Dividing the Word of Truth (RD00)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

2 Tim 2:15  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

    It is the duty of every Christian to be diligent in rightly divide the word of truth. To be able to rightly divide the word of truth, we must accept that the Bible is the word of God, which is infallible. Scriptures must be used to interpret scriptures.

    To be accurate in rightly dividing the word of truth, we must have a good knowledge and understanding of the 'whole counsel of God', which constitutes God's attributes, covenants, ways, promises, plans, works, dealings, judgments, teachings, commandments and directions in the OT, and the teachings, words, commandments, sayings and parables of our Lord Jesus and the Epistles of the Apostles in the NT.

     When the word of truth is rightly divided, it harmonizes with the rest of the scriptures. 

    'Wrongly dividing the word of truth' will result to wrong doctrines, distorted truth and heresies. Some of these are being taught in churches today.

Wolves in Sheepskin

Act 20:28-30  Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

    The Holy Spirit has anointed all born again Christians to shepherd the church of God or Body of Christ. Christians must expose all wrong doctrines and heresies to prevent sheep from the destruction of the salvage wolves.

In this series R (Rightly Dividing the Word), together let's look into doctrines (one by one) where the word of truth had been wrongly divided resulting in the propagation of so many wrong doctrines and heresies.

Jesus in the Flesh (RD01)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

2 Cor 5:16  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

     Paul (Saul of Tarsus) had never met Jesus in the flesh, and his knowledge of Jesus was from the religious leaders who presented Him as a rebellious false teacher and false Messiah.

   As a devout Jew and an upright and zealous Pharisee, he went all out to destroy this new deviate sect of Jesus, thinking that he was doing God's work.

Act 8:3; 9:1  As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison... Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest..

Jews' Understanding of Jesus

 Isa 53:4  Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

     The religious leaders taught Jews that Jesus was a rebel and heretic who claimed Himself as the Messiah. God punished Him by having Him crucified.

     So Paul like the rest of the Jews believed that Jesus (in the flesh) was a rebel, and His sufferings and death on the cross was the judgment and punishment of God for being a heretic.

    Since Paul was blinded by the lies of the religious leaders, he could not see Jesus as the Messiah coming as the Lamb of God, who offered Himself to be chastised for their transgressions and iniquities so that they could be at peace with God.

Isa 53:5  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Taking 2Cor 5:16 in Context

2 Cor 5:15-16  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

    After Paul's conversion, he realised that he was wrong in believing Jesus was a rebel and heretic, and therefore confessed that he would no longer have this wrong perception of Jesus (now we know Him this no longer)

    Not only that, Paul promised that he would no longer judge anyone based on their conducts before their conversion (old man), because he had earlier erred in judging our Lord Jesus.

    We, too, must not judge a brethren by the persecutions, problems, sufferings, pains and even death, that he is enduring. Jesus out of His love for us went through all these for our sake, which Paul thought were God's judgement on Him.

    Paul taught that as a Christian, he is no longer the worldly, sinful and rebellious old man, but a new creation with the Holy Spirit in him. He should no longer live for himself but for our Lord Jesus, who died and redeemed him from the fire of hell, by keeping His words and commandments.

2 Cor 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Note - Do not revile, persecute nor judge any Christian based on his old conduct as a non believer, but rather regard him as a new creation in Christ.

Jesus, Lamb of God (RD02)

     'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Mission of Jesus"

John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

     The Word was made flesh so that Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, was crucified as the sinless and perfect Lamb of God for the remission of men's sins.

I Pet 1:18-19  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

   

Born as Sacrificial Lamb

Luke 2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

    Jesus was born amongst the animals (as a lamb). He was wrapped in swaddling cloths, which was used to prevent the sacrificial animal from getting blemishes. He was the perfect sacrificial Lamb without any blemish. 

    He was put in a manger as food (Bread of life and Word of God) for the animals (sheep). Jesus' word is the Word of Life, which every Christian must feed on 

Mat 4:4  But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

Jesus the Sinless Jew

     Having been circumcised on the eighth day, Jesus became a Jew. For a Jew to be sinless, he must keep the Mosaic Law. For Jesus to be sinless so that His precious blood can cleanse men's sins, He had to keep the Mosaic law and believe the prophets.

    Under the Mosaic law are the moral and religious laws.

1. The Moral law

     In the moral law, Jesus must not eat unclean food. He must not enter the homes of Gentiles nor eat with them. He must not commit sexual immorality nor worship idols. He must not cheat, deceive nor harm fellow Jews. (Please read the book of Deuteronomy)

Mat 10:5-6  These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: " Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

     Since Jesus must not cause His disciples to sin, He and His disciples must not reach out to the Gentiles but only to the Jews only.

2. Religious law

Mat 8:4  And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

     Jesus observed all the religious law. He kept the feasts and even sent the healed leper to the temple to offer the gift as commanded by Moses. 

John 8:28  Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things."

    Jesus was the sinless and perfect sacrificial Lamb of God. He did not sin because He kept the words of the Father. Likewise, Christians can overcome sin if they abide in the words of Jesus.

John the Baptist's Mission (RD03)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Luke 1:16-17  And he (John the Baptist) will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

    John the Baptist was sent to prepare the Jews for the Lord in His presence. Just like the prophets of old, his mission was to turn the Jews back to the lord by leading them to repent of their evil ways.

    With true repentance, the Jew will keep His law and commandments. Similarly, a born again Christian will joyfully keep His words and commandments.

II Kings 17:13  Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets."

Devout Jews were Saved

Luke 1:76-77  "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,

    Once a Jew has repented and keep the Mosaic law, he will be able to know and understand the salvation provided by the Messiah for the remission of their sins.

