The two symbols, "mountain" and "house" are of great significance in the history of Israel. Wherever you see "mountain" mentioned in the Old Testament Scripture you can be sure it is symbolic of something. Wherever you see "house" mentioned by the prophets you can be sure it refers to God's House or God's Habitation. Furthermore the prophets and the psalmists ofter linked the Habitation of God or the House of God with mountains.
1. Isaiah the prophet said, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of God of Jacob; ...." (Isaiah 2:2, 3, KJV, emphasis added).
2. Ezekiel the prophet said, "This is the law of the house; upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house" (Ezekiel 43:12, KJV, emphasis added).
3. Haggai the prophet also said, "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord" (Haggai 1:8, KJV, emphasis added).
4. The psalmist said, "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever" (Ps. 125:1, 2, NKJV, emphasis added).
5. The psalmist also said, "His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob" (Ps. 87:1, 2, NKJV, emphasis added).
Holy mountains of Israel
There were many mountains in Israel but four of them were said to be Holy Mountains. Each of these Holy Mountains provided a foundation for God's divinely inspired structure. And each of these structures was a House of the Lord or God's Habitation during that particular period of time.
1. Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:1 - 5)
When the Flood had ceased, having fulfilled God's purpose of judgment on the wicked world, the Ark of Noah rested on the mountains of Ararat. Here we have the Ark, being a "house" of God provided for Noah and his household who were found righteous before God (Gen. 7:1), rested on a Holy mountain of God!
2. Mount Sinai (Exodus 24, 25; Hebrews 12:18 - 21)
The revelation of the Tabernacle of the Lord (commonly known as the Tabernacle of Moses) was divinely given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The divine purpose in building the Tabernacle of Moses is summed up in the key verse:
"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them" (Ex. 25:8).
In other words, the Tabernacle was a temporary "house" of God or God's dwelling place. God's desire is to dwell in the midst of His redeemed people all through the Bible.
The Tabernacle of Moses was simply a portable tent with various curtains and coverings over a wooden structure. The foundation for the Tabernacle was provided by 40 sockets of silver (Ex. 26:19). The number 40 speaks of victory over judgment and silver speaks of Christ in His redemptive ministry. So the very foundation of the Tabernacle is Christ Himself!
3. Mount Zion (1 Chronicles 15 - 17; 2 Samuel 6:1 - 19)
Again the revelation of the Tabernacle of David could not be separated from a mountain - Mount Zion.
The Lord said, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; ..." (Isaiah 28:16, emphasis added).
Mt. Zion took on a special significance from the days of David and onwards because of the order of praise and worship established there in the Tabernacle of David. The people of God offered sacrifices of praise and worship before the Ark of the Covenant (God's "House"), the only piece of furniture in the Tabernacle of David. There were no Outer Court and furniture, no Holy place and furniture, and no veil. In fact the Ark of the Covenant had been transferred from the Tabernacle of Moses to the Tabernacle of David (2 Samuel 6:12 - 23; 1 Chronicles 15:1 - 29; 16:1- 3). The Tabernacle of Moses was left without the Most Holy Place and the Ark of the Covenant during that time. The people of God could simply and boldly enter to the Most Holy Place and minister to the Lord whose dwelling place was at the Mercy Seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant.
The Tabernacle of David spoke of the Church. As I mentioned before wherever you come across "Zion" in Scripture it always refers to the Church of Jesus Christ.
4. Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1)
"Now Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, ..." (2 Chron. 3:1).
Here in the building of the Temple of solomon (the House of the Lord) we are again struck by the significance of its site. Solomon's Temple was built on Mount Moriah.
Divine Significance of Mount Moriah
God spoke to Abraham, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off" (Gen. 22:2, 4, emphasis added).
Notice that Mount Moriah was called the "Mount of the Lord":
"And Abraham called the name of the place (Mt. Moriah). The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided'" (Gen 22:14).
Abraham who "willingly sacrificed his only begotten son Isaac as a burnt offering" spoke of (in type) God the Father "willingly sacrificed His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for the sin of the world". This is a perfect example in applying the principle of hermeneutics to interpret the Scripture.
The principle of hermeneutics simply means this - All through the Old Testament God gets people to do typically what He Himself is going to fulfill actually.
Abraham and his son went a 3-day journey to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Jesus later also went 3 days and 3 night's "journey" to sacrifice Himself. So the Temple of Solomon, the House of the Lord, was built on Mount Moriah on the basis of a sacrifice of God's only begotten son. Because of this fact the Temple of Solomon was a type of the Church.
Interpretation of the Mountain and the House
The Mountain
1. Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream: "You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of Iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth" (Daniel 2:34, 35, emphasis added).
2. An angel said to John: "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time" (Rev.17:9, 10, emphasis added).
Therefore in Scripture a mountain is symbolic of a Kingdom.
The House
1. Paul said, "These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct youself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:4, 5, emphasis added).
2. The writer of Hebrews said, "... but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hop firm to the end" (Heb. 3:6, emphasis added).
3. Peter said, "... you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to god through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5, emphasis added).
Therefore in Scripture a house is symbolic of a Church.
Fragments of truth revealed progressively
As we have seen God and His Habitation are revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures in the form of various structures - the Ark of Noah, the Tabernacle of Moses, the Tabernacle of David and the Temple of Solomon. All these four structures were built by God's builders who received revelations from God. The revelation we get by studying these structures is progressive and each structure reveals a certain fragments of truth. We will not get the whole truth (as the sovereign God wishes to reveal) by just studying one or two of the structures.
It is beyond the scope of this message to study any of these structures in any detail. But it was found that the Temple of solomon was the embodiment in one structure of all that has gone before.
The Ark of the Covenant
It is interesting to follow the history of the Ark of the Covenant as it moved from one structure to another - signifying the presence of God in His dwelling place, moved from the Tabernacle of Moses, through the Tabernacle of David and rested in the Temple of Solomon.
First the Ark was placed in the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle of Moses and then it was taken from there and move into the Tabernacle of David where there was a whole new order of praise and worship, and singing with musical instruments. When the Temple was completed by Solomon the people brought the Ark into the Most Holy Place (1 Kings 8:6). There was nothing in the Ark except the two tablets of stone which Mosses put there at Moreb (V. 9).
The Temple of Solomon
The Temple of solomon was absolutely magnificent as compared with the two Tabernacles. There was the one and the same Ark of God, one golden altar of incense, and one brazen altar and one molten sea. All these spoke of Christ as the one and only way to God. As the Temple was the embodiment of what were in the Tabernacle of Moses, there were 10 tables of showbread, and 10 brazen levers in the Holy Place and Outer Court respectively. There were also 10 golden lampstand in the Holy Place (1 Kings 7).
Notice that the number 10 speaks of govenment, restoration and law and order. Therefore the Temple of Solomon spoke of Christ but more especially of Christ in His Church.
The Heavenly Jerusalem and the Ultimate Mountain of God
All the four earthly Structures were designed by God, the Wise Master Builder, but He chose men in the actual building of them. But when it comes to the City of God, the new and Heavenly Jerusalem, this ultimate structure, it is God Himself alone who is the Architect and Builder - not man (Hebrews 11:13 - 16, 12:22 - 24; Rev. 3:12; 21, 22).
John wrote, "And he (an angel) carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ..." (Rev. 21:10, emphasis added).
So we see the Ultimate Structure of God will also be associated with a Mountain! The New and Heavenly Jerusalem is the City of Salvation. It is the Tabernacle of God where He dwells with men.
John heard a loud voice from heaven saying: "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, God Himself will be with them and be their God" (Rev. 21:3, NKJV).
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Last Days according to God's Perspective
There are Christians every where saying that in the last days things are getting worse and worse. The situation of the world is going to be darker and darker. The antichrist is coming and there will not be any revival in Christianity. Instead there is coming a great falling away. The Church is going downhill and Christians are back sliding. Things are really bad.
At the same time some other Christians are saying that there will be a great revival in the last days. There will be a great harvest and in-gathering of souls. God is going to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. The first outpouring happened at Pentecost and the second outpouring is coming soon and many Christians will receive the double portion. The Church is going to be victorious and God is preparing a glorious Church.
The question is - which group of Christians is right? My answer is both are right. Things are going to get worse in the world, but at the same time things are going to get better in the true Church - the house of the Lord or God's Habitation. But when you allow the world to get into your Church then you are in darkness and things will get worse for you!
Isaiah's prophecies concerning the last days
"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains. And shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His way, and we shall walk in His paths" (Isaiah 2:2, 3, NKJV, emphasis added).
"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1, 2, emphasis added).
Notice that there are two prophetic streams in the last days - light and darkness. In Old Testament time the glory of the Lord has something to do with the Ark of the Covenant in the tabinacles and Solomon's temple. Right now the Church and His people, the Christains, are the habitation of God. But while God's light and glory is rison upon His people, darkness and gross (deep) darkness covers the world and the people of the world. So darkness and light flow parallel together all the way in the last days.
