By Jan Lilleby

A Bible Scholar back in the 18th​​ Century once wrote:

“It shall greatly help to understand scripture​​ 

if​​ thou mark, not only what is spoken

or written, but of whom, to whom, with what

words, at what time, where, to what intent, and with

​​ what circumstances, considering what goes

before and what follows.”

This saying still holds water!

It is a very good advice to all who wants to assure themselves of getting their Bible understanding correctly. And thus avoid to committing grave error and misunderstanding the Holy Bible.

For better make my teaching efforts here​​ come clear​​ to the reader, please allow me to use a few simple examples from real life. By comparing with believers way back – who started sects based on totally wrong Bible understanding – we can better learn how these things really were meant from God’s side. He did not want us to end up in dead-end streets when thinking of Bible understanding. He wanted us to​​ fully comprehend what He was talking​​ of in every single verse in His Holy Writ.

It is fully possible to avoid grave error when reading the Bible.​​ 

I think that one of the​​ most obvious matters​​ in​​ the Bible comes to light when we make comparison to what God had Moses write down in his time with what God had Paul write down 1500 years later, regarding the very same matter.

I am thinking of the​​ food ordinances​​ found in Lev. 11:7 on abstaining from​​ eating pork, for not to mention the much controversial ordinance of the keeping of​​ Sabbaths.​​ The latter found in Exo. 16:23-26. For if a poor Bible student stopped there, in what God told Moses 1500 years before the apostle Paul came on the scene, he would​​ surely end up in a spiritual dead-end street.​​ 

Such misfortune has happened to some known sect-leaders way back in time; which I shall come to shortly.

Paul simply, on God’s command,​​ nullified and made out of effect​​ the Mosaic ordinances regarding food​​ and Sabbath, as well as keeping certain holidays/feast days and even New Moon days, quoting Col. 2:16, 17,

“Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. - - Such things​​ are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value, but the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.” ​​ (Amplified Bible).

This doctrinal statement from Paul thus confirms to us, that neither food ordinances nor feast days as well as Sabbaths, are valid for believers of our time.

We do no longer, as it was with Israel under God, have to obey and live by keeping the Law of Moses with its commandments and ordinances, thinking that we would please God by doing so. It is totally obvious that Paul on behalf of God​​ dismissed these rules, so that no one can sit in judgment on believers who don’t keep any of them.​​ 

Unjustified critique against a believer that does not stay off​​ pork, or do not keep the Sabbath, most often comes from the Adventist-camp in Christianity. Since these so openly demonstrate that they do keep Sabbath and they do keep certain food ordinances.

But God has never laid such specific rules upon the Church dispensation. That is why Paul so clearly makes a point of this in his epistle to the Ephesians and the Colossians.​​ 

The prophet of God, Moses, introduced the Sabbath, but the apostle of God and Christ, Paul, dismissed and entirely called off the ordinance, yes –​​ all the ordinances​​ as a matter of fact.​​ 

The Law of Moses was abolished as we can learn from Eph. 2:14, 15,

“For He (Christ) is our peace. He has made us both (Jew and Gentile) one (body), and has broken down the hostile dividing wall between us. ​​ - ​​ - ​​ By abolishing in His (own crucified) flesh the enmity (caused by) the Law with its decrees and ordinances (which He annulled); that He from the two might create​​ in Himself one new man (one new quality of humanity out of the two), so making peace.”

This​​ strong and true apostolic statement from Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, proves to all of us that if Christ had not annulled the Law and the ordinances, there would NOT have been a Church, the Body of Christ, also called “One new man”.

In other words: The Church​​ would not have existed​​ at all if God in Christ had not taken away the Law. Because the Church has this unique foundation in regards to its believers: It consists and exists on the basis of God having made into ONE BODY both the believing Jew and​​ the believing Gentile, by having torn down/removed the wall of partition which actually was the Law of Moses! The Law had to go before there was any Church established. The Bible proves this beyond any doubt, and in a non-negotiable manner.

And so we learn​​ that​​ all sects, Adventists being just one of them, are totally in​​ opposition to the arrangement made by God to have the Church established.​​ They want to keep Sabbath and to keep food ordinances ​​ etc. – which is out of the question regarding the very nature of the Church. The Church has nothing to do with the Mosaic Law!

Paul wrote this doctrine of the Law abolished, 1500 years after Moses wrote the Law. So here we are reminded, as I mentioned in my quote above of the Biblical guide – we must check out what​​ was written​​ before, and then also check out what was written​​ after.

In so doing we find that Moses had done the right thing in his time, and Paul abolishing that Law 1500 years later did the right thing in his time! They both followed God’s instructions and therefore there exist no controversy in this.

Why? What was the intention behind it?

Paul explained this in Col. 2 as I quoted above: These things within the Law were​​ only shadows​​ of what was to come with Christ. The Law was never the main thing. But Christ and His taking away all sin were. Paul said in another epistle, that the​​ Law was a schoolmaster for Christ.​​ It pointed into the future, when Christ should come and take all sin upon Himself.​​ 

Now that Christ have come, and even ascended to God His Father after being raised from the dead,​​ the Law is out of effect. It has no purpose anymore, thus it is not a part of the faith-doctrine for the Church, which we find in Paul’s two epistles Ephesians and Colossians.

Notice carefully how Paul so​​ explicitly links together​​ that the establishing of the Church is made by​​ abolishing the Law FIRST. The Law had to go, so that​​ the Church, the “One new man” in Christ could come forth – and it is now Jews and Gentiles on same level in the faith making up the Body of​​ Christ. But if the Law had still been in effect, it would have been ‘Jews first, then Gentile – like Paul wrote in Rom. 1:16. At which time the Law had not yet been abolished (Romans was written in 58 A.D. – but Ephesians/Colossians in 62-63 A.D. AFTER Israel first had fallen away from God as a nation.

We can only find the Church​​ after​​ Acts Book has been closed.​​ 

There have been hundreds, yes thousands of believers up through history who have​​ said and preached that they were elected by God through visions,​​ dreams and even visits from angels, and meant that they had been personally established as God’s prophets.​​ 

But they all have in common that​​ they were false and did not keep to the Biblical truth.​​ And they have managed to establish sects and cults, and a known prophetess was Ellen Gould White (1827-1915) when speaking of the Seventh Day Adventists. Her understanding of the Bible was in full​​ opposition​​ to what Paul taught in Colossians and Ephesians. So we cannot defend her doctrine, however – she might​​ still have been a Christian​​ in the sense of having been saved by faith in Jesus Christ. Only God can judge in that. But she did not conform to Paul’s teaching, when we lay up the Church faith doctrine.

All sects have such instigators, believing of themselves as​​ personally​​ elected by God.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses follows Charles Taze Russel’s system of doctrine, and we find that the Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) follow Joseph Smith and his angelic revelations by a false ‘Holy book’, the book of Mormon. Supposedly given to Smith by an angel called Moroni.

It should be mentioned that Charles Taze Russell in his teenage years came out of the fresh Adventist denomination in USA, and ended up with creating a sect himself. It was called​​ Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society​​ in the early days, which we now call Jehovah’s Witnesses. Russell died one year after Mrs. White, in 1916 in Texas.

Joseph Smith’s ‘revelations’ was of course a full bluff – judge for yourselves: He taught his followers that an​​ angel, Moroni, had lead him to a place where the Book of Mormon was hidden in the ground. It was made of pages in pure gold, and the book told of Jewish-Christian believers in America’s ancient times. He ‘translated’ the book and published it in 1830, calling it for ‘The Book of Mormon’.

If you wish you may check it out in Wikipedia, as well as many other websites.

It is quite astounding and fantastic that any intelligent normal human being can go on believing such fairy tales which Joseph Smith presented.

Smith was killed by a raging mob when he was jailed in Carthage, Illinois in 1844. He was accused of treason. When Smith was asked to deliver proof of the existence of the gold book which was dug up, he simply explained that the angel Moroni had taken the​​ book with him. (The gold book has of course never existed – it is a​​ pure hoax​​ and a fairy tale at best).

Paul’s words in Col. 2 quoted above are in full agreement with his word written in Eph. 2:14, 15 of the Law of Moses having been​​ abolished.​​ The two epistles were written at the same time around 62-63 A.D. as Paul was in jail for the second and final time.

The Law of Moses was never given to Gentiles. It was only presented to the Hebrews in the wilderness, which later on became the nation of Israel. Rom.​​ 2:14 say,

“….Gentiles who have NOT the Law…”

The Greek text has the meaning of ALL Gentiles – and not just a few Gentiles not having the Law, while other Gentiles had the Law. It is in a definite form and telling of all the Gentiles being without the Law.

We cannot find Moses in Scriptures as a prophet who was sent by God out to the Gentile nations, to have them obey the Law. Has anyone of you thought of that?

On the contrary, the Law was given to make a concise separation between Jews and Gentiles, keeping​​ them apart. This is the very reason for why we cannot find Moses as a missionary. The Law worked as a wall of partition, and the Jews was on the inside of it, but the Gentiles​​ were on the outside, Eph. 2:12,

“Remember that you (Gentiles, see v. 11) were​​ at that time separated (living apart) from Christ, utterly estranged and outlawed (being without the Law of Moses) from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the promise, and you had no hope; you were in the world without God.”

The fact that Israel always has had proselytes from Gentile nations with them did not mean that they had the Law – the entire Gentile world. Only those few singular proselytes was presented the Law and had to take circumcision. The wall of partition was standing, even if a few were proselytes.

But as God had the free Grace Gospel revealed to the world by Paul – an international Gospel – this separating wall was torn down. Since God had Christ taking all the sin upon Himself, thus making the Law irrelevant.

This Grace revelation is found in Eph. 3:1-9 where Paul explains everything and that the revelation​​ was a former Mystery hidden in God​​ before Paul was given this Grace ministry. You should read this for yourself!

​​ 

If Paul Didn’t Teach It,

Nobody Should Teach it!

By Jan Lilleby

Does it sound too stern and categorical – that​​ only Paul​​ has the Biblical original truth and Faith Doctrine for the Church Dispensation?

Having said this, I shall give a few examples to show how this is really so.

IMAGE: Iconic​​ portraying​​ of​​ Paul.

Jesus Christ sent out Paul to preach and teach to us Gentiles the free Gospel of Grace. This free Gospel is to be found only in the two church-epistles​​ Ephesians and Colossians. Written Post-Acts, a period of time in which​​ (we are still in that very time period)​​ we find Israel as fallen away from God and thus no longer His nation/people on earth.​​ 

The fall is described in Acts 28:25-28 – and it implies that from that moment in time, Israel was​​ put down a notch​​ so she is no longer God’s nation sat above all other nations, but only a nation​​ among others.​​ They must be considered as Gentiles compared to the rest of the world. Col. 3:11 says it all.

Ultimately Israel was completely destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans. Jesus characterized the Roman army as “the king’s army” in Mat. 22:7 speaking His prophetic parable to Israel, and​​ it​​ would be sent to​​ kill those murderers​​ who had murdered the king’s servants and to burn down their city, Jerusalem.​​ It was fulfilled in 70 A.D. as I said.​​ It is popular to say of the fallen nation among us Acts-28 believers – that Israel has ‘been set aside for a time’, but I will tell you that they were not just sat aside, they were actually entirely and utterly ANNULLED AS A NATION. Moses prophesied of that in Deut. 28:68​​ and Josephus the Jewish Historian/writer confirm this stern intervention by God in his book ‘The Jewish War’. All prisoners of war from the age of 17 years, plus eventual spouses, were sent to Alexandria by the thousands, so that the slave markets were totally inflated and nobody would buy. But also some prisoners were sent to Rome to be cast onto the Gladiator arenas as well as becoming slaves and servants.

“And the Lord shall bring you into Egypt again​​ with ships​​ by the way about which I said to you, You shall never see it again.​​ And there you shall be sold to your enemies as bondmen and bondwomen, but no man shall buy you.”

Paul, like Peter, was​​ first​​ sent out​​ (Acts 9:15) to preach to Jews, proselytes and eventually also kings.​​ However, Peter seemed​​ only​​ to have been sent to Jews inside Israel’s borders.​​ Ref. Gal. 2:7, 8.​​ The only exception was the incident in Acts 10 and the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius. But both Peter’s​​ and Paul’s messages​​ at that time was the​​ message to Israel of the Kingdom of God on earth, the millennia.​​ It had not become the Church dispensation yet – it laid 30 years into the future.​​ Peter was never commissioned by the Lord to go to Gentiles​​ like we see with Paul.​​ 

But at the ‘end station’ Rome in 60-62 A.D. Paul confronted the official Israel represented by the leaders of the eleven Synagogues in Rome. The majority of these would​​ not repent​​ and accept Jesus as Israel’s Messiah King.​​ 

Therefore we find Paul’s stern judgmental words in Acts 28:25-27 – that the Gospel now was sent to the​​ Gentiles and they would listen;​​ contrary to the Jews who would not. Paul used Is. 6 and the prophet’s judgement upon Israel​​ as his own words.​​ 

Acts 28:27 says clearly that Israel​​ ‘Would not repent so the Lord could heal the land’​​ – meaning: If they don’t repent they would be destroyed.​​ See also Peter’s speech in Acts 3:22, 23.​​ And that was what happened in 66-70 A.D. as the rebellion against Rome started and was brutally ended in 70 A.D. – the very same calendar day as when the Babylonian army destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C. which was 10th​​ of September​​ (Josephus made notice of this in his book The Jewish War).

But the fall of Israel in Acts 28:25-28 triggered the​​ new dispensation, that of the free Grace Gospel of Paul for us Gentiles (remember:​​ Also Israel​​ is now ‘gentiles’ – they are just one among all other nations).

Paul explains this in Eph. 3:1-9 in particular as well as in Col. 1:25, 26, pointing to God having​​ revealed His Mystery to him, the believers in Jesus Christ now called ‘One new Man’ – and ‘Body of Christ’ Eph. 2:14, 15.

My reference to Paul as the​​ only​​ one who’s faith doctrine we shall follow, rest upon this fact.​​ It was Paul​​ who was given the revelation of the Mystery – the dispensation of the Church – and therefore Paul is our teacher and our apostle.

Then we come to examples which will teach us how it is that we should put Paul in that exclusive position which God already has put him. The one and only teacher, to whom we must submit and be faithful when we discuss faith doctrine.

If Paul did not teach it,​​ - whatever the topic -​​ neither should we!

The Case of the Adventists keeping substantial parts of Mosaic Law

Their doctrine of faith has been known to preach certain Mosaic commandments and ordinances such as​​ Sabbath keeping,​​ and​​ certain food ordinances,​​ to mention a few.​​ This is​​ not​​ a private campaign against the Adventists. I just use their way of beliefs to point to how Christians oftentimes come out askew compared to Paul, our rightful apostle sent to us by Jesus Christ. Other denominations have quite a number of errors in their doctrines, but I cannot find place here to mention them all. I hope for your positive understanding.

Paul, God’s and Christ’s elected apostle to us Gentiles, had obviously at least the same level of God-given authority as Moses, if not greater than him.

Moses wrote the Law, but Paul on God’s behalf declared it ABOLISHED.​​ 

Eph. 2:14, 15, quote (Amplified Bible),

“For He is (Himself) our peace. He has made us both (Jew and Gentile) one (body), and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us. ​​ 15: By abolishing in His (own crucified) flesh the enmity (caused by) the Law with its decrees and ordinances (which He annulled); that​​ He from the two might create in Himself​​ one new man, so making peace.”

