Copyright © Brad M. Baker
All Rights Reserved
July 4th 2023
1 There are some who believe that Heaven is here and now and that they have immortality now. They believe perfection has come to them and that it will not be any different for us in the afterlife. 2 This present a serious problem because that would mean we would go through the same trails and temptations that we are going through now on this side of the afterlife. 3 These are the kinds of beliefs that are mainly now within the Collective Body View of Full Preterism that is also known as Covenant Eschatology.
4 In this article we will be taking a look into:
1 What was the Perfect that was to come:
2 What is Speaking with the Tongues of Angels…?:
3 Sacrificing Animals Vs. Being a Living Sacrifice:
4 Preaching the Gospel Vs. Preaching the Everlasting Good News:
5 Manna Ceased Vs. Hidden Manna:
6 Thousand Year Reign with Christ Vs. Forever Reign of the Kingdom of God
7 Adam’s death Vs. Lake of Fire:
8 Offspring of Adam Vs. Offspring of the Bride and Groom “Jesus Christ”:
9 In Christ All Things Made New Vs. New Heaven and Earth All Things Made New:
10 Cessation of God’s Word Vs. Hearing What the Spirit is Saying:
11 Cessation of Ministries and Gifts Vs. Led by the Spirit:
12 Cessation view of the Law Vs. Fruits & Laws of the Spirit “Debate”:
5 Cessationism is a doctrine that Spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing ceased with the Apostolic Age. 6 The doctrine was developed in the reformation and is particularly associated with the Calvinists.
7 If we were to take a total Cessation view then anything can be eliminated from the first century.
8 Here are some examples would be off the table:
1 Preaching the Gospel of Salvation from the Lake of Fire for the Prodigals
2 Holy Spirit indwelling us now with the Fruits of the Spirit
3 Hearing what the Spirit is saying, Sola Scriptura only
4 The Whole Creation being delivered out of Corruption
5 Satan and demons influencing the world from the Lake of Fire
6 Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelist, and Pastors
7 Baptism in water and the Lord’s Supper “Communion”
9 When Paul said that they saw in a mirror, dimly, but when the perfect came they would see face to face. 10 I believe that meant they would no long know in part but they would know fully after all prophecies were fulfilled in AD70.
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
11 I believe that when people take Cessation to the extreme that they cultivate a lack of faith that would definitely have an effect on miracles ceasing. 12 Though God may not be doing as many miracles like He did during the times of Moses in the wilderness and during the first century of the Church does not mean that God will never do a miracle again. 13 God is love so why would not God still do a miracle to those who need one. 14 Both Futurist and Preterist can be at fault for cultivating a lack of faith for things people hope for and by doing so they make Christianity anemic when in comparison to the first century Christian when it was once a mighty faith.
15 Someone with a Cessation View aside from saying the Holy Spirit is still available, so he does not have a anti- Holy Spirit indwelling view he does not seem to understand that people today may still need to be saved from the Lake of Fire in the afterlife.
16 Here is what he said: “Quote”
He has already reconciled the whole of mankind to God. Jesus, as part of God, did everything ‘internally’ not relying in the least bit on people. After his return in judgement back in the first century there was no need for the gospel to be preached or any sort of religious practice to be actioned.
Sorry, humanity can’t do anything more than what he has already achieved.
There is no need for choosing him, repentance, water baptism, accepting gospels, moralizing or self discipline.
His Spirit is still available as an enhancement and comfort in our daily lives….and, thank goodness for that, in the times we’re living through.
The great commission to save the world has already been completed in the first century. “This is the gospel….that…has…. been proclaimed to every creature under heaven” Colossians 1.23.
Saved from? the the total destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. If you believed in Jesus you had the information to avoid being in the State of Judea..a war zone.
Saved from hell? Close to 1 million died in the siege by the Roman army. Bodies were thrown over the Jerusalem walls into a crematorium, Gehenna, translated hell in Greek.
“End Quote”
Andy Hauter Who is a Futurist said in Response: “Quote”
17 He has already reconciled all of mankind… There is no need for accepting him, repentance, baptism…the Holy Spirit is still available as an enhancement and comfort in our daily lives //
Curious, I’ve seen a number of responses like this from several Full Preterist, is this a common belief among FP? This has no semblance to biblical Christianity.
Let’s talk about what reconciliation with God means
- Repentance: The Bible emphasizes the need for repentance, which involves recognizing and acknowledging our sins, turning away from them, and seeking forgiveness.
Acts 3:19 states, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” Repentance opens the way for reconciliation with God.
2. What do we need to repent from? Here’s some examples that plagues most men:
Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen? Have you ever taken the Lords name in vain? Jesus said if you look upon lust upon a woman you commit adultery, have you ever committed adultery? Have you ever looked at porn?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these then you are dead in your sins and you need to repent. Jesus first advent and why transpired in AD70 didn’t change the condition of men. We are the same before Christ and after Christ.
The call to repentance is a central theme in Scripture and applies to every individual. Here are a few verses that emphasize this:
Acts 17:30: “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
Luke 13:3: “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Mark 1:15: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
These verses, among others, emphasize the universal need for repentance as a response to the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. Repentance involves acknowledging one’s sins, turning away from them, and turning towards God in faith. It is a necessary step for all individuals to enter into a right relationship with God.