    Our Lord Jesus also said that when a Jew believed and obeyed Moses, he would believed Him and be saved.

    This was fulfilled in Act 2. When Peter preached the gospel of grace, 3,000 devout Jews believed and accepted Jesus as their Saviour and they were later baptized.

John 5:46-47  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

Kingdom of Heaven is Near

Mal 4:5-6  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."

    John the Baptist was sent in the spirit of Elijah to earn the Israel before the end of God's Covenant or Mosaic law.

    John preached repentance and the kingdom of heaven is near meaning that the Jews will soon meet their judgments at the end of Mosaic law. The godly Jews would inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 3:1-2  In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"

Godly Jews Inherited Heaven

Mat 27:50-53  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

    At the death of Jesus, the veil of the temple was torn into two - signifying the end of Judaism and the Old Covenant or Mosaic law made obsolete.

     After the resurrection of Jesus, the Jewish saints of the Old Covenant were raised from the death to inherit the kingdom of heaven with Him.

Gospel of the Kingdom (RD04)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Jesus Preached Kingdom Gospel

Luke 4:43-44  but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

     Jesus believed God sent John the Baptist to preach repentance and the gospel of the kingdom to save the Jews from damnation when the Old Covenant had finally ended.

    Since He was also sent by God to preach the gospel of the kingdom, He humbled Himself to John the Baptist as the last OT Prophet, by preaching John's kingdom gospel.

Kingdom of Heaven Fulfilled

Matthew 10:5-7  These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

    Since the kingdom of heaven was near with the coming judgement of God upon the Jews under the Mosaic law, so out of their love John, Jesus and the Apostles were fervently preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

    The very day that Jesus was crucified, it was the great and dreadful day of the Lord for the Jews, when the Old Covenant was obsoleted or terminated by God, thus ending the Mosaic law.

    After the resurrection of Jesus, the saints of the Old Covenant rose from the graves and they inherited the kingdom of heaven thus fulfilling the prophecy that 'the kingdom of heaven is near'

    With the termination of Judaism, Jews were no longer the people of God. Being unsaved, and like the gentiles, they needed Jesus for salvation. So Jesus warned them that unless they repent of their wicked and evil ways, all of them would be cursed for only devout Jews (those who believed Moses), would believe and accept Him as their Messiah.

John 8:24  "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

How the kingdom of God was fulfilled?

Luke 17:20-21  Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

     Our Lord Jesus reiterated that He would suffered and be killed, and on the third day He would rise from the dead and this is the gospel of grace in the New Covenant of His blood 

    Immediately after His resurrection, He appeared to all His disciples. Thomas was the last of His Apostles to believed His resurrection. After all His Apostles had believed and accepted the gospel of grace, Jesus gave each of them the Holy Spirit of redemption, thereby starting the Body of Christ.

    With God, who is the King of kings, establishing His kingdom in each Apostle's physical body as His temple, this fulfilled the prophecy of the kingdom of God is at hand

John 20:21-22  So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Mark 4:11  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

    The death of Jesus ended the Old or Mosaic Covenant, meanwhile His death also started the New Covenant of His blood.

   The resurrection of Jesus fulfilled the kingdom of heaven when the saints of the OT were taken back to heaven. At the same time it fulfilled the kingdom of God with the King of kings establishing His kingdom within the physical body of each Apostle.

Fulfilled the Prophets (RD05)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Believed John the Baptist

Mat 3:13,16  Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

    Jesus submitted Himself to the last OT Prophet John the Baptist, by being baptized by him. 

Jesus Believed the Prophets

Hos 6:6  For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

    Not only did Jesus submit to John the Baptist but also to the other prophets. One example was the woman caught in adultery, He showed mercy instead judgment (or sacrifice)

Repentance By the Prophets

Jer 25:4-5  And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, 'Repent now everyone of his evil way and his evil doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers forever and ever."

    All the warnings of the prophets were the same:- 'everyone to repent from his evil ways, otherwise judgment with calamities. But unfortunately the Jews refused to listen.

    John was sent to warn the Jews by preaching repentance and the end was near (kingdom of heaven is at hand). All those who rejected the gospel would die in their sins (damnation).

Luke 3:8-9  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Fulfilled the Prophets

Mark 1:14-15  Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

    After John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus with His disciples continued to preached and baptized the repented Jews so that more Jews would believe Jesus and be saved. 

    Since Jesus had believed the Prophets and had taken over the ministry of John the Baptist, who was the last Prophet, thus by this very action Jesus had fulfilled the Prophets.

    Since our Lord Jesus had fulfilled the Prophet, then any Jew, who is a born again Christian, having believed and accepted the gospel of grace has already kept the Prophet in Christ Jesus.

Mat 5:17  "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

Note - will share later how Jesus fulfilled the law.

Gospel of Christ (RD06)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Gospel Taught by Jesus

Luke 24:46-47  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

     For the sake of saving as many Jews as possible, Jesus and His disciples preached John's gospel of the kingdom until His crucifixion.    

    The gospel of the kingdom of heaven was fulfilled with the Mosaic Covenant made obsolete at the death of Jesus and after His resurrection the OT saints rose from the dead to inherit the kingdom of heaven.

    The gospel of the kingdom of God was fulfilled with the establishment of the New Covenant of His blood at the death of Jesus. After His resurrection, He set up the kingdom of God in every physical body of His Apostles thereby establishing the Body of Christ.

     The gospel of the kingdom was fulfilled at the death and resurrection of Jesus, and since it was no longer applicable anymore, our Lord Lord Jesus had been teaching His disciples the new Gospel of Christ in the New Covenant of His blood.