The Biblical fact that the Law of Moses, including all decrees and ordinances (thus covering Sabbath, food regulations, feasts, etc) was abolished/annulled through God’s apostle Paul right after Israel had fallen away from God, seem to go unnoticed not only by the Adventists in this world, but many other denominations. Why can they just not conform to and​​ embrace​​ Paul’s clear Grace Gospel teaching? ​​ Why try to ‘keep the Law’ when Paul tells the Church that the Law is gone for now?​​ Excluding the Law of Moses is not the same as excluding high morale and proper respect for God and Christ!​​ Paul always pointed to the fact – when the Law was discussed – that it contained just a foreshadowing of ‘things to come’ – things concerning Jesus to be crucified so the sin of the world could be taken away by faith if Him.

We should keep in mind that the Law of Moses only was presented the Hebrews, and never the Gentile nations! ​​ Rom. 2:14, ​​ -​​ “..Gentiles have not the Law…”

In Col. 2:16​​ Paul​​ has a word on this issue also,​​ - after first having pointed out the sacrifice for sin given by Jesus on the cross (verses 14 and 15) -

“Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in​​ matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.”

Paul never taught punishment in Hell for unbelievers

We find that there is​​ absolutely nothing from Paul regarding eternal punishment and torment in Hell​​ for unbelievers.​​ 

Only Paul is our teacher/apostle, we cannot follow any other prominent person in the Bible regarding faith doctrine. We must learn that Paul is the one and only!

If Paul didn’t teach everlasting punishment in Hell, then there is​​ no such punishment​​ for the unbeliever.​​ And we as Christians cannot go about scaring people with Hell and fierce torment like we see in Christianity. It is heresy!​​ NOTE:​​ Here I will like to point out that the Adventist-movement is not preaching Hell and everlasting torment for the unbeliever. Thank God!

The unbelievers will not get saved​​ nor end up in an everlasting burning Hell, no, they​​ are​​ perishing​​ in the manner of God NOT having them raised up from the dead. They remain dead and gone forever, but in a manner like as if they never ever had existed. The dead knows nothing, they feel nothing, and they are really​​ gone forever​​ and will not be tormented in fire and things like that; gone for good.

If Hell and everlasting torment was a real thing, then Paul would most certainly had preached and taught this since it is​​ such​​ important information​​ to bring out to people. Paul would not have kept Hell as a hidden secret – he would have shouted it out from the pulpits.​​ But we cannot find anything of this with Paul.

Neither can we find any clue whatsoever of Paul

teaching that unbelievers will be offered a second chance after death

Such beliefs are promoted within certain Christian denominations and organizations. It is a part of the so-called Universalism beliefs. They hold that all mankind will be saved,​​ no matter what,​​ which is an outright lie.

To be able to receive (for people who did not believe​​ on Christ​​ in this life) a ‘second chance’ one must be alive​​ after death.​​ But there is​​ no Bible word proving that​​ there is an intermediate stage of life, between time of death and time of God resurrecting a dead person.​​ We do not find any such thing with Paul or any other key-persons in the Bible.​​ 

When a person – believer or not – die, he remains​​ stone dead​​ until he is eventually brought back to life by the intervention of God Almighty. Nobody wakes up one morning dead!

There is no paradise/heavenly-kind-of-place after death, where unbelievers are kept in wait for an examination whether they will​​ start believing on Jesus.

We all know that such ideas are pure human imagination – a product of the​​ fallen character of man​​ who will not submit themselves to the truth of the Word of God.​​ 

Paul has actually a word in this matter, found in Col.​​ 1:22,​​ 23,

“Yet now has Christ reconciled you to God in the body of His flesh through death, in order to​​ present you holy and faultless and​​ irreproachable in His presence.​​ 23: ..provided THAT YOU CONTINUE TO STAY WITH AND IN THE FAITH IN CHRIST,​​ well-grounded and settled and steadfast,​​ NOT SHIFTING OR MOVING AWAY FROM THE HOPE (THE GOSPEL),​​ which you heard and which has been preached to every person under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

Both the epistle to the Ephesians and the one to​​ the​​ Colossians were written to BELIEVERS in Christ, and not to unbelievers.​​ 

Now: Why does Paul make such a​​ paramount issue of our salvation…if it is just ‘never mind’ how you live and what you believe or not believe in this​​ life, like Universalism teaches? ​​ 

Why make such a big case and point out the​​ importance​​ of God demanding that His believers are made​​ holy and faultless​​ in His presence? ​​​​ 

Why put the​​ warning​​ in there – as in verse 23 –​​ ‘provided that you continue in faith and not moving away from that hope’?​​ Could it be that God has wrath against those who are unholy and living in grave sin? ​​ What does the Bible teach us of the character of God?​​ Why burn up Sodom and Gomorra if He is never-minded of grave sin and unbelief?​​ Paul’s exhortation to keep up our faith and​​ stay in it, proves to us that it is what we choose​​ here in this life​​ that decide whether you will be saved or go lost in eternity.​​ 

It is obvious that Paul​​ makes this non-negotiable condition of staying in the faith in Christ and​​ don’t​​ turn away from that faith, as something we can respond to ONLY while we are here on earth in this present life.​​ 

Universalism is a foolish lie, since Paul does NOT mention such a belief at all. He wrote and preached of the faith in Christ as something that must be decided now,​​ here in this life. If Paul did not teach Universalism, - and he didn’t - then we must not teach it neither. ​​ 

It is totally​​ obvious​​ that we – through faith in Christ NOW in this present life – are thus made holy and faultless before God because of the atonement made by Jesus for us on the cross. We are​​ now​​ reconciled to God by that atonement.​​ 

While all the unbelievers in this world are NOT.​​ 

This makes a big difference, we are saved by faith NOW, but those who have no faith are unsaved NOW. It is up to them that they repent and come to faith in Christ in this life, and avoid throwing their salvation opportunity away based on vain and foolish human thought such as the Universalism lies.

There exist no automatic ‘life-after-death’ like many people​​ believe in, including Spiritism and people inside occultism. The Bible has no doctrine that teaches such things.​​ Paul never taught automatic life after death, - so therefore neither shall we.​​ Besides: If such automatic life after death was true, then it crashes against the Biblical fact that we can only be saved BY FAITH – because if you enter an eternal life and world after death, your faith has been replaced by SIGHT. You see those things which we now, here in this life, only can grasp by faith. So it is impossible to get saved by sight. Salvation is only given us by​​ faith,​​ Eph. 2:8, 9. And we walk by faith, not by sight!

There is but one way only to obtain life after death: God have to​​ raise you from the dead.​​ Only God can​​ do that. Only those who believe​​ on Jesus Christ in this life shall be raised from the dead by God when time is due.

​​ 

The Great Difference Between

Paul and The Four Gospels

By Jan Lilleby

(Bible quotes are from Amplified Bible)

I​​ have already in earlier articles mentioned lightly about it, by pointing out that the four gospels must NOT be taken as if it was doctrine of faith to the church.

These are just historical documents telling of the life and ministry of Jesus and His disciples; how they taught the Jews, and it all ending with Jesus crucified, dead and resurrected.

Jesus Himself made it all clear to His listeners/followers that He was sent by God to Israel only,​​ “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”, Mat. 15:24.

Later on, Paul taught the very same,​​ “…Christ became a servant and a minister to the​​ circumcised​​ (the Jews) in order to show God’s truthfulness and honesty by confirming the promises (given) to our fathers…” Rom. 15:8.

What I have not dealt with so much in my earlier articles/books is the fact that there​​ exists a number of puzzling​​ historical facts, which only goes to underline that​​ the four gospels​​ NEVER were anything more than just pure history, and were never meant to be used as doctrine of faith to the church dispensation.

ALL THE GOSPELS WERE WRITTEN ANOMYNOUSLY

Please, do not get any sort of fits over this, or other unpleasant reactions…this is nothing but common Bible knowledge at every school/universities which offers Bible Seminars.

Most of the church members inside Christianity have little knowledge of this, but they will have to take much of the blame themselves. They cannot demand that every minister come to them in person to instruct them of Biblical historical facts.

Most Bible Lexica mentions these things and are not trying to hide it or drown it among all the issues found in a Lexicon, the fact that the​​ gospels were originally entirely anonymous.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John did not appear before the Second Century – and they were added to the writings in order to make them seem Apostolic and authoritative.

They do not purport to have been written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Their titles do not affirm it. They simply imply​​ that they are​​ “according”​​ to the supposed teachings of these Evangelists. This again tells us, that it was all according to the tradition of the apostles.

(Still, however, it is probable that it​​ really was Luke​​ who wrote that Gospel story and the Acts, which we shall deal with shortly).

None of the four claimed to have been eyewitnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus. Actually – Luke points to the fact that he based his writings upon the reports which had come from those who were eyewitnesses, as we shall all learn.

Even if it is so that the Gospels were not written​​ by them, we shall be aware of that the​​ stories told are true​​ and not fiction.

It is proven by the texts in the Gospels that they must have been originally written down by those who were eyewitnesses. We are told many details and even quotes from speeches held; from the visit experienced by Mary as the Arch Angel Gabriel came to her and told her she would be mother to Jesus by the Holy Ghost.

The escape to Egypt, and later the event of Jesus as a twelve year boy in the Temple impressing the Scribes with His wisdom; John the Baptist in the Judean wilderness baptizing the Jews in Jordan, and then Jesus comes onto the scene at the age of around thirty, causing great attention and admiration by His multiple miracles and healing wonders.

Yes, the Gospels are filled with action – all described obviously by those who had been eyewitnesses to it all.

Why remained the Gospel writers anonymous?

We can only use our imagination. One​​ particular reason​​ for this, I will suggest that they simply were afraid for their lives. ​​ Wouldn’t we also be afraid, if we had seen Jesus executed on a cross last week, and seeing His followers take cover and refuge to avoid the attention of the murderous Pharisees and the soldiers?

I think we would, certainly.

We can only read the Acts to find out how things developed in Israel and in the Empire in the days of the apostles. Dangers and threats were everywhere. But in​​ spite of this, they managed to come up with a​​ full story​​ telling of Jesus and also of His Apostles after He had ascended into heaven.

And still, this dramatically Bible history cannot – as if by a magical touch -​​ ​​ just​​ ​​ be taken​​ in as​​ ‘Doctrine of Faith’​​ upon which the existence of the Church Dispensation is based.

But certain writings by Paul can! I shall come to this shortly.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRISTIANITY KEEP

USING THE FOUR GOSPELS, OR PARTS OF THEM,

AS FAITH DOCTRINE TO THE CHURCH?

Well, then happens that which​​ already​​ and regrettably​​ have happened: Many – if not all​​ –​​ assemblies with their pastors, preachers, teachers and ministers go using the promises which Jesus gave to His Jewish believers and apostles – such as the​​ miracle and healing promises​​ we can read of in Mark 16 and other passages, telling their believers that​​ we can expect God to fulfill these promises​​ to them who have need for healing. Wrongly and in total misunderstanding of the Word of God, they think that Mark 16 are spoken/written to the Church Dispensation, and looks past the Biblical facts that​​ Jesus only spoke such things to His Jewish believers exclusively,​​ those who heard Him or His apostles.

The Charismatic/Pentecostal camps in Christianity are holding such views in particular.​​ They have over the decades past been noticed and are actually known for these beliefs. Speaking in tongues, healing the sick, casting out demons, even trying to wake up dead persons – might be the very ‘hallmark’ of these movements. They keep Mark 16 and the message therein as in full operation today, even if Jesus explicitly said in His time that He was ONLY sent to Israel’s house, ​​ “…in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; they will pick up serpents; and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.”

The Church Dispensation had not yet been established (by Paul) when Jesus sent out His apostles with the promises of Mark 16 given them. The Church as we know it, was still a​​ hidden mystery​​ in God (Eph. 3:1-9; Col. 1:25, 26 – 63 A.D.).

It was only 28 A.D. when Jesus sent out His apostles and shortly after ascended into heaven.

18 – 20 years BEFORE any of the four Gospels​​ were issued/made available for reading, (except Luke which was ten years after) we find that Paul​​ had already distributed and taught his fresh new Gospel of free Grace by faith in Christ in the entire Empire (Col.​​ 1:6).

His two Church epistles, Ephesians and Colossians, in which we have the complete Doctrine of Faith and the free Grace Gospel for the Church Dispensation, - we cannot find the least trace of anything which could resemble Mark 16 and miracle-promises. On the contrary! It glitters by its total absence.​​ 

There is​​ nothing​​ in Paul’s Church epistles that tells us of Paul operating according to Mark 16, neither is there anything mentioned of his co-workers. Total silence on exorcism, miraculous healings, speaking in tongues, great wonders, - not even anything on Holy Communion or confessing of sins. Also baptism is gone. The preaching of the promised Kingdom of God on earth as we find in Acts, and which was followed by those promised signs and wonders of Mark 16, was ended the very instance as​​ Israel fell away from God, as told in Acts 28:25-28. Paul quoted them the final judgement from Is. 6 of their deafness, spiritual blindness and their unbelief and disobedience and lack of repentance (Acts 28:27) – in an ultimate sense. This was the very​​ end station​​ for Israel as a nation for God. And shortly thereafter, it happened that God had the Mystery of the Church dispensation revealed to Paul, and the Law of Moses was abolished thereby​​ (Eph. 2:14, 15)​​ and the preaching of the New Covenant to Israel and the coming Kingdom with Jesus as their King, was entirely stopped/suspended until further notice. And just 7 years later, God sent the Roman army against them and destroyed Israel and scattered them in the world as we know.

Ephesians/Colossians is​​ entirely void of anything that could match Mark 16 and the working of miracles and healings. Not a single word that Paul or any of his colleagues practiced Mark 16 and having miracles and healings as part of their ministries Post-Acts.

But in the years that went before Paul had the Mystery (Eph. 3:1-9) revealed to him and the Church Dispensation started, he was ministering as an apostle to Israel and to eventual proselytes, preaching the promised Kingdom of God on earth and the immanent coming of Jesus from heaven in their life-time. Law of Moses was still operative, but if any believer broke any commandment, God’s grace in Christ and the New Covenant forgave the sinners if they confessed. The New Covenant came between and they were cleansed in the blood of​​ Jesus shed on the cross. Rom. 3:31 clearly say that the believers in Israel​​ still had the Law during Acts,​​ “Do we then by faith make the Law of no effect, overthrow it or make it a dead letter? Certainly not! On the contrary,​​ we confirm and establish and uphold the Law.”

In Acts period (28 A.D. – 61-62 A.D.) the messianic kingdom believers under the ministries of the apostles​​ confirmed, established and upheld​​ the Law of​​ Moses. But from the year of 62-63 as Paul wrote Ephesians/Colossians,​​ God through Paul declared that the Law was abolished! ​​ Quite a big difference don’t you think?

During Acts period when the Law was upheld as well as the New Covenant saved them if they sinned against the Law, all the miracles, healings, signs and wonders followed their ministries, even made attestations to prove to the Israeli people that they were sent by God and Christ. Paul was at the peak of his ministry regarding great miracles as he was a long time in Ephesus. Acts 19 reports of miracles and healings, so much as to have the leading class in the city raising persecution against Paul. It tells us that Paul at that time still had not gotten any revelation of the free Grace Gospel, for he was preaching the Kingdom of God on earth to them.