Forgiveness: Scripture teaches that God is a forgiving God who extends His mercy and forgiveness to those who genuinely seek it. 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Faith in Jesus Christ: The New Testament emphasizes that reconciliation with God is made possible through faith in Jesus Christ. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus reconciles us to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 explains, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Confession and Prayer: Scripture encourages believers to confess their sins and seek God’s forgiveness through prayer. Psalm 32:5 says, “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
Restored Relationship: Reconciliation with God involves a restored relationship. Through reconciliation, believers are adopted into God’s family, becoming His children and enjoying a renewed fellowship with Him. Romans 5:10-11 says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
I’ve had many respectful dialogues with you, and I care about you, but I don’t want you to be an enemy to God. I hope and pray this message touches your heart.
“End Quote”
18 Just before Jesus was no longer going to be with His disciples because He was going to be crucified He reassured them that the Father would give them the Holy Spirit as a helper. 19 Many have assumed that when Jesus returned that the Holy Spirit was no longer needed as a Helper but Jesus said they would have the Helper abiding with them forever.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
What was the perfect that was to come:
20 Jesus gave them the helper not just until His second coming, but for forever. 21 But somethings were to cease all together after they were fulfilled, while others things were made new with better promises. 22 A lot of things ceased between AD66 to AD70 because the Old Covenant was being taken away so that it was no longer in the way of the New Covenant being established. 23 The confirmation of Daniel 9:42-27 prophecies being fulfilled when the sacrifices ceased in the middle of the last week in AD66. 24 The power of the Holy people was shattered in AD70 when the Temple was destroyed and the remaining of the people were scattered throughout the rest of the world.
Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 10:9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
Luke 21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11None of them shall teach his neighbour, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”13In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
24 Some will say that teaching will cease because of what it says in Hebrews 8:11None of them shall teach his neighbour, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 25 However if you look at this in its context it says: of their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. 26 It was speaking of all of the requirements of the laws of the Old Covenant they had to preform in order to be righteous and forgiven, which means no one would have to be taught those things anymore. 27 Cessationalist will use this to say that means not just Teachers ceased but will extend it out to mean Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist and Pastors would also cease. 28 If anything we need them now more than ever, but with a Full Preterist perspective involved. 29 All Things were Made New and the faith and hope that is required for the New Heaven and Earth is severely lacking and anemic. 30 In many ways most Full Preterist are still stuck back there in the first century with the faith and hope like they had back then, aside from a few things that they are accurate on. 31 But with the Collective Body View, Covenant Creation View, Annihilation View and Comprehensive Grace View “Universalism going on within Preterism it is obvious that all have not come into the unity of the faith for the New Heaven and Earth yet, when we could be been 2000 years ago. 32 I yet to see any two people agree on everything 100% so Paul must have being speaking hyperbole here “till we all come to the unity of the faith”:
Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
33 Its like we are all just suppose to assume everything is perfect now and we have Heaven on Earth and we have immortal bodies now like the Collective Body View believes therefore the things of the Holy Spirit has ceased because the perfect came. 34 I tend to believe a little differently because of what I see in reality does not match up to the fantasies that some have, that I see only possible in the afterlife. 35 I’ll see you all there, hopefully later than sooner as I am in no rush to prove it, but while I am here I have no plans on speaking in tongues to the Angels in Heaven until I’m there. 36 I tried that over 40 years ago and never heard one of them speak back to me yet, but I’m looking forward to hearing from them.
What is Speaking with the Tongues of Angels…?:
37 What did Paul mean when he said: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels…?
38 The New Kings James Version Vs. Young’s Literal Translation may tells us a lot. 39 There can be a huge difference with major consequences over the way words are used. 40 In this case is has in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 between “though I” and “if I”. 41 The way to tell that Paul was using hyperbole which means exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally is by looking at the rest of the context. 42 As we can see Paul is not claiming to understand all mysteries and all knowledge, all faith to move mountains, and though I give my body to be burned. 43 Many have said that Paul was beheaded due to the fact that Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:28) which could prove that he was using hyperbole and should be taken as “if I”. 44 The effects of taking 1 Corinthians 13:1 as “though I” as if Paul was speaking with tongues to Angels has caused a major movement of Charismatics joining together speaking with tongues to Angels. 45 Then someone might prophecy as if that is the interpretation of tongues from an Angel. 46 It sounds a little mixed up and confusing because it is.
1 Corinthians 13:1 If with the tongues of men and of messengers I speak, and have not love, I have become brass sounding, or a cymbal tinkling; 2 and if I have prophecy, and know all the secrets, and all the knowledge, and if I have all the faith, so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing; 3 and if I give away to feed others all my goods, and if I give up my body that I may be burned, and have not love, I am profited nothing.
47 I was involved with the Latter Rain Movement back in the mid 1970’s through the 1980’s but was introduced to it back in 1965. 48 In 1974 I started seeing other speaking in tongues to Angels and trying to preform miracles especially healing and once in a while casting out devils. 49 It seemed that the most cherished gift that was proof someone was filled with the Holy Spirit was the speaking in tongues to Angels. 50 And if they could do that while doing the Holy Ghost two step as they all sang songs of praises they were really Spiritual. 51 Someone in my family that I to took there said it sounded like snakes hissing. 52 You could hear a lot of Hissing when they would say “praise you Jesus” repetitively because there were to many S’s, that was something I’ll never forget. All of that just because of the way some interpreted 1 Corinthians 13:1 to be which set the wildfire.
