There is no doubt that most teaching of Scripture is "out of context".
Miles Coverdale the great English Translater summarised this in his famous comment:
"It will greatly help understanding of Scripture to see what is spoken or written, by whom, to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goes before and what follows."
He was supremely qualified to make such comment, having translated from the Latin (Jerome,) to the English.
Much persecution has taken place due to dogmatic interpretation of Scripture for wrong reasons; witness the Roman Church and the persecution of early Protesters in "the Inquisition"1
The early reformers and Bible translators suffered much martyrdom as they wrested the Bible from the Latin into common English and other European languages, away from the Roman church in Europe. Martin Luther himself was the subject of assassination attempts by the Roman church,
but was protected by a rich and powerful sympathiser.
Predudise is still evident and growing as the end of this Age approaches!
A case in point is the fact of the "Mystery Church" which Paul expounded after the final rejection of Christ Jesus at tne end of Acts.
Acts 4.12
Acts 4:12: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved".
In context the "name" referred to is Jesus the Christ! The statement by the Holy Spirit (the 3rd person) in the Bible supports the concepts both of the only way of Salvation; in this present Age, (the Age of Grace) and the 2nd Person of the Trinity!
The 1st Person of the Trinity is shown in many Old Testament (OT), statements of Almighty God, in particular:
Isaiah 45:22: "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am GOD, and there is none else".
Here, God (Jehovah of the Jews; the 1st Person), affirms His Unique Status as the only God in existence; and, that He is not to be confused with the many false gods in the world, all originating in the great pretender; SATAN!
This is emphasised in Isa. 45:5; I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no 'God beside Me', and many other places in Scripture.
The reason for starting this paper with the above absolute statements, is that many people and Groups are saying the opposite, and, that has been the plan of Satan from the beginning of his demise, when as the "anointed Cherub, Ezk. 28:14, he challenged God; and fell from Grace"!
Over many "Ages"; (Administrations) since, he has been allowed by Almighty God to try his best (worst) to bring "Creation" under his control; and in these "last times" of this Age; he has accelerated his efforts! See:
http://www.revelationsmessage.co.uk/Satan's%20Motivation.htm
Ezek. 28:1:19 describes the origin of these problems, where the Entity called the “King of Tyre” is the type, of the antitype Satan! This is made clear in verse 15, showing that the antitype “was created”, by God!
In verse 14, again reference is made to the supernatural, where Satan was “anointed” the covering cherub, for perhaps a previous Creation (2 Peter 3:6), or the Garden of Eden, v13 (Dr. Bullinger page 1146 CB).
It should be noted here that in verse14, the word translated “art” should be “wast” ie; “were”, so it should read, “you were the anointed Cherub”, denoting the fall of Satan from the Grace of God; and the reasons are given in verses 2, 5, 6, 15, 17, 18.
In the following two verses, are statements by Almighty God which are from Eternity to Eternity!
John 1:1.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
Ephesians 1:10.
“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him”.
These show that Almighty God in Christ Jesus has a Plan for the undoing of the works of Satan, after his fall from God’s Grace, as described above.
The First Stage, Adam and Eve.
The scene is set in the Garden of Eden as described in the well known passages of Genesis, describing the creation of Adam and Eve. The narrative then describes their fall from Grace, after the tempting of Eve, by Satan’s perversion of the Word of God (Gen. 3:3-5), given to Adam by God, (Gen. 2:16-17); which was believed and acted on by both of them. So; at the very beginning of this creation, mankind fell into sin by the perversion of the Word of God by Satan, and their overt acceptance of that perversion!
God brought to an end that Age, (period of time), by the Flood described in Genesis 7, allowing only Noah and his family to remain alive of all the peoples since Eden, so as to eventually fulfil His promise in Genesis 3:15!
The Second Stage, Jacob/Israel- The Nation.
In Genesis 12 is described the calling of Abram out from his homeland of Ur of the Chaldees, leaving his family and relatives, to a land “that I will show thee”, said God Almighty!
Later, when both he and his wife Sarai were old, and well past child bearing age, they had a son (as had been promised by God), named Isaac, and at the same time his name was changed by God to Abraham, which means father of a multitude, or many nations, Gen.17:4, and Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah (princess).
The child Isaac had been promised many years earlier, as had also the boundaries of the future Promised Land (Gen.15:18), which has not yet been fulfilled. The “sign” for all of Abraham’s descendants of the promises made by God to him, especially of the boundaries of their future land is circumcision on the 8th day after birth of all male children (Gen.17:10) and is meant as a constant reminder of God’s Promises!