Paul never preached or taught​​ any doctrine that he picked up from any of the four gospels. They did not exist at that time, but came on the market 18-20 years later. No, Paul preached that which Jesus Christ told him, as He revealed Himself to Paul several times.​​ Paul never ‘obeyed’ Jesus’ commandments in Mark 16, like the twelve apostles did in their time.

Paul summed up for all of us what exactly we shall believe – it is all there written down in Ephesians/Colossians.

LUKES INTRODUCTION ADDRESSED TO THEOPHILUS

The introduction​​ words of Luke’s gospel, addressed to Theophilus​​ contributes to the thought that Luke actually was the one writing both that gospel story​​ and​​ the Acts story.

In Acts we find both Peter’s ministry early on, and later comes Paul on the scene – from Acts 7 and on. And in Paul’s epistles we find that it must have been Luke who wrote Acts since he was the one who followed Paul on his journeys in the Empire. Thus Luke wrote the story of Acts.

Neither Paul nor other important persons mentioned Luke as an Evangelist or a preacher holding ‘revival campaigns’. Paul spoke of Luke as –​​ ‘..the beloved physician..”.​​ Paul was the preacher/teacher and Luke was the doctor who​​ gave most of his time to​​ report exactly​​ what happened in Paul’s ministry, detail by detail.

The epistle to the Colossians was the last epistle Paul ever wrote before he died. He listed up a number of co-workers and fellow believers, and Luke was one of them. He was with Paul until the very end (Col. 4:14). Colossians was written around 63 A.D.

Luke went with Paul almost all of the time with few exceptions. In 2 Tim. 4:11 we find that it was ONLY Luke who stayed with Paul! This tells us something.

In the opening phrases of Acts​​ Luke tells Theophilus he had written ‘The first book’(some translations say​​ In my former account)​​ – pointing to his gospel story –​​ ‘..dealing with all the things which Jesus began to do and to teach, until the day when He ascended, after He through the Holy Spirit had instructed and commanded the apostles whom He had chosen.” (Acts 1:1, 2).

This conforms to​​ Luke 24:51-53 and Luke ending his Gospel story with the ascension of Jesus. Knowing this, we can regard Acts as ‘The second book’ in relation to Luke’s Gospel which was the first one.​​ To be able to write such a story as Acts, one must have​​ been present most of the time​​ in the midst of the happenings if not in all of it. Luke was not an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry or His disciples following Him before the crucifixion. But he certainly was an eyewitness to that which is reported in Acts. First he observed Peter and the eleven,​​ and later on he went with Paul, as I mentioned.

In Luke 1:1-4 we are learning that Theophilus had earlier been taught by him​​ in​​ these things,

“Since many have undertaken to put in order and draw up a narrative of the surely established deeds which have been accomplished and fulfilled in and among us.​​ Exactly as they were handed down to us by those,​​ who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word.​​ It seemed good and desirable to me also after having searched out diligently and followed all things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly for you, most excellent Theophilus.​​ That you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.”

Here we learn of Bible facts we should not overlook.

Luke pointed to the fact that MANY and not few​​ already had made efforts to write down a story telling of Jesus’ life and ministry – and these writers had been eyewitnesses to it all and they also had been ministers of the Word. In other words: The apostles.

We can only make guesses on how many these were. But Luke at least says MANY.​​ It had to be at least twelve (minus those who​​ eventually had​​ been murdered by their persecutors, the Pharisees?).

So, knowing this – and​​ in spite of being aware​​ of an already existing story​​ which already had​​ been written down, he took upon himself this enterprise of​​ first making a thorough​​ scrutiny and investigative​​ effort to make sure that his story would be​​ absolutely and irreproachably correct and faultless.​​ 

Knowing these things, we clearly learn that Luke’s gospel is​​ actually​​ an epistle/letter addressed to a believer, Theophilus. Luke anticipated that Theophilus would distribute his story in the Empire as well as to the Jewish public.​​ Why else would Luke put down so much work and efforts in this?

It is held for correct in Theological circles that Theophilus probably was an​​ official governmental Roman minister, and as such he had a vast number of people under him – a substantial​​ network​​ so to speak, through whom he could​​ successfully have​​ spread​​ the Gospel story.​​ Luke’s using the honorable expression​​ ‘Most excellent Theophilus’ ​​​​ gives away that he must have been a man of high rank in the Roman rule. Such words of salute were used, not of common people, but only if they had a high rank and status.

Thus Luke made extra efforts to​​ ascertain​​ that his story would be entirely accurate and faultless.​​ It all hung on the observation made by those who had been EYEWITNESSES.​​ The apostles.

And so, saying this, Luke admitted that he was​​ not​​ an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry.

PAUL – THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES

It can be no doubt about Paul’s writings, since he names himself in the introduction/greeting. He gives us his name and the name of the eventual fellow believer who is with him. His opening greetings are almost repetitive.

Paul’s epistles are​​ filled with​​ ‘Doctrine of Faith’​​ combined often with his warnings against false teachers and heretical doctrine. They are written to assemblies and to certain ministers, and shall not be considered as history. IMAGE:​​ Colossians, a page of an original…lightly damaged as we see.

His epistles of faith doctrine​​ can be classified into two categories:

His early epistles​​ (written in the same time that Acts are reporting of) from 33 A.D. to 62-63 A.D. were written to Messianic believers of Israel, Jews and proselytes, and the doctrine Paul taught​​ them was The new Covenant to Israel in the blood of Jesus. These epistles were written while the Law of Moses still was in effect and should be obeyed. The new Covenant came to the believer’s spiritual rescue in cases where believers had broken any commandment or ordinance of the Law. We learn from these epistles that the teaching promised them​​ God’s Kingdom on earth​​ with Jesus as the King of kings, Lord of lords, at His coming from heaven.​​ He was expected to come back in the life time of the apostles, as God​​ first wanted Israel to repent​​ and believe on Jesus Christ – the entire nation.

The second category​​ concerns the epistles which Paul wrote Post-Acts. For in them we find that a​​ new Free Grace Gospel​​ for the entire mankind was introduced. And a new hope of salvation was introduced as well: The hope of heaven up where Christ now sit at His Father’s right hand (Greek,​​ Epiouranos).

The Kingdom gospel offered to Israel had the hope of the prophesied millennial Kingdom in Israel. But the Free Grace Gospel of Paul revealed in Ephesians and Colossians had the hope of heaven up above.​​ 

We often​​ call​​ the present dispensation​​ the ‘Church Dispensation’ for only the Church has heaven up above as hope of salvation. It’s a fact.

Only Ephesians and Colossians have the complete doctrinal teaching of the Free Grace Gospel. It cannot be found in any other writings whatsoever.

Thus we find that the Church did not come into existence before Paul had the Mystery (Eph. 3:1-9 ​​ and Col. 1: 25, 26) revealed to him, which is the Free Grace Gospel to the entire world. Thus it follows that the ‘wall of partition’ (Eph. 2:14, 15) was torn down and Jews and Gentiles in the faith sat on equal level before God. No longer ‘Jews first, then Greek’.​​ Law of Moses was abolished.​​ 

Israel had fallen from God as His nation. And that is what we can learn in Acts 28:25-28 as we see that Paul’s message of Jesus Christ was denied and opposed against by the majority of the Jewish leadership at Rome. So Paul quotes God’s judgement upon them finally, from Is. 6 of their deafness, blindness and lack of understanding and repentance, declaring that the gospel of Christ was now sent to the Gentiles, and they would listen (and receive it).

But as I first mentioned – both these categories of epistles​​ were signed by Paul​​ as he wrote them. Let me list some of these below:

Romans: From Paul, a bond servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle set apart to preach the Gospel of and from God.

Corinthians: Paul, summoned by the will and purpose of God​​ to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth…

Galatians: Paul, an apostle not from men nor by or through any man, but by and through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead.

Ephesians: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the divine will of God to the saints at Ephesus who are also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus.

Philippians: Paul and Timothy, bond servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

Colossians:  ​​ ​​​​ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother…

HEBREWS – It is still disputed some in Theological circles whether Hebrew was written by Paul. It has no typical opening greeting such as we find in the epistles listed above. However, the writer does​​ refer to Timothy who was his near and familiar minister in the faith. Heb. 13:23 say,

Notice that our brother Timothy has been released from prison. If he comes here soon, I will see you along with him.

1 Tim. 1:1, 2 let us learn that Timothy was in a very familiar relation as Paul characterized him as someone higher than just a ‘brother’,

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by appointment and commandment by God our Savior and of Christ Jesus, our hope. To Timothy,​​ my true son​​ in the faith: Grace, Mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Lord.

The same kind of greetings we also find in 2 Tim.

Also in Titus Paul says same greeting in verses 1-4.

Philemon:  ​​​​ Paul, as prisoner of Christ Jesus, and our brother Timothy, to Philemon our dearly beloved sharer with us in our work.

PAUL HAD ESTABLISHED THE FREE GRACE GOSPEL

LONG BEFORE THE FOUR GOSPELS WERE PUBLISHED

This Biblical fact​​ I have dealt with in my article-series on the​​ Great Commission,​​ and you can look it up here on my site to read it!

​​ Matthew came in 80 A.D., Mark in 82-83 A.D., John around 93 A.D. and Luke, the oldest of them, came around 73 A.D. shortly after the destruction of Israel.

It is held probable that Paul died​​ before​​ Israel was destroyed in 70 A.D. But his death is not mentioned in any portion of the Bible and it is therefore left to our guesses. Catholic legends want to suggest that he died in 67 A.D. by​​ execution at Rome. But there is​​ absolutely no evidence of such a theory anywhere.

The use of the four Gospels as if they are doctrine of faith to the Church Dispensation, is probably be traced back to the so-called Church Fathers and the early Catholic church with its bishops.

See also my recent article on Colossians here in my site.

​​ 

In this article I will have a closer look at one of the ‘Holy Cows’ in Christianity.​​ That ‘Cow’ is called ‘Born Again’.

As I wrote my article on Colossians I pointed out that most denominations are using the four Gospels as basis for preaching salvation by faith in Christ;​​ in spite of the fact that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written as​​ historical books​​ on the life and ministry of Jesus and His disciples.​​ Also Book of Acts is a historical document.

These Gospels cannot and should not be used as Doctrine of Faith in the church dispensation. We must use Ephesians and Colossians as our​​ foundation of doctrine – which is the free Grace Gospel given to Paul for us.

In Paul’s Bible teaching we find that the believers in the church dispensation are NOT​​ necessarily ‘born again’, but we are a ‘New Creation’. The two are very different as you will understand.​​ Adam was created, but Cain and Abel were born.​​ 

Paul calls us​​ ‘One new Man’​​ in Eph. 2:14, 15. This ‘One new Man’ came up as Paul was given the revelation of the Mystery: The free international Grace Gospel for​​ the​​ entire​​ world to believe, - and the Kingdom-Gospel to Israel was suspended thereby.​​ And the Law of Moses was abolished.​​ Israel fell away from God​​ for her unbelief,​​ and was destroyed in 70 A.D. as we all know.

As long as preachers and pastors keep on with their errors in using the four Gospels as foundation of faith, it will keep on producing errors in their sermons alike.

That ‘Born again’ error is one of them.​​ It has become a ‘Holy Cow’, and the same can be said of the so-called ‘Great Commission’ in Mat. 28. Nothing in those four Gospels can be used for faith doctrine, simply because God had​​ revealed to Paul His new fresh Grace Gospel​​ 18-20 years before​​ even Matthew and Mark could​​ be bought and read, and over 30​​ years before John’s Gospel. Luke came in 73 A.D. and is the oldest of the four Gospels.

If you have not read my exposition on Colossians, I recommend it to you. You see it here in my website.​​ 

We forget that,​​ as God sent His Son Jesus to Israel, He came to a people who​​ already believed on God Jehovah.​​ ​​ In other words, Jesus was sent to​​ believers​​ to preach.​​ He never went to Gentiles!​​ Jesus did NOT conduct huge revival campaigns in market places or fields, trying to have the Gentile peoples converted. Jesus preached to​​ believers​​ in God Jehovah;​​ namely Israel’s house.​​ 

The​​ only​​ famous ‘Campaigns’ the Lord conducted was for Israel, not Gentiles, when He were​​ feeding miraculously​​ the multitude present​​ – five thousand men plus women, maybe as many as 7000 people​​ (Mat. 14:15-21) in Galilee, and the other place when He did the same kind of feeding-miracle, for 4000 people. Also near the shores of the Sea of Galilee. ​​ It was the multitude that caused this to happen. Jesus had worked a lot of fabulous wonders and miracles healing the sick and afflicted. They​​ desperately and expectantly​​ followed Jesus expecting to receive healings and to hear Him preach to them (Mat. 15:29-39). The Lord had to leave by boat, and sat course for Magadan, it says.​​ 

In God’s eyes it was​​ not enough that they just​​ believed​​ on Him, Jehovah. Why? Because God had promised through His prophets that He should send them His​​ Messiah, the Savior and king who should rule Israel in a millennial kingdom (Dan. 2:44; Luke​​ 1:32, 33).

For Israel as a nation to keep up and​​ continue in faith in their God, they would have to confirm it by believing on the Messiah He sent them, namely Jesus of Nazareth. To refuse to believe on Jesus would be the very same as denying God, Who had sent Him!

Moses prophesied of Jesus in Deu. 18:15-19,

“The Lord your God​​ will raise up for you a prophet from the midst of your brethren like me (Moses); to Him you shall listen.” See also Peter’s speech in Acts 3:22, 23 on same matter. They would be destroyed if they did not listen to Jesus!

God’s demand of Israel was that​​ the entire nation, had to accept and receive Jesus as their Messiah.​​ And this was the ‘Born Again’ deal which Jesus spoke to Nicodemus the Pharisee​​ when he came to question Him in the night (John​​ 3:3) –​​ Jesus explained to Nicodemus that Israel had to be born of …’water and Spirit,​​ or else​​ they​​ cannot enter​​ the kingdom of God’.​​ Jesus spoke of the kingdom in Israel with Himself as the Messiah king. They would have to repent and be baptized in water and then also in the Spirit (just as we see in Acts 2 and Day of Pentecost).

Never has anyone sent by God taught that the believers in the church dispensation must take water baptism and Spirit baptism, being born again so one can ‘enter the kingdom of God (on earth)’ – no, this was only preached to Israel by Peter and the twelve, as well as Paul later on,​​ before​​ he was given the ministry of the free Grace Gospel, displayed in Ephesians and Colossians.​​ 

Every time you hear a preacher, no matter how nice and believing he is, Pentecostal or evangelical, whatever, - if he is telling his audience that they must be ‘Born Again’ then he is in error.​​ 

He is using a historical Bible story in error, as if it is a faith doctrine to the church. It is not. Historical writings cannot be used as faith doctrine.

In Christendom preachers use the ‘Born Again’ deal to tell the​​ unsaved​​ to get saved.​​ “You sinners must be born again” - - a standard pulpit cry we have heard again and again.​​ But Jesus spoke ONLY to the Jews – and they already believed on God Jehovah. It is an indisputable historical Biblical fact.