Questions concerning the last days
Isaiah said something about the last days in Isaiah 2:2, 3. Three questions come to mind as we read these verses - What is meant by the last days? When the last days began? And what is going to happen in the last days?
What the Scripture says about days and year?
Before we can understand what "last days" means we have to understand what "days" and "years" in God's viewpoint.
Let us look at the prophets because all prophets were caught up in God's perspective. In other words, they were caught up in the Spirit and they started to see things from God's viewpoint and God is not limited by time. This is very important because when Adam sinned time began for all mankind. But God is not bound by time - He is the eternal God. He is the past, present and the future and He is always at one eternal present. He works in time but He is not limited by time. When God deals with men He deals in what we referred to as time. Time is a little fragment of eternity in which God is working out His purposes in relation to creation and in relation to redemption.
Moses, the first of God's prophet, wrote a Psalm:
"Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generation. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn man to destruction, and say, 'Return, O children of men.' For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night" (Ps. 90:1 - 4, NKJV, emphasis added).
It is very important to note that to man a "day" has only 24 hours. But to the Lord a day is "1000 years" - based on man's 24-hour days. Sometimes we call the Lord's day as 1000 years period of time.
Notice what Peter wrote to believers: "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:4).
Let us pick up the key words "years" and "days" in Psalm 90:
"For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sight" (V. 9).
"The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, ..." (V. 10).
"So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (V. 12).
"Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (V. 14)!
"Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil" (V. 15).
The outworking of people's years and days after the Fall
Let us go back to Genesis to see how long it took Adam to die after he sinned.
God said to Adam, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Gen. 2:16, 17, NKJV, emphasis added).
The question is, did Adam die within a 24-hour day or within the day of the Lord which is 1000 years? The answer is, Adam died two deaths when he sinned. He died spiritually in a 24-hour day and he died physically within the day of the Lord - "All the days that Adam lived were 930 years and he died (Gen. 5:8).
It is interesting to note that the oldest man ever lived was Methuselah, Enoch's son - 969 years (Gen. 5:27). Therefore no one ever lives the full day of the Lord of 1000 years.
A picture of redemption
One of the most beautiful pictures of redemption is found in Exodus 12:1 - 7. God wanted each family of Israel to take a lamb on the 10th of the month and to keep it until the 14th of the same month. In other words, the lamb should be kept for 4 days before it was killed at twilight.
Why would God want the lamb be kept for 4 days?
Actually, from God's perspective, this is a picture of God's plan of redemption when Adam sinned. When Adam sinned, when time began, God immediately took His Lamb (John 1:29), the Lord Jesus, and kept Him for 4 days. From God's perspective this was 4000 years. The fact is, from Adam through to Jesus we have 4000 years approximately. And when the fullness of the time had come God sent forth His Son (Gal. 4:4).
Revelation of the last days
The writer of Hebrews said, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ..." (Hebrews 1:1, 2, NKJV, emphasis added).
Two time periods are mentioned:
1. Sundry time (KJ), time past, and time before the Cross mean the same thing. During this time period God spoke to His people through His Old Testament prophets.
2. Present time, latter days or time after the Cross is called the "last days". God speaks to us by His Son Jesus Christ through His Spirit. His apostles wrote the New Testament in the last days by the inpiration of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah's prophecy
Let us go back to Isaiah 2 where he gave a prophetic view of the last days. Isaiah was seeing things from God's viewpoint.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isaiah 2:2, KJV, emphasis added).
Isaiah prophetically talked about the coming of the Lord Jesus in the last days to build His Church, the Lord's house.
Creation of man and redemption of men
There is a parallel truth running concerning the creation of man and the redemption of men. God worked 6 days in creation and on the 7th day He rested after creating a perfect man (male and female). Adam and Eve could have spent an eternal "honeymoon" in the Garden of Eden. But they blew it and messed it up by sin.
Similarly, God is working 6 days (6000 years) in full redemption. God's people had 4000 years before Christ came and He spends 2000 years to prepare His bride and then we have 1000 years of Kingdom rest. He already had a perfect bridegroom (Jesus Christ) and He is preparing His bride, the glorious Church (Eph. 5:25 - 27). Jesus is not going to marry a bride inferior to Himself. In the Bible He laid down certain marriage laws. And God is not going to give us marriage laws that He Himself would not keep. One of the marriage laws is, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbeliever" (2 Cor. 6:14).
Light and darkness in the last days
As mentioned earlier in the last days light and darkness are flowing together. Let us consider some passages (negative and positive) of New Testament Scripture concerning the last days.
Negative (darkness)
1. In 2 Timothy 3:1 - 7 Paul listed 18 moral blemishes in the last days - beginning with self-love and ends with lovers of pleasure. Also God's people will only display external form of godliness. Many will not maintain an intimate relationship with the Lord.
2. In 1 Timothy 4:1 - 3 Paul said in "latter times" some God's people will be deceived by wrong spirits and wrong doctrines.
3. Peter said, "... knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ..." (2 Peter 3:3 - 8).
Positive (light)
1. In Acts 2 Peter quoted Joel, an Old Testament prophet concerning things happening in the last days. At that time the New Testament has not been written yet and Luke has not written Acts yet.
Peter said, "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; ..." (Acts 2:16, 17, emphasis added).
2. Isaiah said, "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established ..." (Isaiah 2:2, emphasis added).
Notice that the Lord's house, the present day Church is established by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit prophesied by both Joel and Isaiah. Therefore the purpose of Joel's prophecy is to lead us to Isaiah 2. If you only have Joel without Isaiah you have missed the purpose of Joel. That is where most Charismatic Christians missed it. God is telling us, our Charismatic "honeymoon" is over and He wants us to get back into the house of the Lord. He wants us to build (spiritually) a true New Testament Church - His end-time Church! But many Charismatic Christians take Joel's prophecy concerning the out pouring of the Holy Spirit to mean to build more Churches (physically) and have more Charismatic "honeymoon"!
At the same time some other Christians are saying that there will be a great revival in the last days. There will be a great harvest and in-gathering of souls. God is going to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. The first outpouring happened at Pentecost and the second outpouring is coming soon and many Christians will receive the double portion. The Church is going to be victorious and God is preparing a glorious Church.
The question is - which group of Christians is right? My answer is both are right. Things are going to get worse in the world, but at the same time things are going to get better in the true Church - the house of the Lord or God's Habitation. But when you allow the world to get into your Church then you are in darkness and things will get worse for you!
Isaiah's prophecies concerning the last days
"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains. And shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His way, and we shall walk in His paths" (Isaiah 2:2, 3, NKJV, emphasis added).
"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1, 2, emphasis added).
Notice that there are two prophetic streams in the last days - light and darkness. In Old Testament time the glory of the Lord has something to do with the Ark of the Covenant in the tabinacles and Solomon's temple. Right now the Church and His people, the Christains, are the habitation of God. But while God's light and glory is rison upon His people, darkness and gross (deep) darkness covers the world and the people of the world. So darkness and light flow parallel together all the way in the last days.
Questions concerning the last days
Isaiah said something about the last days in Isaiah 2:2, 3. Three questions come to mind as we read these verses - What is meant by the last days? When the last days began? And what is going to happen in the last days?
What the Scripture says about days and year?
Before we can understand what "last days" means we have to understand what "days" and "years" in God's viewpoint.
Let us look at the prophets because all prophets were caught up in God's perspective. In other words, they were caught up in the Spirit and they started to see things from God's viewpoint and God is not limited by time. This is very important because when Adam sinned time began for all mankind. But God is not bound by time - He is the eternal God. He is the past, present and the future and He is always at one eternal present. He works in time but He is not limited by time. When God deals with men He deals in what we referred to as time. Time is a little fragment of eternity in which God is working out His purposes in relation to creation and in relation to redemption.
Moses, the first of God's prophet, wrote a Psalm:
"Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generation. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn man to destruction, and say, 'Return, O children of men.' For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night" (Ps. 90:1 - 4, NKJV, emphasis added).
It is very important to note that to man a "day" has only 24 hours. But to the Lord a day is "1000 years" - based on man's 24-hour days. Sometimes we call the Lord's day as 1000 years period of time.
Notice what Peter wrote to believers: "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:4).
Let us pick up the key words "years" and "days" in Psalm 90:
"For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a sight" (V. 9).
"The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, ..." (V. 10).
"So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (V. 12).
"Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (V. 14)!
"Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil" (V. 15).
The outworking of people's years and days after the Fall
Let us go back to Genesis to see how long it took Adam to die after he sinned.
God said to Adam, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Gen. 2:16, 17, NKJV, emphasis added).
The question is, did Adam die within a 24-hour day or within the day of the Lord which is 1000 years? The answer is, Adam died two deaths when he sinned. He died spiritually in a 24-hour day and he died physically within the day of the Lord - "All the days that Adam lived were 930 years and he died (Gen. 5:8).
It is interesting to note that the oldest man ever lived was Methuselah, Enoch's son - 969 years (Gen. 5:27). Therefore no one ever lives the full day of the Lord of 1000 years.
