of our Savior – we
were saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
It is His righteousness that covers us; that justifies us. Our Apostle
Paul wants us to know: Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2).
This
is a good time to mention the sins of unbelievers were paid for at the Cross
too, all means all. Their sins are not counted against them in this life. This continues until their final breath or
their last heartbeat. If they die in
unbelief, i.e. without believing the
gospel, then they are lost forever. When they see Jesus Christ it will be at the
Great White Throne Judgment. They will answer
for everything they’ve said and done in
the flesh (Galatians 5:16-23) before spending the rest of eternity in the
Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
Lets’ go to verses 20-21:
2
Corinthians 5
Therefore, we are ambassadors
for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on
behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin
on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Is
Paul speaking of himself when he uses the word “we” in verse 20 or is he
referring to every member of the Corinthian church? He’s speaking to those carnal Christians and to
us too because we all live in the
Grace Age and we all have been given
the ministry of reconciliation. Please notice Paul doesn’t say Believers should be ambassadors, he said Believers are
ambassadors for Christ.
Webster’s
defines the word ambassador as the highest-ranking
person who represents his or her own government while living in another
country. He or she is sent to do what
the sovereign would do if they were present.
Sometimes, they merely act as a messenger. They are not empowered to do anything more
than to explain the message.
That’s what this book has been saying all
along. This earth is not our home; we’re
strangers in a foreign land, and our citizenship is in heaven. You’re to set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden
with Christ in God (John 17:14; Hebrews 13:14; Philippians 3:8-14, 20; Colossians
3:2-3).
But
here’s the thing, the Corinthians were terrible ambassador’s for Christ Jesus.
Instead of living for Christ,
they were living for themselves, lusting after the things of the flesh. They were presenting the wrong image of Jesus
Christ to their city and to the world-at-large
and this did not please God. The
Corinthians were not the spiritual giants they thought they were; they were carnal babes in Christ. In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome he
tells them to put on the Lord Jesus
Christ daily; this advice works for all of God’s ambassadors: Let us behave properly as in the day, not
in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in
strife, and jealousy. But put on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Romans 13:13-14).
I’ve
had people tell me they didn’t know what God’s will for them was even after
praying about it. I asked them, “Have
you picked up your Bible lately? You’ll
find God’s will for you and for your loved ones in there.” We have one right here. God’s will for us is to be His ambassadors. We’re to speak His message of grace and love to
those who are perishing (4:3-4).
An
ambassador does not speak to please
his or her audience, but the Sovereign principal who sent them. They do not speak on their own authority,
offering their own opinions, they simply say what the Sovereign has
commissioned them to say and explain it if necessary, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God.
We’re
to let people know they have already been reconciled
to God. Everything that needed to be
done was completed at the Cross. It is finished!
It’s like God’s Grace is sitting in a huge vault at a local bank,
waiting to be dispensed. All a person
needs to do is to go there and humbly appropriate it by admitting they are a
sinner, believing Jesus died a death meant for them, and His shed blood paid that
sin debt. Believe the gospel and be
saved that’s not complicated (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
But
God’s ambassadors do not add
anything to His message and they do not take anything away from it. But they are more than a messenger, they are an
official representative of their native land, and the honor and reputation of
their homeland lies in their hands. When
people hear them speak and observe their activities, they quite naturally
assume everyone from that nation behaves in like manner for they have no other
example to go by.
He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him -
In
verse 21 Paul gives us a compelling reason as to why people should be reconciled to God. Christ
became sin on our behalf so that we
might become the righteousness of God to Him. Note Paul doesn’t speak of God’s wrath here,
instead He said, in a manner of speaking, Jesus stood in “the gap” for all mankind when He laid down His life,
willingly, so that all may live, but
it’s a choice each individual has to make.
There’s no “get out of hell free card.”
There’s no such thing as “universal salvation;” the belief that there is
no such thing as eternal hell or annihilation; that eventually everyone will
end up in heaven (See Universalism).
This
book makes it clear unredeemed men and women will not go to heaven. God has reserved another place for the
unsaved. Jesus said, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal
(Matthew 25:43). Are you going to put
your trust in the words of man or in what Jesus Christ said? While
you dwell on that, consider this, where and how you spend eternity rests in
your response.
He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin on our behalf - how did Jesus
become sin? I’ve already brought this verse to your
attention but it will serve us here too:
The next day he saw Jesus coming
to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world (John 1:28, 36)!
Here’s
how we know Jesus became our sin please
turn to Mark 15:34b: “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” (Psalm 22)
God was there in the darkness but for a time He forsook His Son (2 Corinthians
5:21). From the sixth hour to the ninth
hour darkness fell over the whole land (Luke
24:44), as the Lord bore the sins of the world
on a tree. The darkness revealed a few things: 1) that Jesus was “smitten of God” (Isaiah 53:4).
2) It was God who laid the
iniquities of us all, on Jesus
(Isaiah 53:6). 3) Jesus was oppressed
and He was afflicted, yet He did not open
His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is
silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth (Isaiah
53:7).
When
our Apostle Paul wrote of this, he said, “Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (all) – for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE
WHO HANGS ON A TREE…” (Galatians 3:13).
(To
be continued)
©
Copyright 2011
GJ
Heitzman’s Ministry
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