But in the Bible,​​ pardon me for repeating this,​​ such as in John 3:3 Jesus used the ‘Born Again’ deal to tell​​ existing believers​​ in God Jehovah how to be let into the earthly kingdom in Israel when Jesus would sit on the throne on Zion, all according to the prophets.​​ 

This can only mean one thing: Israel was considered already​​ born once, in that God formed that nation by using first Abraham and then came Abraham’s children and Abrahams grandchildren and so on and so forth.​​ We know the history as it is told in the Tora: – Genesis – Exodus – Leviticus – Numbers – Deuteronomy. Thus, being God’s own nation on earth in that order, was the​​ first​​ ‘Birth’ – but as God sent Jesus, He would have Israel getting born again, a​​ second ‘Birth’​​ as a nation for God. The acceptance of Jesus,​​ as their Messiah,​​ should be​​ confirmed by Israel​​ as they all would take the water baptism, and then receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.​​ 

In the New Testament the ‘Born again’ demand from God never was charged the Gentiles. Only God’s people the Jews were charged with His commandment to​​ repent and be born again​​ as they let themselves be baptized in water and in Spirit.​​ Our pastors and preachers are​​ totally mistaken​​ in regard to Jesus’ teaching on the ‘Born Again’ commandment.

As we find Jesus in the four Gospels, everything He said was addressed to Israel only –​​ regarding statements of faith. He said of Himself that He was sent ONLY to the lost sheep of the house of Israel​​ (Mat. 15:24).​​ 

Paul wrote in Rom. 15:8 that Christ became a​​ teacher/minister​​ to the circumcised​​ – the Jews,​​ which is the same as saying He was NOT sent to Gentiles at all.

The context is not in​​ geographic​​ (Jesus being sent down to Israel) – but in what the Lord​​ spoke​​ to Israel. He was sent to TEACH THEM, and not just to be physically present there. This means that everything He taught them He taught ONLY TO THEM, the Jews. It was to them exclusively. This is the main reason we cannot use the four Gospels as faith doctrine to the church dispensation. What Jesus said in these Gospels never was spoken to the church – for the church did not exist at that time. The church came into existence as God first revealed the Mystery to Paul as he stayed in Rome (Acts 28:25-28).

So for us Gentiles to learn what God gave us in the faith, we have but one special teacher/apostle: Paul. Jesus Christ sent us Paul to give us the free international Grace Gospel – a Gospel which Jesus did NOT preach at all – it was still a hidden mystery, not made known until Paul received it.

It is proven by the thousands and thousands, that the four Gospels are being​​ used in error as doctrinal basis for faith in our time. It started with the so-called Church Fathers, and kept on via the Catholic Church and its Popes through the centuries – and ultimately infected the entire Christianity.

Paul and the ‘Born again’ issue

In Paul’s Grace Gospel doctrine, found only in Ephesians and Colossians, there exists no such saying – there is no ‘Born Again’ whatsoever.

On the contrary: When Paul describes our status with God and Christ, he used the​​ death and resurrection of Christ as imagery,

Col.​​ 2:11, 12,​​ “In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision​​ not made with hands, but in a spiritual circumcision performed by Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh. 12: You WERE BURIED WITH HIM in baptism (the death of Christ), in which you were also RAISED WITH HIM through faith in the working of God when He raised Him up from the dead.”

Instead of the ‘Born Again’ image, Paul rather describes us as such believers that have DIED for then ultimately being RAISED BACK TO LIFE by Christ.

Paul actually calls this intervention by God for​​ a baptism into the death of Christ.​​ It is that ‘Baptism’ which Paul mention in Eph. 4:5 – saying​​ ‘..one baptism..’.​​ It is a baptism not by water immersion, but by crediting us believers as those who have died with Christ for then to being resurrected with Him.

It cannot be mistaken for a so-called ‘Born Again’ experience. It is rather a ‘Die Again’ – since Paul calls us for first being​​ dead in our trespasses and sins​​ (verse 13). So, since we were found dead in our sins, God credited us for having died​​ with Christ, and thus​​ credited us for having been​​ raised with Him​​ also. You see this?​​ This is not complicated.

The gross error of using the four Gospels as faith doctrine to the church brought with it the errors of Pentecostalism and their faulty beliefs in​​ the sign gifts and miracles of healing​​ as something which was given to the church dispensation.​​ 

Same goes for speaking in tongues and prophesying, same goes for exorcism, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, gift of interpreting tongues, raising dead persons, taking up serpents without being hurt or killed, drinking of poison without being ill or die; same even goes for Holy Communion and confessing of sins. What we need to do is listen to Paul, or more specifically, having​​ Ephesians and Colossians​​ as our faith doctrine.​​ There I said it again.

Thinking that the four​​ Gospels​​ are faith doctrine,​​ also​​ brought with it the error of water baptism, which was only a​​ ceremonial cleansing rite​​ meant for the Messianic believers in Israel, and not the regular Gentile. Baptism was​​ only for the priesthood​​ of​​ Israel, just like when Moses baptized Aaron before he could enter the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Israel was promised to become a​​ royal priesthood and a holy nation to God,​​ thus the water rite introduced first by John, then by the apostles.​​ The apostles eventually allowed Gentile​​ proselytes, but this did not mean the entire Gentile world.

If you are a believer in Christ, then you are part of that ‘One new Man’, also called the Body of Christ.​​ This is a title used by Paul to describe the entire Body of Christ​​ collectively, not singularly.

You don’t have to be ‘Born Again’ if you are not a Christian. You will be instantly saved and given the Holy Spirit as you​​ first​​ believe on Jesus Christ.

Eph. 2:8, 9,

“For it is by free grace that you are saved, through faith. And this is not of yourselves, but it is the gift of God. Not because of works, lest any man should boast.”

​​ 

By Jan Lilleby

CHAPTER 1

Colossians was written about the same time as the epistle to the Ephesians, 62-63 A.D.

In these epistles we are given​​ the entire doctrine of Faith for the Church dispensation​​ – the foundation which the Body of Christ is built upon.

It is the doctrine contained in the two epistles – and here we shall go through the Colossians – which Paul and his co-workers made in speech and in writing, many years before one could purchase and read the​​ four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Matthew was issued in 80 A.D., Mark in around 82-83 A.D., Luke is debated whether it was issued in 62 – or in 73 A.D., and I find the latter to be the most probable. John came around 90-92 A.D. IMAGE:​​ Asia Minor as it was in​​ the time of Paul. In our time, this is of course Turkey.

When Paul preached and established his fresh new free Grace Gospel – it is clear that no one had been able to read of Jesus’ earthly ministry, neither had anyone read of His twelve apostles/disciples. Nobody knew anything of the so-called ‘Great Commission’ in Mat. 28! Oh, well – except those among the ​​ twelve who still were alive. Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts, may occasionally have given Paul diverse information​​ in their conversations​​ on what he knew of Jesus and the twelve, - at least I find that to be very logical. But as far as the Bible scholars and the expertise​​ in Christianity know, there is​​ no written​​ material of history​​ on Jesus before the four Gospels.

Paul’s teaching was all dominant, actually​​ just about exclusive​​ the whole time from 62-63 A.D. until his death. ​​ Some Theologians/historians have tried to settle a time for when exactly Paul died, and came up with 66-67 A.D. – and Catholic legends wants to say that Paul was executed in Rome, and thus he did not die of old age or so-called natural causes. But there is​​ no documentation​​ for such beliefs anywhere. Regarding Paul’s passing away, history remains mute.

Later on, the so-called Church Fathers, as well as the early Catholic Church with its Bishops, after them, began using​​ the four gospels​​ as basis for much of their faith doctrine. It is proven (have you read their teachings?) that they taught an incredibly heretical​​ works-related type of gospel, much like we find in the Law of Moses. You had to do a lot of good works if you wanted to get saved! Their quotes leaned rather on the four gospels, and never on what Paul taught of his Grace Gospel. Check out​​ Rev. Stuart Allen’s book on that subject​​ – the follower of Charles Welch; he wrote much about topics like that.

They missed out completely​​ that the four Gospels only were Bible history, and never meant to be for the Church dispensation. They only concerns God’s dealing with Israel sending His Messiah King Jesus to them as promised by the prophets of old, and how Israel responded by killing Messiah – and so they had to take the punishments which destroyed them in 70 A.D., Mat. 22:7.

I just wanted to draw a little background, so that we readily understand that it is​​ exclusively Ephesians and Colossians​​ which are the valid Doctrine of Faith for the present Church dispensation, which now, 2021 A.D., has existed for 1958 years.

Colossians chapter 1 is very clarifying and extremely edifying to us believers, to say the least.​​ It is formulated in a way that we notice it has nothing in common to Jewish tradition, the Law of Moses or any ordinances. Neither is there any mention of the New Covenant to Israel or any offer to them to have an earthly kingdom. The Grace Gospel of Paul has a​​ free​​ structure​​ in that regard, and we​​ Gentiles can​​ freely receive the salvation promised​​ to us by faith in Christ without having to present ourselves​​ to God via works or abiding the Law, or any rituals performed.

Verses 1 – 5 goes naturally together:

(ALL BIBLE QUOTES FROM AMPL. BIBLE)…I may choose to drop clambers at certain verses….

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus,​​ by the will of God, and Timothy​​ (our) brother. 2:​​ To the saints and believing and faithful brethren in Christ​​ who are at Colossae:​​ Grace to you and peace​​ ​​ from God our Father. 3:​​ We continually give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we are praying for you. 4: For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus​​ and of the love which you (have and show) for all the saints. 5:​​ Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel”

In both Ephesians and Colossians we find an expression which is not found in the other parts of the New Testament. That is the expression​​ “Heaven”​​ as based on the Greek​​ Epiouranos.​​ That means ‘Heaven up above the Heavens’ – pointing to where now Jesus Christ is residing at the Fathers right hand.

Epiouranos-heaven​​ cannot be found in any of the four Gospels. In these, we only find ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and ‘The Kingdom of God’, both pointing to the promised​​ earthly Kingdom of Israel​​ with Jesus as their future king.​​ Often mentioned in Christianity as the Millennial Kingdom to come​​ with the return of Jesus.

The five verses above are introducing Paul’s​​ review of his prayer of thanks for the ministry he had heard about taking place at Colossae – and he gave them praise for their efforts – encouraging​​ them since they display such​​ affection and love for all the saints. Notice, that Paul points to the ‘Generator’ which urge the believers to go forth, and that generator is THEIR HOPE, the hope for that salvation laid up for them in heaven. And they got to know this hope, since Paul came on with his new free Grace Gospel according to God’s revelation.

The expression​​ ‘…all the saints’ –​​ actually carry in it the dismissal of a grave misunderstanding in Christianity, even if that misunderstanding was not willfully taught or planned by anyone, - it dismisses the idea which has sneaked in among us believers for centuries: That there is a​​ class divide, some are elevated as ‘Holy Ministers’ or ‘Holy Father’, at the same time as a common regular Christian Church member belongs to a ‘Second-Class’ below the before-mentioned leaders.

This has derived from the hierarchy of large assemblies, such as the Catholic Church, and even the Lutheran Protestant Churches,​​ thus creating a ‘Them’ and an ‘Us’.

The means to achieve such ‘Holiness Status’ has been ​​ through the primitive use of diverse effects of ritual value: Long expensive Priest Garments/coats, tall fancy hats, scepters ornamented with a Cross, use of incense, stanching of holy water, ​​ church buildings of considerable dimensions and height, declarations made of certain outstanding dead believers to become ‘Holy Saints’, - and then we see the Liturgical – priests facing an altar​​ to illustrate he is standing before God representing the members present, thus saying that he acts as a mediator between God and the Church. Unfortunately, Martin Luther, back in the day, did not achieve any progress in removing that​​ Catholic Entity, their innermost religious being…and so, also the Lutherans have dragged along with them that outwardly ‘Make Up’ of a leadership which is​​ holier​​ than the regular believer.

They actually, both the Catholics and the Lutherans seem to have copied much of the Jewish Temple enterprises – priests behaving as if there were sacrificial ceremonies and the likes. However, that kind of ministry was established by God, and it pleased God as such. In our time, priests have not been ordained by God. It is purely a human invention, nothing more.

This whole thing has mislead the average Christian believer (not in all denominations though)​​ to think that priests, pastors, elders and other ministers, they​​ really​​ are holy men. Am I exaggerating now? ​​ I don’t think so.

I recall a peculiar incident in this regard, you know – overdone respect for ‘Holy Men’ in long robes – which happened many years ago in my home town here in Norway.​​ Then I was just a fresh convert and knew very little of the Bible. Still, one of the many things in the New Testament fastened into my mind, such as Jesus chastising His opponents, the Pharisees. He ‘Branded’ them in various ways. And I took special interest in what He said of their puffed-up pride:

“(Free quotation) …You who seek to take the upper seats at the dining table, you who wear long robes and craving for salutes as you walk over the market place, woe unto you, chalked graves upon which people are walking, not knowing that inside the graves there are bones​​ of the dead and all impurity…”​​ and so on.​​ Check out also Mat. 23!

Then one day, I found myself at the market place in down town, and I noticed just a few meters ahead a well-known Lutheran priest was walking. He wore a long black coat and I could see he had on that typical priest-shirt under his blazer jacket. People saluted him, and he nodded back politely and smiled. And then I had to admit to myself, sure, Jesus hit the nail spot on with His Pharisee warnings!

Right, okay – I admit I was a bit naïve – but remember that I was unexperienced in the understanding of the Bible. To his defense, this priest was a Jesus-believer. But the Pharisees were absolutely not – the majority of them. But still: At least to me I saw this incident as an illustration – especially now 50 years later, that people regard ‘Men in long robes’ as so-called ‘Holy Men’ and which demands more attention and calls for more respect than just a regular every-day-Christian.​​ That misunderstood concept of ‘Holiness’ has got a grasp on many people yet today!

But then we find proper correction to such a misunderstanding: Paul’s epistles clearly declare ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST AS HOLY SAINTS. We are all on the very same spiritual level in all aspects of faith. One hundred percent holy, saved, loved by God, reconciled by God in Christ, and without reproach or any sin whatsoever of which God could judge us.

The Biblical ​​ concept of a person being holy, is because it means​​ taken aside for God and His high purposes. The believer is actually spiritually segregated from the profane world, in the eyes of God. God is now every believers Father.​​ 

The very same moment a person enters the faith in Jesus Christ according to Paul’s Gospel, that person is​​ made holy by God instantly. Salvation is by Grace only, and not by ourselves​​ and our efforts, Eph. 2:8, 9.

Let me just add to this, that I do​​ not​​ want to put any leader or priest or minister down a notch or two. No,​​ all I am saying is that we ALL as believers are on same equal level regarding standing with God. Another matter entirely is the fact that assemblies​​ must have leaders​​ to keep the flock gathered and united for the purpose of the Gospel preaching. We must remember this.

Verses 6 – 12 goes well together:

“(the Gospel) which has come to you, indeed, in the whole world, is bearing fruit and still is growing, even as it has done among yourselves ever since the day you first heard and came to know and understand the grace of God in truth. 7: You so learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister​​ of Christ in our stead and as our representative and yours. 8: Also he has informed us of your love in the Spirit. 9: For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make request for you, that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and in understanding and in discernment of spiritual things. 10:That you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God. 11: (We pray) that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, every kind of endurance and patience with joy. 12:​​ Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified​​ and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints in the Light.”

