Reviving Biblical Christianity (The Way) Part 1

[Episkopos]

In this first part of a five part series on reviving biblical Christianity we lay out a definitive illustrative chart taken from the bible narrative that reveals God's ways - joined together by Jesus into one "Way" in Him. While this may seem to be too daunting a task to have undertaken, considering the staggering implications of this restored revelation, we challenge those who are serious about following Christ to at least consider what is being presented and take it to the words of God in the Bible -- and to the Lord Himself.

 

[Button]

The first books of what we know as the New testament were written as much as 50 years after Jesus.

Scribes did not accompany Yeshua during his ministry.

What we have to go by as the good news of Jesus is what the Constantinian Council of Nicea approved in its beginning.

 

[Episkopos]

The first books of what we know as the New testament were written as much as 50 years after Jesus.

Scribes did not accompany Yeshua during his ministry.

What we have to go by as the good news of Jesus is what the Constantinian Council of Nicea approved in its beginning.

It's so funny that people much prefer what DEVIATES from the way of Christ...such as the man-made religious scheme that made Christianity a state religion...rather than a living way in Christ.

Men have adopted a religious version of the gospel in order to remain worldly and still claim to be saved from the world.

O, the humanity!

 

[shepherdsword]

This is very good. You have drawn the lines very clear. I looked forward to hearing the rest of the series.

 

[ScottA]

In this first part of a five part series on reviving biblical Christianity we lay out a definitive illustrative chart taken from the bible narrative that reveals God's ways - joined together by Jesus into one "Way" in Him. While this may seem to be too daunting a task to have undertaken, considering the staggering implications of this restored revelation, we challenge those who are serious about following Christ to at least consider what is being presented and take it to the words of God in the Bible -- and to the Lord Himself.

This is good--good job!

I hope you will get to the "You Are Here" of where we now are--that time for getting on track, or back on track with God's intended Way, is short...and thus, we have every reason to do so with expectation.

 

[Button]

It's so funny that people much prefer what DEVIATES from the way of Christ...such as the man-made religious scheme that made Christianity a state religion...rather than a living way in Christ.

Men have adopted a religious version of the gospel in order to remain worldly and still claim to be saved from the world.

O, the humanity!

Thank you for reiterating my post.

 

[Lizbeth]

In this first part of a five part series on reviving biblical Christianity we lay out a definitive illustrative chart taken from the bible narrative that reveals God's ways - joined together by Jesus into one "Way" in Him. While this may seem to be too daunting a task to have undertaken, considering the staggering implications of this restored revelation, we challenge those who are serious about following Christ to at least consider what is being presented and take it to the words of God in the Bible -- and to the Lord Himself.

Can't get past that you are saying believers are under the old covenant (Law). And that there are those who would agree with that. Nobody who is under the Law knows or has Christ, so they are not Christians. Christian believers (Jew and Gentile) are under the new covenant, not the Law:


Jer 31:31-34

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.


When we receive Christ we "know" Him for ourselves, not just know "about" Him, because we are reconciled to Him, joined with Him by the Spirit, and He is revealed to our spirit/heart. Therefore anyone who has received Christ is under the new covenant, not under the Law. Jews under the Law (old covenant) need to receive Christ to be saved, and when they do they are no longer under the old but under the new covenant. And Gentiles who receive Christ are not entering the old covenant (Law) but the new covenant. The sprinkling of the blood of the new covenant applies to all who have received Christ, His Spirit, and are under grace, not Law. Anyone who reverts to the Law (old covenant) is said to have "fallen from grace" as per Galations.

The Jews who were continuing to seek to establish their own righteousness were missing the new covenant, which is about submitting to (receiving) the righteousness of God. The new man that we who know Christ have all received is righteous....it is a matter of putting him on as it were, and walking in and abiding in Him.....yielding to the Spirit of Christ within which we have received.


Rom 3:21

But now THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God WHICH IS BY FAITH UNTO ALL AND UPON ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;


Rom 10:1-10

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

For Christ is THE END OF THE LAW for righteousness TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

But THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF FAITH speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, THE WORD OF FAITH, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


These scriptures are talking about righteousness......and they simply don't agree with what you appear to be saying about it, unless you would like to clarify anything.

 

[Soyeong]

In this first part of a five part series on reviving biblical Christianity we lay out a definitive illustrative chart taken from the bible narrative that reveals God's ways - joined together by Jesus into one "Way" in Him. While this may seem to be too daunting a task to have undertaken, considering the staggering implications of this restored revelation, we challenge those who are serious about following Christ to at least consider what is being presented and take it to the words of God in the Bible -- and to the Lord Himself.

