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Preface and Quotations

Doctrines Alluded to

Chapter Summary

Doctrines Covered or Alluded To

Laws of Divine Establishment

Additional doctrines and links are found in Definition of Terms below.

Chapters of the Bible Alluded To and/or Appropriately Exegeted with this Chapter

Genesis 10

Genesis 11

Genesis 12

Introduction to Exodus

Leviticus 11

Many who read and study this chapter are 1^st or 2^nd generation students of R. B. Thieme, Jr., so that much of this vocabulary is second nature. One of Bob’s contributions to theology is a fresh vocabulary along with a number of concepts which are theologically new or reworked, yet still orthodox. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with his work, the definitions below will help you to fully understand all that is being said. Also, I have developed a few new terms and concepts which require definition as well.

In addition, there are other more traditional yet technical theological terms which will be used and therefore defined as well.

The terms below are cross-linked with their first occurrence in this document. This allows you to click on the first occurrence of a technical term and that will take you back to its definition below. Then you can click on that term below and that link will take you back to where you last left off in this document.

Sometimes the terms in the exegesis of this chapter are simply alluded to, without any in-depth explanation of them. Sometimes, these terms are explained in detail and illustrated. A collection of all these terms is found here: (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Often, the terms below are linked to complete doctrines.

Definition of Terms

1^st Advent

The time period when Jesus was born and had His earthly ministry. This time period extends from His birth to His death, resurrection and ascension.

Adam’s Sin;

Adam’s Original Sin; Adam’s imputed sin

All people have Adam’s original sin imputed to the sin nature from birth, as the sin nature is the natural home or target for the sin nature. This is also known as original sin (but never known as Eve’s original sin). Adam’s act of rebellion (or sin) against God becomes a part of our being at birth. It is imputed to us; to our sin nature. As a result, all children are born condemned by God, from the first breath. This is the sin which condemns the unbeliever.

Age of Israel

The Age of Israel is the period of time in history where God works through believers in nation Israel. God also worked through the Abraham and those descended from him until nation Israel was established. See the Three Dispensations: The Age of Israel, the Age of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Angel, Angels, Elect Angels, Demons and Fallen Angels

Angels were living creatures created before man. They also have free will. Those who chose against God (or sinned against God) are fallen angels (also known as demons). They will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. Those who have never sinned against God and never rebelled against God are the elect angels. We do not know exactly what their future is, apart from them spending eternity with God. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Anthropopathism

An anthropopathism takes an easily understood emotion, passion or thought that man has or an act which man does and attributes that emotion, thought or action to God. These would be thoughts and emotions which God does not have; or describes an act which God does not do. The idea is to better explain God’s thinking and His actions in terms which we understand (this is also known as, language of accommodation). For more information, see Wenstrom, Theopedia, Got Questions?, Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary.

Ark of the Covenant, Ark of God

The Ark of God (also called the Ark of Testimony, Ark of the Covenant) was a box which was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold; and it was placed in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and then in the Temple. This is perhaps the most important religious symbol in the Old Testament, representing the humanity and the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The tables of the Law, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a pot of manna were placed. See the Ark of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Bible Doctrine

Bible doctrine is the information found in the Old and New Testaments which God wants all believers to know. We live in the Church Age, where there is no additional Scripture being written; and therefore, there is no direct teaching by God to man. All that we need to know is found within the pages of the Bible. See the Importance of Bible Doctrine (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Canaan, the Land of Promise

Canaan is the land promised by God to Israel on a number of occasions. It is named Canaan after the Canaanites who live there. In modern terns, this would be the land between Egypt and Lebanon (roughly).

The Christian Life; the Christian Way of Life

The Christian life is a synonym for the spiritual life. Key to the Christian life is faith in Christ; naming of one’s sins to God (rebound), and growing by means of Bible doctrine. See the Doctrine of Walking (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Christian Basics (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), the Spiritual Life in the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) and The Basic Mechanics of the Christian Life (also known as, The Christian Life for Dummies) (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Christology

Christology is the study of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, Christ was explained and developed through a complex system of animal sacrifices, feast days and the design of the Tabernacle and its furniture. See Basic Christology from the Spokane Bible Church.