53 No one seemed to be able to speak in other languages to people from foreign countries like the gift of tongues is meant to be, but only to Angels. 54 As long as someone could say: Cory shun da la’s and praise you Jesus repetitively they were Spirit filled. 55 I remember it always making me feel that this was not right and rather embarrassing to be associated with and I was relieved from that eventually. 56 Just because in Acts 2:13 those who mocked thought they were filled with new wine when they started speaking in other tongues, that this gave the excuse to speak to Angles. 57 Angels do not need to be spoken to in gibberish because they most likely understand the heart and mind of any person in the world no matter what language they spoke. 58 I sure Angels are able to understand anyone just like God can.
59 However the word angel means messenger and a messenger can be either Spiritual being or a human being. 60 I go into this topic in greater detail in my article called Typology of the Nephilim Vs. Sons of God but for an example John the Baptist was a messenger or Angel. 61 So another thought came to my mind of maybe what Paul could have meant by speaking tongues of Angels, may have been taking a message like what John the Baptist had and speaking it to others seeing that John was a messenger. 62 I guess we could say that instead of how the Charismatics use speaking in tongues to Angels.
Sacrificing Animals Vs. Being a Living Sacrifice:
63 Every Christian has a Cessation view to some degree otherwise they would believe sacrificing animals for our sins would still be required. 64 However as we can see here that sacrifice was made new by presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice fulfills it, along with confessing our sins instead of the shedding of blood again.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 John 1:9 if we may confess our sins, stedfast He is and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from every unrighteousness;
Preaching the Gospel Vs. Preaching the Everlasting Good News:
65 Preaching the Gospel during the first century was a forerunner for the Whole Creation being delivered out from bondage according to Romans 8:20-22. 66 The Gospel as a forerunner to deliver believers out from the bondage of Adam’s sin and death and the curse of the law. 67 The Everlasting Good News brought Daniel’s tenfold Jubilee of a New Glorious Creation to all of mankind, that delivered them out from the Age of Corruption, and into the liberty of children of God. 68 God Made All Thing New and restored humanity to the Garden of Eden similar to before Adam sinned. 69 This was the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles which came after the fulfillment of the day of Atonement’s Jubilee.
70 So this all sounds good and some may take that the Gospel ceased because is no longer needed. 71 However that is not so, it’s just that there was a change of focus from Adam’s sin and the curse of the law to how All Things were made New. 72 People still sin against the New Commandments of Christ and go Prodigal like the Parable of the Prodigal Son. 73 Those who sin and I sure we all have need salvation from the Lake of Fire, instead of Adam’s sin and death which ended in Hades. 74 There was a change when the New Heaven and Earth began and All Things were Made New. Hades the “First Death” was cast into the Lake of Fire the “Second Death”. 75 When the end of the Age came the last enemy which was the first and only death at the time. 76 The First Death was defeated by Christ’s second coming as He departed from the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement like the High Priest would do once a year for the nation of Israel, but this time it was the final Day of Atonement for the Whole Creation.
77 Take baptism for an example because the two seem to go hand to hand but mankind is no longer dead in Adam’s sin and death, but we could be dead like the Prodigal Son was. 78 It is still can be a important requirement in the conscience of some people. 79 Baptisms in water can be done in a new way as not to be from Adam’s sin and death. 80 In the New Heaven and Earth it would be more like the Prodigal Son’s sin and death. 81 If we wonder off into the world of sin we Spiritually become dead but when we return we are made alive again like we were at birth because we all are children of the resurrection. 82 Then will be like the Angels in the afterlife if counted worthy instead of going to Hades and wait to be resurrected according to:
Luke 20:34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
Manna Ceased Vs. Hidden Manna:
83 The truth is a few things were hidden like the Manna. Manna ceased once they entered into the promised land according to the book of Joshua after the first harvest. 84 Jesus was the true Manna sent from Heaven for the first century Christians until He would return and be like the milk and honey for the New Heaven and Earth. 85 But we see manna in the book of Revelation as Hidden Manna where it was hidden within the Ark of the Covenant, that when into the promised land, that was placed in the Most Holy Place within the Tabernacle and eventually into the Solomon’s Temple. 86 But the Ark of the Covenant went missing during the Babylon captivity. 87 There is still a bit of things in typologies that I do not fully understand yet of how All Things Were Made New. 88 This gives a little framework for a fuller understand in the future, but the Hidden Manna maybe a connection to the Lord’s Supper known as the Communion. 89 Jesus does not give the impression that it would cease but that He would partake in it again when it was fulfilled and until the kingdom of God.
Luke 22:14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
Thousand Year Reign with Christ Vs. Forever Reign of the Kingdom of God
90 From the time Christ entered into His ministry for being on Earth, and from the time of His Ascension for being in Heaven was 40 years in total before the New Heaven and Earth reign began. 91 The 1000 years had an end and it ended at the end of the Age of Corruption in AD70. 92 So a new timing had to begin with the reign of Christ for the New Heaven and Earth which is forever without end with a new reign of Christ.
93 It makes no sense to have the thousand year reign of Christ start at the same time the New Heaven and Earth reign of Christ began, especially when the last enemy which was death was cast into the Lake of Fire and destroyed. 94 The thousand year reign of Christ had to happen before the New Heaven and Earth began with All Things Made New. 95 That includes the reign of Christ.
96 I don’t understand why Pre Millennialist Preterist get all hung up on this one by starting the thousand years at the same time as the New Heaven and Earth with the reign of Christ. 97 It must have something to do with the last enemy death not being defeated yet so this death to them but be physical death of our bodies. 98 If this was true then it would mean that flesh and blood will live forever someday and enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 99 At least Futurist make more sense with their view of the New Heaven and Earth starting after the thousand years.