In these verses Paul makes the point of the Grace Gospel, having come to the Colossians – as well as in THE WHOLE WORLD, that is, the Roman Empire firstly. Just a side-remark: We Norwegians here up in the high north, did not receive the Gospel before around 997 A.D. when there are​​ found documented proof of that on Iceland. However, it was the kind of ‘Gospel’ you find with the Catholic Church – all written in Latin.​​ Never the less, the name of Jesus Christ is mentioned in the writings found. Think of it: It​​ almost​​ took​​ a​​ Millennia for the Gospel to reach us in Scandinavia.

Paul never talked about the four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. No, he spoke only of the​​ ONE PARTICULAR GOSPEL​​ entrusted to him by God, the free international Grace Gospel, which had been hidden in God for ages, but now revealed to His saints​​ by their leader, Paul the apostle. It happened as he was in Rome 62-63 A.D.

In Acts 28:28 we find a prophesy by Paul, that the Gospel would be received by the Gentile world, as opposed to Jewry which refused it. So Paul was absolutely​​ dominant in early Christianity​​ by his preaching of this new free Grace Gospel as it is put forth in the Ephesians and Colossians, MANY YEARS before the​​ historical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John could be purchased by the common man, like I said above.

In spite of this Biblical fact, still we find in​​ our time​​ that the four Gospels are actually being used as doctrine of Faith in the Church. Paul’s epistles are mostly used for Bible Classes and not so much in open meetings. But here it is great variations regarding such practices. My point is: We should not at all use any of the four as basis for preaching Grace salvation​​ to people. We should use Paul’s epistles only – Ephesians and Colossians. We cannot keep using historical writings as basis for sermons on the free international Grace Gospel, but only the Faith doctrine written for that purpose.

Put top priority on using Paul’s epistles – since these became the foundation of this very dispensation, the Body of Christ, the One New Man according to the Mystery (Eph. 3:1-9).

But it was the message and Gospel of the Kingdom of God on earth for Israel which took up the twelve apostles ministries, based upon what we find in the four Gospels, and in Acts. They just went and did what Jesus taught them to do: Preach the offer to Israel to have the millennial kingdom with Jesus as their king.

Paul sent forth Epaphras to follow up the teachings in the Colossian assembly as well as those at Hierapolis and Laodikea. As we read in verse 6, of that one new Grace Gospel Paul had been given…’still is growing even as​​ it​​ has done among yourselves’…we readily understand what I am emphasizing here, that it was just ONE Gospel preached, namely the​​ new free Grace Gospel revealed to Paul. The apostle never referred to the four Gospels, since they did not exist at that time. But if they had, then Paul would be quick to point out the fact that those four has nothing to do with the one he had gotten from the Lord.

I am not​​ talking about the four Gospels as something we cannot​​ mention or casually use quotes from​​ in our sermons. It is quite alright to give illustrating quotes picked up from O.T. or from the four Gospels, casting light on the new free Grace Gospel of Paul. It is quite alright to be told the difference between the two types of Gospels – the Gospel of the Kingdom of God for Israel and the free Grace Gospel revealed to Paul to be preached to the whole world.

But it is all wrong to steadily try to use only the four Gospels to deliver sermons of salvation by faith in Jesus. We must use Paul’s epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians!

As we learn what Paul had in mind regarding prayers for the Colossian assembly, we cannot find anything concerning miracles and wonders – such things that we find in the four Gospels. No, Paul said NOT ONE WORD about such things to them. Instead he prayed that​​ they would be strengthened in their​​ knowledge​​ with all spiritual wisdom and understanding.​​ And so​​ keep growing in all good works in the knowledge of God. Adding, being strengthened with endurance and patience. In the four Gospels we find (Mark 16)​​ these signs shall follow those who believe,…they will lay hands on the sick and they will get well….and so on.​​ But with Paul – he makes it a huge case of immense importance to rather have knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and endurance in the faith, patience in ministry.

Remember also this historical fact​​ on Paul’s ministry: He was saying this to existing and established assemblies! ​​ 

The believers at Ephesus (and therefore I believe this to have influenced those believers in the nearby cities of Laodicea, Hierapolis, Colossae, - maybe even Smyrna, Antioch in Pisidia, Sardis, Philadelphia, Lustra)​​ had seen and heard Paul working miracles probably by the hundreds,​​ demon possessed were sat free, he sent forth his aprons to the audiences and the sick were instantly healed of sickness.​​ He had an apostle’s signs, he said of himself in II Cor. ​​​​ 

So, the assemblies in the Post-Acts times had​​ already​​ seen these things, and still – not a word of this in his two only letters of faith doctrine to the Body of Christ, Ephesians and Colossians.​​ Hope you have got the point!

Verse 12 follows up that which Paul earlier had said to them, of them as already saved and made holy before God in their faith, now fit …to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints in the Light.

The latter sentence,​​ is​​ pointing to our hope, which is the​​ epiouranos-heaven up above.

Verses 13 – 20 are naturally bonded:

“The Father has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14: In whom we have our redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins. 15: He is the exact likeness of the unseen God, He is the Firstborn of all creation. ​​ 16:​​ For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him and in and for Him. 17: And He himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18: He also is the Head of His body, the church; seeing He is the beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place. 19: For it has pleased (the Father) that all the divine fullness should dwell in Him permanently. 20: And God purposed that through Him all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself,​​ whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, (the Father) made peace by means of the blood of His cross”.

In these seven verses​​ Paul managed to present to us a grand epos – a gigantic mighty intervention performed by God, for the salvation of all those who believes on Jesus Christ. All the believers in Christ are already in the faith​​ transferred​​ into the kingdom of the Son of His love, verse 13. Jesus is the One who redeemed us through the blood sacrifice He gave on the cross. We are already forgiven ALL OUR SINS, past –present – future. You don’t have to see the vicar to confess your sins – for there are no more sins to confess! All sin is totally blotted out regarding us who believes on Him.​​ But – some will say –​​ ‘I commit sins…since I am not a perfect sinless saint, and should I not then confess them whenever I ‘arrest’ myself in sin?’ ​​​​ Answer is already given. God knows very well that none of us can live in ‘Sinless perfection’. And did you know: God only saves sinners! But as sinners, we only feel​​ it is natural​​ to resist sin the best we know how. That is the least we can do. Thieves quit stealing, extortionists quit extortioning, murderers quit murdering, liars quit lying, and on and on.

In the verses 15-20 Paul described for us what an exalted power and authority and creative power which Jesus Christ possesses. He was BEFORE ALL THINGS – that is, He was not ‘created’ but He has always been in existence – from eternity and forever and ever, verse 17.​​ 

Now He is portrayed by our apostle as the Head (Chief, Leader) of His body which is His Church, verse 18. Jesus has absolutely ALL THE POWER such as God His Father has – He has God’s entire full power dwelling in Him! It can’t get better than that!

Right now, all Christian believers are looking forward to the promised great day of departure from this earthly life,​​ the day of redemption, Eph. 4:30.

Therefore, dear reader – we no longer just think of Jesus as the plagued and tormented one, the suffering man up on that cross described in the four Gospels. No, we are those who have gotten the gracious Grace Gospel of Paul of the free Grace by faith alone – and thus​​ a Jesus seen in the upper heavens in an indescribable exalted position of might and glory. One who is upholding the entire universe and all things by His mighty power, One to whom all rulers and powers/dominions​​ in heaven and on earth have been laid submissive.

We have a mighty Lord and Savior, and not a little local hero – a common anonymous fellow trying his best.​​ Jesus is​​ The Ruler​​ of heaven and of earth, as well as the entire universe, all things which can be seen, and all those​​ things​​ we cannot see.​​ That​​ is the Jesus​​ to whom we are introduced​​ by our great apostle Paul, as he saw Him in the heavenly visions given him.​​ 

Verses 21 – 23 belongs together:

“And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, ​​ 22: yet now has reconciled you to God in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in the Father’s presence. 23: provided that you continue to stay with and in the faith, well-grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope​​ by​​ the glad tidings, which you heard and which has been preached to every person under heaven, and of which (Gospel) I, Paul, became a minister.”

We can’t miss or overlook the obvious move by Paul here:​​ Again​​ he pushes the ‘Salvation Facts’ button, hard (!), repeating and ‘drilling’ into the minds of the Colossians​​ that God REALLY DID RECONCILE THEM with Himself (in faith in Christ), those who he characterized as​​ …estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities.​​ 

This is typical of Paul, that he​​ repeated and repeated again and again​​ the important facts of salvation by faith alone, and that the believers in Christ were saved and even made​​ holy and faultless and irreproachable​​ in the Father’s presence.​​ (And still, there are ignorant Christians that run to the vicar as soon as he catches himself of having sinned !!??)

The only ‘catch’ connected to such a great salvation, Paul wrote in verse 23, and we better make notice of this:

…’provided that you continue​​ TO STAY WITH AND IN THE FAITH​​ well-grounded and settled​​ and steadfast, NOT SHIFTING OR MOVING AWAY​​ from the hope….’

You may have heard the saying ‘Once saved, always saved’?​​ ​​ Well, it is partially true, but there is a ‘catch’ to it: We must STAY IN THE FAITH. In other words, it is up to you and me whether we will stay saved. We have a free will before God. Actually, there are people who foolishly moved away from their hope of salvation. Let us not follow those. Let us rather get strengthened in our faith and our hope in Christ!

Paul was​​ entirely dominant in early Christianity Post-Acts. Only he and his close co-workers preached that new fresh Grace Gospel. Not only in a local setting, but…quote:​​ …and which has been preached to every person under heaven, and which Gospel, I, Paul became a minister.

Nobody can top that!

Verses 24 – 29 concludes Chapter 1:

“Even now I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church. 25: In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you, to make the Word of God fully known (among you)- 26: The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations, but is now revealed to His holy people. 27:​​ To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of glory. 28:​​ Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom, that we may present every person mature in Christ. 29: For this I labor, striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.”

When we read the epistle to the Colossians, one could get the feeling – if I turned off the lamps in the room I am sitting, these verses making up the epistle would continue and light up the place by its own glory!

It is such a clarity and power in these words of Paul on God’s behalf, of the Grace salvation by faith and the hope of heaven which beams at us from the pages in the Bible.

Paul did not mean to brag of his sufferings, no, he just used this so that the Colossians shouldn’t go around feeling sorry for Paul, weighed down and depressed because of him. Paul simply tells that he sacrificed himself in ministry for their sake…taking whatever sort of sufferings that came his way.

He also made point of that​​ God had chosen him​​ to carry out the mission for the Grace Gospel​​ – thus fulfilling the written Word of God. After Paul’s writings (Colossians was the very last one) there exist no other following writings containing faith doctrine to the Body of Christ. Paul is the one and only teacher and apostle in Christendom,​​ chosen to be our teacher and minister​​ handpicked by God and Christ. Therefore, Paul is the very icon of Gospel preaching – one we have as our ideal in that regard, and of which there are nobody in Bible history matching​​ him. He is alone at the top when it comes to Gospel ministers! So consequently, we as Christians must see to it that we stay faithful to Paul’s doctrine as written in the​​ two only Church Epistles, Ephesians and Colossians.

Verses 26-27 let us know about the revelation of the mystery​​ – which is this dispensation of the free Grace Gospel and the Body of Christ,​​ which in times and ages before this had been hidden in God alone;​​ and nobody​​ knew anything about it before Paul had it revealed to him.

Col. 1:26, 27 correspond perfectly with Eph. 3:1-9 regarding the revelation of that mystery.

Paul makes a gross point of the fact that the new Grace Gospel had become…’how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you..’

Gentiles…???? ​​ Yes, Gentiles. Which​​ underlines the fact​​ that this Grace Gospel is an international Gospel, as opposed to the Gospel preached to Israel in Acts period, which was only a​​ national Jewish Gospel​​ regarding the earthly kingdom.

Verse 29 says of Paul, that it was for​​ that Gospel​​ – the free Grace Gospel, he was laboring.

CHAPTER 2

As we read on, it comes clearer and clearer to us that when Paul came forth with that new free Grace Gospel revelation, he was​​ met with much opposition.

You may recall what we read in Chapter 1 – of what Paul said of his​​ sufferings for the sake of the Gospel?

Here in Colossians 2 we will read of his warnings to them, because there were folks and certain powers out there trying to lead believers astray in heretical doctrine.

It comes to light that this opposition​​ against Paul came from the Jewish believers, those​​ who held to the Law even if they did not really keep it, and they kept on trying to lead people away from faith in Jesus.​​ At best they tried to have certain things​​ added to the faith doctrine.

So, therefore we find​​ Paul once again taking a full​​ round​​ explaining to them the matters of salvation and the greatness of Jesus Christ. Paul was in a constant battle against these heretics who disturbed the assembly at Colossae.

Verses 1 – 4 belongs together:

“For I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have never​​ seen my face and known me personally. 2:That their hearts may be braced as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may have become progressively more intimately acquainted​​ with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly​​ that mystic secret of God, which is Christ. 3:​​ In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. 4: I say this in​​ order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech.”

Paul held back at first, not allowing to bring up negative issues to the Colossians. But here in Chapter 2 he goes straight to the matter.

The apostle first brought up the greatness of the Lord, and the immense wisdom and power He has. But then he comes to his warning, that they must take care​​ not falling prey to​​ the deceitful teachings​​ certain believers had gotten into, verse 4.

These​​ heretics​​ came on with pretty slick manners -​​ …by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech.​​ Paul knew exactly what was going on, because his fellow ministers and servants brought back reports of this, to him who was in jail at Rome. Not only did they disturb the assembly at Colossae but also the one in Laodicea, a town nearby.

The next selected verses will bring us more knowledge of what those heretics were trying to preach, what type of​​ speech they taught and​​ practiced.

Verses 5 – 10​​ goes well together:

“For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your orderly array and the firmness and the solid front​​ and steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6: As you have therefore received Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in union with and conformity to Him. 7: Have the roots firmly and deeply planted, being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. 8: See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit, following human tradition, just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding Christ. 9:​​ For in Him the whole fullness of Deity continues to dwell in bodily form. 10: And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life. And He is the Head of all rule and authority.​​ 

When Paul wrote the epistle to the Ephesians and shortly thereafter wrote the one to the Colossians, he was in jail, at Rome; probably his second time. He delivered the epistle to the leadership and had them promise to read it to the Colossians, and they in their turn had the epistle copied and sent to Laodicea to be taught there as well.​​ Epaphras became the link between Paul and the assembly at Colossae.

We shall make a stop at verse 8 – which mention​​ that these heretics held forth​​ philosophy and intellectualism (same as human ideas/brain spin) and vain deceit, …elemental teachings of the universe, disregarding Christ.

In Norwegian Bible translations…’elemental teachings of the universe’,​​ are translated –​​ ‘the learning of children regarding this world with its universe’ ​​​​ etc.​​ In other words, kid stuff – things you only bring up when trying to make an innocent child grasp some common understanding of the world we live in.

