As we are learning, there is no “new” nor “old” Testament. They teach the same everlasting gospel. In the Old Testament, the “Testament” was in the “the ark of the covenant” (Deuteronomy 10:8). In Revelation, the KJV calls it the “ark of His testament” (Revelation 11:19). The Ten Commandments, which reside in the Ark, is the testimony of God testifying to what is righteous, loving, pure, just and holy. Jesus came to “fulfill” them, to live them perfectly. That is why “Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.” Matthew 9:34. What did Jesus teach?
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- Stop sinning. John 8:11
- Be perfect. Matthew 5:48
- Keep the Ten Commandments to get your eternal life. Matthew 19:17
The only difference between Old and New Testaments – we no longer need that which pertained to Israel as a “nation”: no temple, feast days, circumcision, rites, rituals, sacrifices or services. That which pointed to the Messiah, and had nothing to do with eternal life, is gone. He came – they left. The only “ritual” that Jesus left for us was the “Last Supper”. Yet here again, it was never to be a “ritual”. It was to be heartfelt. First came humbling through the foot washing and confession of sins to the ones you sinned against. Then, with hearts renewed by the Spirit of God, they could partake of the Bread of His flesh and the Cup of His blood. However, they were not to “pick partners” for washing feet, they were to humbly confront those they had wronged, injured and sinned against. That way it never became a “ritual”, but confession and humbleness of heart.
“As the disciples waited for the fulfillment of the promise, they humbled their hearts in true repentance and confessed their unbelief. As they called to remembrance the words that Christ had spoken to them before His death they understood more fully their meaning. Truths which had passed from their memory were again brought to their minds, and these they repeated to one another. They reproached themselves for their misapprehension of the Saviour. Like a procession, scene after scene of His wonderful life passed before them. As they meditated upon His pure, holy life they felt that no toil would be too hard, no sacrifice too great, if only they could bear witness in their lives to the loveliness of Christ’s character. Oh, if they could but have the past three years to live over, they thought, how differently they would act! If they could only see the Master again, how earnestly they would strive to show Him how deeply they loved Him, and how sincerely they sorrowed for having ever grieved Him by a word or an act of unbelief! But they were comforted by the thought that they were forgiven. And they determined that, so far as possible, they would atone for their unbelief by bravely confessing Him before the world.” AA 36. Yet that is not what is taking place in our churches or services today.
We learned that grace does not save us eternally. It only keeps us alive so we have the opportunity to learn how to live the obedient, gospel-life that comes from faith. (Romans 1:5). That is what saves us—obedience. No obedience, no eternal life. (Matthew 19:17). Lucifer had lots of faith in God. He stood in His presence. But his belief in God did not save him. God could not save Lucifer. Lucifer chose not to live in obedience to the Ten Commandments and lost his place in Heaven. Soon his grace will run out and he will lose his eternal life. Not one disobedient person will be allowed into Heaven. Obedience to the Ten Commandments shows we love Jesus and accept His sacrifice for our past sins. “Obey My laws and do what I command. I am the LORD your God. Follow the practices and the laws that I give you; you will save your life by doing so. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:4, 5. “If you love Me, keep My commands.” John 14:15.
Ephesians 3:1 to Ephesians 3:21
For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of the Messiah Jesus for the sake of you gentiles.
Most churches teach that Paul had a “different” gospel for the Gentiles than that which was taught the Jews. They just don’t open their ears. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He is the God of the whole earth which He created. He doesn’t pick and choose what gospel goes to what nationality. All must live by the Ten Commandments or there is no eternal life. There was Adam, Enoch, Noah and then Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: all Gentiles. Then God chose the descendants of Jacob (Israel) (about twenty-five hundred years after the Gentile Adam) to keep fresh in the minds of the Gentiles God’s requirements. However, eventually the nation of Israel rejected God’s requirements and God had to give the Gentile Christians the privilege of teaching the Ten Commandments to the world.
Why was he the “prisoner of the Messiah Jesus for the sake of you gentiles?” Because the Jews hated the fact that Paul was preaching to gentiles that they were entitled to the same salvation the Jews had without having to go through all the ceremonies, rituals, rites, services, feast days and circumcision in order to belong to the “church” of “God”. Therefore, they wanted Paul dead. We have the same opinion as the Jews in our churches and denominations today.
Surely you have heard about the responsibility of administering God’s grace that was given to me on your behalf, . . .
In other words, Paul, instead of being struck down and killed on the road to Damascus for his wicked life of persecuting the Christians, the grace of God kept him alive in order for Him to take the gospel, first to the Jews, but after they rejected the truth, to the Gentiles. Therefore, it was by the grace of God that the Gentiles were to hear the gospel since the Jews were not willing to take it to them.
. . . and how this secret was made known to me through a revelation, just as I wrote about briefly in the past.
