THE RULE OF FAITH VS. THE RULE OF LAW

I personally have tried to live under law, and it has brought to my life nothing but destruction and defeat. But in recent years, I have been trying to wean myself off of law and live a life based on faith. It is with that in mind that I have tried to look at the scripture and answer the question; how do I; Jeff Rogers, live by faith. If you have found a way to live by law, you are a better man (or woman) than I. But as for me, I must stick closely to faith for that is where the scripture drives me.

THE RULE OF FAITH VS. THE RULE OF LAW

We are to tread in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised, Romans 4:9-12.
“The promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to him, or to his seed, through the law," Rom. 6:12, 13, and yet affirms, that as many as are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
And this promised blessing, and heirship, was given to Abraham, and to his seed-four hundred and thirty years before the law was given.
What rule did these pilgrims in the walk by being without the law? Who obtained so good a report (or so good a testimony) from God? How did they know what was sin and what was not sin since they lived four hundred and thirty years before the law?
---We are told that Abel offered to God, and obtained witness that he was
righteous by faith-then faith was his rule of worship. Heb 11:4, 12:24
---Enoch walked with God by faith-then faith was his rule of walk. Heb 11:5
---Noah condemned the world by faith-then faith was his rule of judgment. Heb 11:7
---"By faith Abraham, when he was called, went out not knowing whither he went"-then faith was the rule by which he took his journey, though he knew not whither, and his obedience was the obedience of faith. Heb 11:8-17
But if he had been living under the law as his only rule of life, he would have known where he was going, and he would not have gone in ignorance, and his obedience would have been the obedience of the law instead of faith.
---But Paul will have it that all Abraham's children are in the same condition that their father, Abraham was-for they walk by faith, not by sight. Rom 4:12-16
---But if the letter of the law is the only rule that the believer is to walk and live by, then he walks by sight, not by faith. Gal 3:2, 3:5, 5:18 2 Cor 5:7
---He looks at the things that are seen, not at the things which are unseen. Heb 11:1, 7
---It is by faith that Moses saw him who is invisible, and by faith we must look at the things that are not seen,
which are eternal. Heb 11:27

Paul lays it out in the New Testament: (and other passages).
---"He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him;" Heb 11:6
Then faith must be the rule of his coming.
---"We have access, by faith into this grace wherein we stand," Rom. 5:2
Then faith is the rule of our approach to God.
---"The just shall live by his faith," Hab. 2:4
Then faith is the just man's rule of life.
---"We walk by faith, not by sight," 2 Cor. 5:7
Then faith is our rule of walk.
---"Thou standest by faith," says Paul, Rom. 11:20
Then faith is the rule of a believer's standing.
---"Whatever ye shall ask believing, ye shall receive," says Christ. Matt 21:22
Then faith is the rule of the branch of worship involving prayer.
---"By faith Enoch had this testimony, that he pleased God; but without faith it is impossible to please him," Heb. 11:5, 6
Then faith is a rule that God approves of, and is pleased with. (Nowhere in scripture do we find one who pleased God
following the rule of law),
---"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” Rom 14:23
Then faith is a perfect rule of holiness.
---"He that believes is justified from all things, from which he could not by the law of Moses". Acts 13:39
Then faith is our rule of righteousness.
---It is by faith that we overcome the world. To lay hold on eternal life, is to fight the good fight of faith, according to Paul; "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" 1 Jo 5:41, Tim 6:12, 2 Tim 4:7
Then faith was the rule of his warfare, and the rule of his race; and it was the grace of God
that made Paul obedient to that rule.
---"We have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith," Rom. 1:5,
That is, by Christ we have received grace to save our souls, and apostleship to be of use to the church, not as a reward of our obedience, but to furnish us with power, to make us obedient to the faith, among all nations for his name, Rom. 1:5
Then faith is the rule of apostolic obedience; for it cannot be called receiving grace for obedience to the faith, if faith be not the gracious man's rule of obedience.
---Paul counts all things but dung that he may win Christ, and he found in him; not having his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, and tells us to" walk by the same rule, and mind the same thing," Phil 3:8
Pauls whole point in Phil 3:8 is that our walk is by the rule of faith NOT the rule of Law.
---If you take this rule of Paul's to be his pressing forward, or any of his attainments, it is answered, by faith he pressed forward, and by faith he attained; for else his pressing and attaining had been nothing but sin; for whatsoever is not of faith, according to Paul's doctrine, is sin. 1 Tim 4:6
If it is not of faith it is sin…to live a life ruled by law is not living a life ruled by faith, so by Pauls own rule, living under law is living in sin.
---By faith Christ dwells in our hearts, and by faith we dwell in him; and in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature, which is Christ formed within us: "and as many as walk according to this rule, (the rule of faith—NOT law) peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God," Gal. 6:15, 16.
---Faith is the rule of life according to the revealed will of God in Christ Jesus; "and this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day," John, 6:40.
---Thus faith appears to be the believer's rule of life; according to the will of God in Christ Jesus; and the letter of the law is the bond-children's rule of life-"he that doth these things shall live in them."
---Let him do according to this rule and he shall live.
---The law is not the rule of believing, but of doing; "the law is not of faith, but of works, and the man that doth them shall live in them," Gal. 3:12.
---If to see the Son, and believe on him, entitles us to everlasting life according to God's will. John 6:40
Then faith must be the rule of that life; and one would think that, if he that liveth and believeth shall never die, faith must be a safe rule to live by.
---It is by faith that we apprehend Christ. Phil 3:12-13
---It is by faith we lay hold of him, as the hope set before us, Heb. 6:18.
---It is by Christ that we believe in God, 1 Peter 1:21, and "we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith," Gal. 3:14.
---By this rule we come to a saving knowledge of the Trinity; for the eye of faith is a light by which we see what is the fellowship of the mystery, Eph. 3:9.
---Without the assurance of understanding, there will be no true acknowledgment of the mystery of God [the Holy Ghost], and of the Father, and of Christ, Col. 2:2.
Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was NOT to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Romans 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (I will not be coerced into living by a rule—law—that makes the death of Christ to be in vain).

