On 8/2/08, taphouse@sbcglobal.net <taphouse@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Dear Robert,

I appreciate your candid reply. Let us pretend for just a moment what would happen if everyone on earth was born again into the kingdom of Heaven on Earth by their death, resurrection and ascension with Christ to sit down with him in Heaven (Eph. 2:6). What would we then have? Would we all still be trying to study the word and tell our neighbors what we learned from the word today so we could rightly divide the word? I think not.

With all due respect Ron, this could only ever be a "pretend" scenario then because in fact, the Jews as a whole did not believe and were not born again. "[R]ather, through [Israel's] fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles…until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in". (Rom. 11:11,25)

Covenant theologians like to talk about the "continuity" of the Old Covenant into our present age, which is most popularly (but erroneously) referred to as the New Covenant. However, they fail - or refuse - to see the two most important events of "discontinuity" this side of the cross of Christ:

1.) the fall of God's covenant people (Israel) and

2.) the salvation of Saul the blasphemer ("as of one born out of due time").

I believe that the first and primary reason for "rightly dividing the word" is so that we enter the Kingdom of God and secondly it is to get others into the Kingdom of God. I do not believe there is any other reason.

I would agree with this "primary reason" but "how shall they hear without a preacher", Paul asks? Lost people need to hear and believe Paul's gospel before they can be saved. And we need to "rightly divide the word of truth (i.e. Paul's gospel) from the gospel of the circumcision. Remember, it was Paul that wrote, "If any man preach any other gospel…than that ye have received - than that which we have preached unto you - let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:8,9).

I do not believe there is a scholastic reason to find any other kind of information or any other kind of purpose such as gaining wealth, finding true happiness or wisdom for those things come with entry into the Kingdom of God or Heaven by the operation of Christ's death resurrection and ascension.

I understand what you're saying but, again, lost people need to hear the only authorized gospel for this dispensation of the grace of God that we live in today.

Primary purpose - our salvation:

"Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." John 6:28-29

Why believe on him whom God sent? So that you become born again into the Kingdom of God (Salvation) by following Jesus and being baptized with the baptism he was baptized with:

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."John 3:3

"But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. Matthew 20:22
"And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." Matthew 20:23

I find your perspective here a bit muddled. The purpose of our salvation would not be born again; rather, our conversion (i.e. salvation) is likened to being born, i.e. born "again". I would posit rather the purpose of our salvation would be to glorify God with our lives. But remember, the power of God unto salvation (i.e. being "born again") is in Paul's gospel (Rom. 1:16)

Secondary Purpose - Save others and be a good steward of the Kingdom of God or Heaven that we inherited via the Operation of Christ:

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4

I agree. God "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." But remember, Paul was "a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity" (v.7) and the authorized gospel ordained for this dispensation of the grace of God in which we live today, "to make in [H]imself of twain one new man", is Paul's gospel. "If any man preach any other gospel…than that ye have received - than that which we have preached unto you - let him be accursed." (Gal. 1:8,9). Paul's gospel is distinct from that "word which God sent unto the children of Israel".

"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10

That is to ask "are we good stewards of the operation of God in Christ to save all mankind?

We are not saying that Peter did not eventually come-up-to-speed with Paul's gospel. Unbiased consideration of the record shows Peter went through a transition period but ultimately came to understand that salvation was a free gift apart from works as Paul taught: "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." (Acts 15:11) "Wherefore, beloved… account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you". (2 Pet. 3:14)

God Almighty could have returned in Christ Jesus quickly following the ascension and separated the sheep from the goats. But He didn't. Rather, in conjunction with the fall and diminishing of national Israel and the salvation of Paul first, He began a new dispensation ("the mystery") to further pour out His grace upon the world through His longsuffering, using Paul "for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." (ref. 1 Tim. 1:16). Peter was a good steward of the manifold grace of God, but it was Paul's revelation that got him over the dispensational hump! Peter's gospel was based on a visible, literal kingdom on earth living under the visible rule of Jesus Christ. Paul's gospel is based on a long interlude before that reality is realized.

What is the knowledge of the Truth spoken of in 1 Timothy 2:3?

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

The truth is that all men are to be saved and they are to be saved by Christ Jesus via the operation of God in his Death, Resurrection and Ascension.

Jesus said he kept the father's commandment, eternal life. "And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." John 12:50

There are many nuances of truths throughout scripture that transcend any division; no doubt. There is nothing wrong with making appropriate spiritual application with these truths either. However, workmen that "needeth not to be ashamed" must take greater care in the effort to "trouble not them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God".

In Christ,

Robert