Matt 28:18
All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
In the beginning, God created the heavens (dual) and the earth (singular). Gen. 1:1.
In the same Chapter, the firmament was established and called heaven, but not called good.
Then, after mentioning the heavens and the earth, the account goes on to deal with the earth, the man, his fall, and the plan for redemption. Nothing is said about the heavens, whether inhabited, in need of redemption or what part they play in the affairs of men.
All power is given unto Me in heaven (singular) and in earth (singular). Matt. 28:18.
Here, heaven is singular since it is mentioned in contrast to earth. See note in the Companion Bible. But again, we are disappointed, for the Lord goes on to give an earthly program to The Apostles and gives no information about the heavens.
From the two references given in Genesis and Matthew, we see only an earthly program of redemption. Man is given dominion over the earth. He has a relationship with beasts, fowls, fish, and the like. Later on, we can see that there is a ministration of angels, but all connected with the Dispensation of Promise, which began with Abraham.
Peter gives us a pretty good panorama of the heavens and the earth. He speaks of those in Gen. 1:1 as those that then were. And he speaks of the heavens and earth that are now. And he looks forward to the heavens and earth that are to come in which will be righteousness. See 2 Peter 3:5-8.
The Lord's words in Matt. 28 and those of Peter in 2 Peter 3 give a slight hint that there might be sentient beings in the heavens. He is to have power there, and there is to be righteousness there. These references show that there are three heavens and three earths in the Scriptures. John was caught up to the 3rd heaven and also to paradise, the new earth. See 2 Cor. 12:1-4 where Paul speaks of a vision he experienced, and then compare what Paul said with what John experienced in various expressions in the Revelation.
The great turning point in our account of redemption is where, in Scripture, God began to reveal something about the heavens. For over 4,000 years, the earth was man's domain and place of dominion. His Hope in Resurrection was to be again on the earth in a Great Kingdom or in a new earth in either a Great City made without hands or in Paradise. And all this Great Salvation which had to do with The Kingdom and the Great City was of the Jews.
At the time, Acts 28:28, the Jews are for the present set aside, and The Salvation of God sent to the Gentiles. This is where the switch is made. The theme, the Hope from there on of Salvation, is connected with the Heavens, not the earth. This is where The Church of The Dispensation of The Mystery began. (Well, it actually began in The Mind of our God, and He then Called us in Christ before the overthrow of the word. Eph. 1:4)
The Church is blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3).
All in heaven and earth to be under one Head (Eph. 1:9-10).
The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the holiest of all, heaven itself (Eph. 1:18).
Christ over every power in heaven and earth, as well as every name (Eph. 1:20-21).
The two spheres mentioned in Gen. 1:1 are the subject of the rest of the Word of God. Although both are mentioned at first, we soon discover that the earth is the main subject till we get to the Epistle to the Ephesians.
Both spheres were in the overthrow, which must have come about with the rebellion of the greatest and wisest creature ever created (Eze. 28:12-19). Peter speaks of this overthrow as being by water (2 Pet 3:5-6). And we note that when redemption is completed, as far as the earth is concerned, there will be no more sea (Rev. 21:1).
We are assured that the redemption of all creation was in view even before the overthrow. We are told in Eph. 3:6 that the members of The Church have a part in a promise in Christ. In 2 Tim. 1:1, it tells us that this promise is one of Life. And in Titus 1:2, it is eternal life promised before the ages began. Note that this is in connection with the revelation of The Mystery. It was not revealed to God's earth people, Israel.
After man was put on the earth and failed, and the nations also failed for a period of 2,000 years, a new nation was formed to have a ministry among the other 70 nations, and from this nation would arise The Redeemer, a King from Judah.
This nation of Israel was a chosen nation. They were to be a Kingdom of priests (Exo. 19:6) to make known the name of Jehovah to the nations. They were called God's firstborn (Exo. 4:22). They were The Church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38).
Because of their sins, Israel was unable to fulfill her purpose. So finally, their Redeemer came, who was to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21) so that they might accomplish that for which they were chosen. They rejected their Redeemer. The work they were to do was postponed (Acts 28:27-28). But redemption was procured by the blood of Christ. All was set in order for the work to begin. After the Dispensation of The Mystery is over, Christ will return to earth. Then Israel will begin her work among the nations with The Lord and the Twelve directing it.