    This new gospel of the grace of God consists essentially of Jesus' sufferings, death and His resurrection on the third day. This gospel was given by the risen Christ for all His disciples to preach to all nations.

Mat 16:21  From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Paul Confirmed His Gospel

I Cor 15:3-4  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

    For many years, Paul had been preaching the so-called mysterious gospel of Christ, which was given to him by revelation. Finally, he went to Jerusalem to check with the Apostles of its accuracy with the gospel of the grace of God taught by Jesus. 

    He was overjoyed that he had not preached heresy for his (my) gospel was the same as that taught to His disciples by the risen Lord.

Gal 2:2  And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.

    

Gospel of Christ Preached

Acts 2:32,36  "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses... Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

     Peter preached the gospel of Christ of Jesus' death and resurrection where 3,000 devout Jews were saved and later the Centurion and his family were saved having heard the same gospel from Peter.

    Paul preached the same gospel of Christ using the OT prophecies to prove that Jesus whom they crucified, was indeed the Son of God and Messiah for He was resurrected from the dead.

Acts 13:16,30,33  Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:.. But God raised Him from the dead... God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'

Wisdom in Jesus' Word (RD07)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

John 5:46-47  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, however will you believe My words?"

   John the Baptist was sent to bring the Jews back to the Lord. By their repentance they would forsake their evil ways, then study, understand and keep the Mosaic law. Similarly, repented Christians must forsake their worldly and evil ways and then keep the word of Jesus, which is spirit and life.

    Our Lord Jesus knew that unless the Jews believed Moses by keeping the law they would not believe Jesus when the gospel was preached to them.

Luke 1:16-17  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Jesus Expounded from OT

Luke 24:25-27  Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

    On the way to Emmaus, when two of His disciples were disturbed by news of His resurrection, our risen Lord (but unknown to them) told them that 'the Christ must suffered and killed, but on the third day He would rise from the dead.'

    Then from the OT, from Moses and the prophets, Jesus expounded all scriptures concerning Himself - the Messiah coming as the sacrificial Lamb of God in His first advent.

     Having heard Jesus revealing the truth from the OT, these two disciples believed Jesus and His resurrection. And immediately, they went to inform the eleven Apostles.

Luke 24:31, 33-34  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight... So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"

Teachings of the Risen Lord

Luke 24:44-45  Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

    Before His Ascension, our Lord Jesus spent 40 days teaching His Apostles and disciples His truth. Initially He showed them how to preach the gospel to the Jews by expounding the scriptures concerning the Messiah of the Old Covenant.

    He also taught them the truth in the New Covenant :-

1. Grace of God

2. Freedom with Truth

3. Power of His Blood, 

4. Mysteries in His words

5. The Spirit of Truth

6. End time Mysteries

7. Warnings of antichrists and heresies, etc.

for His Apostles to write their epistles to teach, enlighten, encourage and also warn us. 

Note - these truth were later revealed to Apostle Paul.

John 21:25  And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Grace and Truth (RD08)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Our Lord Jesus was made flesh so that His grace and truth can be freely given to all men.

Saving Grace of God

Eph 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

   Out of God's love, He instituted the New Covenant of His blood by dying on the cross so that His grace of salvation is freely given to all men.

    However, this grace is given only to those who believes in Jesus by accepting the gospel of Christ. The precious blood of Jesus will cleansed him of all his sins and he is saved from damnation.

   God's saving grace includes the cleansing of his new sins. 

Note: Only when a Christian repents, his sins are cleansed and the Holy Spirit dwelling in him will no longer be grieved. Once again he is sinless and righteous.

    When a person is saved, he will be convicted (taught) by the Holy Spirit, to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts. The Holy Spirit will also lead him to holiness if he lives soberly, righteously and godly.

Tit 2:11-13  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Saved for Good Works

Eph 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

    Christians are redeemed from damnation so that they are zealous of good works lest they fall short of His grace.

Heb 12:12-15  Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

God's Grace is Sufficient

2 Cor 12:9-10  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

    During the time of testing, persecution, tribulations, needs, infirmities and distresses, His grace will be sufficient to help us overcome them until Apostle Paul testified that he rejoiced in the sufferings for Christ's sake.

Where are you, the so-called Paul's followers, who fear tribulations and sufferings? 

Hypocrites and liars!

Grace with Truth (RD09)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

John 1:17  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

     The death of Jesus made the law of Moses obsolete but brought in God's grace and truth. Grace and truth of God are given alongside each other to help each new believer in his walk to perfection.

Salvation Grace

John 20:20-22  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

    As soon as a person believes Jesus and the gospel of Christ, it is God's grace to cleanse him of all sins and seal him with the Holy Spirit of redemption. So Jesus gave His disciples the Holy Spirit after His resurrection.

     Though Christians may have different gifts, yet it is given by the same Holy Spirit (Helper). Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit according to His will to help them by encouraging and strengthening their faith in Him and His word. Gifts are given for the benefit of all including the salvation of non Christians. 

Note: - please don't teach nor imitate any of these gifts including the speaking in tongues, because God, Himself, is the Giver of these gifts 

    The most obvious sign that a person has received salvation is the gift of speaking in tongues. At Pentecost the disciples broke out in tongues to draw the crowd for their salvation. The Centurion and family also broke out in tongues, convincing the elders that they were born again Christians.

I Cor 12:4,7-8,11  There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit... But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,... But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Manifold Grace of God

I Pet 4:10  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

   Besides the saving grace, they are more grace so that each Christian is a faithful servant of the manifold grace of God

     However, this manifold grace is given only to the humble who submits himself to God by keeping His words and commandments.

