Where is the Entrance to This Race?

Posted on by BETH

Jesus said that many will seek to enter the race and not be able.

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able (Luke 13:23-24).

Why could so many seek the strait gate, but not be able? Jesus said, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matt. 7:8)?  The Pharisees were searching the scriptures, but they could not find eternal life (John 5:39).  Why could the Pharisees search and not find when Jesus said “he that seeketh  findeth?”  The primary problem is that they did not believe what they read in the scriptures (John 5:46).  Some today are no different.  They refuse to believe Jesus statement “. . . for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able?”  The question is, Why?  Paul could not enter into the race because he was  “. . . more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers” (Gal. 1:14).  Many today have the same faith as Paul before he was converted.  Paul thought that he was was zealous for God (Rom. 10:1-3), but he was in fact “more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of” his fathers.  When Paul saw the Christ, he realized that the traditions of his fathers were false.  Thus he rejected them, and then was able to believe the word of God.  The key for the Pharisee was the same.  If he had fully turned from his traditions he would have been able to believe every word in the scripture.  The key for the Pharisee is the same key for us today.  We should turn fully from our traditions, and refuse to believe any doctrine except what we find word for word in the scriptures.  We should accept Jesus’ warning and “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.”

The race that is set before us is one of the many different analogies that the Lord gives to show us away.  He also shows us the pathway through the analogy of a fight.  Paul was seeking to win the good fight (1 Cor. 9:26,27).  He commanded Timothy to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12).  We are commanded to take on the whole armor of God in order to win that fight (Eph. 6:10-17).  Paul had finished the fight and won the crown of life several months before he died (2 Tim. 4:7,8).  The pathway is also described as a grape vine (John 15:1-8), which, instead of running or fighting is ground which brings fruit to perfection (Luke 8:14, 15).  The disciples are pictured as olive trees (Rom. 11:16-24).  His children are described as a family (2 Cor. 6:17-18), a household (Eph. 2:19), the temple of God (Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Cor. 3:16-19), etc.  He also describes his people as a kingdom.  This is the analogy this article follows as we seek for the entrance to this race.  How does one enter the kingdom of God.

The picture of the kingdom is the major description that John the Baptist and Jesus used as they went about preaching the good news to the Jews before the cross (Matt. 3:1-2; 4:17; 10:7-8).  Over 115 times they referred to the kingdom as coming.  When is the kingdom coming or has the kingdom already come?  Before we see the entrance to the kingdom (race) we must understand the kingdom as God reveals it.

VII. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN: God’s Future Plans for His Children

Posted on by BETH

He also commands us to labor to enter into his rest.  He does not plan for us to retire, but “. . . he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Heb. 4:10).  “For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works” (Heb. 4:4). Rather than retire, he plans for his servants to serve him (Rev. 22:3) and to reign with him forever and ever (Rev. 22:5).  He plans for us to reign as kings (Rev. 1:6).  There is a great deal of work in reigning as kings.  Kings need to be faithful and strong. If we suffer with him according to his will now, we will reign with him (2 Tim. 2:12).  He illustrates this point in the two parables of the talents tells what he has in mind for his children.  The conclusions were:

“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord”  (Matt 25:23).

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities” (Luke 19:17).

Jesus has now received authority over the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth, and all things in heaven as well (Matt. 28:18; 1 Cor. 15:25), to the point of working all things together for good for those who 1) love him and 2) are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28).  He promises that those who overcome will be given power over the nations as he has received of his Father (Rev. 2:26,27).   This scripture is a quotation of Psalms 2:

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. (Psa. 2:7-9)

Our Father judges according to our faithfulness.  If we are faithful to him in the use of the unrighteous mammon here on earth, we will be faithful to reign with him in the new heaven and the new earth (Luke 16:10-12).

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:1, 2).

We can not earn these things, nor do they come free.  We must win the crown by running the race according to all things he has commanded us (Matt. 28:20). “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).  God commands us to be perfect.[1]

[1] Some argue that this is not a command because this form of the Greek word is in the future tense.  This conclusion can not be substantiated.  The future is frequently used as the imperative.  Barbara and Timothy Friberg, Analytical Greek New Testament, Baker Book House, 1981, state: “The future, like the subjunctive, is frequently used as imperative. This is limited to second and third person forms of the future and thus corresponds with the imperative forms. While the subjunctive used as imperative shows a correspondence between tenses, the future indicative used as imperative does not. So for every future used imperativally, we had to determine the tense of the imperative function.  We did this item by item, deciding in each case the aspectual sense (punctiliar action, durative action, etc.) of the command.”   pp. 810, 811.

God’s Eternal Purpose Has Been the Same Since Creation

Posted on by BETH

God has always had the same eternal purpose for each person.  Whether it was Noah or Abraham–many years before the Old Testament law, David under the law, or Christ, the apostles or his children under the new the law, he aimed to have his eternal love in each mind and heart.  He said: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5), Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind (1 Pet. 4:1).