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for IF there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (The key word is “IF” the conclusion here is that there is no law that could provide this righteousness. So living by the rule of law must be abandoned in favor of living by the rule of Faith, which is the only rule that can bring about life).

Philippians 3:9 And being found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

FREEDOM!!!

Is there a law in the New Covenant? Indeed there is, but will a New Covenant saint ever be put under the authority of Old Covenant law?

So then are there “Two laws of God”? I would suggest that there are not in active authority more than one law at a time. The Old Covenant law was only in authority when the Old Covenant was active. Once the New Covenant became active and the Old Covenant faded during the first century, then the only law that remains is the New Covenant law. How then do we live under this New Covenant law?

What I believe the scripture to teach is that the Old Covenant law as it was in force in the OLD COVENANT has been abolished because the covenant that it came with has been abolished. Read the passage in Hebrews 7:12”For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” Here again God says that if the priesthood changed, then the law also must change. There is only one law at a time. The problem most people have is with the scripture that clearly and plainly teaches that the New Covenant law has replaced the Old Covenant law.

Romans 14 says that “Whatsoever is NOT of FAITH IT IS SIN”. The New Covenant definition, given by the apostle Paul under inspiration of the Spirit of God is that sin is defined by what is not of FAITH. Sin is not a violation of Mosaic Law. We must recognize the supremacy of Faith over law in the New Covenant.

I am not advocating sanctification by keeping the old law. There is no sanctification in the performance of any law. Unless that performance is the performance of Christ and the credit for that performance is imputed or accounted to our credit.

Let me cite you the words of Jesus where he seems to be teaching that the moral precepts that he (Jesus) brought into the New Covenant are superior to what Moses left the nation of Israel in the Old Covenant.

--Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, (Moses) Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

--Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, (Moses) Thou shalt not commit adultery:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

--It hath been said, (by Moses) Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

--But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

--Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, (Moses) Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Ye have heard that it hath been said, (by Moses) An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

--But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

--And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

--And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

--Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

--Ye have heard that it hath been said, (by Moses, do you see the pattern here?)

--Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

--But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

--That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

--For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

--And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

"You have heard it said by them of old"... (MOSES)"...BUT I SAY UNTO YOU".