A picture of redemption
One of the most beautiful pictures of redemption is found in Exodus 12:1 - 7. God wanted each family of Israel to take a lamb on the 10th of the month and to keep it until the 14th of the same month. In other words, the lamb should be kept for 4 days before it was killed at twilight.
Why would God want the lamb be kept for 4 days?
Actually, from God's perspective, this is a picture of God's plan of redemption when Adam sinned. When Adam sinned, when time began, God immediately took His Lamb (John 1:29), the Lord Jesus, and kept Him for 4 days. From God's perspective this was 4000 years. The fact is, from Adam through to Jesus we have 4000 years approximately. And when the fullness of the time had come God sent forth His Son (Gal. 4:4).
Revelation of the last days
The writer of Hebrews said, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ..." (Hebrews 1:1, 2, NKJV, emphasis added).
Two time periods are mentioned:
1. Sundry time (KJ), time past, and time before the Cross mean the same thing. During this time period God spoke to His people through His Old Testament prophets.
2. Present time, latter days or time after the Cross is called the "last days". God speaks to us by His Son Jesus Christ through His Spirit. His apostles wrote the New Testament in the last days by the inpiration of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah's prophecy
Let us go back to Isaiah 2 where he gave a prophetic view of the last days. Isaiah was seeing things from God's viewpoint.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isaiah 2:2, KJV, emphasis added).
Isaiah prophetically talked about the coming of the Lord Jesus in the last days to build His Church, the Lord's house.
Creation of man and redemption of men
There is a parallel truth running concerning the creation of man and the redemption of men. God worked 6 days in creation and on the 7th day He rested after creating a perfect man (male and female). Adam and Eve could have spent an eternal "honeymoon" in the Garden of Eden. But they blew it and messed it up by sin.
Similarly, God is working 6 days (6000 years) in full redemption. God's people had 4000 years before Christ came and He spends 2000 years to prepare His bride and then we have 1000 years of Kingdom rest. He already had a perfect bridegroom (Jesus Christ) and He is preparing His bride, the glorious Church (Eph. 5:25 - 27). Jesus is not going to marry a bride inferior to Himself. In the Bible He laid down certain marriage laws. And God is not going to give us marriage laws that He Himself would not keep. One of the marriage laws is, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbeliever" (2 Cor. 6:14).
Light and darkness in the last days
As mentioned earlier in the last days light and darkness are flowing together. Let us consider some passages (negative and positive) of New Testament Scripture concerning the last days.
Negative (darkness)
1. In 2 Timothy 3:1 - 7 Paul listed 18 moral blemishes in the last days - beginning with self-love and ends with lovers of pleasure. Also God's people will only display external form of godliness. Many will not maintain an intimate relationship with the Lord.
2. In 1 Timothy 4:1 - 3 Paul said in "latter times" some God's people will be deceived by wrong spirits and wrong doctrines.
3. Peter said, "... knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ..." (2 Peter 3:3 - 8).
Positive (light)
1. In Acts 2 Peter quoted Joel, an Old Testament prophet concerning things happening in the last days. At that time the New Testament has not been written yet and Luke has not written Acts yet.
Peter said, "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; ..." (Acts 2:16, 17, emphasis added).
2. Isaiah said, "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established ..." (Isaiah 2:2, emphasis added).
Notice that the Lord's house, the present day Church is established by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit prophesied by both Joel and Isaiah. Therefore the purpose of Joel's prophecy is to lead us to Isaiah 2. If you only have Joel without Isaiah you have missed the purpose of Joel. That is where most Charismatic Christians missed it. God is telling us, our Charismatic "honeymoon" is over and He wants us to get back into the house of the Lord. He wants us to build (spiritually) a true New Testament Church - His end-time Church! But many Charismatic Christians take Joel's prophecy concerning the out pouring of the Holy Spirit to mean to build more Churches (physically) and have more Charismatic "honeymoon"!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The Way of Approach to God
The Tabernacle of Moses sets forth a pattern of how sinful men approach the Holy God. The New Testament Scripture gives many reasons why we should study the Tabernacle of Moses. Here are some reasons:
1. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16, NKJV, emphasis added).
"All Scripture" includes the Old Testament Scripture.
2. "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
3. "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Cor. 10:11).
4. ".... which are the shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (Col. 2:17, emphasis added).
5. ".... who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle" (Hebrews 8:5, emphasis added).
6. "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect" (Hebrews 10:1, emphasis added).
The Tabernacle of Moses together with its articles of furniture, furnishings of curtains and veils and its measurements are the shadows to bring us to the substance - just as the purpose of prophecy is to bring us to fulfillment. Our job is to keep on following the shadows through and eventually we will come to Him, the substance.
The purpose of the Tabernacle of Moses
The key verses of the whole purpose of the Tabernacle of Moses are found in Exodus 25:
"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all the furnishing, just so you shall make it" (Exodus 25:8, 9).
The whole purpose of God is to dwell among His people - He is Emmanuel, "God with us" (Matt. 1:23). This is being shadowed here.
Moses was faithful to the Lord in all the things he made (Heb 3:5). He made everyting according to the pattern - the blueprint given by God. When everything is finished the vey presence and glory of God come into the tabernacle. Similarly, God's Glory in His fullness can only come upon a Church that is built according to His blueprint.
Man's approach into the presence of God
Not only did God want to dwell amongst His people, but there was a way of approach that God wanted to teach men - how men were to approach into the presence of God.
Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6, NKJV).
It is clear that Jesus is the only way to God the Father. In fact Jesus is the only way back to God after Adam sinned and consequently, everyone after him lost the way, lost the truth and lost the life. We lost the way because Adam was cast out from the presence of God; we lost the truth because Adam believed the lie of Satan; and we lost the life because death (both spiritual and physical) settled in.
God's redemption plan from the beginning of time
Let us go back to Genesis 3 and let us take a serious look at what exactly happened after Adam and Eve sinned against God. The moment that happened time began - our clocks started to tick! Let us pick up the last four verses of Genesis 3:
"(V. 21) Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. (V. 22) Then the Lord God said, 'Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever' - (V.23) therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. (V. 24) So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Edan, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life" (Gen. 3:21 -24, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. In Gen. 3:21 we have the first evidence of sacrifice. God Himself killed an animal for Adam and Eve's "tunics of skin".
2. Were Adam and Eve saved? I think they were. Between God and Adam was the blood and body of a sacrificial animal and the very fact that both Adam and Eve were willing to accept the coat of skin provided through the sacrifice of another, they were saved.
3. If Adam had eaten of the tree of life he and Eve, together with all those born after him, would have lived forever in an unredeemable state. And so God drove Adam out of the Garden of Eden (Vs. 23, 24).
4. Let us pick up some words from Verse 24:
(a). The word "placed" comes from the Hebrew word "shakan" which literally means "dwelling place", "lodging" or "habitation". In other words, the first tabernacle was at the east of the Garden of Eden - where God dwelled. Notice also that the tabernacle of Moses also faced east.
(b). God placed "cherubim" at the east of the Garden of Eden. In the tabernacle of Moses there were cherubim at both ends of the Mercy Seat where God dwelled. Cherubim were the guardians of the holiness of God.
(c). The "flaming sword" speaks of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And the Word was Jesus Christ Himself (John 1:1, 14).
Restoration of the Way, the Truth and the Life
It is a Biblical fact the what we have lost through Adam has been completely restored in Jesus Christ. This is what redemption means. In order to return to the Garden of Eden, in the presence of God, we have to go through the sword. Because to go through the sword means death someone has to die for us. The death of Jesus, the Lamb God (John 1:29) opened the way for us so that we can come to the presence of God again.
It is interesting to note that the early believers were called "the Way" (Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 22:4). It is a paradox that we have Jesus Christ Himself gurarding the way to the tree of life. In fact the Bible says unless you come to jesus you have no life (John 5:40; John 10:10; John 20:31).
John also said, "He who has the son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12).
The Tabernacle of Moses as a Pattern to approach God
The tabernacle shows us how to come to the Throne of God which was on top of the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place. As the sinner comes to God, he must begins at the Gate of the Court, accepts the Blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. From there on he progresses with a walk of faith, step by step, until he comes to the ultimate, the full Glory of Gos as seen in the Most Holy Place.
The Gate of the Court
The Court Gate was the one and only way and entrance to the Court. Everyone has to come the same way. As we have seen, God had provided only one Gate in the tabernacle because there is only one way for man to approach God (John 10:1 - 10).
We could not reach the presence of God by doing good work, by Church membership and Church attendance or by the act of water baptism. The only way that leads to heaven is by the way of the Cross.
The Brazen Altar
The Brazen Altar was a place of burn offering. it was the place where the lamb was taken and was slain. It signified the flaming sword that guarded the Garden of Eden. It is a picture of Jesus, the Lamb of God to be slaughtered as a sin offering for us.
The Brazen Altar was made of acacia wood which was white, durable and "incorruptible". This speaks of Christ's sinless and incorruptible humanity. The structure was also overlaid with brass which is the symbol of strength and judgment against sin.