Jam 4:6-7  But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Truth by Abiding in His Word

John 8:31-32  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, " If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

    Our Lord promised us that if we abide in His word, we will know the truth which will set us free from fears, unbelief, worldliness, bondages and sins.

    God will give us another Helper the Spirit of truth (still the same Holy Spirit but with greater empowering and anointing)

Note: unless a Christian starts to accept and keep Jesus' words and commandments, he will not be able to know His truth.

John 14:15-17a  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth,.."

Renewed and Transformed

John 17:17  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

    Having been sanctified by His word of truth and his old man crucified, he is a new and transformed man. He lives for Jesus and glorifies His name.

Eph 4:21-23  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

Mosaic Law Fulfilled (RD10)

    'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Everlasting Ordinances

Exo 40:15  You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations."

   God made a covenant with the Israelites that He will be their God and they will become His people. After the Exodus from Egypt, God made the covenant that the Levites would be His everlasting priesthood, and the Israelites must also keep the law and Jewish feasts as their everlasting ordinances.

Exo 12:14  'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.

  

Fulfilled Law and Prophets

Mat 5:17-18  "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

    Since God gave the Israelites these everlasting ordinances in the law, and obsoleted the law at the death of Jesus, so during Jesus first advent, He must fulfil the law and the Prophets before His death.

     Since Jesus is the everlasting God, the Alpha and Omega, and if He had fulfilled the law and the Prophets, then any Israelite who believes and abides in Him and His words will also have kept or fulfilled the law and the Prophets

Israeli Christians

Mat 7:12  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

    At the death of Jesus, God left the temple of God by tearing the temple veil into two thereby terminating the Old Covenant with the Israelites.

     All worships, sacrifices and offerings in the temple of God but abandoned by God were meaningless. God kept the temple standing, so that devout Jews coming back for the feasts would find salvation (as found in Acts 2).

    For an Israeli Christian to fulfil the everlasting ordinances of the law, he must obey Jesus word:- 'whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them' which is another way of saying 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'.

Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

A New Commandment

John 13:34  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

   Our Lord Jesus commanded us to love one another as He had loved us. Since Jesus laid down His life for the salvation of all men, Christians are to lay down their lives for one another. This new commandment fulfills all previous commandments including Mosaic law.

I John 3:16  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Note: For an Israeli Christian to keep and fulfil the everlasting ordinances of the law and the Prophets, he only needs to love one another as Jesus had loved all men. No more circumcision, unclean food, animal sacrifices and observing Jewish feasts.

Fulfillment of Temple (RD11)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Jesus, the Temple of God

Phi 2:5-7  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

    Jesus was a man born of the virgin Mary. Within Him dwelt the Spirit is God thus making His physical human body the temple of God. After His death and resurrection, the physical bodies of Christians are temples of God.

I Cor 3:16  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Furniture in the Temple

Outer Court

John 19:33  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

1. Brazen Altar

    Our Lord Jesus crucified outside Jerusalem shed His blood, to provide His precious blood to the brazen altar for the cleansing of sins.

2. Bronze Laver

    At His death, our Lord also pour out water along with His blood to provide pure water for the brazen laver for sanctification.

Heb 10:22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

The Holy Place

3. Table of Shew Bread

John 6:51  "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

    The unleavened shewbread on the golden table was food for the priests. Jesus, the Bread of life became the unleavened shewbread.

4. Golden Lampstand

John 8:12  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

    Jesus was the Anointed One or Christ, so He was the anointed oil used in the golden lampstand to produce light.

Bread and Light Revealed

John 14:15-17a  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth,"

    When we keep His word (eat the Bread of life), then He will give us the Spirit of truth (oil of anointing), who will guide us into all truth (light)

John 16:13  "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

5. Golden Altar of Incense

2 Cor 2:15  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

    Because our Lord willingly offered Himself as a living sacrifice to suffer and die for men, He was the sweet fragrant incense used in the golden altar of incense.

The Holy of Holies

6. The Ark of Covenant

Heb 9:4  which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;

    Our Lord was of the order of the Melchizedek's Priesthood (budded rod of Aaron, the Priest), and the two tablets of the Ten commandments was fulfilled by Jesus being the Word made flesh. So Jesus fulfilled the items in the Ark of the Covenant.

7. Mercy Seat

Exo 26:34  You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy.

   God was on the mercy seat in the Temple. Jesus' ministry on earth was filled with grace (mercy) and truth thereby fulfilling the mercy seat of God.

Psa 89:14  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.

At His death and resurrection, our Lord Jesus had completely fulfilled the requirements of the Temple of God by also becoming the perfect gift/offering for each furniture in the Temple.

Jesus the Perfect Temple (RD12)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Heb 9:11  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

     Since Jesus was the Word made flesh, so His physical body was the tabernacle (temple of God). By His complete obedience to God even to the suffering of death, He was perfected so that He can provide every Christian the perfect requirements to reach perfection.

Heb 5:8-9  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

I Cor 3:10-11  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

    Every born again Christian is the temple of God. To build this temple to perfection, he needs to use the perfect requirements provided by Jesus so that he can build it based solely on the foundation laid by Jesus Christ, Himself.

The Furniture in the Temple

    The temple of God is divided into 3 sections - Outer Court, Holy Place and Holy of Holies or Most Holy place.