This is the language of super cession or of contradiction. Jesus is clearly saying that what Moses said was fine…but I am giving you something BETTER…remember that in the new covenant we have a BETTER high priest, a BETTER king, we also have a BETTER law giver, mediator, prophet. These are the roles that Moses fulfilled in the Old Covenant that Jesus is the fulfillment of the type that Moses was intending. WE HAVE A GREATER THAN MOSES in Jesus Christ. The law that came through the mediator of a BETTER covenant is a BETTER law established on BETTER promises. This concept is clearly taught in Hebrews, and here in the Sermon on the Mount Matthew chapter 7 Jesus is illustrating the principle with no apology. Here is what Moses said…BUT I SAY UNTO YOU…! Jesus changed the law from Mount Sinai and gave a greater law from The sermon on the MOUNT.

Some people claim that God's moral precepts have always been the same before the law, during the law and after the Law of Moses”. This is simply WRONG!!! I have just shown the words of Christ which clearly and “Simply” show that the opposite is true.

Are Murder and adultery still murder and adultery? Absolutely! But I do not refrain from them because I am under the Ten Commandments. The bible says that he who violated Moses law would die the death. The punishment under the old covenant for murder and adultery was being stoned to death. This does not apply in the New Covenant. There is no command enjoined on the New Covenant church to STONE adulterers, murderers, Sabbath breakers etc. When you remove the penalty of a law, that law is NO LONGER IN FORCE.

---So then why would I not murder?
---Why would I refrain from Adultery?

VERY GOOD QUESTIONS…I am glad you asked.

The answer is very simple and Jesus gave it in the sermon on the mount, it is because I have a NEW HEART. The law of the Spirit of God, the law of liberty is written on my heart. If the Holy Spirit would lead and guide a person to commit adultery…then well and good…but such would be impossible. The Holy Spirit would never lead me to do such things, and since I am led by God’s Spirit, I need no law to tell me “NO”. I am restrained by LOVE is what Paul teaches. “The love of Christ constrains me”.

If I know of a brother in the Lord who is committing adultery on his wife, I will never pull out the Law of Moses and hit them over the head with it…since it has NO AUTHORITY. I would simply in love go to my brother and ask him…”Brother is this what God through his Spirit is convicting you is right to do?” They have two options at that point, yield to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repent, for all of God’s children who have the Spirit will be convicted by that same Spirit. If they say…”yes, this lifestyle of fornication is what I want and I am going to continue in my adultery”. Then I have the authority of scripture to declare that this man is not in Christ, is not a believer and has no inheritance in the kingdom of God. The bible is very clear about this teaching. This is why we have the church discipline procedures outlined for us in Matthew 18 and Galatians 6, and Hebrews 12-13. Repentance is evidence of salvation, rejection of biblical admonition is evidence of the fact that the Spirit of God is not dwelling in him, and if he has not the Spirit of God, he is none of His.

Re-read Matthew 7, I am not commanded not to murder, not to commit adultery…I am commanded and led by the Spirit to not look on a woman to lust. I am commanded to not hate my brother. If I obey through the Spirit the admonition of Christ to NOT HATE MY BROTHER…will I ever kill him?

If I love my brother, thoughts of murder can never take hold in me, and I will never commit murder…and I can achieve that without the mosaic commandment.

Same with adultery, if in my heart, I refrain from lust, then with what motivation do I lay with other woman than my wife. It is inconceivable that a law could better restrain me than the Spirit dwelling in me convincing and convicting me.

Why would I ever go back to living under a system (outward commands and law) that could never deliver me from sin, when I have the living God living in me to deliver me from all manner of sin and evil?

I pity any who think that by keeping commands that they are somehow pleasing God…they are NOT. I pity any who think that they can overcome the world the flesh or sin in any of its forms, by law keeping and duty. The New Testament clearly teaches that this way of thinking is ridiculous and futile. Please cite for me a passage of scripture that elevates law over the ministry of God’s Spirit and I will go back under law today. But you had BETTER give me a passage of scripture for me to make that decision. If not, you will not get me within 10 miles of a life led by law.