1 Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Adam’s death Vs. Lake of Fire:
100 Then the whole Creation was delivered out from the bondage of Adam’s sin and death and all things became new. 101 Adam’s death was the first death, the Lake of Fire became the second death for an example of all things made new.
102 Salvation or Redemption during the first century was from the curse of the law and death in Hades. After AD70 Salvation or Redemption is from Judgment and being cast into the Lake of Fire.
Offspring of Adam Vs. Offspring of the Bride and Groom “Jesus Christ”:
103 Believers in the first century were adopted into God’s family and became His children because through one man Adam the human race was dead. 104 In the New Heaven and Earth the whole Creation was delivered out from bondage into the liberty of the children of God because Christ made all alive according to: 1 Corinthians 15: 21-22 and Romans 8:20-22.
1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now.
In Christ All Things Made New Vs. New Heaven and Earth All Things Made New:
105 The believers in the first century were the forerunners for all things made new for the New Heaven and Earth. 106 Though some things ceased or were made new but the foundation was set in the first century for the New Heaven and Earth.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Revelation 21: 5Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful
Cessation of God’s Word Vs. Hearing What the Spirit is Saying:
107 How was it possible that the word of God has ceased as if God has a muzzle wrapped around His mouth or that He simple refuses to speak to anymore is beyond me. 108 For some reason humanity has chained God’s word to the scriptures after the end of the Age of Corruption when the New Heaven and Earth began when we need it more now than ever. 109 Sure I get it, the scriptures are our solid foundation for hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying now, but maybe it would help if we had the original writings and understood them. 110 But most people have been taught to think that is where it should end. 111 No one wants to deal with those who say they heard from God when they didn’t. 112 So then it really must be more to put a muzzle on everyone so that those who went to Bible school and got a degree can dictate to others what they believe the written word of God is about. 113 Otherwise we will have everyone claiming to be a Prophet out there and running around out of control deceiving everyone out there. 114 It makes sense to some degree but in doing so it really can hinder our faith by not being open to hear present day truth from God.
115 Some people will say; show me where it says that in the scriptures, or when they get really sophisticated about it they will be sure to throw Sola Scriptura out at you as if that will be solid prove of being wrong about God’s word. 116 We have so many different translations to pick and choose from that we can twist the means around with to fit the view of your choice. 117 Without hearing what the Spirit is saying opens to door for a new denomination to start when there are about 40,000 of them already with each one of them differing from all the others.
Information about Translations of the Bible “Logos”.
118 Sola Scriptura: The 66-book Bible is the sole authority for Christians in faith, doctrine, and practice. Sola Scriptura acknowledges the facts that the Bible is the Word of God, inerrant, sufficient, without error, and the source of all truth.
119 Why Catholics don’t believe in sola scriptura? Sola Scriptura is an abuse of the Bible, since it is a use of the Bible contrary to its explicit and implicit testimony about itself and Tradition. An objective reading of the Bible leads one to Tradition and the Catholic Church, rather than the opposite.
120 The Christian Research Institute breaks down the argument for sola scriptura: First is the belief that the Bible is a direct revelation from God and therefore had authority from God. The Christian Research Institute breaks down the argument for sola scriptura: First is the belief that the Bible is a direct revelation from God and therefore had authority from God. Second, it is sufficient in itself to guide faith and practice. Third, it is the final authority.
121 The original manuscripts of the New Testament books are not known to have survived. The autographs are believed to have been lost or destroyed a long time ago. What survives are copies of the original.
122 More than100 complete translations into English have been written. According to Ethnologue, there are 7,097 known languages in the world. The complete Bible has been translated into approximately 700 languages, while the New Testament has been translated into well over 1,500 languages. Smaller portions of the New Testament have been translated into over 1,000 languages.
123 Which Bible version is the most accurate and easy to understand? The New American Standard Bible is a literal translation from the original texts, well suited to study because of its accurate rendering of the source texts. It follows the style of the King James Version but uses modern English for words that have fallen out of use or changed their meanings. However, some translations, like the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and the New King James Version (NKJV), will give more weight to matching the original language word-for-word.
124 Why is the King James Bible the most accurate? Because of the wealth of resources devoted to the project, it was the most faithful and scholarly translation to date—not to mention the most accessible.
125 What is the most accurate translated Bible in the world? New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
126 How many times has the Bible been changed? Over 30,000 changes were made, of which more than 5,000 represent differences between the Greek text used for the Revised Version and that used as the basis of the King James Version. Most of the other changes were made in the interest of consistency or modernization.
127 Which Bible is the original Bible? The book in question is Codex Sinaiticus, often referred to as the oldest Bible in the world. Here are nine things you should know about Codex Sinaiticus. 1) Codex Sinaiticus has been dated to the middle of the fourth century. 2) The book is handwritten in Greek by four different scribes.
128 The English Standard Version (ESV) is a translation of the Bible in contemporary English. Published in 2001 by Crossway, the ESV was “created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors.” The ESV relies on recently published critical editions of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.
129 Which version of the Bible is closest to the original Hebrew? Geneva Bible was the first English version in which all of the Old Testament was translated directly from the Hebrew (cf. Coverdale Bible, Matthew Bible).