Upon the rejection of Israel's Messiah for the second time (Acts 28:27-28), the great secret of a work of redemption in Heavenly Places is revealed. Another people from among the Gentiles has been chosen. They are another firstborn (Eph. 1:5). Even now, this Church is making known the manifold wisdom of God to principalities and powers in Heavenly Places (Eph. 3:10 ). No promised land on the earth for this Church! It is blessed with all spiritual blessings in the Heavenly Places in Christ. Read Eph. 1:3-14.
So we discover that a Church (Acts 7:38) was chosen as one body for God's earth program. When it was set aside, then another Church called The Body of Christ came into being, which has its citizenship in Heaven (Phil. 3:20 ). (We must remember, however, that The Church of The One Body of Christ was called before all others and was a primordial plan of habitation, not redemption.)
We must conclude that the heavens and the earth of Gen. 1:1 are the objects of redemption, for we know that redemption must reach out as far as sin did.
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Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
This is a translation according to usage by the author:
Colossians 2:4. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Do not be fooled by plausible speech.
There are all kinds of traps to get you involved in some religious movement and rob you of your mind and goods. Hypnosis or brainwashing accompanies these false movements. Moreover, it becomes impossible for one to burst the bands and get free. Satan has his so-called gospel and plenty of agents out selling it. Even in the Bible school classroom or in the pulpit, the reasonings of man can be detected, leading folks astray from The Truth that is in Jesus Christ. It is like the old parable of the spider and the fly. And many are entangled in these days.
Colossians 2:8. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Now, the word philosophy means love of wisdom. But when it is the wisdom of the world, it is often a lie. And much of what is called religious philosophy is just that, lies. Note that this could read as a vain and deceitful philosophy. So the word is not out of place if used of True Wisdom, that not of this world.
Most of the traditions of men are the outcome of a false philosophy and even from rationalizing, which is also a dangerous practice. You can fool yourself into believing almost anything if the flesh actuates it. Galatians 4:3 speaks of children of bondage under the elements of the world. Elements really mean a foundation, necessary things. But when of the world, they are to be shunned. All these things are not after or according to Christ.
Colossians 2:16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days.
This warning is aimed at going back to the elements of Judaism, the law. The eating and drinking of the Passover are no longer to be observed (wrongly called the Lord's supper). We are to worship in spirit and in truth, not by earthly things. Religious holidays are not to be observed (Lent, Easter, Christmas, etc.). All these are carnal, not spiritual. Not of works, lest any man should boast. At the present rate, there may soon be more holidays on the calendar than working days.
Colossians 2:18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.
Voluntary humility is worth nothing. It is only a pretense to gain the admiration of men. It is disgusting when one sees the goal of it. And such can have pride in their humility, which is, after all, just a false front. God has no reward for such human antics; in fact, just the opposite. It is common for religious organizations to portray angels in their decorations. Empty, vain idolatry!
Be on guard, beware, lest you get entangled and lose rewards!
According To Ephesians
1. Doctrine. All Spiritual Blessings. Members are blessed with every blessing that is spiritual. Where? In the Heavenlies. In Whom? In Christ. Why? In harmony with the choice from before the overthrow.
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2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Note the items for which Scripture is of profit. Most people are interested in profit. Here is profit that is abiding. But some of the items are not liked so well. Doctrine is all right. Most folks who are spiritual at all enjoy some doctrine and teaching. But Reproof that is different. We like to reprove but do not care to be reproved. But the Reproof of the Scriptures should be accepted with thankfulness. There is also Correction. If our way is wrong, then we can correct it by The Word. But it is hard to admit that one is wrong. This is a grace that can be learned by practice. Then, there is the Instruction in Righteousness. God's ways are righteous. We need to know them so we can walk in them and be Instructed in Righteousness. Now, the object of all this profitable work of The Word is that the man of God might be perfect, not perfect morally as so many think, but perfect in that he can accomplish that for which he was created.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words....shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
No one can love God unless he knows God. And God can be known only from His Word that reveals Him to us. David said, THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE (Psalms 119:11). Evidently, he knew this counsel of God. The Jews knew that knowledge of The Word and belief in it brought life, so it was the custom at the Passover that the youngest child that could talk would ask the question as to why they observed this feast so that the father then could recite the deliverance from Egypt of which this feast was a remembrance. If believing is the requirement for Resurrection, as John 3:16 indicates, then it was necessary for parents who loved their little ones and wished that they live again to give them The Word as soon as they could repeat it and grasp it. The Word of God was to be a common topic of conversation in the home. Many of the Hebrew children memorized long passages, and some even learned all the OT from memory. It was only natural that the children should grow up as believers. And there is a profitable lesson for today, too.
Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Our Lord has said that heaven and earth shall pass away but that His words shall not pass away. Being indestructible, they are profitable.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. No doubt Paul had in mind all Scripture written up to this time. That then would include the Bible as we have it today except Second Timothy, which he was writing. We have no doubt about it also being inspired. We do not include the Apocrypha, for it was introduced along with the LXX, not in the Hebrew Scriptures.
We note in the verse before that Paul says, And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. No doubt Timothy, up to this point, had access to all Scriptures except this one last epistle, and now he has that.
All the Scriptures then are God-breathed. And because they are the inspired Word of God, we have the words added, And it is profitable. We are always interested in that which is profitable, and we should be. And what can be more profitable than the Scriptures, which speak of the unsearchable riches of Christ?
The Scriptures are profitable;
1. For Doctrine. This refers to teaching. Our teaching concerning The Dispensation of The Mystery is found in Ephesians Chapters 1-3 especially. Also, much doctrine is set forth in Colossians.
2. For Reproof. If we have proof, then we should have Conviction. And this is the meaning of the word. But the Word can only reprove when believed. Reproof then comes from being convinced of The Truth.
3. For Correction. This is the only place this word is used. It means to right up again, set to rights, to restore. With a rudder and compass, one can set right the course of the ship. So is the inspired Word of God.
4. For Instruction in Righteousness. The word here is sometimes translated as discipline. Also, it can mean to teach. But the goal of the instruction or teaching is to go on unto righteousness. To Israel, the righteousness of God was revealed by the law. Now, God deals with mankind righteously in Grace because of the work of His Son. We have an imputed righteousness, the righteousness of Christ. But there is a righteousness to be put into practice in the daily walk of the Christian.
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, this is the goal. It has to do with both the walk and the ministry of the saints.
The walk of the member of The Body of Christ is outlined in Ephesians Chapters 4-6. It is to walk worthy of the calling—perfect means to be fitted. And furnished means equipped. So, one is to be fitted and equipped for every good work.
To make the message a bit plainer, let us join the first and the last in this manner: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
This teaching section tries to discover the rules God had put in place to govern proper Scriptural research; that being said, let us begin with;
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. In Greek, the last five words of this quote are expressed in only one word, Theopneustos. Literally, it means God-breathed.
This being true, it is very important that we pay close attention to every word. We cannot afford to read a passage and then just make a guess as to what is being said. A schoolboy may very hurriedly read a lesson over and hope to get something of the gist of it so as to pass the exam. But one does not get the mind of God by skimming over what He has said. And the schoolboy may get some strange notions about the subject by using such a method of study. Every jot and tittle must stand.
There are many who subscribe to the Scriptures and claim them to be Holy and inspired, yet at the same time, they place something over and above them. It may be the traditions of their church, or even the church itself, that they place above it. Some may put human reasoning above the Scriptures.
The Jews put the Targums and Talmud above the Word of God and so made it of no effect by their traditions. Then, too, we have some sects and denominations who claim to have received further revelations from God, which are over and above the Bible. They have another Bible of their own.
Many who profess themselves to be wise stand as judges over the Scriptures. They can tell God how He should have written His Book. And if they do not like The Book, then they can declare the Author to be dead. Some have done so.
The Lord told the Jews to search the Scriptures. The noble Bereans searched the Scriptures. That is what we should be doing today. This means that we are to ransack them, to trace out, to track out. So then, we are to take words, subjects, and ideas and track them throughout the Bible to see what they may mean. Likewise, we are to check what man writes.
At Berea, the result of their search was that many of them believed. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Too few search the Scriptures today, and so few believe. We apply this, particularly to those who make a profession and belong to some organization that carries the name of Christ.