1. The Outer Court (outside New Jerusalem) consists of:-

Bronze Altar and Bronze Laver

In the coming New Jerusalem,

2. The Holy Place (inside New Jerusalem) consists of:

Table of Shewbread and Golden Lampstand

3. Holy of Holies (Throne of God) consists of:-

Golden Altar of Incense, the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat 

Position of New Convert

Heb 6:1-2  Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

    A new convert will only have the bronze altar, where his sins were cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus. He must proceed beyond the elementary  principles of Christ. He needs to grow in Christ Jesus by reading and understanding God's attributes, ways, will, works, promises and judgement from His words, which will place him in the position of the bronze laver of water for sanctification.

   A Christian needs to grow until perfection, where his carnal old man is transformed into the glorious image of our Lord Jesus.

Jesus at Bronze Altar (RD13)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Inside the Outer Court (outside New Jerusalem) were two furniture - bronze altar and bronze laver.

Salvation at Bronze Altar

Lev 7:37  This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the consecrations, and the sacrifice of the peace offering,

    The Bronze Altar, where offerings were burnt, was the only place in the temple of God, where the priests ministered to the people.

    Our Lord, who was crucified outside Jerusalem, became the perfect sacrifice by fulfilling all burnt offerings at the bronze altar.

Empowerment at the Altar

1. Blood of Jesus

    Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross for the cleansing of all the sins of those who believe in Him.

   Jesus also provided His blood for every Christian, so that at their repentance, all their sins and unrighteousness will be forgiven.

I John 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. Ministry of Priest

    The priests ministered to the Jews by teaching them the law.

    After the death and resurrection of Jesus, He gave each disciple the Holy Spirit of redemption to teach them by convicting them.

John 16:7-8  And when He (Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

    The Holy Spirit in each Christian convicts Christians of sin and to avoid committing them, convicts them of righteousness (saved for good works) and also convicts them of the judgment upon every Christian based on their good works.

3. Free will Offerings

    The Jews also offered animal and meal sacrifices as thanksgiving, freewill offerings and peace offerings.

    The Holy Spirit within us will help to strengthen our faith by encouraging us with the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I Cor 12:7-8,11  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,.. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

    Christians, having tasted the gifts of the Holy Spirit, will always worship Him with praises and thanksgivings. Out of the love for the Lord, many Christians just cannot help themselves but constantly share His great love of dying on the cross for us. Hallelujah, to God be the glory.

Jesus at Bronze Laver (RD14)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

The Outer Court (outside New Jerusalem) held two furniture - bronze altar and bronze laver.

Blood and Water from Jesus

John 19:33-34  But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

    Jesus poured out blood and water on the cross. His precious blood was to fulfil the blood for the bronze altar, and His living water to fulfil the water for the bronze laver.

Cleansing at Bronze Laver

Heb 10:22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

     Only priests could come before the bronze laver for the water to cleanse themselves from the defilement (blood stains and dirt) during their ministry at the bronze altar.  

    With the pure water of life (word of Jesus), Christians (royal priests) can cleanse themselves from the corruptions and defilement caused by ministering to sinners, carnal and worldly Christians. 

   By hearing, understanding and believing in His word (living water), Christians are led to live righteous and godly lives.

    Unfortunately, most Christians are contented with just ministering to people by shuttering between the bronze altar for the cleansing of sins and the bronze laver for the purification with His word.

    But God wants every Christian to be able to minister to Him inside the Holy Place so that they can receive revelation and truth.

John 15:3  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Living Water of Jesus

John 7:38  "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

    Before entering into the Holy place, the priest must wash themselves and then put on the holy priesthood garment.

   Thank God that Jesus had provided the living water for the bronze laver, so that a Christian only need to believe in Jesus and His words, he will be sanctified, holy and able to enter the Holy Place.

   Every teacher must enter the Holy Place as often as possible to get His revelation so that he can feed the sheep with the truth for their spiritual growth.

Entering the Holy Place (RD15)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Into the Holy Place

Lev 10:3  And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace.

    Every priest who ministered inside the tabernacle must be holy for He is holy, and they must be without sins. God will kill any priest if they entered the Holy Place to sin or with sins (e.g. Aaron's sons Nadah and Abihu in Lev 10:1-3)

Exo 28:43  They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and his descendants after him.

Priests gone Astray

Eze 44:10,13-14  "And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity... And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed. Nevertheless I will make them keep charge of the temple, for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it.

    Since misled priests were not allowed to enter the tabernacle to minister to Him, similarly, depraved Christian leaders will not be able to come before God's presence. 

    Without God's revelations and the truth in His word, these depraved pastors can only preach worldly wisdom, wrong doctrines and even heresies (prosperity gospel, positive confession, hyper-grace, secret rapture, etc.)

   So beware of carnal, worldly and covetous pastors and televangelists, who, for financial gain, may lead you to damnation, for they preach distorted truth and heresies to entice your itching ears.

Atonement for the Priest

Lev 9:6,8  Then Moses said, "This is the thing which the Lord commanded you to do, and the glory of the Lord will appear to you.".. Aaron therefore went to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

    To go before God's presence, the priests must first sacrifice a bull as a burnt offering for the atonement of their own sins, before they could enter the holy Place in the tabernacle.

    In the same way, every Christian coming before God's presence must atone his sins by confessing them, otherwise God will not listen to his prayer, thanksgiving, praise and worship.

A Good Shepherd

Lev 9:15; 10:17  Then he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and killed it and offered it for sin, like the first one... "Why have you not eaten the sin offering in a holy place, since it is most holy, and God has given it to you to bear the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord?

    The priest must sacrifice a goat for the sins of the people and then eat the meat inside the Holy place as a sign of bearing their guilt.

    Similarly, every anointed pastor must bear the guilt of the congregation before the Lord by sharing their weaknesses and transgressions.

   God is always faithful to His word and He will guide His humble servant into the truth and teach Him the best solution.