(The) Church ;

Local Church

The church has several different meanings today: (1) Most often, today, we understand church to refer to a local church that we attend. (2) At the beginning of the Church Age, this word referred to a gathering or assembly of people; their racial and gender specifics were irrelevant to their position in Christ. (3) The church universal refers to all of the believers (this could be all of the believers alive on earth right now or all of the believers who have lived throughout the Church Age). Grace notes “Church, the Body of Christ” (HTML) (PDF); Doctrine.org (The Church—the Body of Christ); Word of Truth Ministries (Church); Grace Bible Church of Baytown (The Church);

Church Age

The Church Age is the period of time in history where God works through the body of believers, also known as the church. This age began on the Day of Pentecost, following our Lord’s resurrection and ascension, and continues today. See the Three Dispensations: The Age of Israel, the Age of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Client nation

The client nation is a nation where there are a lot of believers and a lot of mature and growing believers (who are called the salt or the earth; or pivot). This nation is known for its evangelization, for its Bible teaching, its Bible scholarship, and missionary activity. The government and leaders may or may not be supportive of such activity. However, generally speaking, such activity is allowed within the national entity. It is this activity which preserves such a national entity. A client nation is also sympathetic to the Jewish people and often has a considerable Jewish population. Doctrine of the Client Nation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Communism;

Socialism

These words are rarely understood. By original definition, Communism is the direction that every socialist government should go in, where the state sort of melts away and what is left is this big organic system where everyone owns everything. We might call that theoretical communism. Theoretical communism has never existed and will never exist—people who have power will not naturally relinquish it. What remains is more of a practical definition: socialism is the government controlling many levers of society; and communism controls all levers of society. These governments are to the benefit, primarily, of those who are in charge; and there is a natural movement in government to control more and more of society. See the doctrines of Socialism (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) and Socialism and Communism (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

The Cross; the Cross of Christ; the Roman Cross; the Crucifixion

The phrases the cross and the cross of Christ are common phrases used today to represent Jesus dying for our sin on the cross. In that way, these phrases mean essentially the same thing as the blood of Christ. This does not mean that there is some magic or importance in the symbol of the cross, which is ubiquitous today. Jesus did not die on a cross which looked like that. The cross that He died on was a Roman cross, which looked more like a T. The physical pain which Jesus endured, the small amount of blood which He bled, and His actual physical death are real events, but they are typical of what actually saves us from our sins. During three hours of the cross, God the Father poured out on God the Son our sins; and Jesus took upon Himself the penalty for our sins during those three hours. This is not something which was not actually observed by anyone (although the Lord is said to have screamed throughout that process).

Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls are very ancient manuscripts of portions of the Old Testament which date back to approximately 200 b.c. These are the oldest manuscripts which we have. I have done some extensive study on them in in Genesis 19 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Dispensation, Dispensations

A Dispensation is a period of human history expressed from Divine viewpoint (God's point of view). Dispensations give us the Divine outline of human history (or, God’s different game plans for various periods of time in history). See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Divine Viewpoint

Divine viewpoint is how God thinks. This is very different than how man thinks. The Lord says, "My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8–9; ERV) See Human Viewpoint Versus Divine Viewpoint Thinking (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Elect of God; the elect; Election

Jesus was elected in eternity past by God to die for our sins. Because we are in Christ, we share His election (we share in the benefits of Him having died for our sins; as a result, we have an eternal relationship with God). God is said to foreknow us because He knew that we would be born and He knew every decision that we would make through His omniscience. See Ballinger’s Doctrine of Election and Calling; Roy A. Cloudt’s Doctrine of Election.

Eternity Past

Time is an invention of God, and we find ourselves within the concept and reality of time. However, prior to God inventing time, there is, what we call, eternity past, a time and place, if you will, before time and place existed. R. B. Thieme, Jr. also calls this alpha time. It is here, in alpha time, when God made the Divine Decree (above).