Although Abraham had other wives and children, especially Ishmael, God established His Covenant (Promises), with Isaac, as he was the son of Promise and miracle!
Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob, and Jacob proved to be the continuance of God’s purpose, as he acknowledged God, and his name was changed to Israel, (Gen. 32:24-30).
Jacob/ Israel had 12 sons, who fathered the 12 tribes of Israel, and who served as slaves in Egypt for 400 years.
They were liberated by God, using as their representative to Pharaoh, Moses and his brother Aaron, (Exodus 1-14).
After their liberation from Egypt, God gave them The Law, and the instructions for conduct when they reached the “Promised Land”, which (they promised to keep, Deut. 1-34). In the same instructions were a reiteration of God’s promise of blessings for compliance, and warnings of consequences if they reneged! They did renege, and the consequence was the Babylonian exile for 70 years.
After their return to Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah, they again reneged, and lived by their own interpretation of the Law and the Prophets, which got worse up to the advent of Jesus of Nazareth (Christ Jesus).
John the Baptist, Jesus (The Christ), and the Apostle Paul, tried to draw Israel back to Truth; but to no avail, and by approx. AD 62 the Jewish nation was disowned temporarily by God, because of their rejection of His Son, their Messiah!
They had been Commissioned by God to be His representatives on earth, and had instead joined the Enemy Satan, in corrupting God’s Word, as had happened in Eden!
The major element in their failure, was the use of their freewill to go against God’s Word, as had Satan, as had Adam and Eve in Eden!
The Third Stage, The Church Age.
At Acts 28:28, the Apostle Paul made a startling statement.
“Be it therefore known unto you, that the salvation of God is/was sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it”!
This statement is a turning point in the history of the Jewish people, as Paul refers in verses 25-27 to the prophecy of Isaiah (6:9-10), which meant that they were about to be “put to one side” (Lo-ammi), for a period of time for the denial of Jesus as their Messiah!
Hosea 4 describes their sad state, and v6 specifically details their rejection of Truth and knowledge of God, which is why they refused Christ Jesus, the Pharisaic leaders having miss-taught and misled the people by corrupting God’s Word and Law!
Hosea 1:9 describes this event figuratively, and v10-11 shows the readopting (Ammi) at a later date.
Currently nearly 2000 years have elapsed between v9 and v10-11, and is described in Chp. 3:4.
In Chp. 2, v19-23, and Chp. 3:5, is described the betrothal and readopting of the reunited 12 Tribes of Israel, in the yet future!
The failure of the Jews to be God’s representatives of Truth to the world, Hosea 4:1, meant that God in the Acts 28:28 pronouncement had appointed the Gentiles to be the next Stewards of His Plan to save humans.
The good news of the Sacrificial death of Jesus the Christ on the Calvary Cross, rejected by the Jews, was then to be carried to the world by the Gentile nations.
That is still the case, and although the simple truth of that event has been corrupted by particularly the Roman Church, and latterly by many Sects and Groupings, the Truth is still straight forward, and embodied in: Acts 4:12! “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”!
This verse refers to Acts 4:10-11, which refers to Christ Jesus!
This is the crux of the matter; unfortunately, this truth is being increasingly neglected, and God’s defined method of salvation is not being preached or taught as God intended. Instead, a new teaching has emerged which states “there are many ways to God”! Some Pastors, Vicars etc. are happy to accept wrong Bible teaching, and people who believe many erroneous concepts, even witchcraft, but do not accept the truth of Acts 4:12!
It has been stated by one Methodist Pastor of the writer’s acquaintance, that the only ones not accepted are “fundamental Bible believing Christians, because they are too bigoted”!
So, the same thing is happening again; the Words of Scripture are being perverted for the convenience of men and Satan, (in this case the Ecumenical Movement under the auspices of the Roman Church), which is the same as Stages 1 & 2 above; the perversion and omission of the Words of God!
As in the examples of 1&2, God Almighty will make a change to ensure that His Plan of Redemption is completed, but as also shown above, it will not happen until the right stage has been reached, as shown with the Jews in Acts 28.
The reason for the failures
In the stages 1,2&3 above, conflict against God and His Truth, in conjunction with Satan perverting God’s Words, produces only failure and death!
The solution is provided by God in the person of Jesus the Christ, His only begotten Son (1 John 4:9).
Most people in the world are in mortal conflict with God, because they cannot accept His way of salvation! They feel that they must earn the result, or do something to obtain the “reward”, and then “they” feel o.k., and can accept such a reward “by their own efforts”.
Some feel that they can “link to God, without the need to go through a mediator”, (particularly New Age adherents).
