Separation: Man Alone/Group Think Union: God-Man/Two Become One/Mysteries/Individual Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.   (Separation: Man Alone)    19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. ...26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible,   (Man Alone)   but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10)-   Union:God-Man/Two Become One   5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 10)   Jew Only-Separation   5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ...16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever (Jew and Gentile?) believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, (Union-Two Become One) justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, (Jew and Gentile-Union) believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3) 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:   (Two Become One-Union) Ephesians 2   36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ...38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ..(Acts 2:38ff)   Repentance and Baptism/Works First   44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them (Gentiles) which heard the word....47 Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?  (Acts 10)   Works/Baptism Last   6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, (Incarnation and Crucifixion (John 19) because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1 John 5)   Three Become One   31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.... 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.(Acts 16)   Faith First, Salvation Then Baptism-Union Two Become One     12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12) (Man Alone-Human Angle) The Rrrrrrrrrrrest of the Story   13 For it is God which worketh in you  (Union-God & Man) both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)   19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2)   (Man Alone)   20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Union: Two Become One) (Romans 9)   8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-- 9 not because of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)   Two Become One/Union...Faith Salvation Then Works   What is the gift here, Salvation, Grace, Faith or all of the above? 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5)   4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6)   9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, (Faith First)and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (Hebrews 6)   The Rrrrrrrrrrest of the Story Organization:    (Dan.2:44, Matt. 6:10). Structured   Separates (Matthew 10:5 ff;Galatians 2:8,9; Acts 10:14 ff)   Many: (Luke 22:30; ) Organism:   (I Cor. 12:12,27, Eph. 4:12-16). Fluid (John 3:8)   Reconciles (2 Corinthians 5)   One (Ephesians 4; 1 Corinthians 12) Oneness       38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10) The Rrrrrrrrrest of the Story   39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10)   16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3)   6 Being confident (Faith First)of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1)   11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1)   20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. ...26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2)   28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: (Union: Two Become One)30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Two Become One) 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 3 & 4)                                                               that blindness in part is happened to Israel until..(Romans 11)                                                         So when did the Church Begin?   When Two Became One-Jew and Gentile....(Acts 10:44-48)   "45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 10)   "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13).    Jew & Gentile-Two Become One   25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; ..that blindness  in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11)     In the Future:   4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 7)   Jews Only-Separation   22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36) In the future:   22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 3 & 4)

 

BJ Maxwell 3/13/2006