The Brazen Laver
The Brazen Laver was a place for washing and cleansing. The ministry of the laver points up to the ministry of the Word of God in our lives. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to convict sinners of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:6 - 12). It speaks of the cleansing that comes as the Word exposes areas of our lives that are not in conformity to the Standard of God. It also speaks of the washing of water by the Word (Eph. 5:26).
The Holy Place
The Holy place was the first part of the tabernacle. The second part was the Most Holy Place. The entrance to the Holy Place was called "The Door", and the entrance to the Most Holy Place was called "The Veil".
The Door which was the one and only entrance to the Holy Place speaks of the Lord Jesus as the one and only Way to God and into His Body, the Church. The Church is the place of priestly ministry, for we who are in Christ are made kings and priests unto God (1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6).
The Golden Candlestick
The Golden Candlestick was actually a lampstand with seven branches, including the central shaft, upon which were seven lighted lamps. It was made wholly of gold, which speaks of the deity and Divine nature of Christ.
The purpose of the Candlestick was to give light and the light was sustained by pure olive oil. Jesus is the only light of the world and His light reflects and shines through the Church. Just as the candlestick needed oil to give light, the Church needs the Holy Spirit to give light to the world.
The Golden Altar of Incense
The Golden Altar of incense was for the burning of Incense unto the Lord and was positioned in the Holy Place before the veil. In Scripture, incense speaks to us of the prayer and intercession of believers which ascent unto God (Psalm 141:2; Rev. 8:3, 4).
The Table of Showbread
The Table of Showbread which was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold was placed opposite the Golden candlestick in the Holy Place. Upon this Table were placed twelve loaves of unleavened bread which were for the priests of the tribe of Levi to partake.
The word "Table" speaks to the believers today the Fellowship and Communion provided for us by the Lord. Just as God had provided the Table for His priests in the Holy Place, He has also prepared a Table in Christ for His redeemed people, the priests of His Church.
There were twelve loaves of Showbread on the Table before the Lord, one loaf for each tribe in the camp of Israel. All the tribes were represented before the Lord. Similarly, the Church is represented before the Lord as members of His Body. Every member of the Body of Christ participates in that One Bread.
The Inner Veil
The Inner Veil was a thick curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. It was to hide the Shekinah Glory from the eyes of men. It acted as a partition to separate sinful men from the Most Holy God. Only once a year, on the Great Day of Atonement, did Aaron, the high priest entered within the veil making atonement for his own sins and for the sins of the people.
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant, containing the tablets of the Law, the golden pot of manna and Aaron's rod that was budded, was the only piece of furniture in the Most Holy Place. On top of the Ark was the Mercy Seat, with cherubim of gold at both ends (Ex. 25:18 - 20). It was from here, from above the Mercy Seat that God spoke to Aaron (Verse 22).
The Veil was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ before His crucifixion. When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, shedding His Blood, as both Sin Sacrifice and High Priest, as both Offering and Offerer, God, by a miraculous act, rent the dividing Veil of the Temple (a type of the tabernacle) in twain (Matt. 27:51). This was a divine act of God.
The Way to the Glory and presence of God was now opened - thus restoring what was lost through Adam's sin.
1. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16, NKJV, emphasis added).
"All Scripture" includes the Old Testament Scripture.
2. "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
3. "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Cor. 10:11).
4. ".... which are the shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (Col. 2:17, emphasis added).
5. ".... who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle" (Hebrews 8:5, emphasis added).
6. "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect" (Hebrews 10:1, emphasis added).
The Tabernacle of Moses together with its articles of furniture, furnishings of curtains and veils and its measurements are the shadows to bring us to the substance - just as the purpose of prophecy is to bring us to fulfillment. Our job is to keep on following the shadows through and eventually we will come to Him, the substance.
The purpose of the Tabernacle of Moses
The key verses of the whole purpose of the Tabernacle of Moses are found in Exodus 25:
"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all the furnishing, just so you shall make it" (Exodus 25:8, 9).
The whole purpose of God is to dwell among His people - He is Emmanuel, "God with us" (Matt. 1:23). This is being shadowed here.
Moses was faithful to the Lord in all the things he made (Heb 3:5). He made everyting according to the pattern - the blueprint given by God. When everything is finished the vey presence and glory of God come into the tabernacle. Similarly, God's Glory in His fullness can only come upon a Church that is built according to His blueprint.
Man's approach into the presence of God
Not only did God want to dwell amongst His people, but there was a way of approach that God wanted to teach men - how men were to approach into the presence of God.
Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6, NKJV).
It is clear that Jesus is the only way to God the Father. In fact Jesus is the only way back to God after Adam sinned and consequently, everyone after him lost the way, lost the truth and lost the life. We lost the way because Adam was cast out from the presence of God; we lost the truth because Adam believed the lie of Satan; and we lost the life because death (both spiritual and physical) settled in.
God's redemption plan from the beginning of time
Let us go back to Genesis 3 and let us take a serious look at what exactly happened after Adam and Eve sinned against God. The moment that happened time began - our clocks started to tick! Let us pick up the last four verses of Genesis 3:
"(V. 21) Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. (V. 22) Then the Lord God said, 'Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever' - (V.23) therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. (V. 24) So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Edan, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life" (Gen. 3:21 -24, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. In Gen. 3:21 we have the first evidence of sacrifice. God Himself killed an animal for Adam and Eve's "tunics of skin".
2. Were Adam and Eve saved? I think they were. Between God and Adam was the blood and body of a sacrificial animal and the very fact that both Adam and Eve were willing to accept the coat of skin provided through the sacrifice of another, they were saved.
3. If Adam had eaten of the tree of life he and Eve, together with all those born after him, would have lived forever in an unredeemable state. And so God drove Adam out of the Garden of Eden (Vs. 23, 24).
4. Let us pick up some words from Verse 24:
(a). The word "placed" comes from the Hebrew word "shakan" which literally means "dwelling place", "lodging" or "habitation". In other words, the first tabernacle was at the east of the Garden of Eden - where God dwelled. Notice also that the tabernacle of Moses also faced east.
(b). God placed "cherubim" at the east of the Garden of Eden. In the tabernacle of Moses there were cherubim at both ends of the Mercy Seat where God dwelled. Cherubim were the guardians of the holiness of God.
(c). The "flaming sword" speaks of the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. And the Word was Jesus Christ Himself (John 1:1, 14).
Restoration of the Way, the Truth and the Life
It is a Biblical fact the what we have lost through Adam has been completely restored in Jesus Christ. This is what redemption means. In order to return to the Garden of Eden, in the presence of God, we have to go through the sword. Because to go through the sword means death someone has to die for us. The death of Jesus, the Lamb God (John 1:29) opened the way for us so that we can come to the presence of God again.
It is interesting to note that the early believers were called "the Way" (Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 22:4). It is a paradox that we have Jesus Christ Himself gurarding the way to the tree of life. In fact the Bible says unless you come to jesus you have no life (John 5:40; John 10:10; John 20:31).
John also said, "He who has the son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:12).
The Tabernacle of Moses as a Pattern to approach God
The tabernacle shows us how to come to the Throne of God which was on top of the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place. As the sinner comes to God, he must begins at the Gate of the Court, accepts the Blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. From there on he progresses with a walk of faith, step by step, until he comes to the ultimate, the full Glory of Gos as seen in the Most Holy Place.
The Gate of the Court
The Court Gate was the one and only way and entrance to the Court. Everyone has to come the same way. As we have seen, God had provided only one Gate in the tabernacle because there is only one way for man to approach God (John 10:1 - 10).
We could not reach the presence of God by doing good work, by Church membership and Church attendance or by the act of water baptism. The only way that leads to heaven is by the way of the Cross.
The Brazen Altar
The Brazen Altar was a place of burn offering. it was the place where the lamb was taken and was slain. It signified the flaming sword that guarded the Garden of Eden. It is a picture of Jesus, the Lamb of God to be slaughtered as a sin offering for us.
The Brazen Altar was made of acacia wood which was white, durable and "incorruptible". This speaks of Christ's sinless and incorruptible humanity. The structure was also overlaid with brass which is the symbol of strength and judgment against sin.
The Brazen Laver
The Brazen Laver was a place for washing and cleansing. The ministry of the laver points up to the ministry of the Word of God in our lives. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to convict sinners of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:6 - 12). It speaks of the cleansing that comes as the Word exposes areas of our lives that are not in conformity to the Standard of God. It also speaks of the washing of water by the Word (Eph. 5:26).
The Holy Place
The Holy place was the first part of the tabernacle. The second part was the Most Holy Place. The entrance to the Holy Place was called "The Door", and the entrance to the Most Holy Place was called "The Veil".
The Door which was the one and only entrance to the Holy Place speaks of the Lord Jesus as the one and only Way to God and into His Body, the Church. The Church is the place of priestly ministry, for we who are in Christ are made kings and priests unto God (1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6).