His plan is for every child to be thoroughly prepared for every good work is based in the perfection (completion) of a good heart (2 Tim. 3:17).  His plan to furnish his children unto every good work is accomplished by first purging the evil out of the inner man (2 Tim. 2:20, 21).  His plan to prepare the church as a bride for her husband (Rev. 21:2) is accomplished by taking out every spot, wrinkle and blemish (Eph. 5:26, 27).

PERFECT LOVE PRIOR TO CHRIST’S TIME

Posted on by BETH

God provided a way for men to be perfect before Christ, even though the Old Testament law could not make anyone perfect.  The Old Law itself was never meant to accomplish this purpose and goal.  However, the Father was able to give his truth through his prophets to accomplish that purpose.  Abraham was one of these prophets.  Consider the purpose God had for Abraham.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly  (Gen. 17:1-2).

Notice Abraham’s part of the covenant God made with him to walk before God and be perfect.  Some would redefine these words, as do some of the modern translations.  We need to be honest enough to listen to the words that proceeded from the mouth of God and not change the words it to fit our preconceived notions.

The radical (literal) definition of the Hebrew noun tamiym is entire, complete or whole.  It comes from the verb tamam which is literally defined as to complete, finish or end.  Another major noun translated perfect is the Hebrew word tam (tawm), which is also literally defined as complete and comes from the same verb as tamiym.   These Hebrew words are almost identical to the Greek noun teleios (complete) which comes from the verb teleo which is literally to end.   It is very interesting to note God’s purpose for his children as described in James 1:4 “…that you may be perfect, and entire, lacking in nothing…” is identical to these words.  Let us keep in mind that the complete expression in the New Testament is “the complete love,”  which is the complete love of Christ and God.  This word is used of material things as well as of spiritual things.  He shows his definition of this Hebrew word used in a physical context.

But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.  And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect (tamiym) to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.  Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD.  Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted (Lev. 22:20-21).

The offering had to be perfect to be accepted.  He defines that physical perfection as having no blemish or spot, and as “…nothing superfluous or lacking in his parts….” Without all the parts it was unacceptable to God, and if it had more than all of its parts, it was not accepted.  This is the word perfect in the Old Testament.  Spiritually, it is the same way.  Anything less than all of the parts of God’s love in the heart is unacceptable, and anything more is unacceptable.

Another major noun translated perfect in the Old Testament is the word shalem (shaw lame) and is also literally defined as complete.  It comes from the verb shalam (shaw-lam’) which is literally translated as to be safe.  In our study we want to center on the most commonly used words, tamiym and tam listed above.

God testifies that several godly men were perfect (tamam, tamiym or tam) during the Old Testament era.  Noah was “…perfect (tamiym) in his generations…” (Gen. 6:9).  As noted above, Abraham was commanded to be perfect (tamiym) as his part of the covenant of promise.  Abraham must have obeyed God’s command to become perfect for he inherited the promises (Heb. 6:12).  We will also inherit if we walk in Abraham’s steps (Rom. 4:17-24).  God himself says “. . . and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1, 8, 2:3).  Satan did not deny the truth when God reminded him of it (Job 1:8,9).  David said “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart” (Psa. 101:2).  He testified that he would behave himself in a perfect way, which is understandable because he had a perfect heart (Psa. 101:2).  No doubt this is the reason that God testified that he was, “. . . a man after mine own heart,” which indeed is a perfect heart (Acts 13:22).  David testifies “. . . he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me” (Psa. 101:6).  We must conclude that there were others in David’s day who were also of a perfect heart.   Our Father is calling us to walk in the steps of these good men.

WHY A NEW LAW?

Posted on by BETH

The book of Hebrews repeats a central reason that God gave a new law four specific times.  He first tells us that if it were not weak and unprofitable, we would not have had a need for a High Priest to arise after the order of Melchisedec.  What did its weakness and unprofitableness prevent the Law from doing?

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?  (Heb. 7:11).

We note the problem.  Perfection was not possible under the Levitical priesthood.  Thus there had to be a new high priest who could give the New Testament. He gives the same reason again for stating that the Old Testament law was weak and unprofitable.

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God (Heb. 7:18-19).

We note here that the same clarification is offered again for giving the New Testament.  The law made nothing perfect.  A third time he gives the same explanation – the Old Testament priests were offering “. . .gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience” (Heb. 9:9).  A fourth time he offers the same truth:

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect (Heb. 10:1).

Who could rightly deny that making men perfect is a primary reason for giving the New Testament?

He prefaces these statements above in chapters 7 through 9 by directing God’s children to the goal of the disciple in chapter 6 when he said:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God (Heb. 6:1).

His purpose is clear and obvious.  Jesus is our example and captain of our faith who attained that very goal.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb. 2:10).

Our Father made Jesus perfect.  He was not born perfect, for he was made perfect ‘through sufferings.’  He learned obedience by the things which is suffered (Heb. 5:8).  Though he was a Son, he had to learn the same way all of God’s children learn.  As he ran the race ahead of us (was ‘made perfect’) he became the author of eternal salvation to all who will obey him (Heb. 5:9).  “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Heb. 7:19).  Jesus and the new covenant is that better hope which does make men perfect, like Christ (Luke 6:40).  Thus the Old Law had to be done away to make way for the New Law, the perfect law of liberty.  Only a perfect law can make men perfect.