130 In the 16th century, Martin Luther argued that many of the received texts of the New Testament lacked the authority of the Gospels, and therefore proposed removing a number of books from the New Testament, including Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation.
131 No single English translation will ever represent the original biblical languages perfectly. Why? In part because the Bible’s ancient languages do not function like English. A word in Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic might not have an exact English word to match.
132 How do you hear what the Spirit is saying “Rhema”…?
1 Be rooted in God’s word for a solid foundation.
2 Know what wisdom is so you can be wise and not make foolish decisions
3 Be still and list to the still small voice based in the first two things mentioned
4 Notice the wonders like dreams, visions and miracles God has done or is doing.
133 The written Word of God is your foundation, your filter, and your guideline to discerning God’s voice and we can get a better confirmation by comparing translations to help see where the dots connect. 134 His voice will never contradict His Word. 135 This power and wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit allows you to stand strong for the things of God. 136 At times, the voice of God has been described as that of a parent which could seem gentle and kind, benevolent, or terrifying, depending on what kind of relationship you’ve had with Him. 137 Like a prophet would hear from God it may come like a voice, at times in a dream, and sometimes when you open your eyes you see visions that God intends for you. 138 The life led by the Spirit, in contrast with life of the sinful nature, has these markers: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.
139 There were times when God performed miracles on a regular bases. 140 For an example like during the times of Moses in the wilderness, Daniel and his friends while in Babylon, and during the first century Christ performed them and so did His apostles. 141 These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 142 God can still do these things through us even though we are not living in a time when they are being done on a regular bases, just like the rest of the times through history where miracles were not as active. 143 God has always being active doing miracles throughout history but usually they get noticed once in a blue Moon or gets credited for things He did not do.
144 A person who has a strong spirit means, they have opinions that they stand by, and they have reasons for believing in what they believe in. 145 But they recognize that they’re not always necessarily right. 146 Nobody has the monopoly on truth, and we’re all constantly growing and evolving.
147 The second thought about God speaking is that he speaks through his Spirit. 148 So this requires a different kind of ear that apparently not everyone has “he that has an ear let him hear”.
Cessation of Ministries and Gifts Vs. Led by the Spirit:
148 The mainline Full Preterist “Covenant Eschatology” believe that miracles and gifts ceased in AD70 because the perfect came so there is no need for them now. 149 However, it says that the Holy Spirit gave them until everyone is unified in the faith and that has never happened yet. 150 There are the three things mentioned that would happen that could make someone think all of the gifts would cease and they are: prophecy, tongues and knowledge according to 1 Corinthians 13:8.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
151 Back in the first century all Prophecies were about to be fulfilled, so at the time they only knew the Prophecies in part, once they were fulfilled they saw it in full. 152 Tongues would cease after the Gospel spread out throughout the world because people who knew the Gospel in foreign lands could share with others who spoke the same language. 153 Therefore the gift of tongues would cease. 154 Knowledge would vanish away at the end of the Age because the Old Covenant vanished away. 155 Therefore new knowledge would be needed for the New Heaven and Earth when All Things in the Spiritual realm would have been Made New. 156 New Knowledge would require a new office of Prophets to hear what the Spirit is saying to them so that they could share with others so that they would be edified. 157 Then Teachers would be needed to teach other the new present day truths that were made new by things that were fulfilled, that those in the previous Age only knew in part.
1 Prophecies, they will fail
2 Tongues, they will cease
3 Knowledge, it will vanish away
158 When it comes to the gifts of the Holy Spirit Paul was showing a more perfect way and that was by love. 159 When a person serves the Lord in love they are not trying to look Spiritual or like they are the man everyone must acknowledge and give double honour to or to be worshipped and adored. 160 When we serve out of love the things that come forth as gifts are the things that will just happen through us naturally, but in a super natural way that will give the glory and honour to God. 161 When we love, the things we do will motivate God to give a blessing and we should not even think about what gifts we are doing but just let them come forth out of love. 162 Some people will be better at some things then others and visa versa. 163 Who is to say that the least thing done would not be the most important thing done. 164 It is like you can have a real nice car to drive but it would be useless and your not going anywhere without a battery or a key to start the thing with. 165 Likewise we could have all the gifts of the Spirit but if we do not have love if profits us nothing.
1 Corinthians 12:8for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Word of Wisdom
2 Word of Knowledge
3 Faith
4 Gifts of Healings
5 Working of Miracles
5 Prophecy
6 Discerning of Spirits
7 Different kinds of Tongues
8 The Interpretation of Tongues
1 Corinthians 13:13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
166 Healing has not ceased because the New Heaven and Earth is pictured with the Tree of Life and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:2In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
1 Corinthians 13:13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
Ephesians 4:11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Cessation view of the Law Vs. Fruits & Laws of the Spirit:
167 The fact “the law” was done away, does not indicate there is no more law. 168 Jesus said a new law He gave was to love your neighbour as your self etc. 169 In reference to the the Fruits of the Spirit it is said that is what love is. 170 The laws of the Spirit which fulfilled the law are the Fruits of the Spirit; so in that way the law was made new as part of the whole All Things were Made New. Revelation 21:5
171 With this topic I am posting a conversation I had with Andy Hauter because it shows a lot of things that people would say and I hope it answers a lot of questions people might have. 172 Cessation is something that both Futurist and Preterist believe in to some degree especially when it comes to the law. 173 Some say the law was nailed to the cross, some say it ended when the Old Heaven and Earth passed away in AD70. 174 I was a Seventh Day Adventist for twelve years after being a Charismatic for sixteen years so I believe that there are other options. 175 After reading this I hope you will see them to.
