It is important to understand the relationship that existed between the members of the Trinity before anything was created.  The apostle Peter tells us that Jesus Christ “was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you” (1 Pet. 1:20).  Though He was “foreknown before the foundation of the world” by the other Persons of the Trinity, there was a point in time when God the Son came into the world and took upon Himself perfect humanity in order to make Himself known to sinful men.  God the Son added to Himself perfect humanity (John 1:1, 14; Gal. 4:4), lived free from sin (Heb. 4:15), satisfied every righteous demand of the Mosaic Law (Matt. 5:17-18; Rom. 10:1-4), and in His humanity died a substitutionary death for sinners that they might have the free and gracious gift of eternal life because of His death on the cross (Rom. 3:24-25; 4:1-5; 5:6-10; 10:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 2:2). 

Steven R. Cook, M. Div.

     Christians are people who have trusted Christ as their Savior and received the gift of eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28; Acts 4:12; 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9).  The local church is a group of Christians who have assembled together for Bible teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper and prayer (Acts 2:42; cf. 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15-16).  Fellowship is very important to Christianity; however, God’s Word prohibits intimate relationships with two groups of people:

1. Unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-15; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 John 1:9-11).

2. Believers who have turned away from God and are living perpetually carnal/worldly lives (1 Cor. 5:1-2, 9-11; 2 Thess. 3:6; Tit. 3:10-11).

     Living in a fallen world means the Christian must live in the reality that there are dangers and dangerous people to be avoided.  Discernment is necessary at all times.  God’s Word provides the righteous standard that helps determine those who are safe from those who might cause spiritual harm.  As Christians, we love intimate fellowship with others, but only within the context of holiness and obedience to God’s Word. 

     The Apostle Paul wrote to his friend Timothy and mentioned the “last days” as a time in which unbelieving sinful men would magnify their ways (2 Tim. 3:1-5).  After providing a list of the character flaws of these sinful men, Paul made no hesitation to tell his friend Timothy to “avoid such men as these.”  Paul described these men to Timothy, saying,

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Tim. 3:2-5)

     I personally dislike “malicious gossips” and am glad to “avoid” the rest as well.  Though Paul’s character list is primarily negative, we should not miss his statement that many are religious, “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power” (2 Tim. 3:5).  Among the lost there are both moral and immoral degenerates.  It is the Christian responsibility to turn away and “avoid” men who live such sinful lives.  Not that we stand in judgment of them as individuals, for that would be wrong!  But we do evaluate their behavior as wrong, and on that basis, we avoid them because we do not want their behavior to harm us or corrupt our walk with the Lord.  Paul makes it clear that “bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33).

     We can see an open door of opportunity with unbelievers when we come to them with the gospel and share Christ.  However, the majority of unbelievers in the world are hostile to God and Christians.  Most unbelievers are completely devoted to worldly values, and are devoid of God in their thoughts, words and actions.  Paul tells us to “avoid such men as these” (2 Tim. 3:5).  Some Christians make the mistake of trying to get too friendly with unbelievers and Paul warns against this.

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? (2 Cor. 6:14-15)

     Paul is not advocating monasticism, as though the believer needs to hide from unbelievers and live in seclusion.  Certainly, as Christians, we live in the world and interact with unbelievers all the time, sharing Christ with those who are willing to listen and performing good works toward those who will accept our kindness.  However, we are not to be intimately bound together with the unbeliever in church matters, and this even speaks to personal matters such as marriage and business.  I am friendly toward many unbelievers and have helped more than I can count.  However, my close friends are Christians who love the Lord and walk with Him. 

     On one occasion I lost a Christian friend because he turned away from the Lord and chased after the world, pursuing the flesh and a lifestyle of illegal drug abuse.  I repeatedly spoke to him about Scripture and prayed for him (Gal. 6:1), but he refused counsel and Christian friendship and wanted the world instead.  The Apostle Paul once wrote of a Christian friend he lost to the world, stating that “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” (2 Tim. 4:10).  Certainly Paul’s heart was grieved over the loss of his Christian friend. 