     He must teach the truth of the word, and the good works that Christians are saved to perform. He must expose the hypocrisy of the wicked congregation for justifying their covetousness, carnality and worldliness with their wrong doctrines and heresies. 

    With God's guidance, the pastor will have to chastise or judge the misled sheep in accordance to His word without fear or favour (e.g 1 Cor 5) in order to bring the congregation back to His favour.

Lev 10:10-11  that you may distinguish between holy (truth and sound doctrines) and unholy (lies and heresy), and between unclean (wicked ways) and clean (righteous works), and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken.

Table of Showbread (RD16)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Holy Place (New Jerusalem)

    The Holy Place of the tabernacle was holy for it was filled with the presence of the Spirit of God. So, whoever, entered the Holy Place, he would find himself completely immersed in the Spirit of God. 

    This is a picture showing how, at the baptism of the Holy Spirit by our Lord Jesus, the spirit of a godly Christian is completely immersed in the Holy Spirit dwelling within his physical body (temple of God).

     The Holy Place in the new Temple of God (sanctuary representing the New Jerusalem), will only have 2 furniture (c.f. 3 furniture in Mosaic Temple)

1. Table of Showbread

2. Golden Lampstand.

Heb 9:2  For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;

Jesus, the Bread of Life

Lev 24:5-6,9  "And you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it. Two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake. You shall set them in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before the Lord... And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him from the offerings of the Lord made by fire, by a perpetual statute."

    When the priest ministered in the Holy Place, the showbread on the golden table was his main food during his service there.

    Since our Lord Jesus came as the Bread of life, He fulfilled the showbread, so that every Christian who eats this Bread will have abundant life. A life, so fulfilling and meaningful of having willingly and joyfully given up his all, to love God and men as shown by our Lord Jesus.

John 10:10  "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Word of God is Spiritual Food

Mat 4:4  But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "

     Everyone must eat daily in order to keep his physical body healthy. Similarly, every Christian must read and keep the word of God, which is food for his spirit, in order to grow spiritually.

John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Will Never Hunger

John 6:35  And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

    Coming to Jesus will mean abiding in Him. To abide in Jesus, we need to believe Him by keeping His words and commandments.

     When we abide in Jesus, and He abides in us, we will never go hungry for the bread of life (word of God) is within us.

John 15:4  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."

Brethren, in Christ Jesus, Christians only need to keep His words and commandments to fulfil the priesthood partaking of the showbread in the Holy Place.

Golden Lampstand (RD17)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Golden Lampstand

Exo 25:31-32,37  "You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side... You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it."

    The golden lampstand was made of pure gold having three branches on each side. It looks like the traveller's palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) with branches only at two sides of the tree.

    The priest would trim the wicks of the seven lamps to ensure the continuous fire to light up the Holy Place. In Hebrew the lampstand is known as the 'menorah' 

    Since our Lord was the olive tree, He had provided the olive oil for every believer who is crafted into Him.

Rom 11:16-17  For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

The Light of the World

John 8:12  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

   Our Lord Jesus was the light of the world because of His good and righteous works. We thank God that when we follow Him in doing good works we too will have the light of life to lead us to abundant life and perfection and also to guide others to salvation and holiness.

John 10:32  Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?"

Good Works of Christians

Mat 5:14-16  "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

   Just like the priest having to trim the wicks of the lamp, each Christian must trim the wick of his lamp to give continuous light by his continuous good works. 

   Just like Jesus, we can only be the light of the world when the world can see our good works. Having seen our good works, the world can only glorify the Father in heaven by believing Jesus and accept the gospel of Christ.

Note:  Since every Christian is saved to do good works, so whoever, lacks continuous good works may not even be saved in the first place. Maybe these are just religious people without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, though they preach and teach the Bible in the flesh.

Eph 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Enlightenment in Holy Place

1. Eating the Showbread

John 14:15  "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

    When we keep the words and commandments of Jesus, it is like the priest eating the unleavened showbread (pure word of God) at the golden table.

2. Receiving the Olive Oil

John 14:16  "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever."

    Having kept His words, our Lord promised that He will give us another Helper the Spirit of truth (anointing or olive oil for the lamps)

3. The Light from the Oil

John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

     The Spirit of truth will guide us into all truth (oil became light) so that we can understand His will. With the truth we will be able to overcome the devil's wicked schemes and also our own weaknesses and bondages.

Furnishing the Temple (RD18)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

God Respect Free Will

     Since God has given men the free will, He will not force men against their own will but for men to willingly submit to Him so that by accepting His provisions men can be perfected.

     An Israelite is saved by believing the Mosaic law with circumcision as the sign. Similarly, a person is saved if he willingly believe in the gospel of Christ.

     When Christians humble themselves to do His will by obeying His instructions, commandments and words, then they have given Jesus the right to complete His good work in them.

Phi 1:6  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

At Bronze Altar

Lev 4:3  if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.

    Even the anointed priest sinned and needed the sacrifice of a bull for atonement. We thank God for His grace to provide the precious blood of Jesus that Christians only need to repent of his sins for atonement.

    A Christian, being the royal priesthood, needs to confess or repent of his sins, operate the gifts of the Holy Spirit for help, healing and miracles, and worship Him with praises, thanksgivings and prayers as peace and free will offerings.

    Having understood His love at the cross, he will joyfully become His witness.

At the Laver

John 15:3-4  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."

     A Christian is sanctified as he reads and meditates on His words. If by faith, he begins to keep His words, the world and the things therein will become dimmer and dimmer.

Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

At the Holy Place

Lev 10:3a  And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.' "

    To come before God's face to get His revelations and truth, a Christian must be holy - free from sin and from worldliness by setting his mind on things above.