Never the less, these​​ heretics disregarded Christ, and that meant that they taught that a believer had to have things​​ added to the Gospel. Jesus was not enough. It is among scholars held for true that these​​ philosophers and believers keeping a human tradition​​ were originally Christian believers, but they got caught up in the mentioned deceitful beliefs.

The same scholars also hold that these heretics were mainly​​ Christian Jews – and thus carrying a lot of Jewish cultured religion not conforming to Moses.

So we find that Paul actually​​ warned against these Jewish believers who opposed his Grace Gospel, - and among Jewry that philosophical movement was called​​ “The Jewish Philosophy”​​ -​​ which was instigated by​​ a Jewish philosopher named Philo (10 B.C. – 50 A.D.). He referred to Judaism as “The Philosophy of Moses”, but he also used the term “The Philosophy of our Fathers” and as “Judaic philosophy”.​​ 

I can imagine these heretics preaching, -​​ ‘ you see, we think it is reasonable that you must also practice keeping certain food off your table, and you must keep certain holy days and observe the New Moon and Sabbaths.​​ Paying homage to Michael and Gabriel, our angels, is also needed.​​ This is what our forefathers have practiced for centuries, you see. Our philosophy has gained much respect with our people, so you should start to keep this as well. Your faith in Christ may be in vain if you don’t follow our traditional philosophies!”​​ And on and on….

Knowing this background information,​​ of the​​ actual situation​​ in Paul’s time, makes it very easy to understand Paul’s​​ immensely strong​​ vivacious warnings. He used two ‘rhetorical lines’ – one was to exalt and give high praise to Jesus Christ and teaching the believers everything he knew of Him, His divine power, glory and greatness. And the other line was: Speaking​​ directly against these heretics, even branding them – you know –​​ liars, heretics, deceivers, disregarders of Christ, vain human wisdom, doctrine not worthy of any honor,​​ just crude notions.​​ You name it!

Actually I recently made the discovery –​​ reading Colossians in particular​​ – that the reason we find such a wide and​​ alive dynamic in Paul’s words, is the very reason he wrote the epistle in the first place: It is a letter with warnings on the one side, contrasted with high praise to God and Christ on the other side. The two different issues​​ come together in constant clashes, creating waves as we read this. It makes the Colossian epistle​​ come to life in a way that we could​​ almost feel that they are here today – even if we know this happened 1958 years ago.

We also learn of Paul’s personality, on the one hand he was tough as a nail, firm and decisive, and he had​​ a​​ commanding presence; the other side of him was​​ ​​ more melancholic​​ by nature: suffering, worrying, caring, praying and edifying, comforting and supportive – I am even sure that Paul must have cried with tears for the saints…like we can read of his departure at Miletus and the brethren from Ephesus seeing Paul off,​​ boarding a ship for Palestine (Acts 20:36-38).

Can Paul’s extensive warnings against heresy and sneaky ‘Philosophy’ written in 63 A.D. – which is 1958 years ago (it is 2021 now) – be of serious interest to believers of our time?

Yes – absolutely!

In our time, like never before, all sorts of false doctrine, false religions, false lying TV-evangelists craving for your hard-earned dollar cheating and lying to you with false promises of getting miracles from God if you support them. All​​ sorts of nutty stuff is promoted in medias of our time – TV-Channels, YouTube internet, films, - it’s all filled with ludicrous sinister and lude material.​​ 

Allow me to list up a few heretic movements​​ to you. I cannot find room to get at them each and every one though. There are three movements which have derived from Christian believers.

​​ 

• UNIVERSALISM, the doctrine saying that all mankind is saved or will be saved, eventually given a second chance after death if they lived in unbelief on earth.

• PRETERISM, the doctrine/idea that Jesus has come back invisibly and secretly, and He is now ruling from His kingdom (several variables exist).

• ANTHROPOSOPHY, promoted by Dr. Rudolph Steiner (ref. The Steiner schools), made a formal denomination in 1912. This is a​​ Philosophical movement​​ teaching that a human being with his/her intellect may be able to enter into the invisible spiritual world. Steiner mentions​​ the arch angel Michael in some of his teachings. Maybe he was a worshipper of angels? However, Steiner was not directly hostile towards Christian faith as far as I know. In the movement’s practices one can get a glimpse of good old​​ Paganism or White Magic: A farmer could in springtime burry the head of a bull in his field, so this would make a successive crop! Books on the movement written by critics mention a lot of pretty weird stuff regarding this Steiner-sect.

Additionally​​ I can mention​​ a few of​​ the non-Christian movements of considerable proportions – such as the​​ ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’​​ – called commonly for Mormons. Even if they take the liberty to put the name of Jesus in their headline/title of their movement, it is far from Christian in faith.

Their heresy is based upon an angel by the name of Moroni, who supposedly gave to Joseph Smith in Utah (a drifter, alcoholic and criminal in his time) a mysterious​​ book,​​ The Book of Mormon. This is supposed to​​ be read on same level as with the Bible. ​​ Yes, it is complicated!

Their doctrine is so confusing that they hold Michael to be same person as Jesus and that Lucifer (devil) is the brother of Jesus.​​ They are incredibly derailed,​​ if you are asking me.

Their headquarters are in Salt Lake City, Utah, and they have a cathedral there. It was raised in 1893 and had a time for completion of 40 years. The huge building is named​​ Salt Lake Temple.​​ 

As most of us know, we find their ‘apostles’ on streets all over the world, walking the cities two-by-two wearing Sunday clothing, and on their shirt front you will observe a small​​ black plastic​​ name-badge reading, for instance: “John Hansson –Elder”.​​ 

The comical part of this observation is the fact that these ‘street apostles’ from Utah are​​ squeaky freaky young boys​​ rather than elders, men of some experience.​​ They have not even grown up to ‘Beard level’ of manhood, and if any signs of hair on their chins showed up, all they would need is erasing rubber – not a shaving machine. They don’t even have the Bible knowledge that an ‘Elder’​​ actually was an elderly/old man, one with quite a few years on his back, and never a youth. The badges these Mormons wear on their shirt fronts are lying!

And their teachings are of same material: Lies and human fiction.

And there are another heretical movement/denomination we all have heard of, the ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses’ – or the formal name of this organization, ‘Watchtower Society’, and they have headquarters​​ in New York state. The founder was Charles Taze Russell. There are a vast​​ number of books and articles on the internet criticizing/exposing​​ them, and also on YouTube there are lots of videos. They are infamous due to all the​​ false prophesies​​ they have issued over the years. They cannot be considered as a Christian movement, far from it.

Lastly I will mention the​​ Word-Faith movement, which still exist after having had their highs during the eighties and nineties, and over into the​​ early​​ 2000 era.

Deriving from classic Pentecostalism, one has to consider this movement as Christian. Their believers in general, are​​ faithful regular Jesus-believers. But as time went, much of the Pentecostal people went along with​​ extreme fractions​​ of it, and one is the Word-Faith fraction.​​ 

It was mainly​​ Rev. Kenneth Hagin Sr. in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who got on with great exaggerations and fanaticism regarding healing, miracles, and not to forget – the ‘Name-it-and-claim-it’​​ Prosperity confessing. Hagin Sr. had read the books of E.W. Kenyon and was fired up by that. Kenyon taught that if you only had great faith and you confessed having received a miracle (healing for instance) in advance, then this action would bring along the miracle needed. Hagin​​ Sr.​​ and many others​​ took this also into financial enterprises: promise the TV-viewers that if they only gave money to them, then God would surely bless the donators by giving them​​ the wanted​​ miracles; even giving them back a lot of money since they had given to God.​​ 

Hagin Sr. wrote a book full of lies unfortunately, but thousands of Christian believers bought​​ it​​ and accepted the contents as true. The book is called ‘Seven Visions of Jesus’ – and it was even published in the eighties here in my own land, Norway. Hagin​​ Sr.​​ lied as he said that Jesus gave him seven visions by visiting him. He actually tells of having had regular conversations with Jesus.

Would Paul have gone against such nonsense if he had been alive today? The answer gives itself.

As we have read from Colossians, Paul did not just go​​ warning them against heretical movements, but he also told them what kind of doctrine which was the correct one;​​ namely, his Grace Gospel, given to him by Jesus Christ, in divine revelation.

Verses 11 – 14 goes well together:

“In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but with a circumcision (performed by) Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh. 12: You were buried with Him in (your) baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God when He raised Him up from the dead. 13: And you who were dead in trespasses​​ and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God brought to life together with Christ, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14: Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note with its legal decrees and demands​​ which was in force and stood against us. This He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to (His) cross”.

Paul touched in at what is the​​ very same thing, but in other words, what he wrote to the Ephesians in Eph. 4:5,

“There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism”.

In the times of Jesus and the twelve,​​ and​​ in the time reported in the​​ Book of Acts there are found three ‘types’ of baptisms; these were John the Baptist’s baptism in Jordan, the Apostle-baptism, and then also an illicit ‘baptism’ – believers who took water baptism on behalf of the dead. The latter were chastised by Paul.

In addition to these water baptisms, we also find the ‘baptism’ of the Holy Spirit like what happened at Pentecost Acts 2 and also later on by the laying on of the apostles hands, and finally – the ‘One baptism’ lined out by Paul in Eph. 4:5 – a baptism which is​​ performed by God and Christ in its entirety, the baptism into the death of Christ (and thus also into the resurrection of Christ). This sort of baptism takes place​​ in the very same instance as a person comes to faith in Christ.​​ It is not a process taking a certain time, but it is an​​ instant intervention​​ performed by God in the Spirit.

Notice that Col. 2:11 clearly say that the circumcision​​ is​​ not made by hands, which is Paul’s way of saying that it was made by God

By these doctrinal words written by Paul in 63 A.D.,​​ it is pointing to a final decision made by God of water baptism as ceased. ​​ From then on it is only the baptism into the death/resurrection of Christ.

The Acts-era also had this baptism of course. But it was​​ together​​ with the water rite. Why was that? Because Israel/the Jews under the apostles had the offer to get the promised Kingdom of God on earth with Jesus as their king, also including the fact that it involved Israel to become a Royal Priesthood of God (Exs.19:5-7) – a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. ​​ And like Aaron was water baptized by Moses before he could enter into the Tabernacle for service, Israel’s believers had to be​​ ritually​​ cleansed likewise. Had Aaron just walked in there without that cleansing by the baptism, he would​​ probably have died. So we see that such a priesthood under God and Christ, they surely​​ had to be water baptized.​​ Water baptism was​​ not​​ for the common believer, but it was for the believers of Israel’s house – God’s old nation which had a covenant with God​​ and in the time of His apostles was offering them a​​ New Covenant​​ in the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:15).

But we, the Body of Christ, the ‘One New Man’ (Eph. 2:14, 15) we are not going into the millennial earthly kingdom of God, but into the​​ epiouranos heaven,​​ the heaven up above heaven where Christ now sit at His Father’s right hand.

Water baptism regardless of form or methods, has nothing to do with the Body of Christ, the Church. We are already in the sight of God raised from the dead by faith in Christ, remember. We have already been transferred over into the heavenly kingdom of God’s Son.​​ 

I cannot say that it is a sin to perform water baptisms by Christian denominations;​​ however, it leaves the unmistakable impression of​​ lack of Bible understanding​​ – a lack of keeping ONLY Paul’s faith doctrine from Ephesians/Colossians as our guide in the faith.

Verses 15 – 23 concludes the second Chapter:

“God disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and a public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it (the cross). 16: Therefore let no one sit in judgement on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. 17: Such (things) are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality belongs to Christ. 18: Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions (he claims) he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit, 19: And not holding fast to the Head, from​​ Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20:​​ If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? 21: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not even touch!. 22: Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. 23: Such have indeed the outward appearance for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh.”

Paul says here in a strong and persuasive manner, - that since Christ disarmed the principalities and powers that opposed us (attacked us) we should not let anybody put us under their heretical dominance using certain religious rules or ‘ordinances’. Such as what we may eat and drink, neither that which concern​​ feast days, New Moon and Sabbath. ​​ Those things only foreshadowed what was brought in by Christ as He died on the cross for our sins.

Remember what I mentioned above regarding the​​ “Philosophy of the Fathers”​​ brought into the assembly at Colossae, disturbing them in the faith. Jewish Christians had taken in heretical ideas, philosophy and traditions, along with fake humility, worship of angels, abstaining from certain types of meat and drink, insisting on keeping Jewish feast days as well as the Sabbath.

Paul was in no way hostile against regular philosophy, you know – sane interest in human nature and mind sets.​​ The Greek texts implies that it​​ was not the general philosophy he went up against, but only that​​ particular Jewish teaching first introduced by Philo.​​ 

Those Jews dragged along with them such heretical fraudulent teachings and tried to have the Christians take it into their existing faith in Christ.​​ 

Paul’s stern conclusion to this all, is what we read in verse 23,​​ …they are of no value.​​ Such heretical beliefs and practices just had the believers getting more carnally minded,​​ and craving for the lust of the flesh.

​​ 

CHAPTER 3

In this chapter Paul is teaching on the heavenly perspective, the sin perspective, the human relations perspective, the equality brought in between Gentile and Jew, the Christian family perspective of man – wife – children, and finally that​​ eventual​​ unrighteous behavior​​ when dealing with a family’s ‘Servants’ (meaning slaves) would be punished. (In the Roman Empire it was lawfully to have private slaves in the households. But in our days this is forbidden by law. Check out the Epistle to Philemon.)

Verses 1 – 4 gives us the heavenly perspective:

“If then you have been raised with Christ, aim at and seek the (rich, eternal treasures) that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2: And set your minds and keep them set on what is above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3: For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4: When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

I feel mostly for to let these verses stand here without any comments!

Only, let me just say that Col. 3:1-4 clearly is pointing us away from any idea of an earthly kingdom. This was only for Israel. The verses speak of a hope which is in heaven where Christ now sits​​ by His Fathers right hand. Our hope is a​​ ​​ heavenly hope.

Verses 5​​ – 10​​ gives us the sin perspective:

“So kill the evil desire lurking in your members: sexual vice, impurity (homo), sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry. 6: It is on account of these that the anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7: Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to (such practices). 8: But now put away and rid yourselves of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!​​ 9: Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices. 10: And have clothed yourselves with the new (spiritual self), which is renewed and remolded into knowledge​​ after the image of Him Who created it.”

Also this portion of verses really doesn’t need my commentary. Paul wrote this​​ 

in a very straight forward manner. It is nothing mystical here. Keep away from sin, he says.​​ This is in no way the same as ‘Sinless Perfection’ though.​​ After having read Paul’s very outspoken exhortation – and we still don’t pay attention​​ and end up wrecked, Paul could comment to us, without being arrogant: ‘I told you so!’

Verses 11 – 17 deals with the Human Relations perspective:

“There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarians or Scythians, nor slave or free man: but Christ is all and in all. 12: Cloth yourselves​​ therefore, as God’s own chosen ones, purified and holy and well-beloved tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, patience. 13:Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also (forgive). 14: And above all these love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness. 15: And let the peace from Christ rule in your hearts to which as one body​​ you were also called. And be thankful. 16: Let the word of Christ have its home and dwell in you in richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with (His) grace in your hearts. 17: And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in His person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.”

Verse 11 show us that Gentiles and Jews in the faith now were set on equal level before God. But in Rom. 1:16 Paul taught different, that it was ‘Jews first, then Gentiles’. Something has happened since Paul wrote to the Romans in 58 A.D.​​ until he wrote to the Colossians in 63 A.D.

