Tag Archives: judgment

Foundations of Theology

Teaching, , , , ,

Basic Doctrinal Principles

Hebrews 5.12: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

(6.1) “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection [maturity], not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit.”

Elementary Truths

Here the “first principles of the oracles of God,” are the “foundations” of the structure of right doctrine.  The RSV translates them as “elementary truths.” These are for beginners in the study of the Word, and for “babes” in Christ who have not yet reached maturity. So these should be taught and learned before the deeper doctrines which actually depend upon these “first principles” for understanding.

These are the six principles:

(1) Repentance from dead works

(2) Faith toward God

(3) Laying on of hands

(4) Doctrine of baptisms

(5) Resurrection of the dead

(6) Eternal judgment.

(1) Repentance

The first thing a sinner needs to learn is repentance. RSV translates it as “the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death.” He must be convicted by the Holy Spirit of his sinful condition before he can truly repent.

To repent means not only to change one’s mind, but also must include a change of the heart and even of one’s identity. It is not merely a mental, logical, change of one’s opinions, but rather is a change of what one loves and hates. It is not merely a change of one’s will, but a complete rebirth, a new creation.

(2) Faith Toward God

Faith in God is a prerequisite for understanding Biblical doctrine. Without faith, one cannot believe in the doctrines and teachings of the Bible. All of the historical, archaeological, and scientific facts will not compensate for a lack of faith, – pure, simple, childlike faith that there is a God, that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and that He has given us His Word, Hebrews 11:6.

(3) Doctrine of Baptisms: (Scripture references are not exhaustive; you may find more.)

A. John’s baptism was “unto repentance,” Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 13:24.

B. Water Baptism in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is commanded: Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:44-48.

C. Baptism symbolizes Death, Burial, Resurrection and Exaltation: Romans chapter 6;     Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:9-3:11; I Peter 3:18-22. Therefore, the young believer should  understand that water baptism indicates his total unconditional surrender, dedication and commitment to Jesus.

(4) Laying on of Hands

This is one of the “first principles” to be taught and learned by the babes in Christ.  It is one of the gifts of the Spirit which was in evidence in Acts 8:17-20, where the disciples laid their hands on the people and they received the Holy Ghost.

It was also evident in I Timothy 4:14 where it is stated that the laying on of hands of the presbytery and prophecy imparted to Timothy a spiritual gift.

Mark 16:18 says: “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(5) Resurrection of the Dead:

We must teach the resurrection of Christ. Romans 19:9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  I Corinthians 15 gives a full exposition of the importance of this doctrine.

It is also important to teach that Christ raised some from the dead during His earthly ministry. Ephesians 1:20 and 2:6 show that, in Christ, we are raised from the dead with Him, and exalted with Him.

(6) Eternal Judgment:

Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

These basic principles underlie the more advanced study of the Biblical doctrines. For example, eschatology. Much confusion has resulted from the prominent and predominant teaching of “end-times” and “prophecy” without these basic principles.

Lesson 11 Of Series -To Fulfill The Promised Vengeance -Continued

Revelation Commentary, , , , , ,

In the previous lesson we saw how that the moral necessity to be fulfilled in the Book of Revelation was to include the vengeance for the martyred saints which God had promised, Luke 18:7-8. In the opening of the fifth seal, Revelation 6:9, the souls of the martyred saints cries out for this promised vengeance. And in the sixth and seventh seals, Revelation 6:12-17, the vengeance begins.

The Sixth and Seventh Seal

The sixth seal, Revelation 6:12-17 RSV, continues this promise of vengeance by proclaiming that “…the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand before it?”

The seventh seal, Revelation chapters 8- 11, consists of the seven trumpets.  After the sixth trumpet, an angel proclaims: “That there shall be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God, as He announced to His servants the prophets, should be fulfilled,” (10:6b, 7, RSV).

When the seventh trumpet sounds, the promised vengeance will be completed. This is reminiscent of Ezekiel 12:25, performance of the predictions will not be delayed beyond the generation to which it was spoken.