    Once he enters the Holy Place which is filled with the Spirit of God, he will be immersed or baptized by the Holy Spirit. God's wisdom, knowledge and power will rest upon him.

Beware of wolves in sheepskin or false prophets - these are worldly, carnal, fearful, faithless, covetous, depraved, heretic and multimillionaire pastors, televangelists and Christian leaders, who teach distorted doctrines, give false testimonies and perform fake or demonic miracles.

Col 3:1-2  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Anointed Servants of God

John 14:15-17a  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, 

    Whoever keeps His commandments, our Father will give him the Spirit of truth and he will

1. be guided in all truth

2. speak or teach God's word

3. Understand End Time mysteries - signs and events 

John 16:13  "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

  

I John 5:8  And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. (NKJ)

    On the cross, our Lord Jesus poured out blood (for sin) and water (for sanctification). After His resurrection, He gave the Holy Spirit (for transformation) thus, giving all the provisions needed for Christians to become holy and perfect.

Golden Altar of Incense (RD19)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Mosaic Tabernacle

Exo 40:4-5  You shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the lampstand and light its lamps. You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the Testimony, and put up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.

    Under the Mosaic law, the golden Altar of Incense (golden censer) was placed in the Holy Place (outside the Holy of Holies) along with the Table of showbread, the Lampstand.

New Tabernacle

Heb 9:3-5  and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

     The New temple of God, which is a greater and more perfect tabernacle, will see the golden Altar of incense placed right before the face of God inside the Holy of Holies (Throne of God).

Heb 9:11  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

Sweet-smelling Aroma

Exo 30:1,7  "You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood... Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it."

     The priest was to continuously burn sweet incense at the golden altar (golden censer) as an offering of sweet-smelling aroma to God.

    Jesus, because of His great love for men, offered Himself to die for them which made Him to be the perfect sacrifice with a sweet-smelling aroma thereby fulfilling the incense at the golden censer.

    Every Christian must walk in love so that just like Christ, he too can offer himself as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God.

Eph 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Perfect Love of Christ

John 15:13  "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."

   The greatest love shown by any human being for one another is to die for a friend or a good man. Although, Jesus was persecuted and condemned as a false teacher and a false prophet by the priesthood and religious leaders, yet He forgave and died for them.

    This divine love displayed by Jesus for dying for His enemies made Him the perfect living sacrifice thereby moving the golden altar of incense from the Holy Place into the Holy of Holies.

Rom 5:7-8, 10 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners... For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

A Fragrant Living Sacrifice

Rom 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.

    We thank God for Jesus who had moved the golden altar of incense into the Holy of Holies, so that every Christian who lives for Christ and willingly die for his enemies, especially those who continuously persecute, revile and cause him much sorrows and harm, will be able to build his golden censer inside the Holy of Holies.

Gal 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

The Holy of Holies (RD20)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

The New Tabernacle

Heb 9:3-5  and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

    Inside the Holy of Holies of the New Tabernacle, will be the newly added Altar of Incense (golden censer) shifted by Christ from the Holy Place, the Ark of the Testimony and the Mercy Seat.

Ark of the Testimony

Inside the Ark of the Testimony are 3 items:-

1. Golden Pot of Manna fulfilled by the Bread of life.

John 6:48-50  "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die".

    Daily, have you been reading and meditating on the Bible as often as you eat? Have you believed and kept His words, instructions and teachings?

2. Aaron's budded rod fulfilled by Melchizedek's priesthood

Heb 5:8-10  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"

   Have you been faithfully serving Him by your complete obedience to His will in order to become the royal High Priest?

3. Tablets of the Covenant fulfilled by New Commandment

Heb 7:18-19  For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

    Have you loved one another as Jesus had loved and died for you?

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

Mercy Seat

Exo 25:21-22  "You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel."

   God's throne is the mercy seat for His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. Our Lord Jesus was the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth. His ministry on earth was filled with mercy. While dying on the cross, He prayed for the forgiveness of all those who tortured and crucified Him.

Luke 23:34  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

God's Justice

Psa 89:14  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face.

    God's throne is the mercy seat, which rests on top of the ark of the testimony. His judgment is based on 

1. Our Faith in Him by believing and keeping His words (Eating the Bread of life)

2. Our faithfulness in serving Him by our obedience to His will (Melchizedek Priesthood)

3. Our love for Him by keeping His commandments (our love for one another)

Glory Given to Overcomers

John 17:22-23  "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

    All those, who had humbled themselves before God by believing, obeying and faithfully keeping His commandments, teachings, will and words, will be rewarded to sit with Christ on His throne.

Rev 3:21  "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

Foundation of Temple (RD21)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

I Cor 3:9  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.

    Every Christian is a servant of God but each one is also

1. God's field - meant for planting and harvesting (evangelistic works). The seed sown is the gospel of Christ which was taught by our Lord Jesus and preached by all His Apostles.

Gospel of Christ -  Christ Jesus, the Son of God was the Word made flesh. He suffered and was crucified as the sacrificial Lamb of God. On the cross He poured out His blood for the cleansing of our sins. He died and on the third day, He rose from the dead after having overcome death. 

    Whoever believes and accepts the gospel of Christ will be saved and God will give him the Holy Spirit as the seal of redemption.

Luke 24:46-47  Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

2. God's building or temple, which needs to be furnished (discipleship or transformation into His image).

    The moment that a person has converted to Christianity, the Holy Spirit dwells in him, making his physical body the temple of God.

    However, this new temple of God is empty except for the bronze altar in outer court.