What happened was that Israel fell away from God as a nation to Him because of their rejection of Christ. That falling away had the consequences of Israel losing her status with God, which was to be God’s nation sat above all other nations on earth. Which, in its turn, caused God to send His armies (Romans) to destroy Israel – not the least because Israel killed the apostles and their followers, for which Jesus had prophesied that God would kill those murderers and burn down their city (Jerusalem) – see Mat. 22:7 ​​ etc.

The judgement on Israel included, shortly before their material destruction in 70 A.D., that the loss of their standing with God as His nation, made God tearing down that ‘Wall of Partition’ referred to by Paul in Eph. 2:14, 15. The Law of Moses and the ordinances were abolished as​​ they made up that wall.

Now that the wall is gone, it leaves Israel just as​​ one among all other nations.​​ 

As I write this, God has​​ not​​ entered with Israel into any covenant whatsoever. It was all suspended as we find Paul in Rome confronting Sanhedrin there, and declared to them that from then on (Acts 28:28) the Gentiles had been given the Gospel. Also, verse 27 of their unrepentant ways had come to its ‘end​​ station’ – God’s wrath fell on Israel and He considered them fallen. Paul was God’s messenger in that judgement.

Following this serious downfall of Israel, Paul was given the revelation of the ‘Mystery’ – the dispensation of the Grace of God, which Paul referred to in Eph. 3:1-9 and Col. 1:25-27. Christ has become all in all His believers, Ethnicity and cultural background has no longer any value before God. In faith in Christ all believers are on equal level, no matter what.

A short time ago (in 2021) I worked on a new article for my website, the one on​​ ‘Daniel’s Seven Weeks’​​ in Dan. 9 – and in that connection I come to read a passage found in Dan. 9:23 of the lovely and grand salute/greeting which the angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel,

“At the beginning of you prayers, the word went forth, and I have come to tell you,​​ for you are greatly beloved (by God).​​ Therefore consider the matter and understand the vision.”

If I had gotten such a visit from God’s arch-angel Gabriel, I​​ guess that I would have been taken with awe and surprise, totally​​ astonished!

But here is the thing: Through Paul’s ministry, given to him by Jesus Christ and His Father, the Almighty God, ALL CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN TOLD THE VERY SAME SALUTE/GREETING​​ as was once spoken to Daniel, God’s beloved prophet.

Verse 12 say​​ this fabulous greeting to us – the body of Christ:

(Ampl. Bible) ​​ “…God’s own chosen ones, purified and holy​​ AND WELL BELOVED BY GOD HIMSELF…”

(NASB) ​​ “…chosen of God, holy and beloved…”

(NKJV) ​​ “…as the elect of God, holy and beloved..”

Well, it can’t get better than this!

At the same instance, this shows us the greatness of God and Christ, and all we have done to achieve such blessing was that we took to the faith in Christ. It is all by Grace and not of us;​​ it is the gift of God.

Be still aware then, that what God has spoken to us, the body of Christ, is​​ not spoken to the unbelievers​​ in this world. We have to keep this in mind. Therefore we seek to preach this Grace Gospel of Paul to the world telling them of this great salvation, the gift of God in Christ.

The Epistles of Ephesians and Colossians are entirely​​ representative faith doctrine​​ exclusively to the Church, the body of Christ – the ‘One New Man’. It has not changed over the 1958 years which have passed since Paul wrote it.

After bringing this great salute in Verse 12, Paul insists on us to be forgiving and overbearing showing goodness of mind and heart​​ in our lives to one another. He also gave us ONE COMMANDMENT (I couldn’t find any other word for it) for us all to keep:​​ Even as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also forgive. Verse 13.​​ Be aware though, that these words were not written on stone-plates but on a scroll – by God’s suffering and caring apostle, Paul.

We should readily keep up with all of Paul’s exhortations and warnings and cheer-ups. He was the one​​ that​​ God and Christ chose to give us the Grace Gospel.

If you happen to get into arguing,​​ and harsh words falling from your lips, hurry​​ to beg for pardon! Regardless whether​​ you​​ feel that​​ you are the guilty party or not. Just do it!

Other than that, I think it is worth grasping the positive edifying words in Verse 16, of us singing praises to God in our hearts, making melody.​​ And we should always thank God in the name of Jesus Christ.

Verses 18 – 25 having family – wife – children as perspective

“Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord. 19: Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them. 20:​​ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21: Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children, lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. (Do not break their spirit).​​ 22: Servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in simplicity of purpose because of your reverence for the Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him. 23: Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. 24: Knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance which is your reward. You are actually serving the Lord Christ the Messiah.​​ 25:​​ For he who deals wrongfully will be punished for his wrongdoing. And there is no partiality.”

What is marked by​​ red fonts​​ is what Paul wrote of a Christian believer if he had slaves in his household, or if one actually was a slave (servant). You may get some insight if you study the letter to Philemon, who had a slave (Onesimus) who ran off to be with Paul. Remember then, that in the Roman Empire slaves were legal in any household.

Can this exhortation be taken into our time and used as Biblical rule of conduct in regard to employers versus employees?

I am not so sure of that! ​​ What about the rights to participate in a strike or a lock-out? ​​ How about so-called ‘Social Dumping’ using cheap laborers from an underprivileged nation?​​ ​​ Each of us must have his own opinion in this case. Its complicated, isn’t it?

In our time it is the​​ Justice System and the Courts of any civilized nation, which will decide disputes between employers and employees. No doubt about that.

I just wanted to expedite this issue before going to the verses which are valid in a Christian’s life-style in our time.

Verse 18 – of wives having to subdue​​ and be obedient to their husbands, is a ‘Hot Potato’ everywhere, not the least with the Feminist-Movements! To them this man – wife thing is like a juicy Beef-Steak which they would like to sink their teeth into. The issue is often used in disputes against Christian morale and life style. Husbands making ‘slaves’ of their wives, forcing them to scrub the floors,​​ and wash​​ the laundry,​​ and cook the meals​​ every day for the rest of their lives.​​ ​​ You can hear them hollering against Christian family life.

Was that what Paul wrote about? ​​ 

Not at all! He wrote to the believers in a fair and realistic way. Wives do best what wives usually are good at; and so also for the husbands.​​ 

Would you rather stay in the kitchen cooking dinner, while your wife is out in the shed chopping fire-wood? ​​ Usually it is the other way around. Or would you rather shift diapers on your little infant baby, while your wife is outside washing the car? ​​ And so on and so forth.​​ 

A marriage is a two-way street,​​ and​​ one has to deal in all fairness and good spirit with one another, and getting things done​​ without stupid and stubborn arguing​​ and brawl.

When reading Paul’s exhortation on familiar relations and life-style, please remember that this is God’s Word.​​ It is meant to be a blessing to you when you follow the instructions. It is PLEASING TO THE LORD, says Paul, to follow his instructions. I agree.

To men of our time, Christians in particular, I would suggest that those of you who​​ still sit on your butt every evening​​ staring at your TV-screens and sports news and all: Just quit that! ​​ Go and help your wife instead. Be a man and not a self-pitying egotistical playboy. Get filled with the Spirit, Paul says. Pray always, Paul says.​​ And had he been alive today, with all that TV-media and Internet all around us, he would have said: Don’t ever watch any of those sleazy crappy wicked soap-operas which you find on every TV-channel in our time, and cut out watching the just as wicked ‘Reality-Shows’ and ‘Big Brother Shows’, and do the same with the Police-Series!​​ ​​ What Paul would have shouted against the lying cheating money loving TV-Evangelist Shows of our time – I cannot even imagine.

​​ 

Has it ever occurred to you that​​ maybe it is time for you​​ to be Paul’s loud voice up against the ungodliness of our time? You are alive (I hope) but Paul is dead.​​ What if you started a Christian website, making it your pulpit and preach​​ to the world? This is not impossible, but it will cost you time and money, of course.​​ Just a hot tip, nothing else.

Don’t yell and swear​​ at your children and thus rob them of their self-respect​​ making them depressed, says Paul. This is not rocket-science; it only takes faith in Christ and a​​ regular sense of responsibility​​ to handle these common human affairs.​​ 

CHAPTER 4

Verses 2 – 6 belongs together:

(I skip verse 1 since I have already finished my comments regarding slavery above) ​​ - ​​ 2: Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer​​ (life), being alert and intent in (your praying) with thanksgiving. 3: And at the same time pray for us also, that God may open a door to us for the Word, to proclaim the mystery concerning Christ on account of which I am in prison. 4: That I may proclaim it fully and make it clear, as is my duty. 5: Behave yourselves wisely in your relations with those of the outside world, making the very most of the time and seizing the opportunity. 6: Let your speech at all times be gracious, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer anyone.”

It is prayer/intercession which is the main theme in these five verses. Paul​​ was​​ encouraging the assembly to pray for fellow believers as well as for their own eventual needs, mostly of spiritual character.

Not often do we find the great Apostle of Christ, Paul, asking for intercession, but here he did. And he did right by that:​​ He was jailed, probably for the second and final time. I can also guarantee you that such a Roman jail had no resemblance of Hotel Hilton Royale, be assured of that!

We notice however, that​​ Paul had the Gospel preaching in mind, and not so much his own situation even if that was bad enough. He must have had worrying thoughts – on how it would go, would he be freed from jail or would he be punished by execution?​​ This is mentioned below, in verse 7…

Then Paul put focus on the importance of the​​ believers’​​ walk with God, to be friendly​​ and behave wisely in meeting the outside world; knowing also to handle eventual opposition from those who heard the preaching of the Gospel.​​ 

Then I take the liberty here at once, as we have the topic on the table: Pray also for me that I can proclaim the Grace Gospel of Paul in the right manner and in writing articles and expositions in that errand! Thanks for your attention!

Verses 7 – 14 belong together:

“Tychicus will give you full information about my affairs; he is a much-loved brother and faithful ministering assistant and fellow servant in the Lord. 8: I have sent him to you for this very pupose, that you may know how we are faring and that he may comfort and cheer and encourage your hearts. 9: And with him is Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yourselves. They will let you know everything that have taken place here in Rome. 10: Aristarcus my fellow prisoner wishes to be remembered to you, as does Mark the relative of Barnabas. You received instructions concerning him; if he comes to you give him a hearty welcome.​​ 11: And (greetings also from) Jesus, who is called Justus. These (Hebrew Christians) alone of the circumcision are among my fellow workers (for the extension of) God’s kingdom, and they have proved a relief and a comfort to me. 12: Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always striving for you earnestly in his prayers, that you may stand firm and mature, convinced and fully assured in everything willed by God. 13: For I bear him testimony that he has labored hard in your behalf and for the believers in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. 14: Luke the beloved physician and Demas salute you.”

In these seven verses Paul gives us an overview over who are his close​​ colleagues and fellow servants in the faith and the ministry. Two of the four Gospel Writers are mentioned here, Luke and Mark, so it is obvious that the two must have been well into the new free Grace Gospel of Paul. Still we only find that their Gospels focused on a​​ historical report​​ on the life of Jesus and of His elect disciples. It was not meant for faith doctrine to the Church. They both knew that such a task had been entrusted to Paul and nobody else.​​ 

Luke issued his Gospel and the Book of Acts around 73 A.D., Mark issued his Gospel around 83 A.D. Even if they knew very well what Paul taught in his free Grace Gospel, none of the two used any of Paul’s doctrine or mentioned it. In Acts, Luke only referred to Paul’s preaching as he went to Jews and proselytes with the Kingdom message, the earthly kingdom offered to Israel in Acts period.

Paul was jailed and in that situation he wrote the two epistles to the Church dispensation, Ephesians and Colossians. Pardon my repeating this all the time!

Catholic​​ legends have set forth their ‘theory’ that Paul was executed on the order of Nero in a general persecution of the Christians at Rome. But no Biblical documents have any such report.​​ 

Many have in mind the infamous fire in Rome in 64 A.D. and that Nero gave the Christians and Jews the blame for this. Films have been made of that drama.

The apostle mentions Aristarchus as one who also was in jail, calling him his fellow prisoner (verse 10). And of free fellow servants​​ he gives these names: Timothy, Luke, Tychicus, Onesimus, Mark, Jesus Justus, Epaphras and Demas. That makes nine men including Aristarchus, the prisoner.

When Paul said in verse 7 …Tychicus will give you full information about my affairs…that was not regarding how Paul felt or if he was at good health, no,​​ it was the imprisonment and what eventually​​ the Romans would do with him – setting him free or executing him.

Epaphras made a good figure before the other ministers, in that he was the one working fulltime for the assemblies Paul mostly had contact with​​ the Colossians, Ephesians, Laodiceans, and those at Hierapolis.​​ See the image on top of this article.

Verses 15 – 18 is Paul’s final words and exhortations ever:

“Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the assembly which meets in her house. 16: And when this epistle has been read before you, see that it is read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and also see that you yourselves in turn read the letter that comes to you from Laodicea. 17: And say to Archippus, See that you discharge carefully the ministry and fulfill the stewardship which you have received in the Lord. 18: I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. Remember I am still in prison and in chains.​​ May grace be with you! Amen.”

We notice here how Paul, in spite of his prison situation, focuses on the preaching of the Grace Gospel and that his epistle will be read also in other assemblies than just Colossians. He had the Grace Gospel at heart all the time; that the world should hear​​ of​​ this glorious act of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Paul’s last prayer: Remember my chains!

Paul’s last greeting to his fellow believers: May grace be with you!

CONCLUSION

We have had a look upon the Epistle to the Colossians and the important Bible truths found in it;​​ given to us by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, regarding the dispensation of the Church, the body of Christ.

It is a​​ ‘Bible truth within a Bible truth’​​ that the two epistles can be seen upon as twin-epistles.​​ These are the only Bible writings which have doctrine of faith for the Church dispensation.

Only Paul the apostle was entrusted with such a revelation that the Grace Gospel really is. It was a hidden mystery in God, until He found the time when it should be revealed to mankind.

Personally I hold the​​ belief or conviction​​ that the Church only has​​ a few years left on earth. I think around 20 years rather than 30.

But until we enter that​​ …Day of Redemption (Eph. 4:30)​​ – and God takes us into His glorious heaven, it will still be our duty and privilege to preach and teach this Grace Gospel to all humankind.​​ 

We are those who breaks the ‘Finish Line’ when our run is over -​​ ​​ and I pray and I hope you are among the ones coming over that winner-line and find yourself in heaven, our hope of salvation in Christ! I wish us all good luck in this ministry to the world!

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The Parable of the

Wedding​​ Feast

By Jan Lilleby

This parable is actually two parables, and nothing

in​​ these​​ parables,​​ or any other parables​​ told by Jesus

had anything to do with our present dispensation

of the free Grace Gospel according to Paul!

This parable seems to be prophetic – He pointed to something in the​​ future​​ to happen.

Why I say this is because there cannot be much doubt, as we look back at​​ Bible​​ history,​​ that the​​ first half​​ of this parable found in Mat.​​ 22:2-7 was what happened as the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the temple and great parts of Israel in 70 AD.

Thus, I find it convenient to explain that part of the parable separately, and we shall then have a look at the second part after that.