The Hebrew word “yada” refers to intimate relationships/knowledge gained by experience, such as with Genesis 4:1 where Adam knew (yada) Eve, she conceived, and gave birth to Cain. God’s way is the way to know (yada) Him and Jesus by having the experience of embodying His character traits, which is the narrow way to eternal life (John 17:3). For example, in Genesis 18:19, God knew (yada) Abraham that he would teach his children and those of His household to walk in His way by being doers of righteousness and justice that the Lord might bring to him all that He has promised. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to walk in His way that he and Israel might know (yada) Him, and in Matthew 7:23, Jesus said that he would tell those who are workers of lawlessness to depart from him because he never knew them, so the goal of the law is to graciously teach us how to have an intimate relationship with God and Jesus by walking in His way, which is His gift of eternal life.

 

[Episkopos]

Can't get past that you are saying believers are under the old covenant (Law). And that there are those who would agree with that. Nobody who is under the Law knows or has Christ, so they are not Christians. Christian believers (Jew and Gentile) are under the new covenant, not the Law:


Jer 31:31-34

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.


When we receive Christ we "know" Him for ourselves, not just know "about" Him, because we are reconciled to Him, joined with Him by the Spirit, and He is revealed to our spirit/heart. Therefore anyone who has received Christ is under the new covenant, not under the Law. Jews under the Law (old covenant) need to receive Christ to be saved, and when they do they are no longer under the old but under the new covenant. And Gentiles who receive Christ are not entering the old covenant (Law) but the new covenant. The sprinkling of the blood of the new covenant applies to all who have received Christ, His Spirit, and are under grace, not Law. Anyone who reverts to the Law (old covenant) is said to have "fallen from grace" as per Galations.

The Jews who were continuing to seek to establish their own righteousness were missing the new covenant, which is about submitting to (receiving) the righteousness of God. The new man that we who know Christ have all received is righteous....it is a matter of putting him on as it were, and walking in and abiding in Him.....yielding to the Spirit of Christ within which we have received.


Rom 3:21

But now THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God WHICH IS BY FAITH UNTO ALL AND UPON ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;


Rom 10:1-10

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

For Christ is THE END OF THE LAW for righteousness TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

But THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF FAITH speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, THE WORD OF FAITH, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


These scriptures are talking about righteousness......and they simply don't agree with what you appear to be saying about it, unless you would like to clarify anything.

Typical knee jerk reaction to what is only valid in your mind. You need to actually quote what I say....not declare your own mind. And I haven't yet filled in the map with all its nuances and permutations so as to declare what the final chart looks like. I use actual biblical evidence from BOTH testaments...both the prophecies and their fulfillment in Christ. All you have is a doctrinal bent you are trying to wrap verses around by reverse engineering....that do NOT say what you think they are saying. Will you learn? Will you seek for a deeper source? No. You will rail from your religious outer man that has been promised life for having believed a religious proposition that you think is favorable to you.

I don't think you even watched the video...instead projecting your religious conditioning that negates 95% of God's word for a sliver of verses taken out of context.

This series can give you a chance to actually put together a biblical framework from which you can measure the Christian walk in both height and breadth. But I don't think you are interested or open to having any depth of understanding...as it might not line up with your previous indoctrination. You need to take more seriously the majority of biblical verses that contradict your every position. Why not work out your own salvation with fear and trembling? How important is being smug to you?

 

[Lizbeth]

Typical knee jerk reaction to what is only valid in your mind. You need to actually quote what I say....not declare your own mind. And I haven't yet filled in the map with all its nuances and permutations so as to declare what the final chart looks like. I use actual biblical evidence from BOTH testaments...both the prophecies and their fulfillment in Christ. All you have is a doctrinal bent you are trying to wrap verses around by reverse engineering....that do NOT say what you think they are saying. Will you learn? Will you seek for a deeper source? No. You will rail from your religious outer man that has been promised life for having believed a religious proposition that you think is favorable to you.

I don't think you even watched the video...instead projecting your religious conditioning that negates 95% of God's word for a sliver of verses taken out of context.

This series can give you a chance to actually put together a biblical framework from which you can measure the Christian walk in both height and breadth. But I don't think you are interested or open to having any depth of understanding...as it might not line up with your previous indoctrination. You need to take more seriously the majority of biblical verses that contradict your every position. Why not work out your own salvation with fear and trembling? How important is being smug to you?