The Exodus Generation

The Exodus generation is actually two generations of Israelites. Those who walked out of Egypt as adults (aged 20 and older) make up the older generation, whom I refer to as Gen X (ultimately they will be failures and die the sin unto death in the desert-wilderness). The younger generation is the generation of promise. They are either born in the desert-wilderness or they walked out of Egypt as children (aged 20 or younger). These men will walk into the land under the command of Joshua and take it.

Often, the Exodus generation refers only to that older generation, Gen X.

Faith-rest

Faith-Rest is taking the promises from the Bible and mixing them with faith. Faith-rest is placing your trust in God, in His Word, in His promises or in Bible doctrine, and you step back and allow God to keep His Word, or fulfill His promises, or vindicate the doctrine which is in your soul. This approach to life is characterized by a moment-by-moment tranquillity, happiness, and stability, even when you are in the midst of pressure, adversity, and disaster. See the Doctrine of Faith-Rest (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Doctrine of the Faith-rest Drill (Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries); (Divine Viewpoint.com); (Robert McLaughlin).

Fellowship (with God)

Fellowship means that we enjoy a current, active relationship with God. This is a real state of being; but it does not mean that we feel it. We lose fellowship with God by sinning; and we regain that fellowship by naming our sins to God (also known as, rebound; as explained in 1John 1:9). R. B. Thieme, Jr. called the naming of your sins and the resultant restoration to fellowship as rebound. See Rebound and Keep Moving! (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) Rebound (Kukis).

Filling of the Spirit ; Filling of the Holy Spirit

For the believer in the Church Age, his restoration to fellowship by rebound also restores the filling of the Holy Spirit to him. This is not an experience. That is, you will not feel differently when filled with the Holy Spirit. See the Doctrine of the Filling of the Holy Spirit (Grace Bible Church of Baytown) (Maranatha Church) (Word of Truth Ministries) From Grace Notes (HTML) (PDF) R. B. Thieme, Jr. (Rebound and Keep Moving) (Rebound Revisited).

Gen X

This is a short and clever reference to the generation of the Exodus. I was going to try to represent this as Gen Ex, but that looked too much like I was just naming the first two books of the Bible. At least with Gen X, most understand that we are speaking of a specific generation. Gen X stands for generation exodus; the generation of adults (20 and older) who left Egypt with Moses. Their children with them and the children born in the wilderness will be called the generation of promise.

Generation of Promise

The generation of promise are the Israelites who will actually go into the Land of Promise and take it (which process is described in the first half of the book of Joshua). They were under the age of 20 when they left Egypt in the exodus and some of them were born in the desert-wilderness, either as sons of Gen X-ers or as sons of the generation of promise.

Gospel,

Gospel Message, Gospels

There are at least 3 ways to understand the word gospel: (1) It is a synonym for the truth, or the real truth. (2) The gospel of Jesus Christ refers to the revelation of the means of salvation to unregenerate man: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” There are other things which may be included in the gospel, such as a reference to the cross, to Jesus dying for our sins, to Jesus being resurrected, etc. The new believer never hears the entire gospel message; he hears a portion of it and believes that and is saved. Then, as a believer, he may learn the rest of it (depending upon whether he has positive volition towards doctrine after salvation). (3) The gospels refer to the 4 biographies of Jesus the Messiah.

Grace Orientation

Grace is all that God is free to do for mankind on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Grace is undeserved mercy and unmerited favor from God to us. Grace is the title of God's plan and His policy for mankind. Orientation is defined as familiarization with a particular person, thing or field of knowledge. To orient means to set right by adjusting to facts or principles; to put oneself into correct position or relation or to acquaint oneself with the existing situation. Grace orientation, therefore, means to become familiar with God's grace plan and grace policies by adjusting to the facts and principles found in the Word of God, which puts you in correct relation to God and others. You will never be grace-oriented until you understand that your personal sins don't condemn you. Adam's original sin, which was imputed to you at birth, is what condemns you (spiritual death). This means that God's grace was operational when He imputed Adam's original sin to you, because condemnation must precede salvation. This is just another part of God's ingenious grace plan of salvation. The Doctrine of Grace Orientation (Ron Adema) (Robert Dean) (Rick Hughes—audio) (Robert McLaughlin) (Utilization of Grace Orientation) (R. B. Thieme, Jr. as one of the problem solving devices)