The Seventh Trumpet

The seventh trumpet describes the translation of the fleshly kingdom into the kingdom of Christ. It opens with the scene in heaven and the proclamation: “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever,” (11:15 RSV).

This echoes Christ’s words from the Gospel of John 18:36: “My kingdom is not of this world.” The earthly, fleshly kingdom was fully translated into the greater, perfect kingdom of Christ.

This translation of the kingdom is accompanied by a time of wrath upon the earth, (11:18): “The nations raged, but thy wrath came.” God’s servants, prophets and saints, were rewarded by being avenged, while the destroyers themselves were destroyed. The true Temple was seen in heaven, along with the true Ark of the Covenant, (v. 19); the earthly copies were destroyed, and these symbols of the kingdom were translated into the heavens.

Vengeance Against Mystery Babylon and The Beast

Vengeance for the martyred saints would not be complete without the account of the wrath of God poured out upon the wicked city of Jerusalem. The theme of wrath resumes in 14:7: “…the hour of His judgment has come,” that fateful hour so long anticipated. The judgment is against Babylon, verse 8: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great, she who made all nations drink the wine of her impure passion,” (RSV).

The judgment of the ‘beast,’ (that is, unredeemed flesh and the fleshly claim to covenant relationship without the spirit), and the reaping of the land, (Gk. Ge, Hebrew ’eretz), corresponds to the historical events of the wars in Judea which immediately preceded the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The land was reaped and cast into “the wine press of the wrath of God,” (v. 19), “…the wine press was trodden outside the city,” the outlying cities and villages of Judea.

The Song Of Moses

The theme of wrath builds until in chapter 15 the seven “bowls” fill up the full measure of God’s wrath. As a corollary, the overcoming saints in heaven sing “The Song of Moses,” Deuteronomy 32, and “The Song of the Lamb.” To complete this scene, one must read and include Deuteronomy 32 as a part of this text. It is a song about justice and judgment. It deals directly with God’s judgment upon Israel because of their fall into sin and idolatry, as foretold by Moses. After the indictment for sin, the theme is set forth which became so important to the early Christians suffering persecution from the Jews: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (See also Rom. 12:19; Heb. 10:30, etc.)

In the “Song of Moses” the fallen ones are no longer Israel: “They have acted corruptly toward Him, to their shame, they are no longer His children, but a warped and crooked generation,” (NIV Deut. 32:5).

Note also that Jesus used similar terms “faithless and perverse generation” as found in Luke 9:41 and Matthew 17:17, no doubt with this reference in mind. Romans 11:28: “As regards the gospel they are enemies of God.” The fleshly nation had become God’s adversary, but even so, God still had some persecuted servants in the midst of them: “For the Lord will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants, (Deut. 32:36).

“Praise His people, O you nations; for He avenges the blood of His servants and takes vengeance on His adversaries and makes expiation (or atonement) for the land of His people,” (RSV v. 43).

Time For Decision

These conditions had prevailed from the time of Christ’s ministry to the fall of Jerusalem. The nation as a whole had ceased to be His children. Furthermore, He had taken to Himself a nation “who were no people,” the Gentile believers, to provoke the Jews to jealousy. This was also predicted in the Song of Moses, (Deut. 32:21; see also Rom. 10:19).

The contents of the seven bowls are God’s wrath, but it is the promised wrath of the moral imperative and His justice is repeatedly praised; for example: “For men have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink. It is their due!” (Revelation 16:6 RSV).

Consecutive Periods of Judgment

The first bowl is poured out upon the ‘land’ (or ‘earth,’ fulfilled historically upon the land of Judea, but to be further fulfilled upon any nation that forgets God. The theme of wrath builds toward its climax in the seventh bowl. In the seventh bowl the cities of ‘the nations’ fell, (16:19). The twelve tribes were sometimes called ‘the nations.’

Next Lesson: To Avenge His People As Their Kinsman-Redeemer