(Part Two)
By Brother R. Michel Lankford
In This Study:
- The Purpose of the First Writings (A.KA. The Old Testament) According to Paul.
- The Continuing Value of the First Writings for the Gentile.
- Understanding the Biblical vs. the Pagan Concept of HOPE.
- Hope & the Bride of the Messiah.
The BIBLE SAYS, as it is written:
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:4–6, NASB95)
Paying Attention to What Paul SAID:
Q: To WHOM was Paul Addressing this letter?
A: Paul the apostle was writing this letter to believers in Rome. These were believers in Jesus Christ, (Yeshua the Messiah), who were based in Rome. So these were people in Rome who have accepted the Lordship and Messiah-ship of Yeshua of Nazareth the Son of God.
Q: Who is Paul’s most likely audience here? Was Rome predominantly a Jewish religious city or was it predominantly populated by people with non-Hebrew, and non-biblical religious backgrounds?
A: Of course, anyone with the slightest knowledge of history KNOWS that Rome was certainly NOT the epicenter of Hebrew or Jewish culture and religious life. It was quite the opposite. So the culture was predominantly pagan, (NOT Christian), and it was certainly not Hebrew in nature. So the likelihood is that the Roman congregation was predominantly made up of non-Hebrew born, Gentile believers, who were previously pagans and had now come to faith in Messiah.
Q: What did Paul mean when he referred to the things that were written in earlier times?
A: Paul the apostle HIMSELF refers to, whatever was written in earlier times… So he’s obviously NOT referring to the Second Writings, (a.k.a. the New Testament), first, because those were being written in his present times, not earlier times of his day. Second, because no such volume of Scripture such as the New Testament even exists at this time. It was not widely accepted or distributed as commonly accepted Scripture until after the 300s A.D. so Paul was NOT referring to the Second Writings or the New Testament. By context of the time and place and events which were occurring at the time, as well as the written text, we know that Paul was referring to the so-called Old Testament, or more accurately, the First Writings of the Whole Testament; because the Bible is intended to be ONE WHOLE BOOK, NOT two separate unrelated books, as the majority of Christianity now most commonly uses Scripture by tradition and practice.
Q: Were these words from the apostle Paul to the Romans written BEFORE or written AFTER the death and resurrection of Messiah? (I only address this because many people get mistakenly hung up on that point, because they’ve been trained to believe that God’s Standards of right and wrong somehow fundamentally CHANGED, after Messiah died and rose again for our atonement). This idea is NOT TRUE of course, but the notion is so deeply ingrained in people’s thinking, that it must still be addressed. So, was Paul’s letter to the Romans written BEFORE or AFTER the death and resurrection of the Messiah for our atonement?
A: Paul wrote his letter to the Roman Christians circa 57-58 A.D; Messiah died for our atonement in circa 33 A.D. So Paul wrote this letter to Messiah followers in Rome some 25 years AFTER Messiah paid for our atonement with His death and resurrection. So this was written a quarter of a century after Messiah died and rose again for our atonement. Does Paul say forget everything that was ever written beforehand, because none of it matters anymore? NO HE DOES NOT! He DOES NOT SAY; ignore everything that was ever written beforehand because there is an entirely new system of right and wrong. He says just the opposite. Instead, what does he say?
Q: According to Paul the apostle, WHAT IS the PURPOSE of the Scriptures which were written in earlier times? What was the purpose of the First Writings, or the Old Testament?
A: Paul the apostle specifically SAID that what was written in earlier times, (the First Writings; Old Testament, were written for OUR instruction. This is incredibly important, and it is often conveniently overlooked by traditional Christianity. Today we are often told something to the effect of, the Old Testament doesn’t apply to the Christian today. The Old Testament is supposedly exclusively for the Jew and the New Testament is supposedly exclusively for the Christian. While that interpretation is widely accepted, and very convenient, it is CLEARLY NOT what Paul taught the Christians in Rome concerning the Old Testament, now is it?