Grace Oriented Believer, The

This is the understanding of the believer that our lives depend upon the graciousness of God, and not upon our own efforts and works. Our spiritual growth is a result of grace, our production is a result of grace, and, quite obviously, our salvation is the result of grace. At no point can we, as individuals, take credit for what God has done for us and in our lives. See the Doctrine of Grace Orientation (Ron Adema) (Robert Dean) (Rick Hughes—audio) (Robert McLaughlin) (Utilization of Grace Orientation) (R. B. Thieme, Jr. as one of the problem solving devices)

Human Viewpoint

Human viewpoint is man’s thinking apart from Bible doctrine and apart from divine establishment thinking. See Human Viewpoint versus Divine Viewpoint (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Biblical Inspiration, Divinely Inspired

Biblical inspiration may be defined as human authors wrote as moved by the Holy Spirit, so that, without waving their human intelligence, their vocabulary, their personal feelings, their literary style, their personality, their environmental influences or their individuality, they recorded God’s complete and connected message to man with perfect accuracy in the original languages of Scripture, the very words bearing the authority of divine authorship. The is known as the verbal, plenary view of inspiration. See the Basic Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); the Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Study of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Israel

Israel can refer to a number of different things: (1) Israel is the name given to Jacob; and sometimes, these two names contrast his character and spiritual growth. (2) Israel can refer to the people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (3) Israel can refer to the nation made up of the people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (4) Israel can refer specifically to the northern kingdom, after the nation under Solomon split into a northern and southern nation (the southern nation being called Judah). Context determines which thing is meant.

JEPD Theory (also known as Documentary Hypothesis)

Documentary Hypothesis simply asserts that the Pentateuch was not authored by Moses but written 1000 years after Moses by several authors who wrote portions here and there and then other men have performed extensive revisions, colating and editing after them. See Documentary Hypothesis (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Jew, Jews, Jewish

Genetically, Jews are those with the genes of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Religiously, those who follow the faith of Abraham (and today, those who follow a distorted version of the faith of Moses). Hebrew is the term used in the Old Testament; Jew/Jewish is used in the New. See Jews, Gentiles and Christians; Jewish Civilization; The Jewish Religious Systems; The Jews and Hellenism; Jews and Judaism; and Jews and Gentiles in Bible Times.

The Jewish Age

The period of time which includes the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob); the nation Israel; and the Tribulation (which takes place at the end of the Church Age). The Jewish Age is equivalent to the Age of Israel. See the Three Dispensations: The Age of Israel, the Age of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Laws of divine establishment

The laws of divine establishment are regulations and laws that will protect and prosper a nation. Hypothetically speaking, even a nation without Christians could follow the laws of divine establishment (although this would not occur in practice). The five divine institutions (the volition and function of the individual human soul, work, marriage, family and nation) are recognized and protected and there is a system of just laws and equitable enforcement of same. The result is law and order, freedom and prosperity. There is no freedom apart from law and order.

The laws of divine establishment should also protect Christian activity, e.g. churches, evangelism, missionary activity, and Christian scholarship). Protection within the nation is provided by law, a police force and the courts; protection from without is provided by a well-trained military force. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Legalism, Legalist, Legalistic

Legalism is the idea or philosophy that you might earn or gain something from God by means of your works or sincere efforts. Legalism is the polar opposite of grace. (Grace Notes on Legalism) (Spokane Bible Church on Legalism) The Doctrine of Legalism (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Logistical Grace

Logistical grace is defined as what God has planned for us, the Divine support he gives us, His Divine provision, and his Divine blessing. The result is, we as believers in Jesus Christ are able to execute the plan of God just as logistical support on the battlefield allows an army to defeat the enemy. God does not give us logistical grace because we are nice people or really good Christians; God gives us logistical support because we are believers and He gives this to us for a purpose.

