THE BODY OF CHRIST
ADDITIONAL DESIGNATIONS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST – ESTABLISHED KINGDOM vs.
PREMILLENNIALISM – LESSON TWO.
In our last
lesson, we noted the general presumptions of premillennialism; and we noted
that one of the most important founding principles of this false doctrine
was that God failed to establish the kingdom because the Jews stopped him by
putting His Son to death.
The
underlying danger of this premise and the number one reason this false
doctrine has to be refuted is that it calls into question the very
righteousness of God!
Can God
fail? Certainly not!!!
Whether or
not it is an intended effect or side-effect of this doctrine, it calls into
question God’s integrity. Can God then do what He says?
I am sure
that beyond a shadow of a doubt that the fact that God cannot lie has
been preached from the pulpits of premillennialist churches (and accurately
so!).
Titus 1:1-2
“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus
Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the
truth which accords with godliness,
2
in hope of
eternal life which God, who cannot lie,
promised before time began”
Hebrews 6:13-20
“For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could
swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
14
saying,
“Surely
blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”
15
And so,
after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16
For men
indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them
an end of all dispute.
17
Thus God,
determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability
of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
18
that by two
immutable things, in which it is
impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
19
This
hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and
which enters the Presence behind the veil,
20
where the
forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest
forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
How then,
can they, in turn claim that God failed to keep His word???
Why trust
anything He says then?
Think about
this line of thought, if in fact we cannot trust anything God says:
First,
God promised that through the Seed of Abraham all men would be blessed –
Genesis
12:3.
Second,
through the prophet Isaiah, God would remind His people that not only would
this Seed restore the tribes of Jacob, but also be a light to the Gentiles,
which would then include all men
– Isaiah 49:6 (here the Seed is
referred to as the Great Servant of God – both Messianic terms).
Third,
The Gospel would be preached first to the Jews starting in
Acts 2
on the day of Pentecost, which would fulfill the first part of Isaiah’s
prophecy for the Jews that obeyed. Then in
Acts
10:4, Cornelius would be a memorial for God of the promise He has
made in the beginning to Abraham.
Fourth,
with the conversion of Cornelius and his household, we have the promised
infusion of all men as servants of God without respect or difference!
Galatians 3:16
“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He
does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one,
“And to your Seed,” who is
Christ.”
Galatians 3:26-29
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ
Jesus.
27
For as many
of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28
There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither
male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29
And if you
are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the
promise.”
If in fact
we cannot trust God, how can we trust the salvation promised by God for the
Jew or Gentile?
There is an
undisputable fact that God promised He would give the descendant of David an
everlasting kingdom (2
Samuel 7:12-17). The promise of the One Who would be this King is
made again to Mary prior to His coming in the flesh:
Luke 1:32-33
“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the
Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33
And He will
reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no
end.””
And the
Apostles of Jesus the Christ had no misunderstanding concerning the
existence of this kingdom or its King fulfilling God’s word:
Romans 1:1-5
“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be
an apostle, separated to the gospel of God
2
which He
promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3
concerning
His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according
to the flesh,
4
and
declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of
holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
5
Through Him
we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all
nations for His name”
Colossians 1:13-14
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and
conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14
in whom we
have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
Did you
notice that not only could you trust that we have been translated into the
kingdom of His Son, in existence, but could also trust along with it, the
redemption also promised!!!
So, what is
the value of God’s word?
John 17:17
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
Next:
God’s
Integrity Cannot Be Challenged!
Fact #1:
God was in control of all the events concerning Jesus’ death, burial,
resurrection, and coronation!!!