Your chart says the righteous are under the Law and I am stuck at that point. Are you talking about nominal believers in mind, or those who have received Christ in heart by faith? If you are talking about those who have received Christ (His Spirit) by faith, then you don't seem to be in agreement with the scriptures I posted. If you think I'm not understanding them properly, then will you please expound what you think they are saying. In light of those scripts I can't fathom how anyone can think that the righteous are under the Law.

 

[Episkopos]

Your chart says the righteous are under the Law and I am stuck at that point. Are you talking about nominal believers in mind, or those who have received Christ in heart by faith? If you are talking about those who have received Christ (His Spirit) by faith, then you don't seem to be in agreement with the scriptures I posted. If you think I'm not understanding them properly, then will you please expound what you think they are saying. In light of those scripts I can't fathom how anyone can think that the righteous are under the Law.

Fathom is the right word. You need to understand things in their proper depth. Otherwise you are splashing in puddles and trying to understand how a sailboat works.

There are 2 levels of righteousness...one is under the law...what men can do. And one is under grace, walking in the power of Christ.

Do a little research on righteousness and get ready for part 2 of the series which I just finished recording...to be ready maybe in a week or so.

 

[Lizbeth]

Fathom is the right word. You need to understand things in their proper depth. Otherwise you are splashing in puddles and trying to understand how a sailboat works.

There are 2 levels of righteousness...one is under the law...what men can do. And one is under grace, walking in the power of Christ.

Do a little research on righteousness and get ready for part 2 of the series which I just finished recording...to be ready maybe in a week or so.

Well, perhaps someone else would kindly address those scriptures for me then, those who are in agreement with you...how do they see those scripts I posted which address righteousness?

Faith in Christ, our High Priest of the new covenant, who came out of Judah, not Levi (change of the priesthood necessitated a change of the law) is what places one under grace (the Law was abolished and its ordinances were nailed to the cross with Christ).

Gal 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

[Episkopos]

Well, perhaps someone else would kindly address those scriptures for me then, those who are in agreement with you...how do they see those scripts I posted which address righteousness?

Faith in Christ, our High Priest of the new covenant, who came out of Judah, not Levi (change of the priesthood necessitated a change of the law) is what places one under grace (the Law was abolished and its ordinances were nailed to the cross with Christ).

This is false. Jesus came to fulfill the law. And anyone who transgresses the law is condemned. You don't understand either righteousness or holiness....and you are too stubborn to be taught.

Paul says that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but keeping the commandments....which ones? The righteousness laws. Read the bible without the indoctrination...using a critical mind...without self-interest.

Gal 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Jesus is the Saviour of the whole world, especially them that believe. Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sins AND also the sins of the world.

The curse of the law was that there was no way out of our predicament until Christ came to give us the power over sin so we could follow Him is HIS holiness...as overcomers just like Him. Anything less is a decoy gospel.

 

[Episkopos]

The way of righteousness is disparaged in modern days...causing people to not be able to endure sound doctrine...because of a few misunderstood verses.

Case in point. There is none righteous, no not one....that don't sin. On the righteousness level there is no power over sin. There is humility and the fear of the Lord...that JUSTIFIES people. God sees the meek as righteous. This kind of mercy gets all hypocrites in a big snit. Religious people HATE God's mercy unless it is directed at them.

Another such verse is...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...yes, COMPARED TO GOD'S!.

If I say that all cars are as junk heaps compared to F1 race cars....does that negate the existence of cars??? It actually does the opposite. How can we compare with something that doesn't exist?

Personal righteousness is mentioned HUNDREDS of times in BOTH testaments. How can any honest reader miss that in favour of 2 verses that seem to contradict them? Which they don't. They QUALIFY the need for a higher walk in a higher righteousness.

Jesus also said...Without Me you can do nothing. Nothing??? Nothing ETERNAL.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

@Episkopos
Holiness AND righteousness is imputed to us by Christ. Our spirits, once born again are pure, white as snow; so that if at any moment we died, we will be presented to the Father without blemish, white as snow. Our flesh is left behind riddled with sin; for "sin dwells in the members of our flesh".