However, God says that “all our righteousness are as filthy rags”, Isa.64:6.
People do not accept, or know, that they are fallen (Eden), and in need of a supernatural solution!
That “supernatural solution”, is Christ Jesus!
He is provided in Love by God the Father, and is Himself the solution!
“God will provide Himself a Lamb” Gen. 22:8.
“Your Lamb shall be without blemish” Ex. 12:5.
“Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” Jhn.1:29 & 36.
Those people that can accept Christ Jesus in simple trust and faith, are “sealed in heavenly places” Eph. 4:30.
1) 2Cor. 1:22, sealed and given the earnest (2Cor. 5: 5) of the Spirit in our hearts!
2) Eph.1-13, sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise!
3) Eph. 4:30-32, God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you!
After that has happened, God gives the Christ Spirit to each of His people (Christians), and “the earnest (2 Cor. 5:5 ) & (2 Cor. 1:22 )”, which is “a foretaste and pledge of God’s future benefit”, which is locked into place in heaven!
In the meantime; Christians live with their old natures, but instead of warring against God in partnership with Satan, they war against themselves, in partnership with Christ’s Spirit!
The great Apostle Paul relates this conflict in
Romans 7:15-17, and bemoans the fact.
However, the “faith” of the Christian is in Christ Jesus, and He is the totally sufficient solution, and has satisfied our totally Holy God’s requirements for Christians to be seen as totally redeemed in His sight!
God the Father in heaven, places great value in the faith of a person in Him!
This is seen in the Scriptures; there is in all the OT the hint of God’s acceptance of simple faith, back to righteous Abel, and Enoch!
FAITH!
Hebrews 11 gives a list of the men of faith who are well known, including
Rahab the harlot.
Abram trusted God, and by faith left his household in Ur, on the word of God alone!
About 1500 years later, Habakkuk, stated, “The just shall live by faith”.
So: there is warfare between the flesh and the Spirit, as Paul described in Rom. 7, but, the solution is in the victory of Christ Jesus:
1 Cor. 15:57: “but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”! This is the victory over death in context, but, is code defacto for victory also over Satan!
How so?
Almighty God in Christ achieved the victory at the Calvary Cross, in the taking of the sins of the world on Himself.
He arose, and now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven, awaiting His next function, (Seal release, when His enemies are made His footstool).
All who will may turn to Him at present, and obtain everlasting life, as part of His Body, (by faith alone, Rom. 1:17, Gal.3:11, Heb. 10:38 ).
Our failures (as Paul described) He will forgive, as He is faithful and just: 1Jn. 1:9-10, also the final refining, 2 Cor. 5-10.
In the Capernaum Synagogue, our Lord stated that His Body and Blood was to be eaten and drunk for life to be obtained! This causing quite a stir! He explained to those that would listen, that His Words were/are His Body and Blood! He states clearly, that the flesh “profited nothing”, but that He/ the Word made flesh, is the true bread!
(His Word/s to be “eaten and drunk").
So we see that the Ages old conflict between Almighty God and Satan is coming to a Climax; many think very soon!
However; in the process, many good hearted people (including Christians) are being drawn into the plans of Satan, and are aiding his efforts on earth at this present time!
How, you may say?
Leaving aside the many obvious ways that Christians can be laid low by the enticements of Satan, the most dangerous way at present for both individuals and Groups, is probably the Ecumenical Movement!
This may on first viewing be seen as a rather fallacious statement; but on careful examination shows to be accurate.
Not many people know that the movement is led by the Roman Church, albeit rather surreptitiously. This fact can be verified by reference to various Web Sites, under Google. They have kept the facts well covered until the 1950s, but are now more open re their objectives. As any knowledgeable Christian knows, the Roman Church Teachings are not compatible with the Truth of Scripture; and their Teachings are embodied in the following:
http://www.revelationsmessage.co.uk/Why%20the%20Roman%20Catholic%20church%20is%20not%20of%20God%20Almighty.htm
As is well known and documented in Church and World History, the excesses and cruelty of Rome when their grip on the European population decreased after Martin Luther; led to the appalling torture of many true Christ-Ones in the Inquisition! These brave men and women would not denounce their trust in the Saviour, Christ Jesus, and Acts 4:12!!
This verse in Holy Scripture, is the one which defines the whole of the New Testament message to the world, and clearly states the mind of Almighty God in His Plan for the salvation of mankind; and is why Satan wants all church groups to not adhere to its straight forward and stark message.
There is no other Name under heaven for a person to be saved than that of Christ Jesus!
Acts 4: 10-12.