The Golden Candlestick
The Golden Candlestick was actually a lampstand with seven branches, including the central shaft, upon which were seven lighted lamps. It was made wholly of gold, which speaks of the deity and Divine nature of Christ.
The purpose of the Candlestick was to give light and the light was sustained by pure olive oil. Jesus is the only light of the world and His light reflects and shines through the Church. Just as the candlestick needed oil to give light, the Church needs the Holy Spirit to give light to the world.
The Golden Altar of Incense
The Golden Altar of incense was for the burning of Incense unto the Lord and was positioned in the Holy Place before the veil. In Scripture, incense speaks to us of the prayer and intercession of believers which ascent unto God (Psalm 141:2; Rev. 8:3, 4).
The Table of Showbread
The Table of Showbread which was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold was placed opposite the Golden candlestick in the Holy Place. Upon this Table were placed twelve loaves of unleavened bread which were for the priests of the tribe of Levi to partake.
The word "Table" speaks to the believers today the Fellowship and Communion provided for us by the Lord. Just as God had provided the Table for His priests in the Holy Place, He has also prepared a Table in Christ for His redeemed people, the priests of His Church.
There were twelve loaves of Showbread on the Table before the Lord, one loaf for each tribe in the camp of Israel. All the tribes were represented before the Lord. Similarly, the Church is represented before the Lord as members of His Body. Every member of the Body of Christ participates in that One Bread.
The Inner Veil
The Inner Veil was a thick curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. It was to hide the Shekinah Glory from the eyes of men. It acted as a partition to separate sinful men from the Most Holy God. Only once a year, on the Great Day of Atonement, did Aaron, the high priest entered within the veil making atonement for his own sins and for the sins of the people.
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant, containing the tablets of the Law, the golden pot of manna and Aaron's rod that was budded, was the only piece of furniture in the Most Holy Place. On top of the Ark was the Mercy Seat, with cherubim of gold at both ends (Ex. 25:18 - 20). It was from here, from above the Mercy Seat that God spoke to Aaron (Verse 22).
The Veil was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ before His crucifixion. When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, shedding His Blood, as both Sin Sacrifice and High Priest, as both Offering and Offerer, God, by a miraculous act, rent the dividing Veil of the Temple (a type of the tabernacle) in twain (Matt. 27:51). This was a divine act of God.
The Way to the Glory and presence of God was now opened - thus restoring what was lost through Adam's sin.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
The Time of the Apostles and the New Creation
We are at the final stage of the restoration of God's pattern of creation seen in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. Adam not only brought sin and death to the world but also created a gross unbalance to the teaching and practice of Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. Let us recapitulate what we have learned when we apply it to the Church. Genesis 1 teaches that in the Church all ministries and gifts of the Holy Spirit are opened to both men and women. Genesis 2 teaches that in the Church only men take responsibility in the areas of doctrine and discipline. The Ministry of Jesus and the ministry of the early Church showed that women should never hold an authoritative position where they tell men what to do. It is the will of God that this original pattern be fully restored. Otherwise, in the eyes of God, the Church is not fully redeemed!
The Apostles' Doctrine
After Peter's first sermon Luke recorded, "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayer" (Acts 2:41, 42, NKJV, emphasis added).
Paul (or rather God) has given us the ingredients for a healthy Church growth. The primary requirement is upholding the apostles' doctrine (or teaching). The trouble is, the contemporary Local Churches practising all these - fellowshipping, breaking of bread and having prayer meetings except "steadfastly" following and upholding the apostles' doctrine.
Danger of taking a verse of Scripture out of its context
Paul's teaching is totally consistent with the pattern we dealt with in the first two Chapters of the Bible. On the one hand Paul upholds the equality of status, value and worth of every individual person, either male of female. On the other hand he makes a distinction between the male and female in their respective role and responsibility in the Church.
Confusion and trouble come when we take a verse of Scripture out of its context. In the original translation the books of the Bible were written without paragraph and verse number. These were put in by the translators. It will be better if we can read a book of the Bible through like a story without worrying about taking a sentence out of its context.
False basis of support for the feminists and the homosexuals
Let us look at a statement of Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians:
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28, emphasis added).
The above verse taken out of context is now becomes almost the sole basis for the Christian feminists because they take it to mean that there is no difference whatever between the male and female in the eyes of God. What men can do, women can do equally well or even better.
If you take that text and apply it to the relationship between men and women, can can prove that it is perfectly acceptable for homosexuals to get married provided they are both Christians. If that verse means now that we are Christians, if there is no difference between men and women then there is nothing wrong with homosexual marriage. A man can therefore free to marry another man or to a woman. Homosexual Churches actually use that verse to justify their existence. It is obvious that is the wrong meaning.
If you want to find the meaning of a text you have to look at the context - other part of the same chapter or other part of the same paragraph, usually one or two verses before and one or two verses after the text in question. So if you look at Galatians 3:38 in the context you will realize that the apostle Paul was not talking about role relationship (teaching of Genesis 2). He was talking about sons and heirs through faith in Christ Jesus. He was explaining the nature of the Abrahamic Covenant whereby the blessing of salvation came to mankind - both men and women.
Paul said, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26, emphasis added).
Notice that he did not say sons and daughters. Never in the New Testament was the early Church addressed Christians as brothers and sisters - always brothers. Never in the New Testament is a Christian fellowship described as sons and daughters of God - always sons. And all female Christians are also sons in Christ.
Paul further said, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Verse 27).
In other words, when I am baptized I have put on Christ -The One who is a free Jew. Once I am in Christ I am in a male Jew who is free, whether I am a Jew or a Gentile. Because I am in Christ I am Abraham's seed and I can claim the promise made to Abraham (Verse 29).
Galations 3:28 shows that Paul's teaching was totally in line with Genesis 1.
Paul maintained the teaching of Genesis 2
When Paul discussed family life, marriage and the role of men and women in the Church he applied Genesis 2.
Therefore in 1 Cor. 11 he said, "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11:3).
Notice the chain of divine order of authority comes from the top downward - Christ, man and then woman. Paul did not say the head of every Christian man is Christ, nor did he say the head of every Christian woman is man. So, this divine order of authority is mandatory to all men - Christian or non-Christian.
Furthermore Paul continued to say, "For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels" (1 Cor. 11:8 - 10).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. Here Paul picked up the whole basis of the teaching of Genesis 2 - woman was made from man; woman was made for man; woman was made after man (please read again my earlier message - "God's Pattern of Male-Female Role and Relationship").
2. A woman needs to have a symbol of authority over her head - spiritually it is the man; physically it is her long hair (Verse 15). Notice there is not one word in the original Greek about a woman wearing a hat in the Church. The length of a woman's hair is sufficient to reveal that she is accepting her identity in Christ.
3. The angels are watching whether the Church is following the divine order and that the women are covered by men in that congregation in worshiping, praying and prophesying (Verse 5). Whenever we are gathering together in a Church the angels are watching us. The women in the Church are vulnerable to supernatural influence because there are bad angels as well as good ones. The bad ones are demons and they are looking around for women who do not accept male protection!
So we see Paul was totally consistent in his teaching (based on Genesis 1 and Genesis 2). He summed this up:
"Nevertherless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of men, in the Lord" (Verse 11).
Therefore there would never be a Church made up of men only, or women only.
Paul's teaching in 1 Cor. 11 is very clear. The man needs to be masculine toward his wife and the womans need to be femine toward her husband. On the one hand, as the husband leads his wife he himself needs to be led by Christ. But on the other hand Paul and the other apostles' teachings say that whatever the woman's husband is like, he is the woman's head. In other words, whether the husband is a believer or a non-believer he is still the head of the woman. We must repect the head of the home whether he is a believer or a non-believer.
Peter also maintained the Creation Pattern
It is interesting to realize that Peter taught exactly the same thing as Paul. Both of them were utterly consistent with the whole Bible.
The first calling of a wife, after loving the Lord, is to love her husband and not the Church. The Church comes third. In a redeemed relationship the wife submits to her husband whether he is a believer or not and whether he is matured or not.
To the wife Peter said, "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear (1 Peter 3:1, 2, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. Paul said the same thing regarding the wife's submission to her husband (Eph. 5:22).
2: Sometimes both the husband and the wife heard the Gospel together but the husband would not obey, whereas the wife obeyed and got converted. By the show of chaste conduct of the wife, even without the wife having to say anything, her husband would fear God and would soon accept the Gospel.
To the husband Peter said, "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understand, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Peter 3:7, emphasis added).
Notice that the above verse is quite similar to what Paul said in Galatians 3:28. Both Paul and Peter upheld the teaching of Genesis 1.
Equal in ministry but unequal in office
According to the apostles' doctrine every ministry is opened to women in the New Testament but not every office - there is a difference.
Paul said, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:11, 12, emphasis added).
The five offices listed: Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher are Christ's gifts to His Church for the purpose of preparing Church members to take up the various ministries in the Body of Christ. Each of these five gifts listed can be an office or a ministry.