Do not worry about my freedom. No individual has the power to violate it. Paul in Galatians 5 tells me that I am to STAND in the liberty wherein Christ has made me free and not to be entangled again in the yoke of bondage. No one can take it from me no one can violate it without my consent. It is my inheritance in Christ and I will keep a good hold on it. It is for anyone to take, but it is mine to surrender. But be assured I am nowhere near the place where I would surrender it. Unless someone can show me something better…which I am very suspicious that they cannot.

This doctrine of liberty is for all believers in the New Covenant. First of all it is Christ’s doctrine taught by Him and His Apostles, I did not originate it. Secondly, I am not out to prove it, I am out to live it. I need not prove anything to anyone. But God by His Spirit has called me to live this life of freedom. I also feel compelled to offer it to those who are still in bondage to the Old Covenant way of living, and to those I offer it, I do not seek to prove it to them either. For if the Spirit of God does not give them a taste for freedom and a desire to be free from bondage, then I am not going to try to overpower God’s Spirit. But if they truly have the Spirit of God, they will yearn for this freedom and wild horses will not keep them from it.

So I offer it, and many eat…and yet many scoff. I am not responsible for the scoffers, nor do I take credit for those who are liberated…but I do get to walk with those who are liberated as true brothers.

I believe that we ought to reason from the scripture. If there is a scriptural principle I am missing, help me out, point it out. But if I were to have it my way, (the way of my flesh) I would still be where I was 15 years ago, under bondage to the Old Covenant with only a trail of destroyed relationships and a futile life behind me. Having it my way…I hope not…I hope to have it God’s way as His Holy Spirit leads and guides. For there is really NO OTHER WAY.

DISPENSATIONAL DILEMMA

Through and under the gospel we are saved by grace through faith, not by Law.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Galatians 3:11 “But that NO MAN is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

Through and under the gospel men worship Christ in Spirit and in Truth and are not limited or mandated to worship at a specific geographic location or building.

John 4:20-24 “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:17 “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
2 Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Ephesians 2:21-22 “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Through and under the gospel all men in Christ are one. There are not to be any ethnic, social, political, economic, or other barriers between us.

1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:11 “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”
Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
Revelation 14:6 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,”
Ephesians 2:11-16 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: BUT NOW in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

Through and under the gospel man is free from the restrictions of the Old Law and being judged in regard to meat, drink, new moons, feast days, and the observance of days, weeks, months and years Colossians 2).

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Galatians 2:19 “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.”
Galatians 3:11 “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
Colossians 2:16-17, and 20-23 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

Through and under the gospel the law of circumcision as a characteristic identifying mark of the child of God is removed, for we receive the circumcision of the heart, a circumcision not made with hands, in faith and baptism (Galatians 6 Colossians 2:11-12)

Galatians 5:2-6 “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you NOTHING. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
Galatians 6:12-16 “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
Colossians 2:11-13 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”

Through and under the gospel all believers are priests unto God, to offer up spiritual sacrifices.

Matthew 27:51 “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”
Hebrews 10:19 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”
Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”
1 Peter 2:5-9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light"
1 Peter 2:5 “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 5:10 “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Through and under the gospel, because we have the forgiveness of sin, animal sacrifices have been abolished because, “where there is remission of sin, there is no more sacrifice for sin”

Hebrews 10:16-18 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. “

Through and under the gospel, we memorialize the deliverance from sin and death through his sacrifice, in our Communion Supper. The Communion Supper is the memorial of deliverance. It is not “for atonement,” but a celebration of atonement.

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”

But look at the contrast between what we now have in the Gospel through Christ and what the teaching of premillennium dispensationalism says will occur during the 1000 year millennium.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no geo-centric pilgrimage worship, but then, in the millennium, geo-centric, pilgrimage worship will be restored (Ezekiel 43-44).

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no Temple worship mandated, for the church is the Temple of God, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, Temple worship will be restored.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no genealogically based priesthood, with exclusive rights to offer liturgical sacrifices, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, the Levitical, exclusionary, genealogically based priesthood will be restored.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no animal sacrifice, since Christ’s blood has brought remission of sin, but, then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, animal sacrifices will be offered “for atonement.”

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no mandate to observe new moons, feast days, and Sabbaths, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, all men will be required to observe the feast days, new moons and Sabbaths.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no Jew and Gentile distinction, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, Jew and Gentile distinctions will be restored.