Yes, the “secret” is that the Good News, the Gospel, was to go to all the world. Paul got it! As a Jewish church member he didn’t get it! By revelation he got it and realized that Jesus was not only the Messiah to him as a Jew, but to the Gentiles as well.
By reading this, you will be able to grasp my understanding of the secret about the Messiah, . . .
Over and over and over again, Paul, the Apostles and every other Christian were trying to get across that Jesus fulfilled the temple obligations for the Jews and opened the door for the Gentles, which the Jews had shut on them. It wasn’t God’s design for that door to ever be shut on the Gentiles. The temple services were to show Jew and Gentile alike what God required for their salvation: repentance, obedience and a belief in the Messiah to come.
. . . which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
Why was it “not made known”? Because the Jews had shut it up unto themselves and made it very difficult for others to learn the secrets of the temple rites, services, rituals, sacrifices and the coming Messiah. They shut it up so tight, the Jews themselves had forgotten the reason for all those sacrifices, rites, rituals and services. That is why they killed Jesus.
And let me make this very plain. Most denominations, churches, pastors and teachers of theology seem to have this mind-set that there have always been “Jews” and Israelites since the creation of the world. They forget that Adam was a “Gentile”. Noah was a “Gentile”. Abraham was a “Gentile”. However, as “gentiles” they had the gospel. There were no “Israelites” until the day God changed the name of Jacob to Israel, about 2500 years after the creation of the world. The word “Jew” didn’t come about until the Babylonian captivity of the tribe of Judah, about 500 years before Jesus. In other words, in God’s eyes, there never was a distinction between people. That was man-made. God had simply called the nation of Israel to be His “priests” to teach His Law to the Gentiles. (Exodus 19:6). But they eventually failed. Yet, the “Christians” have also failed to be God’s priests to teach the world His Law.
This is that secret: The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised by the Messiah Jesus through the gospel.
“Promised by the Messiah Jesus through the gospel.” This is where the churches go off the rails. If you believe Jesus is only in the New Testament, and the “gospel” began with Jesus in the New Testament, then you can believe this is a “new” gospel from Jesus for us Gentiles. Some go even further and state that the “gospel” began with Paul and supersedes Jesus, thereby making Paul our god and relegating Jesus to the dustbin.
However, Jesus is from eternity. Jesus is the God speaking and working in the Old Testament. Every word that came from “God” in the Old Testament was “Jesus” speaking. The gospel began in Heaven. What was that gospel? Do not sin, live perfect and keep the Ten Commandments to keep your eternal life. That is the Heavenly Gospel. That is the “Good News” the angels and all the other inhabitants of other worlds live by: the Good News Gospel Covenant. Lucifer broke the gospel covenant and was cast out.
Because of sin, our planet had to have an adjustment made to the gospel. It goes like this: Stop sinning, be perfect and keep the Ten Commandments to get your eternal life. That is all God wants of us: TO STOP THE SIN IN OUR LIVES! “‘Stop your transgressing—the deeds by which you’ve rebelled—and then make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, you house of Israel? I don’t take pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,’ declares the LORD. ‘So repent, so you may live!’” Ezekiel 18:31, 32. “Obey My laws and do what I command. I am the LORD your God. Follow the practices and the laws that I give you; you will save your life by doing so. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:4, 5.
So what was “promised by the Messiah Jesus through the gospel”? That not only the Jew, but everyone could find pardon and forgiveness of sins who live in obedience to the Ten Commandments to get their eternal life. That comes from the “eternal gospel” that came from eternity. (Revelation 14:6).
I have become a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power.
God wants each of us to have that “gift of God’s grace”. We are all to tell the world of God’s great love and His grace (probation) that keeps us all alive so we can learn how to live in faithful obedience to the Ten Commandments to get our eternal life. (Romans 1:5). That is why the devil loves war and conflict. He is trying to kill as many people as he can before they know of the “gift of God’s grace” and live.
To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given so that I might proclaim to the gentiles the immeasurable wealth of the Messiah . . .
Why did Paul feel he was “the very least”? Well, for one thing, he had persecuted the Christians. He did not deserve this “grace” of life that God gave Him in order for him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Secondly, he had not walked and talk with Jesus as the other Apostles had.
And what was this “immeasurable wealth of the Messiah”? It was salvation that the Messiah offered to every single person. No one was or is excluded. We can all become “wealthy” with eternal life by living in obedience to the Ten Commandments.
. . . and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things.
What was hidden? The Messiah was hidden. When Adam and Eve sinned they were no longer able to walk and talk with Jesus personally. They were given the ritual of sacrifices for sin to keep reminding them of the Messiah who was to come and take their place as the sacrifice for their sins. They were not able to “see” the Messiah physically after they sinned, but by faith in the lamb they could “see” the secret and understand and love the Messiah. And yes, the Messiah “created all things”. Paul is trying to make certain that Christians understood that Jesus is the One who “created all things”. In other words, He is the “Creator-God” who walked and talked among us for thirty-three and a half years. “Another dangerous error is the doctrine that denies the deity of Christ, claiming that He had no existence before His advent to this world.” GC 524.2
He did this so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm . . .
First, let’s clear up the term “church”. Paul is not talking about our concept of “church” today. Our concept and understanding of church comes from the Pagan-Jewish system. The Christian “church”, the Ekklesia, were those who had come out from their pagan and Jewish churches and were now “assembling” in the name of Jesus. “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4.
They were not assembling to listen to sermons or be controlled by a church hierarchy, but to share with each other their love of Jesus and help each other to stop sinning. You don’t find that in our Pagan-Jewish Christian churches today.
Why was it necessary for the wisdom of God to be displayed to the “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm”? That was another secret of God. He could have wiped Lucifer out of existence the moment he sinned. But the justice and love of God demanded that Lucifer be allowed to bring to fruition his plan of government. The whole universe was/is watching to see which form of government was/is the best, God’s government of love and obedience to the Ten Commandments, or Lucifer’s government of selfishness: “Do as you please”. No “authorities in the heavenly realm” had never experience sin. This was totally new to the universe. They had to be convinced that God’s way was just, righteous and loving.
. . . in keeping with the eternal purpose that God carried out through the Messiah Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through his faithfulness.
And that was the key! God’s “faithfulness”. Unlike Lucifer who does not keep the Ten Commandments, you can count on Lucifer to do one thing: whatever makes him happy no matter how much pain it causes you. Jesus showed the difference. His government is run on the principle of serving others no matter how much pain it caused the One who was serving. Jesus demonstrated that concept. He was willing to suffer and die for you. Lucifer is willing for you to suffer and die for his own gratification.
So then, I ask you not to become discouraged because of my troubles on your behalf, which work toward your glory.
Paul was simply following in the footsteps of His Savior. He saw Jesus for who He really was and bowed in submission, living as Jesus lived. He was willing to take whatever troubles necessary in order to bring the joy of the truth to others. Yet, I think that is the problem. Most do not find joy in the truth. They have only found church, but they haven’t found Jesus.
This is the reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its name.
We are all children of God. Not just the Jew. Not just this church or that church. Not just this denomination or that denomination. Not just this race or that race. No, Jesus is the Messiah of every single person since Adam. All have sinned and all need a Messiah. He came! Paul refused to bow his knees before any pastor, church or denomination: Jesus only.
I pray that he would give you, according to his glorious riches, strength in your inner being and power through his Spirit, and that the Messiah would make his home in your hearts through faith.
Paul always draws from the Old Testament to formulate his theology. In the Old Testament he read where we are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.” Deuteronomy 13:3. He read in the Old Testament of those who had been given great power and strength through the power of the Spirit because they lived in obedience to the Ten Commandments. He understood that those in the Old Testament who lived in obedience to the Ten Commandments had the Messiah living in their hearts. It could happen again in our hearts if we would have their faith.
And again I stress, it is in the Old Testament that Jesus, Paul, the Apostles and the early Christians found their salvation doctrine. They had no “New” Testament, as we know it today, until 300 years after Jesus. The devil is working very hard to keep you from the Old Testament. Don’t let Him. Dig into it. Remember, the “Testament” (Ten Commandments) was the same then as now.
Then, having been rooted and grounded in love, you will be able to understand, along with all the saints, what is wide, long, high, and deep— that is, you will know the love of the Messiah—which transcends knowledge, and will be filled with all the fullness of God.
If you are “rooted and grounded in love”, the Ten Commandments, “all the fullness of God” is waiting to fill you. I am experiencing that in my own life. It is awesome. I pray that each of you will understand and find it. It transcends human wisdom, church services, theological universities and everything else the world may claim as the path to Heaven. Go to Jesus and listen to Him.
Now to the one who can do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among us— to him be glory in the church and in the Messiah Jesus to all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Unfortunately, that prayer has not been fulfilled in the churches of today. They glory in the pastor, church or denomination. They glory in the world. I don’t know of any church that is giving glory to Jesus by living in obedience to His commands. That is why our generation has not received the power of Jesus. They have a form of godliness, called religion, but they don’t know the power of God to live the perfect, sinless and Commandment keeping life.
Because the world, and especially the United States of America, have rejected God and are sinning against God deliberately, we find the world in chaos, upheaval, rioting, killings, stealing and in a state of fear and anxiety. But the pendulum will swing back to the Right. For a while we will have peace and safety while the world recognizes the justice of the Ten Commandments. The world will institute the Ten Commandments as the Law of the One World Government. All, of course, except the 4th Commandment to keep the 7th-day, Saturday, Sabbath holy. (This was written in August of 2022).