For example Paul asked Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist" (2 Tim. 4:5). Obviously Timothy did not hold the office of an evangelist but able to minister and do the work expected of an evangelist. Similarly any Christian, male or female, can be anointed and called to minister, to serve and to function in all these offices except that a woman cannot hold the office of a Pastor - simply because she cannot be in a position to have authority over men, to teach men and tell men what to do (1 Tim. 2:11 -15).
There are women who prophesy. For example, we have Philip's four daughters. There are also women teachers (Titus 2:2, 3). There are women who are given the name of apostle. For example, a woman called Junia:
Paul said, "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who were in Christ before me" (Romans 16:7).
In fact, Paul, in Romans 16, listed 26 of his helpers and companions and 9 of them were women. But, no where can you find in the entire New Testament that a woman is called to be a Pastor or an elder or a teacher in an opened congregation where both men and women are present.
This is the balanced teaching of both Paul and Peter based on the pattern set out by God in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. How I wish the contemporary Churches have balanced teaching as well!
The New Creation
In heaven the sexual difference will go. Neither will men marry nor will women given in marriage (Matt. 22:30; Mark 12:25). That is because there will be no need for reproduction and the population in heaven will not increase. We shall be like the angels. Angels are created beings and they never reproduce; they are of fixed number. You will never be united with your marriage partner. Your marriage ends when one of you dies; and you will never be put together again. You and your wife will be brother and sister in heaven. And we all will have closer relationship with every one else.
The best news is, you will get a new body in heaven and your body will be of age 33! - the same age when Jesus died.
John said, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2, NKJV, emphasis added).
That is when you are fully redeemed (Romans 8:22, 23). The whole creation will be on the eighth day of creation. God is preparing us for a whole new world. He is restoring what is meant to be in the beginning. That is the whole Gospel! Amen.
The Apostles' Doctrine
After Peter's first sermon Luke recorded, "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayer" (Acts 2:41, 42, NKJV, emphasis added).
Paul (or rather God) has given us the ingredients for a healthy Church growth. The primary requirement is upholding the apostles' doctrine (or teaching). The trouble is, the contemporary Local Churches practising all these - fellowshipping, breaking of bread and having prayer meetings except "steadfastly" following and upholding the apostles' doctrine.
Danger of taking a verse of Scripture out of its context
Paul's teaching is totally consistent with the pattern we dealt with in the first two Chapters of the Bible. On the one hand Paul upholds the equality of status, value and worth of every individual person, either male of female. On the other hand he makes a distinction between the male and female in their respective role and responsibility in the Church.
Confusion and trouble come when we take a verse of Scripture out of its context. In the original translation the books of the Bible were written without paragraph and verse number. These were put in by the translators. It will be better if we can read a book of the Bible through like a story without worrying about taking a sentence out of its context.
False basis of support for the feminists and the homosexuals
Let us look at a statement of Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians:
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28, emphasis added).
The above verse taken out of context is now becomes almost the sole basis for the Christian feminists because they take it to mean that there is no difference whatever between the male and female in the eyes of God. What men can do, women can do equally well or even better.
If you take that text and apply it to the relationship between men and women, can can prove that it is perfectly acceptable for homosexuals to get married provided they are both Christians. If that verse means now that we are Christians, if there is no difference between men and women then there is nothing wrong with homosexual marriage. A man can therefore free to marry another man or to a woman. Homosexual Churches actually use that verse to justify their existence. It is obvious that is the wrong meaning.
If you want to find the meaning of a text you have to look at the context - other part of the same chapter or other part of the same paragraph, usually one or two verses before and one or two verses after the text in question. So if you look at Galatians 3:38 in the context you will realize that the apostle Paul was not talking about role relationship (teaching of Genesis 2). He was talking about sons and heirs through faith in Christ Jesus. He was explaining the nature of the Abrahamic Covenant whereby the blessing of salvation came to mankind - both men and women.
Paul said, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26, emphasis added).
Notice that he did not say sons and daughters. Never in the New Testament was the early Church addressed Christians as brothers and sisters - always brothers. Never in the New Testament is a Christian fellowship described as sons and daughters of God - always sons. And all female Christians are also sons in Christ.
Paul further said, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Verse 27).
In other words, when I am baptized I have put on Christ -The One who is a free Jew. Once I am in Christ I am in a male Jew who is free, whether I am a Jew or a Gentile. Because I am in Christ I am Abraham's seed and I can claim the promise made to Abraham (Verse 29).
Galations 3:28 shows that Paul's teaching was totally in line with Genesis 1.
Paul maintained the teaching of Genesis 2
When Paul discussed family life, marriage and the role of men and women in the Church he applied Genesis 2.
Therefore in 1 Cor. 11 he said, "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Cor. 11:3).
Notice the chain of divine order of authority comes from the top downward - Christ, man and then woman. Paul did not say the head of every Christian man is Christ, nor did he say the head of every Christian woman is man. So, this divine order of authority is mandatory to all men - Christian or non-Christian.
Furthermore Paul continued to say, "For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels" (1 Cor. 11:8 - 10).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. Here Paul picked up the whole basis of the teaching of Genesis 2 - woman was made from man; woman was made for man; woman was made after man (please read again my earlier message - "God's Pattern of Male-Female Role and Relationship").
2. A woman needs to have a symbol of authority over her head - spiritually it is the man; physically it is her long hair (Verse 15). Notice there is not one word in the original Greek about a woman wearing a hat in the Church. The length of a woman's hair is sufficient to reveal that she is accepting her identity in Christ.
3. The angels are watching whether the Church is following the divine order and that the women are covered by men in that congregation in worshiping, praying and prophesying (Verse 5). Whenever we are gathering together in a Church the angels are watching us. The women in the Church are vulnerable to supernatural influence because there are bad angels as well as good ones. The bad ones are demons and they are looking around for women who do not accept male protection!
So we see Paul was totally consistent in his teaching (based on Genesis 1 and Genesis 2). He summed this up:
"Nevertherless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of men, in the Lord" (Verse 11).
Therefore there would never be a Church made up of men only, or women only.
Paul's teaching in 1 Cor. 11 is very clear. The man needs to be masculine toward his wife and the womans need to be femine toward her husband. On the one hand, as the husband leads his wife he himself needs to be led by Christ. But on the other hand Paul and the other apostles' teachings say that whatever the woman's husband is like, he is the woman's head. In other words, whether the husband is a believer or a non-believer he is still the head of the woman. We must repect the head of the home whether he is a believer or a non-believer.
Peter also maintained the Creation Pattern
It is interesting to realize that Peter taught exactly the same thing as Paul. Both of them were utterly consistent with the whole Bible.
The first calling of a wife, after loving the Lord, is to love her husband and not the Church. The Church comes third. In a redeemed relationship the wife submits to her husband whether he is a believer or not and whether he is matured or not.
To the wife Peter said, "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear (1 Peter 3:1, 2, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. Paul said the same thing regarding the wife's submission to her husband (Eph. 5:22).
2: Sometimes both the husband and the wife heard the Gospel together but the husband would not obey, whereas the wife obeyed and got converted. By the show of chaste conduct of the wife, even without the wife having to say anything, her husband would fear God and would soon accept the Gospel.
To the husband Peter said, "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understand, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Peter 3:7, emphasis added).
Notice that the above verse is quite similar to what Paul said in Galatians 3:28. Both Paul and Peter upheld the teaching of Genesis 1.
Equal in ministry but unequal in office
According to the apostles' doctrine every ministry is opened to women in the New Testament but not every office - there is a difference.
Paul said, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:11, 12, emphasis added).
The five offices listed: Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher are Christ's gifts to His Church for the purpose of preparing Church members to take up the various ministries in the Body of Christ. Each of these five gifts listed can be an office or a ministry.
For example Paul asked Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist" (2 Tim. 4:5). Obviously Timothy did not hold the office of an evangelist but able to minister and do the work expected of an evangelist. Similarly any Christian, male or female, can be anointed and called to minister, to serve and to function in all these offices except that a woman cannot hold the office of a Pastor - simply because she cannot be in a position to have authority over men, to teach men and tell men what to do (1 Tim. 2:11 -15).
There are women who prophesy. For example, we have Philip's four daughters. There are also women teachers (Titus 2:2, 3). There are women who are given the name of apostle. For example, a woman called Junia:
Paul said, "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who were in Christ before me" (Romans 16:7).
In fact, Paul, in Romans 16, listed 26 of his helpers and companions and 9 of them were women. But, no where can you find in the entire New Testament that a woman is called to be a Pastor or an elder or a teacher in an opened congregation where both men and women are present.
This is the balanced teaching of both Paul and Peter based on the pattern set out by God in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. How I wish the contemporary Churches have balanced teaching as well!
The New Creation
In heaven the sexual difference will go. Neither will men marry nor will women given in marriage (Matt. 22:30; Mark 12:25). That is because there will be no need for reproduction and the population in heaven will not increase. We shall be like the angels. Angels are created beings and they never reproduce; they are of fixed number. You will never be united with your marriage partner. Your marriage ends when one of you dies; and you will never be put together again. You and your wife will be brother and sister in heaven. And we all will have closer relationship with every one else.