--Now, in Christ, under the gospel, there is no theologically mandated practice of physical circumcision, but then, in the millennium, under the Jeremiad covenant, physical circumcision will once again be mandated by God (Ezekiel 44:9).

Here is what Dispensationalism actually does.
--Dispensationalism would replace the spiritual temple as the body of Christ, with a physical edifice.
--Dispensationalism would replace the spiritual priesthood of all believers, with the Levitical/Zadokite priesthood.
--Dispensationalism would replace equality in Christ, with the Jew/Gentile discriminatory practices.
--Dispensationalism would replace the spiritual circumcision of the heart, with physical circumcision.
--Dispensationalism would replace the atonement of Christ with the offering of bulls and goats for atonement.

Is dispensationalism insisting on a literal millennium after the character that they are teaching actually undermines the gospel?
In order to have the millennium as described by dispensationalism you have to overthrow, abrogate, abolish the gospel of Jesus Christ. The eternal gospel of grace through the blood of Christ has to be thrown out in order to establish the dispensational idea of a literal millennium. If a person loves the gospel, how can they in good conscience believe such a Christ dishonoring view of a time when the gospel is trashed?
I think it is time to ask, who is it that teaches a dangerous replacement theology?

101 NEW TESTAMENT TIME-INDICATORS

By David Green

1. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matt. 3:2)

2. "Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?" (Matt. 3:7)

3. "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees." (Matt. 3:10)

4. "His winnowing fork is in His hand." (Matt. 3:12)

5. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17)

6. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 10:7)

7. "You shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes." (Matt. 10:23)

8. "...the age about to come." (Matt. 12:32)

9. "The Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds." (Matt. 16:27)

10. "There are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." (Matt. 16:28; cf. Mk. 9:1; Lk. 9:27)

11. "'When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?' '...He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.' '...Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it.' ...When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them." (Matt. 21:40-41,43,45)

12. "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Matt. 24:34)

13. "From now on, you [Caiaphas, the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the whole Sanhedrin] shall be seeing the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matt. 26:64; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 22:69)

14. "The kingdom of God is at hand." (Mk. 1:15)

15. "What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. ...They [the chief priests, scribes and elders] understood that He spoke the parable against them." (Mk. 12:9,12)

16. "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Mk. 13:30)

17. "Who warned you to flee from the wrath about to come?" (Lk. 3:7)

18. "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees." (Lk. 3:9)

19. "His winnowing fork is in His hand..." (Lk. 3:17)

20. "The kingdom of God has come near to you." (Lk. 10:9)

21. "The kingdom of God has come near." (Lk. 10:11)

22. "What, therefore, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others." ...The scribes and the chief priests...understood that He spoke this parable against them." (Lk. 20:15-16,19)

23. "These are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Lk. 21:22)

24. "This generation will not pass away until all things take place." (Lk. 21:32)

25. "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'" (Lk. 23:28-30; Compare Rev. 6:14-17)

26. "We were hoping that He was the One who is about to redeem Israel." (Lk. 24:21)

27. "I will come to you. ...In that Day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.' ...'Lord, what then has happened that You are about to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?'" (Jn. 14:18,20,22)

28. "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?" (Jn. 21:22)

29. "This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 'And it shall be in the last days...'" (Acts 2:16-17)

30. "He has fixed a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness..." (Acts 17:31)

31. "There is about to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:15)

32. "As he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment about to come..." (Acts 24:25)

33. "Not for [Abraham's] sake only was it written, that [faith] was reckoned to him [as righteousness], but for our sake also, to whom it is about to be reckoned." (Rom. 4:23-24)

34. "If you are living according to the flesh, you are about to die." (Rom. 8:13)

35. "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us." (Rom. 8:18)

36. "It is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand." (Rom. 13:11-12)

37. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." (Rom. 16:20)

38. "The time has been shortened." (I Cor. 7:29)

39. "The form of this world is passing away." (I Cor. 7:31)

40. "Now these things ...were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (I Cor. 10:11)

41. "We shall not all fall sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." (I Cor. 15:51-52)

42. "Maranatha!" [The Lord comes!] (I Cor. 16:22)

43. "...not only in this age, but also in the one about to come." (Eph. 1:21)