Logistical grace is Life support is provided for every Church Age believer. This explains how and why we are alive at any given moment. The only reason we are alive is because of logistical grace. We do not earn it nor do we deserve it. There is no set of spiritual works which we can accomplish to keep ourselves alive. For all intents and purposes, this is food, shelter and clothing. The principle was explained by Jesus in Matt. 6:25-33. Logistical Grace (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Mental Attitude

Thinking is the primary place where the Christian life takes place. If you get your thinking (your mental attitude) right, a reasonable Christian life will be the result. What you think is who you are. Grace Notes on Mental Attitude (HTML) (PDF); Word of Truth Definition; R. B. Thieme, Jr.’s Mental Attitude Dynamics (order it for free) (online);

Mental Attitude Sins

These sins would include arrogance, pride, jealousy, implacability, bitterness, vindictiveness, inordinate ambition and inordinate competition, all motivational sins, and sinful thoughts such as fear, guilt, worry, anger, judging, hatred. See the Doctrine of Mental Attitude Sins (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Mercy Seat

On top of the Ark of the Covenant was a lid or a covering, which was made of gold and two angels were a part of this configuration—this is the Mercy Seat. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would come into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat to atone for the sins of the many. This is all representative. The gold represents the pure essence of God; the angels represent the elect and fallen angels who are watching all of these things play out. The blood represents the spiritual death of our Lord on the Roman cross. As on the cross, no one actually saw this take place; they simply knew what happened by the testimony of the Scriptures.

The Messiah

The Messiah is one of the terms found in the Old Testament (and New) which refers to Someone Who would come and deliver the Jews. There was the true foundation of the Hebrew faith, and that was the Messiah-to-come; there was the false foundation of the bastardized Hebrew faith, and that was legalism. The Messiah is known by several titles in the Old Testament, including David’s Greater Son and the Suffering Servant. Jesus Christ fulfilled all of the prophecies related to the Jewish Messiah, even though He was, for the most part, rejected by His people. Jesus will return to a much more appreciative people in the future. The Messiah (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). The Jewish Messiah (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). The Promised Messiah (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). (Grace Notes: Messiah in the Old Testament) (Spokane Bible Church: Messiah; Messiah's Birth was Unique; Messianic Prophecies 1; Messianic Prophecies2)

Morality

Morality is the protocol for human behavior which applies to all mankind. Morality preserves nations, states and cities. Morality is not the Christian way of life, although the Christian is sinning when he is immoral. (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)

The Mosaic Law ; the Law of Moses

The Mosaic Law is the Law which God gave orally to Moses, which Moses wrote down. It is found at the beginning of Exodus 20 and continues through the book of Numbers (with some narrative integrated into the text of the Law). The book of Deuteronomy summarizes and reviews much of the Mosaic Law and adds in some additional applications (Deuteronomy is actually a series of sermons given by Moses to the people of Israel—Moses himself wrote these sermons.

Often the words the Law refer back to the books specifically written by Moses (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). See also (the Spokane Bible Church on the Mosaic Law.) (Maranatha Church on the Mosaic Law); Grace Notes.

Occupation with the Person of Jesus Christ

Occupation with Christ is a mental attitude by which a Christian believer views all things in life with the Lord Jesus Christ in mind. Occupation with Christ is love for the Son, the 2^nd Person of the Trinity, therefore it is the expression of love for God. The Bible commands us to love God, with all our heart, soul and mind. Being occupied with Christ is a great part of our love for God. Therefore, this concept is one of the most important spiritual functions in the Christian life. See (Grace notes) (Grace Bible Church).

Omniscience (of God); omniscient

Omniscience means that God knows everything—whether past present or future, whether actual or possible. Jesus would have had access to this mark of Deity, but He may never have used it during His life on earth. See Grace Notes Essence of God (HTML) (PDF); Grace Bible Church (Omniscience); Got Questions (Omniscience).

Pastor, Pastor-teacher

The pastor (or pastor-teacher) is the highest spiritual gift with regards to authority. He has the authority over a single church. He is given one level of authority when he is called by the church into service; and then he develops a higher level of authority by teaching the Word of God. This is not, however, the authority to run the lives of individuals at the church. The pastor can teach the Word of God with near complete accuracy, yet members of his congregation might do the exact opposite. Grace Notes’ Pastor-Teachers in the Church Age (HTML) (PDF); Jack Ballinger (Pastor-teacher); Roy Cloudt (pastor-teacher).