What did Paul SPECIFICALLY SAY to the Christians in Rome, concerning the First Writings, or the Old Testament? Notice that Paul specifically said, “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction.” Notice that Paul did NOT SAY to these Roman believers that the Old Testament Scriptures were written, for MY instructions, because I was born a Hebrew, and you guys are Gentile, so what was written beforehand does not apply to you. Paul did not say that. Notice also that he did not say, these Old Testament Scriptures which were written beforehand were written for YOUR instruction, because you Gentiles are so ignorant of the Scriptures, therefore you need these things. Paul included himself as part of them, and he included their group as part of himself. He said, “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction.”
Note: The Torah; the first five books of Scripture are often referred to as the books of the LAW, but they are also synonymously referred to the books of INSTRUCTION. So Paul’s choice awards Romans 15:4 highlight the continuing validity not only of the Old Testament, but more specifically the Torah.
He established the necessity of the Old Testament Scriptures as being equally necessary for the Roman believers as he did for himself. Thus, in Romans 15:4, the apostle Paul firmly establishes the fact that the First Writings; the written Old Testament was written to give instruction to every believer, and belongs to ALL believers.
So that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope
CRITICAL: Again, do not forget that Paul is referring to the Old Testament Scriptures, or First Writings. There was no New Testament at the time. Here he refers to the, “Perseverance of the Scriptures.” This refers to the continuing validity of continuing in the First Writings or Old Testament Scriptures. Why do I say that? Well naturally, once you stop walking in something, by definition you are no longer PERSEVERING in it because you have stopped. If something stops being valid, then by definition, it ceases to function, and it is no longer persevering. So the fact that he still refers to the perseverance of the Old Testament Scriptures, and our continuing to be instructed by them, obviously means that he could not be teaching that they are done away with and abolished, or obsolete at the same time. Something is either persevering, or it is obsolete, but it CANNOT be BOTH at the same time.
Another reason why we can gain hope and encouragement through the perseverance of the Scriptures is that they demonstrate that GOD DOES NOT CHANGE. He is RELIABLE, because He is CONSISTENT, and UNCHANGING.
God’s Consistency and the Consistency of His Word build our HOPE
Paul the apostle specifically said that what was written in former times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. One thing about Yahweh’s reliability, His consistency, and His Unchanging Word, and Character, they all work together to produce both perseverance and hope in us as well. Why? Since Yahweh is so reliable, and unchanging we can more easily act in faith. This builds our hope as well.
Understanding Biblical vs. Pagan HOPE
While this can be difficult for some people to understand, it’s true nonetheless. Even though the Scriptures were translated into many different languages, almost every one of the biblical writers were raised, trained and educated as Hebrews. That means that they filtered, understood, interpreted and applied both their worldview, and the Scriptures through a HEBREW mindset. No matter how this may offend our Gentile pride, or traditional anti-Semitic tendencies, that does not change the fact of the matter. Most biblical writers interpreted reality, and wrote what God inspired them to write from the Hebraic mindset and point of view. They were NOT writing with a Greek, Roman or Babylonian philosophical mindset or point of view in their hearts. They believed, lived and wrote as Hebrews. Yes, anointed and led by the Holy Spirit, but still as Hebrews nonetheless. That’s how the majority of the Scriptures were written, even if some were later translated into Greek for popular distribution. They were still originally written from a Hebraic Biblical mindset, not a pagan philosophical one. Remembering this critical distinction is important because it can change our perception, and how we understand the Scriptures.
The reason this makes such a difference is when you encounter a key word such as, HOPE, for example.
In our traditional Greek style of education, which originated from a Babylonian, Greek, Roman pagan Gentile anti-biblical origin, we tend to think of hope more in terms of a strong wish or passionate desire for something, instead of thinking about it in the way that the Bible describes what it means to hope.
In the pagan Gentile mindset; I want something really badly. My heart yearns for it deeply. I have a strong wish. I pray for, wish upon a star so to speak, therefore, I am said to have hope. Please understand that BIBLICALLY, when you see the word HOPE, the above picture is NOT what it means to have real HOPE from the biblical point of view. When you see the word HOPE in the Scriptures which were written with the biblical Hebraic mindset, the word picture is NOT of a passionate heartfelt wish upon a star. Biblical HOPE is NOT wishful thinking.
From the biblical point of view, to HOPE has a completely different picture attached. In the Bible, to HOPE means to have a CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of a result. The picture is more of a bride expecting to be married, or of an expectant mother, expecting to deliver her baby.