     Sometimes the carnal/worldly Christian separates from us, but sometimes we must separate from him.  To be clear, The Bible commands the obedient-to-the-word Christian to separate from the carnal/worldly Christian (1 Cor. 5:1-2, 9-11; 2 Thess. 3:6; Tit. 3:10-11).  This does not mean Christians are not to approach believers who are in sin and seek to draw them back to Christ (Gal. 6:1); of course they are!  But when a believer is given to defiant sinning and is pursuing their own selfish desires rather than Christ, then the Christian must at some point break the fellowship.  It is impossible for a humble believer and an arrogant believer to have an intimate relationship, for they are pursuing antithetical lives.  The humble believer is seeking God’s will through Scripture, whereas the arrogant believer is only bent on pleasing his flesh. 

     The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and was concerned about their carnality and the divisions that existed among them (1 Cor. 3:1-4).  At one point, Paul addressed a particular matter of carnality that had been brought to his attention, saying, “it is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife” (1 Cor. 5:1).  There was a Christian in the church who was having sexual relations with his stepmother.  Paul sternly rebukes the church as a whole, telling them, “you have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst” (1 Cor. 5:2).  Separation is never pleasant, though it is at times necessary.  A few verses later, Paul corrects a misunderstanding that had occurred from a previous letter he’d written to the church at Corinth by stating,

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world [i.e. unbelievers], or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (1 Cor. 5:9-11)

     This correction by Paul makes it clear that there are some instances where the Christian has the duty to separate from other Christians who are living carnal/worldly lifestyles.  Specifically, Paul says “I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” (1 Cor. 5:11).  Christians are to judge the behavior of those inside the church, but God judges those outside the church.

What have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. (1 Cor. 5:12-13)

     When a believer turns away from God and thinks and acts like the world, the foundation for Christian fellowship is removed.  There cannot be agreement between two Christians when one is standing on God’s Word—which demands holiness—and the other is standing on Satan’s worldly system—which defies holiness!  One is seeking God to do His will and the other is seeking the world to please the flesh.  The two value systems are completely opposite each other, as much as light is the opposite of darkness.  Christians who live in Satan’s world-system ultimately live unruly lives.  Scripture commands us to turn away from these carnal/worldly believers; at least until they turn back to the Lord and resume their spiritual walk.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly lifeand not according to the tradition which you received from us. (2 Thess. 3:6)

Reject a factious man [i.e. divisive, quarrelsome person] after a first and second warning [after his divisiveness has been addressed], knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. (Tit. 3:10-11)

     Scripture teaches that Christians should practice hospitality (Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:2); but this command has its limitations.  Christians should turn away from false teachers and avoid them.  Pleasing God, after all, is more important than pleasing others. 

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those [i.e. false teachers] who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them [avoid them]. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech [telling people what they want to hear] they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. (Rom. 16:17-18)

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ [denying the bodily incarnation of God the Son; cf. vs. 7], does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. (2 John 1:9-11)

     Again, Christians are called to show hospitality to others (Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:2), but not to false teachers, whether believers or unbelievers.  Once the false teacher is identified, the Christian is to turn away from him and avoid contact with him.  This means NO HOSPITALITY and NO WARM GREETINGS to these false teachers who are set in their ways.  The modern attitude of toleration and acceptance was not held by the writers of Scripture, especially in matters of doctrine pertaining to the Person and work of Jesus Christ.  A false gospel can forever damn a person to the Lake of Fire, and false teachers who pervert the gospel are not to be welcomed (i.e. Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.).  Paul said, “if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”(Gal. 1:9) 

     Separation from carnal/worldly minded people is necessary to peace, purity and effective spiritual growth in the church.  Christians are called to live holy lives unto the Lord, which means they are to walk in the light of God’s Word and not as the world around them.  When carnal/worldly minded people are in the church—whether believers or unbelievers—they have a corrupting influence that cause divisions and bring other Christians down.Antithetical values grind against each other and do more harm than good. 