Cessation of the Law Debate:
Andy Hauter said: “Quote”
176 The problem with Full Preterism isn’t simply the rejection of a future bodily resurrection.
The vast majority come from poorly trained dispensational backgrounds retaining among other things a lawless theology . The only OT they are interested in is a few prophecies related to the last days, the rest is rejected. Not only do FP believe the law has expired, but most believe sacraments have expired as well ( communion and baptism ), Preston even believes the Holy Spirit has expired ( at least he is consistent). Many in this group don’t even believe in repentance. In addition, the majority believe the great commission has been fulfilled, and all spiritual warfare has ceased. It’s basically a sad cult that has no kingdom mission and purpose.
“End Quote”
My Response:
177 Why does the Cultish side of Full Preterism get all the attention instead of the other side that avoids all the Cultish things mainline Full Preterism has…?
Don’t you think that not all Full Preterist are drinking from the same cup as they are. I’d rather be a Futurist then be a part of the Cultish things mainline Full Preterism has, if Futurism didn’t make Jesus and the Apostles look like liars. So my conscience does not allow me to be. Yet I feel like the baby has been thrown out with the bath water in order to make the errors of what Futurist have shine, while over looking truth of the Spiritual Body resurrection that did took place at the end of the Age in the first century. The Futurist obviously want to retain their flesh and blood for the Kingdom of Heaven in the afterlife and would reject a Spiritual Immortal Body for the sake of flesh and blood. I guess it is similar to the differences between the Protestants and the Catholics so the Atheist comes along throws the baby out with the bath water over their petty differences so that they can not become unified in the faith and be one in Christ.
The problem with Cessation that the Cultish side of mainline Full Preterism has is that they have fails to see and believe how All Things were made New. Take prophecies, tongues, and Knowledge for example. Back in under the Old Covenant “that you believe we still are under those laws” those prophecies, tongues, and Knowledge had to cease because the prophecies were fulfilled, tongues eventually were not needed as much because people from other countries began to hear the Gospel preached by others speaking their language. And knowledge had to change because it is always changing and especially when the New Heaven and Earth began. A new revelation of knowledge is still needed because people have not yet let go if the former things and believe accordingly to as if they are living in the first century according to the confessions of faith. Can you just imagine what the world would be like if cessation of knowledge was taken to the extreme. Everyone would be walking around like zombies as if they all have lobotomies, and we would be living in the twilight zone.
Those who fail to see the change from Cessation to All Things Made New are still under the Old Covenant laws failing to see the new commandments Jesus gave to His disciples then He sent His Holy Spirit to give them the Laws of the Spirit according to Matt 5 and the fruits of the Spirit according to Gal. 5
The Holy Spirit was given as a comforter for His followers on Earth while Jesus was in Heaven. I don’t believe that when the perfect came that Jesus took back His Holy Spirit from them. Even King David prayed for God not to take away His Holy Spirit from him and that was a 1000 years before Jesus gave it when He became a Life-Giving Spirit. When the perfect came Christ followers got to keep the Holy Spirit but they also became the Bride of Christ when the perfect came. So it was a double win with All Things Made New.
Psalm 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Here we can see where the Spirit and the Bride are one just like when Jesus prayed asking the Father to make us all one with the father and the Son:
Revelation 22:17And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
John 17:20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [a]will believe in Me through their word; 21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
To sum up what Cessation is and what All Things Made New is it can be seen in this one statement alone.
Hebrews 10:9then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
Every Christian believes in Cessation to some degree otherwise they would be sacrificing animals.
Jesus took away the first which was natural written in stone in order to establish the second by magnifying them to the Spirit. Thus Laws of the Spirit, not of stone.
For an example how do you keep Sabbath. By stopping work on Saturdays or resting in Christ…?
Is it okay to want another mans wife so long as you don’t touch here…? If you truly love the couple you will respect them and not covet
Is it okay to hate someone so long as you do not murder them..? If you love them you won’t murder them.
The Fruits of the Spirit obsolete the Ten Commandments, they’re not needed but if you do not have the Fruits of the Spirit, then if you break the some of the Ten Commandments you’ll might be arrested. Simple as that, or for sure you’ll will have to deal with God, because they are still sin because they go against the New Commandment of love.
I was a Seventh Day Adventist for 12 years so I know how it works. They talked very little about the Fruits of the Spirit if at all, yet the Ten Commandments were by far more important to them. They were apostate Israel’s mark of authority, especially the Sabbath was a sign, seal, or mark. They all mean the same thing.
“End Quote”
Andy Hauter’s Response:
178 How would you be arrested if you break the TC? Our laws already permits all 10 ( in one form or another ). Another symptom of a lukewarm American church.
The fruits of the spirit aren’t going to constrain the wicked or gives us good and just laws.
The Fruits of the Spirit focus on developing one’s character and relationship with God, emphasizing the inward transformation of the believer. The Commandments, on the other hand, provide specific rules and guidelines for ethical conduct and are concerned with outward actions.
The Fruits of the Spirit reflect the character qualities that Christians should exhibit, whereas the Commandments provide specific instructions for ethical living. Both are considered important aspects of the Christian faith, but they differ in their emphasis and application.
No where does Paul equate the fruits of the spirit as a replacement for the commandments. That’s simply naive.