When a bride is confidently expecting to be married, all kinds of preparations and actions take place, both for the wedding ceremony and for her upcoming life with her new Groom. She’s confidently expecting to be a wife, and she prepares herself for the enormous upcoming change in her life that this entails. The same holds true with the expectant mommy, who joyously makes countless preparations to get ready for her newborn. Biblically, this is what it means to hope for something.
Hope & the Bride of the Messiah
It’s NO accident that throughout the Second Writings, the body of believers is constantly referred to as the BRIDE of the Messiah. The Holy Spirit uses that context throughout the Scripture ON PURPOSE. How does an expectant bride who truly LOVES her betrothed behave? Does a faithfully engaged and betrothed woman go out and prostitute herself in the streets? Does she look up all of her old high school puppy loves, and does she seek to fornicate with each one of them one more time, before she marries her beloved bridegroom? Does a faithfully engaged woman defile her body and purposely disfigure her face in such a way that will bring disgust and revulsion to the bridegroom whom she supposedly loves and intends to live with forever? Would her future bridegroom and husband be honored with this? Is that the behavior of a faithful betrothed woman who expects to spend the rest of her life with a man she loves and is preparing to marry? On the contrary, that behavior is the OPPOSITE of someone who is hoping or confidently expecting to marry.
The faithfully betrothed bride who is hoping and confidently expecting to marry does the extreme opposite of the behaviors described above, doesn’t she? If she loves her bridegroom, and she is joyously expecting to spend the rest of her life with Him, she will go out of her way to purify herself and to be ready for that relationship. The little black books of phone numbers and romantic pictures with the old boyfriends get burned. The future bride goes out of her way to make sure that there is absolutely nothing that could come between her and the beloved bridegroom that she intends to spend her life with. Her desire is to learn what delights Him, what pleases Him and what honors Him, and the faithfully betrothed woman wants to be that kind of person for her future bridegroom. She anticipates her new life with Him and joyously looks forward to it. She doesn’t want to do anything or live in such a way that would ruin their relationship or future life together. That’s how a faithful bride who expects to be married and spend the rest of her life with her new beloved husband behaves. She is behaving according to her HOPE; according to the future results which she expects to receive. Please keep this CRITICAL picture in mind, because we will be using it again in future studies.
Key Points to Remember - (Romans 15:4-6):
· Paul clearly taught that the First Writings (the Old Testament), is still valid and useful to instruct Gentile Christians in Rome. He clearly was NOT teaching that the First Writings were in any way abolished, done away with, or obsolete as many so commonly believe today. He SAID precisely the OPPOSITE here.
· Paul the apostle clearly SAID that the things which were written in former times were written for OUR INSTRUCTION, so that through the PERSEVERANCE of the SCRIPTURES, we may have HOPE. Since the Scriptures continue to persevere, they continue to be valid, and since we continue to persevere in being instructed by them this builds our HOPE.
· To have the BIBLICAL concept of HOPE is to have a CONFIDENT EXPECTATION of an anticipated result; such as a bride preparing for her wedding, or an expectant mother preparing for her baby. Since the Old Testament is useful to instruct us and to build are confident expectation of an anticipated result, how can the Old Testament fulfill that stated purpose of instructing us and building our HOPE, if it’s been abolished, done away with or made obsolete in any way? When we undermine the Old Testament, we undermine our own hope at the same time.
· Paul specifically instructs us that we are to be of ONE MIND, united to glorify God, ACCORDING TO CHRIST. So did Christ glorify God by DISOBEYING the written Scriptures, or by OBEYING the Scriptures? What was Christ’s mindset and point of view concerning the Old Testament Scriptures? (Matthew 4; Luke 4; Matthew 5:17-20 Matthew 12:49-50; Matthew 15:3; Matthew 15:9; Matthew 22:31; Matthew 12:3; Mark 7:1-13; Mark 12:36; John 15:10; etc. etc.). So how can we be of one mind ACCORDING TO CHRIST, if we have the OPPOSITE point of view of the Old Testament Scriptures, then Messiah had? How can we be of one mind glorifying God according to Christ, if we consistently choose to live the opposite way then the way in which Christ lived?
Brother R Michel Lankford
No comments:
Post a Comment