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Steven R. Cook, M. Div.

Volunteer Pastor at Word of Truth Bible Church, Arlington, Texas

www.wordoftruthbiblechurch.com

          When a person writes, he does so with the assumption that language serves as a reliable vehicle for the expression of ideas.  This is true for someone who writes a letter or an author who writes a book.  The words on the page transmit the thoughts from the mind of the writer to the mind of the reader.  You make the same assumption with others around you, when you communicate to a friend, family member or coworker.  We assume the normal use of language all the time, as we read words on highway signs and medicine bottles, on food packages and work documents.  Written language is everywhere and, for the most part, we read it plainly, taking the words for their normal meaning.  Good grammar helps with clear communication.  Of course, writing is only one means of communicating with others, as we may talk, use facial gestures, sign language, etc.

          Though the Bible was written by men who used their own language, vocabulary and writing style, its ultimate Author is God.  The Bible has nearly forty human authors who wrote over a period of time spanning approximately sixteen hundred years; but behind each human author was the divine Author who communicated His thoughts through them and superintended their writings so that what they wrote is without error in their autographs.  This is called the doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration, which means that every portion of Scripture, though penned by men who used their own choice of words and writing style, accurately communicated God’s thoughts to mankind.  God spoke through men and used their language and literary style to reveal Himself, His work in the universe, His will for mankind, His plan for history, and His work of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.  In all this, we must be absolutely clear that the Bible claims to be, “the word of God” (1 Thess. 2:13).

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. (1 Thess. 2:13)

All Scripture is inspired by God [theopneustos – lit. God-breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved [phero – carried along by another] by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Pet. 1:20-21)

          When I read the Bible, I read it in a normal literal manner like I would any other book.  I take the words in a normal way assuming the author intended only one meaning when he wrote to his original audience.  There are some pastors and teachers who advocate a nonliteral, non-grammatical, non-historical reading of the Bible, but in doing so they strip the author of having authority over the meaning of his words.   A nonliteral reading of the Bible opens the floodgates of speculation and allows the imagination of the reader to make the Bible say whatever he wants it to say.  I’ve sometimes wondered if liberal teachers would get upset if their books were read in a nonliteral way.

          When driving on the highway, we assume the literal meaning of the words written on traffic signs.  The words written on traffic signs help us know where to enter the freeway and where to exit, and they help us get to our destination in a safe and often timely manner.  By law, every driver on the highway is required to understand the language written on the signs and to obey the laws communicated to him.  The driver is not free to interpret the signs any way he pleases, and failure to obey the laws can result in serious harm to oneself and/or others.  Nonliteral interpretations can get us into trouble in many areas of life, including a nonliteral reading of our taxes, marriage vows, legal contracts, etc.  Yet, it’s surprising that many people feel free to read the Bible nonliterally.  The consequences are eternal.

If one does not use the plain, normal, or literal method of interpretation, all objectivity is lost.  What check would there be on the variety of interpretations that man’s imagination could produce if there were not an objective standard, which the literal principle provides?  To try to see meanings other than the normal one would result in as many interpretations as there are people interpreting.[1]

          When I read the Bible in a normal way, I assume the regular use of language that keeps me from fanciful interpretations.  By paying attention to the grammar and history of the Bible, I’m better able to understand what each human author intended when he wrote to his original audience.  What I’m referring to is commonly called the grammatical-historical method of interpretation.  The grammatical-historical method of interpretation means the Christian reads the Bible in a plain manner, paying attention to the normal rules of grammar and the meaning of words as they were commonly used in their historical setting.  It pays attention to the rules of grammar employed by an author when he wrote to his original audience.[2]  Dispensationalists are the most consistent in the application of the grammatical-historical method of interpretation. 