Thy Word is Truth. When a man learns this great lesson, he next learns some more. He learns that he cannot by any searching out exhaust the Word of God. Those who know the Author can testify that the words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times Psa. 12:6. Every word of God is pure. They are not the words that man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Ghost teaches 1 Cor. 2:13. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2:14.
Man's wisdom is set forth in long-winded discourses with plenty of footnotes, but real wisdom is where the teacher is able to say, Thus saith the Lord. No other footnotes are needed.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
PROFITABLE. They are worth looking into.
1. Doctrine. Doctrine is teaching. Much that we learn comes from teaching. That learning is good if it has been correctly taught. There can also be false doctrine taught by liars and evil spirits. But the doctrine we find in the Book is good doctrine, the profitable kind.
2. Reproof. This we do not like. But it can be very profitable if we will but take it. The Bible reproves people of sin. That is why so many will not read it. It is a mirror in which we can see ourselves as we really are. It does not flatter.
3. Correction. We do not always like this either. We like to go our own way. But the Word is a corrective, turning us from our own ways and the crooked paths to the straight ones. Our speech needs correction. Our activities need guidance and correction. Our worship and service also need it.
4. Instruction in righteousness. It seems that man's imagination is continually evil. It comes naturally. When it comes to righteousness, or rather doing right, he needs instruction. He has to be taught it. And the Word does just that. Things that the natural man might think to be right are not found right according to the standard of the Word. The first step in doing right is to love. No step that is profitable can be made till this first one is made. Even the ten words for Israel demand love for God and for fellow men.
THE GOAL. All the above leads up to something.
1. That the man of God may be perfect. Left to his own devices, the man goes the downward grade. His progress has always been the opposite of evolution. The sons of Adam were highly civilized, but they soon went back, and many lived in caves and used the crudest of tools and weapons. They killed and often ate each other. But the measure of the perfection of man is the One who was the express image of God, Christ. Civilization does not make a man perfect. It is an inner work by the Spirit.
2. Throughly furnished unto all good works. We are reminded in Ephesians 2:10 that the man who is saved is created unto good works. Not only do we have to find what these good works are, but we have to be trained to do them. We also have to have the tools with which to work. The Scriptures furnish all these things. There is no other way to attain this goal than by reading and studying the Scriptures. So let's get busy!
John 5:39 In speaking of the Scriptures, our Lord said, They are they which testify of Me. And just where else can one find a testimony concerning Jesus Christ our Savior? We have given you just one reference, but think of the many throughout the Book that say the same.
Now, it is very important that we take facts right from the Word and not mere inferences in any study we may make. We do not need to stray from the Scriptures or change them to find the answer to our quest: Where is He?
Apart from the Bible, there is no other source to which we can turn for light amid the darkness and nothing that can give life to the sinner or shed abroad in the heart the peace that passeth understanding. Science is no help in this realm. Education might help a little if used as a tool, but it fails to meet the deep innermost needs of the heart. God's Word alone is the one source of life, light, and peace. And God manifest in the flesh was able to meet all the needs. He is the true and living way.
What is the difference between the Christian and the man of the world? The answer is very simple. The Christian believes what God has said in His Word, and the man of the world does not. So therein lies the difference between life and death. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12). So then we may conclude from the plain testimony of this Scripture .that all men are either Haths or Hath Nots. And there is a great abyss between life and death.
Now, take Abraham as an example. He was in a world of darkness and idolatry. God spoke to him. He believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Abraham's knowledge was probably almost nil, for the truth, even in the stars, had been lost. A great deal of knowledge is of no use in this case. It is what one knows by revelation and believes. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. At all turns, we are thrown back onto the Scriptures. Any other information or knowledge is useless in this matter of knowing Christ.
We have heard of folks saying that they believed the Bible to be the Word of God from cover to cover, yet they had not opened the covers. Such are liars and do not know what they are talking about. It is plain ignorance. No one believes the Bible unless he has read it or heard it read by somebody.
Truth for us in the world today consists in what God's special messenger had to say to us Gentiles after Israel was divorced. We must know Christ and His relationship to those who believe today. But we must always remember that the written Word and the living Word, Christ, are woven together; they cannot be separated. The Scriptures do not reveal a creed but a Person. Then we can say, I know Whom I have believed. See 2 Timothy 1:12 . Is that your experience? Think it over.
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