It is Jesus' righteousness that we put on. Our righteousness is like dirty rags - apart from the works of the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in us.
JESUS' works of righteousness ( keeping the Law, dying for our sins and His resurrection) saves us, not our works. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph. 2:8-9
"Walk in the Spirit", the Bible says. Grant it, the Trinity is confusing to grasp. But we are to be baptized not just in the name of the Father and the Son but also the Holy Spirit, Who I don't think will take up residence in you unless you believe HE is God, a person, distinct from the Father and the Son. This Binitarian view in my opinion lacks the communion with the Holy Spirit!
We cannot make ourselves Holy, God does that. Holy means separate. Separate from what? Separate from sin. He washes away our sins, so spiritually we are clean. Past , present and future sins cleansed. What a concept.
Jesus is the AUTHOR of our faith. Some struggle with this and exuberantly try to insert their own righteousness to assist Christ with their story ... a prideful, valiant, yet unnecessary contribution. Jesus writes my story completely. He works through me, with the love, guidance and power if the Holy Spirit. So yes, I cooperate - everyone does. Through prayer, obedience to love. It is the law if love we practice ... and fail at times, but thankfully we are forgiven, praise God. But the only righteous and perfect works accomplished are those done by God through us. This can only be this way for sovereignty purely means every good thing done is caused by Him. His story ends perfectly with all those on His list accounted for. God causes all things to work for good for those who love the Lord, for those who are called to His purpose.

 

[marks]

Can't get past that you are saying believers are under the old covenant (Law).

It's what he says, and we know this is false. What more do you need?

Much love!

 

[Episkopos]

@Episkopos
Holiness AND righteousness is imputed to us by Christ.

Find in the bible, beyond the imagination, where holiness is attributed (imputed) to us! It's not there because it is impossible. People don't have their own holiness. You will never find such false doctrine outside the indoctrination of decoy establishments. And the righteousness that is attributed to us is a human righteousness...since it is impossible that God finds a man as righteous as He is.

Our spirits, once born again are pure, white as snow; so that if at any moment we died, we will be presented to the Father without blemish, white as snow. Our flesh is left behind riddled with sin; for "sin dwells in the members of our flesh".

You are not understanding the parable of the talents...where a gift from God is meant to foster growth and fruit. Being born again qualifies into a race of faith that few will be able to finish. Being born again puts us into the higher race of faith according to spiritual Israel...the goal of which is the full stature of Christ. Very few will attain to this.

What you are doing is lowering the standard of Christ so that the law is perverted. It is a lawless attempt at naming and claiming something fully out of the reach of men.

It is Jesus' righteousness that we put on. Our righteousness is like dirty rags - apart from the works of the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in us.
JESUS' works of righteousness ( keeping the Law, dying for our sins and His resurrection) saves us, not our works. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph. 2:8-9
"Walk in the Spirit", the Bible says. Grant it, the Trinity is confusing to grasp. But we are to be baptized not just in the name of the Father and the Son but also the Holy Spirit, Who I don't think will take up residence in you unless you believe HE is God, a person, distinct from the Father and the Son. This Binitarian view in my opinion lacks the communion with the Holy Spirit!
We cannot make ourselves Holy, God does that. Holy means separate. Separate from what? Separate from sin. He washes away our sins, so spiritually we are clean. Past , present and future sins cleansed. What a concept.
Jesus is the AUTHOR of our faith. Some struggle with this and exuberantly try to insert their own righteousness to assist Christ with their story ... a prideful, valiant, yet unnecessary contribution. Jesus writes my story completely. He works through me, with the love, guidance and power if the Holy Spirit. So yes, I cooperate - everyone does. Through prayer, obedience to love. It is the law if love we practice ... and fail at times, but thankfully we are forgiven, praise God. But the only righteous and perfect works accomplished are those done by God through us. This can only be this way for sovereignty purely means every good thing done is caused by Him. His story ends perfectly with all those on His list accounted for. God causes all things to work for good for those who love the Lord, for those who are called to His purpose.

You are simply pitting a gift against proper attitude and behaviour. You are letting yourself become spoiled by the idea of grace.

In Proverbs it says...Grace is deceitful...and so it is to the one who harbours self-interest.

Also it is written...show grace to the wicked and they will NOT learn righteousness. And this is proved over and over again at this time. Few want to take responsibility for their own evil and repent before God. Instead the vast majority justify themselves and sit smugly as they condemn the righteous. Will God not repay...???

 

[marks]

Few want to take responsibility for their own evil and repent before God. Instead the vast majority justify themselves and sit smugly as they condemn the righteous.

Interesting that you should say this. Have you no fear of God?

 

[Episkopos]

Interesting that you should say this. Have you no fear of God?

You mean those who claim to be as righteous as God?

The righteousness of God can only be imputed to One Person.....God.

The true question is where is the fear of God in modern religionists? Where is wisdom and humility? All these are thrown out for religious certainty. And if that certainty is misplaced, there is nothing but emptiness...no righteousness at all.

 

[marks]

You mean those who claim to be as righteous as God?

I mean you. Deflect all you like, it doesn't matter as God sees the heart.