Dispensationalists claim their principle of hermeneutics is that of literal interpretation.  This means interpretation that gives to every word the same meaning it would have in normal usage, whether employed in writing, speaking, or thinking.  It is sometimes called the principle of grammatical-historical interpretation since the meaning of each word is determined by grammatical and historical considerations.  The principle might also be called normal interpretation since the literal meaning of words is the normal approach to their understanding in all languages.  It might also be designated plain interpretation so that no one receives the mistaken notion that the literal principle rules out figures of speech.  Symbols, figures of speech, and types are all interpreted plainly in this method, and they are in no way contrary to literal interpretation.  After all, the very existence of any meaning for a figure of speech depends of the reality of the literal meaning of the terms involved.[3]

          Most of the Bible is simple narrative, stories of how God has acted in history and in the lives of people.  As I read the Bible, I also discover psalms, proverbs, figures of speech, poetry, symbols, parables and other forms of literary expression that were employed by the human authors as they wrote under the divine inspiration of God the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).  Certainly there are some passages in the Bible that are difficult to understand, but after reading through it, I find about 95% of it easy to understand.  When reading through the Bible, a good general rule to follow is:

When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, and literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, clearly indicate otherwise.[4]

          When the Christian reads the Bible in a normal and consistent manner, it leads to the conclusion that there are dispensational distinctions that directly impact how we live our spiritual life.  Understanding dispensational distinctions helps the Christian advance to spiritual maturity and to enjoy God’s blessings.  Failure to understand dispensational distinctions can be disastrous for the Christian, as he might mistakenly try to live the Mosaic Law which was given to Israel rather than the Law of Christ which is given to the church.  The word dispensation is derived from “the Greek word oikonomia, which means ‘stewardship.’ This word is used in Luke 16:2, 3, 4; 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10; 3:2, 9; Col. 1:25; 1 Tim. 1:4.”^[5]

Dispensationalism is a system of interpretation that seeks to establish a unity in the Scriptures through its central focus on the grace of God. Although dispensationalists recognize differing stewardships or dispensations whereby man was put under a trust by the Lord, they teach that response to God’s revelation in each dispensation is by faith (salvation is always by grace through faith). Dispensationalists arrive at their system of interpretation through two primary principles: (1) maintaining a consistently literal method of interpretation, and (2) maintaining a distinction between Israel and the church.^[6]

          The two main points mentioned above are very important to keep in mind.  The first being the consistent literal method of biblical interpretation, and the second being the distinction between Israel and the church.  The first necessarily leads to the second.  As one holds to a consistent literal method of interpretation of the Bible, there is naturally born out in one’s theology a distinction between these two people of God; and be assured, Israel and the church are both the people of God with specific hopes and glorious futures.  Both are the people of God, but both must be kept distinct in our thinking, as the Bible itself draws a distinction (1 Cor. 10:32). 

_____________

Steven R. Cook, M. Div.

Steven is the volunteer pastor at Word of Truth Bible Church, Arlington, Texas

www.wordoftruthbiblechurch.com

www.christonly.com

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1. Healing the sick (Matt. 8:1-4).
2. Casting out demons (Matt. 8:16).
3. Feeding the multitudes (Matt. 14:19-20).
4. Speaking divine Truth (John 1:14; 14:6).
5. Rebuking the arrogant (Matt. 23:1-39).
6. Dying for sinners (Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).
7. Providing eternal life (John 10:28).

 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:5-7)

To be in Christ is to be identified with Him in a real and personal way.  When Saul was attacking the church and Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus, Jesus said to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” to which Saul replied, “Who are You, Lord?” And the response came, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:4-5).  To attack a Christian is to attack the Lord Jesus Himself.  On the other hand, Paul repeatedly speaks of the many blessings that belong to the Christian who is in Christ.  Some of these blessings we enjoy in time, whereas others we will enjoy in eternity. Of our new position in Christ it is stated:

1. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3).
2. We were foreknown and predestined to be God’s elect (Rom. 8:29-33; Eph. 1:4).
3. We are forgiven all our sins (Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13).
4. We are made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5).
5. We are raised up and seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6).
6. We are the special objects of His great love (John 3:16; Rom. 5:6-10; Eph. 2:1-7).
7. We are the recipients of His grace (Eph. 2:8-9).
8. We are delivered from the power of Satan (Col. 1:13).
9. We are transferred to the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:12; cf. Acts 26:18).
10. We are children of God (John 3:6; Gal. 3:26; 1 Pet. 1:23; Tit. 3:5).
11. We are members of the Church, the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).
12. We are justified before God (Rom. 3:24-28).
13. We have peace with God (Rom. 5:1).
14. We are given the gift of God’s righteousness (Rom. 4:3-6; 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9).
15. We have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4, 10-13).
16. There is no condemnation (Rom. 8:1).
17. We are given eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28; 20:31).
18. We are made ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20).
19. We are given citizenship in heaven (Philip. 3:20).
20. We are made priests to God (Rev. 1:6).
21. We are indwelt and sealed with the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Eph. 1:13).
22. We are guaranteed a new home in heaven (John 14:1-3).
23. We are guaranteed resurrection bodies (1 Cor. 15:50-58).
24. We have special access to His throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).
25. We are called to grow in His grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18).
26. We are the recipients of His faithfulness (Heb. 13:5; Philip. 1:6; 1 Thess. 5:24).
27. We will be glorified in eternity (Rom. 8:18, 30; Col. 3:4).

The Christian who is advancing spiritually must, at some point, learn to live in the reality of his new position in Christ.  By faith, his life experience should grow to reflect the reality of his position in Christ and in the family of God. Truth, love, mercy, grace, righteousness, sacrifice, and other Christian virtues should become more evident as the believer engages in his daily pursuit of God, as he seeks to lay hold of the One who in love laid hold of him and by grace saved him and displayed His wonderful riches upon him.

Steven R. Cook, M. Div. is the volunteer Pastor at Word of Truth Bible Church, Arlington, Texas

www.wordoftruthbiblechurch.com

www.christonly.com

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We know God has plans for Israel in the future because there are unfulfilled prophecies that speak of Israel being in the land that God promised to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:18; Isa. 60:21; Jer. 16:14-16; 30:3; Ezek. 37:21-25), with Jesus Christ ruling on the throne of David for 1,000 years (2 Sam. 7:16; Isa. 9:6-7; Matt. 25:31; Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 20:1-6).  One such clearly stated unfulfilled prophecy pertaining to Israel and Jesus Christ reads as follows:

He [Jesus Christ] will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:32-33)

Thisprophecy related to the Lord Jesus Christ and the “house of Jacob” will find its fulfillment at the Second Coming when Jesus returns at the end of the seven year Tribulation and establishes His 1,000 year reign on the earth (see Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-6).  At that time, “the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33).  Until God the Father brings these prophecies to pass, He will continue to accomplish His purposes on the earth through His Church.

Steven R. Cook, M. Div.

Volunteer Pastor at Word of Truth Bible Church, Arlington, Texas

www.wordoftruthbiblechurch.com

www.christonly.com

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Two things I asked of Thee, do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion, lest I be full and deny Thee and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God. (Prov. 30:7-9)

1. Agur, the writer of this Prayer, recognized his weaknesses and asked to be shielded from the two areas that would affect his relationship with God.
2. In the first area, Agur asked to be shielded from “deception and lies” which can lead a man away from God.  Deception can lead to idolatry and the exaltation of things over/against the Creator.
3. In the second area, Agur asked God not to give him more than he can handle, either in wealth or poverty.  In both cases, Agur was fearful that he might fail prosperity or poverty situations and “profane the name” of God.
4. Here, wisdom is displayed in one who knew his weaknesses, and who prayed that God would not give him more than he could handle.

Steven R. Cook is the volunteer pastor at Word of Truth Bible Church, Arlington, Texas.

www.wordoftruthbiblechurch.com

www.christonly.com

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