My Response:
179 Last time I noticed it was still against the laws of the land to commit murder and stealing. But if all of the world should be under the TC then by the same token we must stone those who break anyone of them but how I perceive that you are presenting them. Who is going to cast the first stone…?
If you could keep all of the TC and not have the Fruits of the Spirit then your a walking dead man.
Andy Hauter’s Response:
180 last count is America murdering 93 million pre born. It’s a holocaust. The government has institutionalized stealing through high taxation while un-biblically imprisoning others for doing the same. America is lawless and primarily because Christians are lawless.
You can’t keep the TC without the help of the Holy Spirit, the very purpose of the Holy Spirit.
Moreover I will give you a new heart. I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the stony heart from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.I will put My Spirit within you. Then I will cause you to walk in My laws, so you will keep My rulings and do them.—Ezekiel 36:26-27
My Response:
181 There are only two out of the Ten Commandments that they were to do. The other eight were things not to do. So if your not doing anything your not doing anything.
Those two things were to keep the Sabbath and Honour your Mother and Father.
Jesus had more things to do in His speaking of things to do as commandments starting with believing in Him. I’m sure I could write a long list of thing we are to do that would be much more than the eight things in the Ten Commandment that they say were not to do.
Then I will cause you to walk in My laws, so you will keep My rulings and do them.—Ezekiel 36:26-27
What I mean by having the Fruits of the Spirit is that by having them there is no way that you will do the things that the TC say not to do and that is why love fulfills the law.
Andy Hauter’s Response:
182 What does the fruit of the spirit say to homosexuals, pedophiles, adulterers? Are you just going to tell them God loves them, be filled with the fruit of the spirit?
The fruit of the Spirit is fruit. The sword of the Spirit is the Law Word that has the ability to penetrate deeply into the human heart and soul. It has the power to reveal truth, expose hidden motives, convict of sin, and bring about inner transformation.
The law helps convict a sinner by revealing their sinfulness and highlighting their inability to meet God’s perfect standard. When people compare their actions, thoughts, and attitudes against the requirements of the law, they become aware of their shortcomings and moral failures. The law serves as a mirror, reflecting their true condition before God.
The law exposes sin by revealing God’s holy and righteous character. As people become aware of their transgressions against the law, they recognize their need for repentance and redemption. The law acts as a teacher, guiding individuals to recognize their inability to save themselves and pointing them toward the need for a Savior.
The conviction brought by the law is intended to lead individuals to turn to God, acknowledge their sinfulness, and seek His forgiveness. It serves as a preparation for the message of the gospel, which offers salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The law’s purpose is not to condemn but to bring awareness of sin and the need for God’s grace.
“Before I can preach love, mercy, and grace, I must preach sin, Law, and judgment. Preach 90% Law and 10% grace.” ~ John Wesley
My Response:
183 Looks like I’m going to have to start a list of the new commandants that Jesus and the Apostles established that we are to keep as the commandments of Christ. Some of them are old ones continuing on but there is nothing saying we can’t eat bacon or shrimp and get cast into the Lake of Fire for that.
Acts 10:9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about [e]the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”
So I will start by covering the things that the fruits of the spirit does not cover like homosexuals, pedophiles, adulterers etc.
Acts 15:10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Acts 15:19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment.
Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Revelation 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Romans 13:9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
Andy Hauter’s Response:
184 no where does it say anywhere that fulfill means replaces or abolishes the law. The phrase, “to fulfil them” does not mean “to do away with.” For instance the Contemporary English Version translated it as, “….to give them their full meaning.” In fact, the phrase, “to fulfil them” was actually translated from the NT Greek word pleroo [πληρόω], and one of the meanings of this Greek word given by The Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries is to “Fully preach.”
So Christ came to fulfil the Law – to fully preach it – so as to give it its full meaning, in contrast to the contrary traditions of the Sadducees and Pharisees (Matthew 15:1-6).
Why would Jesus give a Sermon on the Mount expository on the 10 commandments and “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness”.
If All He needed to say was Love God, Love your neighbour?
Jesus says those who are lawless will not see the kingdom of Heaven or the NE/NH
Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”
Matt 7:23 “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
zCircumcision is part of the blood ceremonial law that was fulfilled under Christ. Fulfilled in this sense as circumcision was always a type, a shadow. Not the same as the moral law that is still required because man is still full of sin tendencies.
Rom 2:12 simply means they if you live in the jungle in Peru and you commit adultery, it is still the same sin. They have no excuse just because they don’t have the Torah.
Love is the new commandment. The 10 commandments are embodied in thou shall not do this, thous shall not do that. They are negative. Love is positive. Love is a better summation on how to keep the 10 commandments, but no where does it say anywhere that it negates the 10 commandments. Brad is correct, if we are walking in the fruit of the Spirit and loving our neighbor we not inclined to sin against God and neighbor, but how do we describe how to love God and neighbor in words and details? For example how do you properly love a homosexual or an adulterer? Without the law we wouldn’t know how. In these cases we love them by telling them the truth. Repent. And we love them by setting up societal laws that protect society from these sins. It protects culture, it protects families, it protects children. That is societal love.
Because we have love, doesn’t negate the commandments. It enhances them. It brings them together in a positive light. It reminds us that telling the truth must be done in the spirit of love or we have the wrong motive.
When Paul wrote 1 Tim 1:8-11
“Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice sodomy [homosexuality], enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted”
Paul says that God’s unchanging law is “in accordance with the gospel.” This means that mercy and justice are not mutually exclusive opposites, but rather are directly related to each other in the gospel. The law must be administered with the love of the gospel.