The best news is, you will get a new body in heaven and your body will be of age 33! - the same age when Jesus died.
John said, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2, NKJV, emphasis added).
That is when you are fully redeemed (Romans 8:22, 23). The whole creation will be on the eighth day of creation. God is preparing us for a whole new world. He is restoring what is meant to be in the beginning. That is the whole Gospel! Amen.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
New Testament's Attitude toward Women
We have seen in my previous message that the Old Testament's attitude toward women failed to get back to God's creation order. It was less than God's best because it fell short of God's original order. It is interesting to discover what happened when Jesus and the early Church came into the picture.
Jesus' attitude toward women
When Jesus came it is very obvious that for someone who is called a Rabbi (Mark 9:5; John 1:38) He had an extraordinary attitude toward women. In the days of Jesus no rabbi would teach a woman anything. In fact even to this day this still spplies. The Jewish rabbi considers women beneath teaching. That is why in the synagogue women are being segregated. They usually sit at the gallery area because it is the men who are addressed by the rabbi.
Jesus broke all that culture and He addressed in teaching, equally to men and women. When He told a parable He told one for the men and one for the women.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Jesus said, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it" (Luke 15:4, NKJV, emphasis added).
The Parable of the Lost Coin
Jesus said, "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it" (Luke 15:8, emphasis added).
Jesus allowed women to minister to Him
You will find throughout His life Jesus gave as much attention to women as to men. Furthermore when He traveled to the country side He took women with Him as well as men.
"Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities - Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance" (Luke 8:1 - 3, emphasis added).
Jesus allowed women to minister to Him which no rabbi had ever done. In fact Joanna and Mary Magdalene were two of the women who witnessed the empty tomb and announced Christ's resurrection to the unbelieving apostles (Luke 24:1 - 10).
When Jesus' disciples found Him spending hours in the heat of the day talking about theology with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well they could not believe it (John 4). Jesus did not think it strange that Mary sat at His feet, assuming the role of a disciple. In fact He suggested to Martha that she should do likewise (Luke 10:38 - 42).
Therefore, Genesis 1 is clearly applied in Jesus' Ministry that men and women are of equal value. Jesus, the Son of God, could have chosen to come straight from heaven at the age of 30 but He did not choose to do that. Instead He chose to be born of a woman. He was the only Person who ever chose to be born! At the other end of His life, it was Jesus' choice that women should be the first to know that He has risen from the dead. That is totally against all the Jewish culture of His days.
Amazing encounters of Jesus and women
The Gospels are full of amazing encounters of Jesus and women in which He gave them nothing less than utter repect. Let us look at just one incidence.
When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery Jesus handled the situation with utter wisdom (John 8). The Law of Moses said you have to stone the woman, but it also said you have to stone the man too. But they did not bring the man which was typical of unfairness. They caught the woman in the very act of adultery so they must have caught the man too. When Jesus saw that shameful injustice He could not even look at them. He simply scribbled on the ground with His fingers.
He said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first" (John 8:7).
He did not mean, "He who is without any sin". Otherwise no judge could ever operate because there was no human judge who was not a sinner in some area. He was referring to the sin they wanted to condemn the woman for because they were of the same mind which the world usually was to blame the woman and not the man - not knowing it is the man's reponsibility to protect the woman. It is interesting to note that the older men left first. I believe the older men knew the truth about themselves better than the younger men. But even the younger men finally admitted their injustice and left.
Women owed so much to Jesus who came with a different attitude. Nobody has a higher view of women than Jesus and no woman had ever come to Jesus and felt He could not understand her.
Jesus maintained the teaching of Genesis 2
Having said the above, Jesus also maintaned the teaching of Genesis 2 by making sure that men took the reponsibility and not the women. Jesus chose 12 men to start His Church. He was not under cultural pressure to choose 12 men. He had only one reason - He was founding the new poeple of God on the same basis of the old. The old was founded on the 12 sons of Jacob, and the new was founded on the 12 men. When you get to the New Creation and see the New Jerusalem you will find 24 names engraved on the gates and on the walls. They are all Jewish men, 12 from the old and 12 from the new (Rev. 21:12 - 14). The names of the 12 sons of Jacob will be engraved on the gates of the New City. The names of the 12 apostles will be engraved on the walls with 12 foundations.
The male leadership responsibility was practiced by Jesus in choosing 12 men to lay the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ today. At the same time Jesus showed utter respect for every woman He met. He did it because it is God's will that His people, at anytime and dispensation, follow the teaching of Genesis 2.
Jesus would not allow a woman to tell Him what to do
Though Jesus gave such respect and such time and such love for women He always reacted strongly against a woman telling Him what to do. Let us look at two examples:
1. The wedding at Cana (John 2)
Almost immediately after His baptism and anointing with the Holy Spirit, Jesus and His disciples and His mother were invited to a family wedding at Cana. His mother tried to get Him involved.
He said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4).
Notice Jesus would not call her "mother" but call her "woman" reminding her of her sex and indicating it was not her place to get Him involved. And then, having said that, and put her very firmly in her place, He then had compassion on His relatives and turned the water into wine.
2. Jesus' encounter with a Syro-Phoenician woman (Mark 7:24 - 30)
A Syro-Phoenician woman came to Jesus asking Him to cast out the demon from her daughter. This gentile woman was telling Jesus what to do.
Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs" (Mark 7:27).
Jesus was obviously rude to her - what an insult to be called a dog! Jesus put her firmly in her place first and watched her reaction. That clever woman said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs" (Verse 28).
Jesus must have smiled and granted the desire of her heart because of her faith.
So we see it is important to note that Jesus would not let women tell Him what to do. He talked to them, ministered to them and loved them, but He would not allow them to have authority in His life. Jesus not only chose men as the base of His people, but He also would not let women take any position of authority over men. We shall see the teaching of the apostles is totally in line with Jesus' own teaching and attitude.
The Early Church
We find the threat of Genesis 1 and 2 continued into the early Church. On the one hand it is quite obvious that in the early Chapters of Acts, women were of equal value, and worth and status as men. They joined together in prayer in an upper room for the coming of Pentecost - for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Women were there with the men praying together. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was praying with the others when the Pentecost came. The Holy Spirit was given without distinction of class, age or sex.
The Scripture says that "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4, NKJV, emphasis added). Therefore Mary, the mother of Jesus also spoke in other tongues. Notice that Mary was not mentioned again after this - indicating she had completed her ministry. And now the Church took over. The Church was to carry the Christ to the world. The Church was to embody the Christ. Mary's work was completed. But she was an outstanding example of a charismatic believer. She was willing to let the Holy Spirit to do anything with her regardless of social consequences.
Right through the early Chapters of Acts, men and women were equally filled with the Holy Spirit, equally in prayer; they were together in the Church taking a full and active part. Also women were disciplined as well as men in the Church. Ananias and his wife Sapphira were both condemned to death because they lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1 - 11).
So, the early Chruch was totally in line with the teaching of Genesis 1 (the vertical relationship). This means men and women were created equal; they were all called disciples, they were all treated as able to receive the Holy Spirit in fullness and receive His gifts. For example, the four daughters of Philips were prophetess (Acts 21:9).
The Early Church maintained the teaching of Genesis 2
Just like the Ministry of Jesus, the early Church maintained the teaching of Genesis 2 by making sure that men took responsibility in the Church. Here are some examples:
1. A replacement for Judas (Acts 1:15 - 26)
When Judas went to his own place (committed suicide) they replaced him with a man and not a woman. That was the first indication that the Church is going to carry on with the dual strength of teaching right from Genesis 1 and 2, through the Old Testament, right through the Ministry of Jesus - they just carry the pattern set out by God in total consistency.
2. Feeding the widows (Acts 6:1 - 7)
When a crisis arose over the widows they were feeding, they chose "seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Verse 3) to be in charge of catering. I think we should do likewise. But the contemporary Church is likely to choose women.
3. Planting of new Churches and Christian communities (Acts 13, 14)
When they sent out pioneering teams to plant new Chruches and Christian communities they always sent out two men with the team. A good example is Paul and Barnabas. The last thing they would do, unlike what modern society often do, is to send woman out to plant Chruches. This practice is against the Word of the Lord, against creation order and it is going to distort the Church from the very foundation of it!
4. Doctrinal dispute (Acts 15)
When they had a doctrinal dispute; when there was an argument over the teaching, it was settled by men. A classic example is found in Acts 15. The main issue was whether Gentile believers need to be circumcised in order to be saved. They settled rightly by gathering the whole Church together and listened to all the points of view. The apostles and the elders settled this issue and reported back to the whole Church their discussion and that pleased the whole Church. When the men had setted the doctrinal dispute they sent out 2 men to carry their decision to other Churches and shared it. The men took resposibility not only to settling it, but for spreading the result of their judgment. This is in line with the teaching of Genesis 2.