44. "The Lord is near." (Phil. 4:5)

45. "The gospel ...was proclaimed in all creation under heaven." (Col. 1:23; Compare Matt. 24:14; Rom. 10:18; 16:26; Col. 1:5-6; II Tim. 4:17; Rev. 14:6-7; cf. I Clement 5,7)

46. "...things which are a shadow of what is about to come." (Col. 2:16-17)

47. "...we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord... We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds... ...You, brethren, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief." (I Thess. 4:15,17; 5:4)

48. "May your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thess. 5:23)

49. "It is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire." (II Thess. 1:6-7)

50. "Godliness ...holds promise for the present life and that which is about to come." (I Tim. 4:8)

51. "I charge you ...that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Tim. 6:14)

52. "...storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for that which is about to come, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." (I Tim. 6:19)

53. "In the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self... ...Avoid these men. For of these are those who enter into households and captivate weak women... ...These also oppose the truth... ...But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all..." (II Tim. 3:1-2,5-6,8-9)

54. "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living and the dead..." (II Tim. 4:1)

55. "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son." (Heb. 1:1-2)

56. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who are about to inherit salvation?" (Heb. 1:14)

57. "He did not subject to angels the world about to come." (Heb. 2:5)

58. "...and have tasted ...the powers of the age about to come." (Heb. 6:5)

59. "For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near a curse, and it's end is for burning." (Heb. 6:7-8)

60. "When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear." (Heb. 8:13)

61. "The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way of the [heavenly] Holy Places has not yet been revealed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation." (Heb. 9:8-10; Compare Gal. 4:19; Eph. 2:21-22; 3:17; 4:13)

62. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things about to come..." (Heb. 9:11)

63. "Now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin." (Heb. 9:26)

64. "For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things about to come..." (Heb. 10:1)

65. "...as you see the Day drawing near." (Heb. 10:25)

66. "...the fury of a fire which is about to consume the adversaries." (Heb. 10:27)

67. "For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay." (Heb. 10:37)

68. "For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is about to come." (Heb. 13:14)

69. "Speak and so act, as those who are about to be judged by the law of liberty." (Jms. 2:12)

70. "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. ...It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!" (Jms. 5:1,3)

71. "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord." (Jms. 5:7)

72. "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (Jms. 5:8)

73. "...salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:6)

74. "He ...has appeared in these last times for the sake of you." (I Peter 1:20)

75. "They shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (I Peter 4:5)

76. "The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." (I Peter 4:7)

77. "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God." (I Peter 4:17)

78. "...as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is about to be revealed." (I Peter 5:1)

79. "We have the prophetic word ...which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the Day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts." (II Peter 1:19)

80. "Their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." (II Peter 2:3)

81. "In the last days mockers will come. ...For this they willingly are ignorant of..." (I Peter 3:3,5)

82. "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God." (II Peter 3:10-12)

83. "The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining." (I Jn. 2:8)

84. "The world is passing away, and its desires." (I Jn. 2:17)

85. "It is the last hour." (I Jn. 2:18)

86. "Even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour." (I Jn. 2:18; Compare Matt. 24:23-34)

87. "This is that of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world." (I Jn. 4:3; Compare II Thess. 2:7)

88. "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation. ...About these also Enoch ...prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly...'" (Jude 1:4,14-15)

89. "But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, 'In the last time there shall be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.' These are the ones who cause divisions..." (Jude 1:17-19)

90. "...to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place." (Rev. 1:1)

91. "The time is near." (Rev. 1:3)

92. "Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come." (Rev. 2:25)

93. "I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is about to come upon the whole world." (Rev. 3:10)

94. "I am coming quickly." (Rev. 3:11)

95. "And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron." (Rev. 12:5)

96. "And in her [the Great City Babylon] was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth." (Rev. 18:24; Compare Matt. 23:35-36; Lk. 11:50-51)

97. "...to show to His bond-servants the things which must shortly take place." (Rev. 22:6)

98. "Behold, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:7)

99. "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near." (Rev. 22:10; Compare Dan. 8:26)

100. "Behold, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:12)

101. "Yes, I am coming quickly." (Rev. 22:20)

THE "FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES”

The “Fullness of the Gentiles”

I attach this phrase to Daniel for the reasons below. It is clearly linked to Daniels prophecy by way of Luke 21 and its parallel passages in Mark 13 and Matthew 24. Consider how each of these three passages are linked and evaluate the content of each as being a part of the other two as well as standing on its own.