I Cor 3:16  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

I Cor 3:10  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

   To be a wise builder, he must build this new tabernacle on the foundation, which is Jesus Christ.

I Cor 3:11  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Foundation of Christ Jesus

Our Lord Jesus had established doctrines or truth, which we must use to build this new temple. Some of these are:-

1. The Bible is the infallible Word of God.

2. The word of Jesus is paramount, complimented with the Apostles' Epistles

3. Message of the Cross or the blood of Jesus

4. Jesus had fulfilled and obsoleted the Law and the Prophets

5. Jesus had completed all His redemptive work at the cross

6. Jesus had provided the blood, water and Spirit for our redemption, sanctification and perfection.

7. Jesus New Covenant of grace and truth has annulled the Old Mosaic law

John 1:17  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Note: Doctrines that contradict the attributes of God, the words and teachings of Jesus and the Apostles are erroneous and possibly heretic.

Rewards for building Temple

I Cor 3:12  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

    As long as a Christian builds on the foundation of Christ (without any heresy), he will be rewarded for his good works out of love and sincerity, or else he will be without any reward. However, he is still saved because of his faith in the gospel of Christ.

I Cor 3:14-15  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Sabbath and Feasts (RD22)

     'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Sabbath Fulfilled

Mark 2:27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."

    God made men to keep the Sabbath for the benefit of men so that they can have rest. Since our Lord Jesus was the Lord of the Sabbath, all those in Christ have been set free from the law of observing the Sabbath.

Mark 2:28  "Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

Jewish Feasts Fulfilled

Deu 16:16  "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

The Three Feasts of the Lord

1. Feast of Unleavened Bread

a) The Passover

Lev 23:5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover.

    Our Lord Jesus was crucified on Passover as the Passover Lamb of God.

b) Feast of Unleavened Bread

Lev 23:6  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.

    Our Lord Jesus was the Word made flesh. His words, teachings and commandments are the bread of life (unleavened bread).

John 6:48  I am the bread of life."

2. Feast of Weeks (Firstfruits)

a) A sheaf of 1st firstfruits

Lev 23:10  "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.

     A sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest was waved by the priest before the Lord - this was fulfilled by our Lord being the first resurrected from the dead.

1 Cor 15:20  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

b) Feast of Weeks

Lev 23:15-16  And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.

     The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (50 days) resulted to 3,000 Jews being converted to Christianity fulfilled the Feast of Weeks of harvest.

3. Feast of Tabernacles

a) Blowing of Trumpets

Lev 23:24, 27, 34  "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.

   The angels heralded the birth of the Lord with sounding of the trumpets.

b) Day of Atonement (Sabbath)

Lev 23:27  "Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord."

    After our Lord Jesus' baptism by John, He and His disciples preached repentance to bring the Jews back to the Lord. Repented Jews were baptized.

c) Feast of Tabernacles

Lev 23:34  "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord."

     God came down to dwell in the Tabernacle amongst men. The Jews dwelled in tents during this Feast. After our Lord's resurrection, He gave the Holy Spirit to dwell in the physical bodies (tabernacles) of His disciples thereby fulfilling this Feast of Tabernacles.

John 20:22  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

Sabbath and Feasts Fulfilled

     Since Jesus had fulfilled the Sabbath and all Jewish feasts, so all former Jews in Christ Jesus, have also kept the Sabbath and Jewish Feasts with their everlasting ordinances.

    So at the death of Jesus, God could tear the veil into two to leave the temple of God thereby annulling the Mosaic law including the Sabbath and Jewish Feasts.

Everlasting Ordinances (RD23)

   'Rightly Dividing the Word'

Exo 12:14  'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.

    When God made the Old Covenant with the Israelites, many requirements under the Mosaic law such as some feasts and Sabbath were to be observed as everlasting ordinances.

    The Almighty God, Himself, who is from everlasting to everlasting, alone can fulfil these requirements with everlasting ordinances.

   So the Word was made flesh and born under the law so that He would also be able to fulfil all the requirements with everlasting ordinances under the Mosaic law if He could faithfully keep them.

Gal 4:4-5  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Perfection by Complete Obedience

Heb 5:7-9  who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

    While Jesus was still in the flesh, He submitted Himself to the Father. He was perfected because of His complete obedience to God in accepting suffering and even the death on the cross.

     Similarly, Christians can be perfected with their complete obedience to God and His commandments.

Phi 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Religious Law Fulfilled

    Jesus having perfected Himself as the perfect Temple of God became the foundation for every Christian to build his own temple of God within his physical body.

    Because of His obedience unto death, Jesus was perfected to become:-

1. Perfect Lamb of God so that after His death on the cross, He gave us

a) His precious blood which can cleansed all sins and unrighteousness at our confession

b) His pure water (word of life), which can sanctify all our wickedness and evil conscience when we read and believe His word.

c) His resurrected Spirit who can transform us into His image when we obey His commandments.

2. Perfect Priesthood

Heb 7:12,17  For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law... For He testifies: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

(Heb 5, 7)

3. The Fulfillments of all the requirements, Sabbaths and Feasts observed by the Israelites before the temple of God.

Social and Moral Law Fulfilled

Heb 7:18-19  For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

    Jesus died for His enemies, thereby replacing the weaker commandments in the law with His new commandment.

John 15:12  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Complete Fulfillment of Law

    Every Israelite or Jew who is a Christian, has already fulfilled the Mosaic law (including all those with everlasting ordinances). Just like any other Christian, he must not observe the Sabbath nor feast nor follow any of the Mosaic law otherwise he will fall out of God's grace by his Unbelief - faithlessness in the complete work of Jesus on the cross.

Gal 5:4  You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.