Also notice the order of Paul’s examples of lawlessness are in the same order of the second table: those who strike their parents (5th Commandment: Honour your father and your mother), murderers (6th Commandment: You shall not murder), the sexually immoral and practicing sodomy (7th Commandment: You shall not commit adultery), enslavers (8th Commandment: You shall not steal), and liar and perjurers (9th Commandment: You shall not bear false witness).
Jesus and the Apostles never said Love replaces the commandments, love teaches us the true meaning behind the commandments. It’s always about loving God and loving neighbour.
Jesus didn’t add any new commandments, He simply shed light on the existing ones.
My Response:
185 I believe that we must have laws in order to a civilized society to survive. Without them there would be anarchy and it would be as in the days of Genesis 6 where the strong would do wherever they wanted. However take a look at the Ten Commandments.
1 You shall have no other gods before me.
2 You shall not make unto you any graven image
3 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
4 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy
5 Honour your father and your mother
6 You shall not kill
7 You shall not commit adultery
8 You shall not steal
9 You shall not bear false witness
10 You shall not covet
186 There are only four of them that a society can enforce without becoming tyrannical. 187 The first three commandments are against God and in a free society if we allow people to have freedom of speech, and worship or not worship. 188 If we didn’t we could be doing what the Church did in the dark ages burning people at the stake etc. 189 I believe like you that we should tell them to repent, believe in Christ and the Gospel of forgiveness of sins. 190 But when it comes to enforcing punishments for any of the Ten Commandments other than 6-9 we tread on peoples freedoms and rights. 191 Revelation 22:11 says He who is unjust, let him be unjust still and like the following verse says My reward is with Me. 192 I believe that those who break some of the other Commandments will reap what they sow, so they are Commandments that can not be enforced in a free society without there being tyranny involved. 193 And for sure there would be those guilty of the same offences that they would enforce on others.
Revelation 22:11He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
194 As far as keeping the Sabbath holy I’m sure we all would be stoned to death every week for breaking that one. 195 Stone someone for break the Sabbath was just as much a part of the law as keeping the Sabbath was. 196 It does not even allow a person to kindle a fire even if it was wintertime and it was a matter of life or death to keep warm if your fire went out. 197 Not so bad if you live in the Mid East where a fire would rarely be needed in the wintertime but think about the rest of the world where the temptress drop below zero.
198 Most people would find it easy to honour their Father and Mother but there are others who may have been severely abused that would find it hard to do so.
199 Coveting is a sin that can only be overcome by being content with what you have and be thankful for them. 200 Otherwise it is a sin that goes by undetected because it is a thought in your mind but it is also the starting point to break other Commandments like worshipping other gods, murder, stealing, adultery and sometimes bear false witness.
201 Like I said in my article Mark of the Beast Vs. Fruits of the Spirit we need laws for a civil society but if we think laws are all we need to be righteous before God without the Fruits of the Spirit, then we have the Mark of the Beast. 202 The laws were added because of sin and sin came from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. 203 The Fruits of the Spirit come from the Tree of Life and this should be what we are focused on in order to have eternal life. 204 The Fruits of the Spirit are what love is; and by having them we can love God and others like Jesus did.
Conclusion:
205 To be honest before I wrote this article I did not have as full of an understanding as to what I have now. 206 When I saw Full Preterist taking on titles like Pastor it just did not seem right within Full Preterism because we believed that the gifts ceased in AD70, but as some of us say, God can still give them if He wants to. 207 Many people today know different languages and can also interpret them. 208 We even have Full Preterist teachers who are Greek and Hebrew scholars who interpret the Bible for us yet they are Cessationist about the gifts which is ironic. 209 But there is no need to speak in gibberish to Angels because they probably know every language in the world. 210 If they didn’t what makes you think Angels could interpret gibberish…?
211 Now that I see things a bit differently now because we all have not come into the unity of the faith for the New Heaven and Earth. 212 However I do see a problem when some people assume a title of Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist or Pastor when they do so out of Spiritual pride. 213 I’m not sure that we should even have those titles place on people, they can still be one without taking the glory of the title. 214 It might even save them from getting stoned like they did the prophets back in the Old Covenant days. 215 Especially when more people have been martyred in the last century than all the rest of history combined.
216 We must have to admit and say that we still need the gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit but with an exception, and that is they should be in accordance to present day truth and not as they were in the first century when prophecies, tongues and knowledge were only in part. 217 Now that the fulfillments came and the perfect New Covenant of Love came into effect when the Lord had fulfilled His second coming, which makes it by far better now. 218 Yet there is no need for prophecies etc. from the old Age to apply to the future. 219 We need to re-adjust your thoughts on this and allow the Holy Spirit to do that which He pleases with us as we surrender our hearts and mind to the Holy Spirit, so that we can be His living epistles. 220 We also must admit that the Holy Spirit was given for forever and did not cease in AD70 because God does not give us something then take away unless we do something terribly wrong.
221 We also need to do better than what the Charismatic movement has done by eliminating taking to Angels in a language that no body understands that even the Angels do not understand. 222 Yet they understand every language in the world but not that one that no one understands, not even God. 223 But most of all we must stop chaining God’s word coming forth out of our mouths that we hear the Spirit saying because it seems that God values us more than written words by what is written here:
2 Corinthians 3:2You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
The Spirit, Not the Letter
4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Manifested Sons of God AD70 