From New King James Version, Mat. 22:2-7,

“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell​​ those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ​​ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.​​ 7: But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.” ​​​​ (In this narrative, the​​ servants​​ are the apostles and their associates)

We will notice that Jesus delivered this parable to the audience in the temple site, as it was​​ the​​ 13th​​ of Nisan 28 AD (our 27th​​ of April, Thuesday), the Passover was the next day, the day of the crucifixion of Jesus.​​ IMAGE:​​ The temple burning in 70 AD.

Jesus had cleansed the temple at 12th​​ of Nisan (see Mat. 21:12, 13), healed many sick people and thus provoked the evil-minded Pharisees there. They were after Him, but they dared not arrest Him in the open – with the people there witnessing it, like told in Mat. 21:46,

“And although they were trying to arrest Him, they feared the throngs because they regarded Him as a prophet.”​​ 

Imagine then, that as Jesus spoke the parable saying that​​ ‘A king sent out his servants to invite for his son’s wedding banquet’​​ – the angry hateful Pharisees were listeners among the crowd there. Jesus addressed His parable directly to them!​​ As it says in verse 1, it is clearly an addressed parable, and that receiver was the flock of Pharisees present there:​​ “Jesus spoke to them (Pharisees) again in parables, saying:”.​​ And the Pharisees understood that it was them He talked about …THEY were not willing to come (to the wedding).​​ It was still the Pharisees He shot at, saying, …and the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and KILLED them.

That​​ last sentence​​ was then a prophesy. Jesus told them to their face that they would go and kill His apostles/disciples, in a persecution. Jesus was right, for we read of this in Acts, how they jailed them and killed them, over the years.

As we find Paul at Rome​​ in custody 60-62 AD, Josephus​​ Flavius​​ told in his book on the Jewish War, that Governor Festus,​​ who represented the Roman rule in Palestine at that time, got very ill and went to Rome for cure. That left the strict rule of the Roman Governor partially vacant, since no one could fill the position immediately, and thus, Josephus wrote that the​​ priesthood and temple guards took advantage of his absence and attacked the Messianic assembly at Jerusalem. Ananias II​​ (he who had slapped Paul in the​​ face) had the elders and James stoned to death, and many fled up to Pella to escape this killing spree.​​ 

This was the​​ very end​​ of the persecution which Jesus foretold in His parable of the Wedding in Mat. 22, for just four​​ years after, the war with Rome was started as Jews made rebellion against their rule.​​ 

The brutal attack against the assembly at​​ Jerusalem – added to the confrontation Paul had with the unbelieving Jewish leaders at Rome (Acts 28:25-28) – had the effect that God simply​​ gave up on Israel, and​​ He​​ considered them fallen away from Him.​​ 

That fall was confirmed by God letting the Roman army destroy Israel entirely, sending thousands of prisoners to the slave market in Alexandria, all according to Moses’ prophesy in Deu. 28:68.​​ History tell us that Titus made use of around​​ 70 000 Jewish prisoners​​ to build the huge arena Colosseum in Rome.​​ But the other prisoners were sent to Egypt like I mentioned.

This destruction was what Jesus prophesied in verse 7 of the parable. The king got angry and​​ sent his armies​​ and killed the murderers and set fire to their city (Jerusalem).​​ When king Nebuchadnezzar took Judah​​ and Jerusalem in 587 BC, Jeremiah​​ on behalf of the Lord, said of the king​​ that he was a servant of God for​​ that​​ punishing​​ cause. And so it was also when Rome took Jerusalem, it was​​ an army of God sent to punish and destroy the sinful nation which had just persecuted and killed God’s servants, the apostles.

That took place on 10 Av (our 10th​​ of September) which was a Sunday. Same calendar day as when king Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian army took Jerusalem in 587 BC​​ when​​ Zedekiah was king​​ of Judah​​ – and burned down the city​​ and deported Jews as prisoners to Babylon.

So, there is no doubt that Jesus​​ foretold​​ of the destruction of Israel in 70 AD.

Ironically, the destruction was not​​ really​​ a Roman initiative but it was​​ provoked by the Jews themselves​​ as it arose two men among them saying they were the Messiah of God.​​ 

There had been an episode of sacrilege in the synagogue at Caesarea initiated by a Roman official, and that stirred up an angry mob which attacked the Roman Garrison there, and it spread to other places – especially near ​​ Galilee, north in Palestine. Eventually this brought in among others, the two leaders I mentioned above.​​ They both had followers and they started​​ a more organized​​ rebellion which ended by a total disaster for Israel.​​ 

The two leaders were​​ Eleazar ben Ananias​​ and​​ Johannes Ben Levi. The entire time of the rebellion seems to have been a​​ time of confusion​​ and Jews fighting Romans,​​ and​​ Jews fighting Jews in disagreement – total mayhem was raging. Eleazar was the leader of the​​ first​​ aristocratic Jewish rebel government. ​​​​ Ananias II eventually was killed by his own​​ followers turning on him​​ during the struggle between the Sicarii extremists and the more moderate party in this rebellion against Rome.

The Jews could only thank themselves for all the destruction that fell upon them – a direct result of having crucified the one and only Messiah God had sent them, Jesus.​​ The king was​​ infuriated​​ and had His army execute these murderers who had killed His servants, the apostles.

There are​​ three​​ elements I would like to mention here, which are the parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13, and the incident which took place just the same morning Jesus told His parable of the Wedding Feast – as we read Mat. 21:19 Jesus​​ cursed the fig tree​​ at the road side and miraculously it withered up immediately. His disciples were shocked.​​ And the third element is that Wedding Feast parable.​​ 

Actually, Mat. 22:1 is using​​ plural tense​​ “Parables” introducing the parable of the Wedding Feast. This is correct, for it is two parables told there, and I shall come back to this shortly.​​ If you read the rest of chapter 22, until the last verse 46, you will find no other parable/parables in that chapter. Neither will you find any in the next chapter, Jesus’ famous chastising of the Pharisees and all of their hypocrisy, lies, and heretical teachings – branding them as the children of the devil. So, it is quite Biblical to say that the​​ plural tense​​ in Mat. 22:1 –parables,​​ is actually​​ only talking​​ of the one of the Wedding Feast. Mat. 22:46 says straight forward that Jesus hereby had definitely stopped the Pharisees and their many attacks against Him,

“And no one was able to answer Him​​ a word, nor from that day did anyone venture or dare to question Him.”

I am convinced that the barren fig tree in Luke 13, which should have been cut down, was a​​ prophetic image of the unbelieving Israel: In three years the owner of the​​ vineyard (the fig three was planted in a vineyard) had come looking for fruit but found none. In three years Jesus spent His ministry on earth to preach to Israel, but they would not receive Him, they would not believe (the fruit is their eventual​​ faith).​​ Israel would not believe on Jesus, - so therefore cut down that fig tree! But the vinedresser pleaded with the owner, if he could try one more year putting on​​ manure and digging in the soil around it to see if it could come up with fruit. That ‘one year’ was equal to the time used by the ‘vinedresser’ (here the vinedresser represents​​ the flock of apostles Jesus sent out). But even after that extra year (30-some years in historic timeline​​ of Acts) the fig tree of Israel was still barren, AND IT WAS FINALLY CUT DOWN BY THE ROMAN BATTLE AXE.

Likewise, Jesus cursing the​​ fig tree​​ at the road side, and it withered, - this was also a prophetic image of the very same. This fig tree made up Israel and her lack of faith.

And as third element, as already mentioned above,​​ in the same narrative, Jesus delivered His parables​​ of the Wedding Feast, for which He sent out His apostles to invite Israel to come to the wedding – for Israel is the​​ bride of Jesus Christ​​ as she comes to faith in Him. BUT…the big awesome BUT: He foretold them that they would NOT BELIEVE​​ ON​​ HIM in the future, and therefore they would persecute and kill His servants.

THE LAST HALF OF THE PARABLE

There are​​ several scenarios​​ involved in how Christianity interprets this part of the parable.

Let me first quote it to you, from verses​​ 8 to 14, (Amplified Bible)

“Then he said to his servants, The wedding (feast) in prepared, but those invited were not worthy.​​ – So go to the thoroughfares where they leave the city (where the main roads and those from the country end) and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find. ​​ - ​​ And those servants went out​​ on the crossroads and got together as many as they found, both bad and good, so (the room in which) the wedding feast (was held) was filled with guests. – But when the king came in to view the guests, he looked intently at a man there who had on no wedding garment. ​​ - ​​ And he said, Friend, how did you come in here without putting on the (appropriate) wedding garment? And he was speechless (muzzled, gagged). – Then the king said to the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; there will be​​ weeping and grinding of teeth. ​​ - ​​ For many are called (invited and summoned) , but few are chosen.”

Before we can leave the parable, we need to learn what is said in verse 15,

“Then the Pharisees went and consulted and plotted together how they might entangle Jesus in His talk.”

They had become more and more angry – actually they became filled with pure hate against Jesus. Why? He hung them ‘Out-to-dry’ while the people in the temple heard it all. Then we read that they came with the foolish attempt of trying to make him speak badly of the Roman Emperor…as they showed Him a coin asking Him if He thought it was lawful to pay tribute to him or not. Then we get the famous saying from Jesus:​​ ‘Give to​​ Caesar what is due to him, and pay to God the things that are due to God’. ​​ The Pharisees lost​​ again​​ and had to leave Him,​​ shamefully over their lack of ability to talk back.​​ They were SPEECHLESS just as Jesus told of that one man who was thrown out into the darkness outside! This made the Pharisees even more certain that Jesus talked of them – as He had left them speechless more than one time.

And angrier than ever!

THE PARABLE FROM VERSE 8 AND ON IS ANOTHER

Jesus started actually a​​ new parable​​ – it had changed contents and He had ended the first half (verses 2 to 7)​​ with the king sending armies to kill the Pharisees, - and​​ made a different ‘cast’ of the scenario than the scenario which ended with the destruction of Israel in 70 AD.​​ As I already mentioned above, Mat. 22:1 says that it were​​ parables, in plural tense and not parable as in singular! Jesus used the scenario of a wedding in both parables, and that can bring some confusion if the Bible reader skips​​ such facts. We need to read the Bible often in a scrutinizing manner.

Jesus therefore could not​​ have begun at the same start-point as that of the destruction of Israel. We have to look upon this whole parable as a short preview of contexts, which in the verses 2 to 7 was all about Israel’s destruction after having killed His apostles during Acts period.​​ And the second half verses 8 to 14 is of the Pharisees being​​ cast out of the kingdom of God​​ for their lack of faith.​​ Thus creating a​​ second​​ parable​​ actually.

Neither can we regard verses 8 to 14 as something that​​ followed after​​ the destruction of Israel in 70 AD.​​ 

The actual context in the parable’s​​ last half​​ is that​​ Jesus used the theme of ‘inviting to a wedding feast’ – but with the intent to show that there was an illicit guest there who had not put on wedding garment:​​ Jesus pointed directly to the Pharisees. They knew this, and therefore they tried desperate to catch Jesus by His own words, but failed miserably. Notice what Jesus said:​​ ‘Tie him hand and foot and cast him into THE DARKNESS OUTSIDE (outside the kingdom of God – remember, the parable was about the​​ kingdom of God) – there shall be weeping and grinding of teeth’.​​ IMAGE:​​ Cast the unbelieving Pharisees out into the darkness!

Jesus had already warned the Pharisees prior to this telling of the parables​​ of the wedding feast, in Mat. 21:43 He spoke straight forward to their faces​​ …the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the fruits of it. ​​ Verse 45 says a lot: ​​​​ “And when the chief priests and the Pharisees​​ heard His parables​​ (comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain), THEY PERCEIVED THAT HE WAS TALKING OF​​ THEM.”

And so, the next parable after the Pharisees concluded and understood that Jesus was talking of them, He came up with this parable​​ (parables)​​ of the Wedding Feast.

And Jesus used that​​ ‘sneaked in’ single wedding guest who had not the wedding garment on,​​ to tell the very same Pharisees that if they came into this wedding, they would be thrown out into the darkness. They would be lost of the kingdom of God, because of​​ their unbelief.​​ 

The Pharisees heard that Jesus told them that they would persecute and kill the apostles; they heard Him also conclude sternly that because of that, the nation of Israel would be destroyed.

Jesus concluded the second part of the parable, that​​ many were called but few are chosen – saying that to be able to come to the wedding, one must be chosen, that is, one​​ must have faith​​ in Jesus Christ. The Pharisees did NOT have faith in Jesus.

Some scholars and preachers and pastors – both​​ inside the Acts-28 camp and outside it,​​ -​​ hold that the parable is telling of a future ‘Wedding Feast’ and thus invitation, to people along the ‘Highways’,​​ as some translations say, such as NKJV;​​ (but NIV says ‘Go to the street corners’).​​ In the understanding of that this ‘invitation’ went out​​ after the destruction of Israel in 70 AD.​​ But I cannot agree with those.​​ They are ignorant of the fact that the parable of the Wedding Feast actually is two parables.

We​​ cannot look past the fact​​ that Jesus prophesied the end and destruction of Israel, which was fulfilled in 70 AD.

Since that time, no​​ ‘kingdom-gospel’​​ has been preached by​​ anyone​​ sent by God,​​ and absolutely no ‘Wedding Feast Invitation’.​​ 

If such an enterprise has been going on, then I ask: Where is it? Who are they?​​ What exactly are the names of the leaders of such a movement?​​ Can anyone give me a valid actual address with a phone number or an email address so I can check them out?​​ Can I participate in a meeting or service they eventually hold? Are they seen and heard on any TV-media?​​ I could go on and on…but I am afraid this so-called operation of going out on the ‘Highways’ with such a wedding invitation in the aftermath of Israel’s destruction is just chasing invisible ghosts. It is a​​ fantasy​​ freak-show which nobody can see or identify in any manner.​​ It simply does not exist.

I say that all kingdom-preaching​​ ended the same day as​​ Paul had his revelation of the Mystery​​ in Eph. 3:1-9 – the dispensation of the Church, the Body of Christ.​​ Most probably we are talking of the year 62 or 63 AD. That is when Paul wrote his two epistles, the one to the Ephesians and the one to the Colossians;​​ revealing the free Grace Gospel for all people, and no more preaching of the kingdom of God, the millennia.​​ It is possible that Paul was in​​ a second jailing​​ when he wrote to the Ephesians and Colossians. He might have been sat free from all charges by Nero’s appeal court, but arrested a second time, maybe because of the turmoil caused by the great fire in Rome…but this cannot be proven.

In​​ this​​ dispensation there are only​​ true Jesus-believers, trusting​​ in the Gospel of the free grace for all people on earth, as taught us by Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.​​ Israel is fallen and is just one nation among other nations. Eph. 2:14, 15.

So, there is​​ no parallel calling​​ running at the same time as the calling of the Body of Christ is.

The last half of the parable​​ of the Wedding Feast is therefore NOT a continued effort on God’s hand to reach out to Jews with the message of a Wedding Feast (only Israel can be the Bride of​​ the Lamb,​​ Jesus,​​ the believing Israel, and not all people on earth).

The dispensation of the Church, the Body of Christ, is standing​​ all alone​​ as long as it exists. God is not working with Israel today, they are still considered as fallen away from Him, actually, they are considered as ‘non-existent’ when talking of a nation. They were returned to Egypt as slaves in 71-72 AD by Roman​​ sea vessels to Alexandria.