Matt. 24:15-22 + 34
'When ye therefore shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION SPOKEN OF BY DANIEL THE PROPHET, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

'And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 34 “Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS, TILL ALL THESE THINGS BE FULFILLED.”

Mark 13:14-20 + 30
'But when ye shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION SPOKEN OF BY DANIEL THE PROPHET, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take anything out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

'But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 30 VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS, TILL ALL THESE THINGS BE DONE.

Luke 21:20-20 + 32
'And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

'Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. FOR THESE BE THE DAYS OF VENGENCE , THAT ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED.

'But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be TRODDEN DOWN OF THE GENTILES, UNTIL THE TIMES OF THE GENTILED BE FULFILLED. 32 “Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION NSHALL NOT PASS AWAY , TILL ALL BE FULFILLED.”

The end of the time of the Gentiles is when the destruction of Jerusalem is complete in 70 A.D.

"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled." (Luke 21:32)

The times of the Gentiles has to be kept in it's proper historical context. Jesus said that "all", including the times of the Gentiles, would be fulfilled before his contemporary generation had passed. Some go outside the box of "this generation" in order to teach a futuristic view of Christ's coming. To do that they have to redefine both "the times of the Gentiles" and "this generation". Needless to say, the "1948 generation" has proven to be more than just a little embarrassing.
"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh . . . and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:20, 24)

The times of the Gentiles referred to the treading down, or desolation, of first century Jerusalem, which Jesus called "the days of vengeance". In other words, it was God's mission for the Gentiles to bring judgment upon Jerusalem. This is consistent with past judgments upon Israel, when God brought Gentiles armies into their land to desolate it.

The whole controversy centers on the duration of the treading down of Jerusalem. The Greek for "trodden" is pat-eh'-o (#3961 in Strong's Concordance), and it means "to trample down underfoot". The parallel to Lk.21:24 is seen in Revelation 11:2, which says:

"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot (pateho) forty and two months."

Could it be any plainer? The times of the Gentiles, or treading down of Jerusalem, entailed no more than a forty two month period of time, the exact duration of the Jewish-Roman War. This is in perfect harmony with Daniel 12:7, where the defining characteristic of "the time of the end" is said to be "the scattering of the power of the holy people", which we are told would be accomplished during "a time, times, and a half", or forty two months.

Furthermore, when we consider the mountain of evidence for a pre-70 dating of Revelation, in addition to the statements of imminence in the book itself (1:1, 3; 22:6, 7, 10, 12), then the forced conclusion is that the forty two months was fulfilled in the 66-70 A.D. Jewish-Roman War.

In the ancient Near East, the ultimate image of triumph over an enemy was the positioning of the enemy "under the feet" of the conqueror. This was a literal custom in Biblical times read Joshua 10:24; 2 Kings 7:17, 20, 9:33; Isaiah 14:19 as well as a metaphor for dominion, conquering, possession, judgment, shame, defilement, oppression, and victory read Deuteronomy 11:24; Judges 20:43; 1 Kings 5:3; Joshua 14:9; Psalms 18:38; 47:3; 74:21; 110:1; Lamentations 1:15; 3:34; Isaiah 14:25; 41:2; 63:6; 66:1; Jeremiah 25:30; Daniel 8:7; Joel 3:13; Amos 2:6-7; 4:13; Micah 1:3; 5:5-6; Malachi 4:3; Matthew 7:6; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:43; Acts 2:35; Romans 16:20; I Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:22; Hebrews 1:13; 2:8; 10:13; Revelation 19:15. The Greek word for "tread" in Revelation 11:2 is the same word Luke used for "trodden" (pat-eh'-o) in Luke 21:24.

Jerusalem's first century desolation represented the time when Christ put his enemies (read I Thessalonians 2:15-16) under his feet. This was accomplished during a forty two month period which Jesus called "the times of the Gentiles".

Miztah