Since the elders' tasks in the New Testament Church primarily concerns with doctrine and discipline, the responsiblity for eldership is always given to the men. Every Church needs a group of men who are able and willing to see that the standard of belief and behavior are properly upheld. Women should never have to carry that responsibility.
You will find that in a Church where the elders were mixed men and women, they will not discipline the Church correctly. That is why a woman cannot be a Pastor or an elder of a Church.
Jesus' attitude toward women
When Jesus came it is very obvious that for someone who is called a Rabbi (Mark 9:5; John 1:38) He had an extraordinary attitude toward women. In the days of Jesus no rabbi would teach a woman anything. In fact even to this day this still spplies. The Jewish rabbi considers women beneath teaching. That is why in the synagogue women are being segregated. They usually sit at the gallery area because it is the men who are addressed by the rabbi.
Jesus broke all that culture and He addressed in teaching, equally to men and women. When He told a parable He told one for the men and one for the women.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Jesus said, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it" (Luke 15:4, NKJV, emphasis added).
The Parable of the Lost Coin
Jesus said, "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it" (Luke 15:8, emphasis added).
Jesus allowed women to minister to Him
You will find throughout His life Jesus gave as much attention to women as to men. Furthermore when He traveled to the country side He took women with Him as well as men.
"Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities - Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance" (Luke 8:1 - 3, emphasis added).
Jesus allowed women to minister to Him which no rabbi had ever done. In fact Joanna and Mary Magdalene were two of the women who witnessed the empty tomb and announced Christ's resurrection to the unbelieving apostles (Luke 24:1 - 10).
When Jesus' disciples found Him spending hours in the heat of the day talking about theology with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well they could not believe it (John 4). Jesus did not think it strange that Mary sat at His feet, assuming the role of a disciple. In fact He suggested to Martha that she should do likewise (Luke 10:38 - 42).
Therefore, Genesis 1 is clearly applied in Jesus' Ministry that men and women are of equal value. Jesus, the Son of God, could have chosen to come straight from heaven at the age of 30 but He did not choose to do that. Instead He chose to be born of a woman. He was the only Person who ever chose to be born! At the other end of His life, it was Jesus' choice that women should be the first to know that He has risen from the dead. That is totally against all the Jewish culture of His days.
Amazing encounters of Jesus and women
The Gospels are full of amazing encounters of Jesus and women in which He gave them nothing less than utter repect. Let us look at just one incidence.
When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery Jesus handled the situation with utter wisdom (John 8). The Law of Moses said you have to stone the woman, but it also said you have to stone the man too. But they did not bring the man which was typical of unfairness. They caught the woman in the very act of adultery so they must have caught the man too. When Jesus saw that shameful injustice He could not even look at them. He simply scribbled on the ground with His fingers.
He said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first" (John 8:7).
He did not mean, "He who is without any sin". Otherwise no judge could ever operate because there was no human judge who was not a sinner in some area. He was referring to the sin they wanted to condemn the woman for because they were of the same mind which the world usually was to blame the woman and not the man - not knowing it is the man's reponsibility to protect the woman. It is interesting to note that the older men left first. I believe the older men knew the truth about themselves better than the younger men. But even the younger men finally admitted their injustice and left.
Women owed so much to Jesus who came with a different attitude. Nobody has a higher view of women than Jesus and no woman had ever come to Jesus and felt He could not understand her.
Jesus maintained the teaching of Genesis 2
Having said the above, Jesus also maintaned the teaching of Genesis 2 by making sure that men took the reponsibility and not the women. Jesus chose 12 men to start His Church. He was not under cultural pressure to choose 12 men. He had only one reason - He was founding the new poeple of God on the same basis of the old. The old was founded on the 12 sons of Jacob, and the new was founded on the 12 men. When you get to the New Creation and see the New Jerusalem you will find 24 names engraved on the gates and on the walls. They are all Jewish men, 12 from the old and 12 from the new (Rev. 21:12 - 14). The names of the 12 sons of Jacob will be engraved on the gates of the New City. The names of the 12 apostles will be engraved on the walls with 12 foundations.
The male leadership responsibility was practiced by Jesus in choosing 12 men to lay the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ today. At the same time Jesus showed utter respect for every woman He met. He did it because it is God's will that His people, at anytime and dispensation, follow the teaching of Genesis 2.
Jesus would not allow a woman to tell Him what to do
Though Jesus gave such respect and such time and such love for women He always reacted strongly against a woman telling Him what to do. Let us look at two examples:
1. The wedding at Cana (John 2)
Almost immediately after His baptism and anointing with the Holy Spirit, Jesus and His disciples and His mother were invited to a family wedding at Cana. His mother tried to get Him involved.
He said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come" (John 2:4).
Notice Jesus would not call her "mother" but call her "woman" reminding her of her sex and indicating it was not her place to get Him involved. And then, having said that, and put her very firmly in her place, He then had compassion on His relatives and turned the water into wine.
2. Jesus' encounter with a Syro-Phoenician woman (Mark 7:24 - 30)
A Syro-Phoenician woman came to Jesus asking Him to cast out the demon from her daughter. This gentile woman was telling Jesus what to do.
Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs" (Mark 7:27).
Jesus was obviously rude to her - what an insult to be called a dog! Jesus put her firmly in her place first and watched her reaction. That clever woman said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs" (Verse 28).
Jesus must have smiled and granted the desire of her heart because of her faith.
So we see it is important to note that Jesus would not let women tell Him what to do. He talked to them, ministered to them and loved them, but He would not allow them to have authority in His life. Jesus not only chose men as the base of His people, but He also would not let women take any position of authority over men. We shall see the teaching of the apostles is totally in line with Jesus' own teaching and attitude.
The Early Church
We find the threat of Genesis 1 and 2 continued into the early Church. On the one hand it is quite obvious that in the early Chapters of Acts, women were of equal value, and worth and status as men. They joined together in prayer in an upper room for the coming of Pentecost - for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Women were there with the men praying together. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was praying with the others when the Pentecost came. The Holy Spirit was given without distinction of class, age or sex.
The Scripture says that "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4, NKJV, emphasis added). Therefore Mary, the mother of Jesus also spoke in other tongues. Notice that Mary was not mentioned again after this - indicating she had completed her ministry. And now the Church took over. The Church was to carry the Christ to the world. The Church was to embody the Christ. Mary's work was completed. But she was an outstanding example of a charismatic believer. She was willing to let the Holy Spirit to do anything with her regardless of social consequences.
Right through the early Chapters of Acts, men and women were equally filled with the Holy Spirit, equally in prayer; they were together in the Church taking a full and active part. Also women were disciplined as well as men in the Church. Ananias and his wife Sapphira were both condemned to death because they lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1 - 11).
So, the early Chruch was totally in line with the teaching of Genesis 1 (the vertical relationship). This means men and women were created equal; they were all called disciples, they were all treated as able to receive the Holy Spirit in fullness and receive His gifts. For example, the four daughters of Philips were prophetess (Acts 21:9).
The Early Church maintained the teaching of Genesis 2
Just like the Ministry of Jesus, the early Church maintained the teaching of Genesis 2 by making sure that men took responsibility in the Church. Here are some examples:
1. A replacement for Judas (Acts 1:15 - 26)
When Judas went to his own place (committed suicide) they replaced him with a man and not a woman. That was the first indication that the Church is going to carry on with the dual strength of teaching right from Genesis 1 and 2, through the Old Testament, right through the Ministry of Jesus - they just carry the pattern set out by God in total consistency.
2. Feeding the widows (Acts 6:1 - 7)
When a crisis arose over the widows they were feeding, they chose "seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Verse 3) to be in charge of catering. I think we should do likewise. But the contemporary Church is likely to choose women.
3. Planting of new Churches and Christian communities (Acts 13, 14)
When they sent out pioneering teams to plant new Chruches and Christian communities they always sent out two men with the team. A good example is Paul and Barnabas. The last thing they would do, unlike what modern society often do, is to send woman out to plant Chruches. This practice is against the Word of the Lord, against creation order and it is going to distort the Church from the very foundation of it!
4. Doctrinal dispute (Acts 15)
When they had a doctrinal dispute; when there was an argument over the teaching, it was settled by men. A classic example is found in Acts 15. The main issue was whether Gentile believers need to be circumcised in order to be saved. They settled rightly by gathering the whole Church together and listened to all the points of view. The apostles and the elders settled this issue and reported back to the whole Church their discussion and that pleased the whole Church. When the men had setted the doctrinal dispute they sent out 2 men to carry their decision to other Churches and shared it. The men took resposibility not only to settling it, but for spreading the result of their judgment. This is in line with the teaching of Genesis 2.
Since the elders' tasks in the New Testament Church primarily concerns with doctrine and discipline, the responsiblity for eldership is always given to the men. Every Church needs a group of men who are able and willing to see that the standard of belief and behavior are properly upheld. Women should never have to carry that responsibility.
You will find that in a Church where the elders were mixed men and women, they will not discipline the Church correctly. That is why a woman cannot be a Pastor or an elder of a Church.
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