Pentateuch

The Pentateuch is comprised of the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy), incorrectly called the first five books of Moses (as Moses did not write Genesis).

Positive volition

When speaking within the confines of a doctrinal message (be it written or verbal), positive volition is the state of mind for the unbeliever where he is ready to hear the gospel and believe in Jesus Christ. Positive volition is the state of mind of the believer who is interested in hearing the truth and will do whatever is necessary to expose himself (or herself) to the truth.

Precanon Period; Precanon era;

Post-Canon Period; Post-Canon Era

The Church Age is divided into two period of time: the precanon era and the post-canon era. The precanon period takes place before the completion of the New Testament writings; and the post-canon period takes place after the completion of the New Testament (approximately a.d. 90). Healings, tongues, and various sign gifts are found in abundance prior to this time, close to a.d. 33. As the writings of the Apostles (and others) are recognized as authoritative, the sign gifts (which establish one’s authority from God) are no longer necessary. Furthermore, once the Apostles die off, they are not replaced so their lasting authority is in their writings.

Priest, Priests, Priesthood

During the Age of Israel, only those descended from Aaron were priests. Priests represent man before God (whereas, a prophet represents God to man). They offered up animal sacrifices to God on behalf of men. They had a number of specific duties assigned to them by the Law of Moses.

Because priests are men, they can be a corrupt group.

In the Church Age, every believer is a priest and there is no specialized priesthood. Every priest-believer can represent himself directly to God. See the Priesthoods of God and of Man: (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Propitiation, propitiate,

propitiatory

Propitiation means satisfaction or appeasement, specifically towards God. Propitiation is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross by which He appeases the wrath of God who would otherwise be offended by our sin and demand that we pay the penalty for it. The concept of propitiation is often associated with the idea of a substitutionary atonement.

Rebound (Restoration to fellowship with God)

In the New Testament, this is naming your sins to God, so that you are both restored to temporal fellowship with God and are then filled with the Spirit of God. In the Old Testament, naming your sins to God would result in a restoration of fellowship and, in some cases, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit once again (the Holy Spirit was not given to all Old Testament believers). See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Redeem; Redemption; Redeemer

Redemption is the saving work of Christ whereby He purchased our freedom from the slave market of sin by means of His death on the cross. In Scripture, Jesus is often called our Redeemer. Doctrine of Redemption: (Jack Ballinger) (Ken Reed) (Wenstrom)

The Revealed God (or, the Revealed Lord)

Throughout human history, God has revealed Himself in a number of ways. Before the incarnation, when anyone believed in this revelation of God, he was saved (Genesis 15:6). When Jesus was born, God revealed Himself in Jesus (Hebrews 1:1–2); and we are now saved by believing in Jesus.

We all come to a time of God-consciousness where we understand the concept and possibility of the existence of God. At that point, we face 2 great questions: (1) do we want to know this God and (2) are will willing to believe in God as He has revealed Himself or do we make a god in our own image and worship that? In both the Old and New Testaments, God will make Himself known (He reveals Himself) to those who will believe in Him and to others as well. We know Him firmly and concretely as Jesus Christ; and in the Old Testament, He is known as the God of the Jews, the Creator of the Universe, the God of Moses (or of Abraham), etc.

The Sabbath

The Sabbath Day is Saturday, and this was a day of rest for the Hebrew people, during which they would not work but contemplate the finished work of God. This became a repository of legalism over the years, where this day became more and more tightly regulated with new laws and regulations not found in Scripture. Believers in the Church Age are not under any Sabbath day restrictions. (Spokane Bible Church Sabbath Summary) (Grace Notes: Jewish Teaching on the Sabbath) Kukis—Doctrine of the Sabbath Day (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Sin Nature,

Adam’s Sinful Trend

The sin nature is genetically passed on from father to his children. Every person on earth has a preponderance to sin because of having a sin nature. Grace Notes (from Austin Bible Church) (HTML) (PDF); Merritt (Old Sin Nature); Ballinger (Old Sin Nature/Sinful Trend of Adam)

Sin unto Death

The phrase "sin unto death" describes the final stage of divine discipline in which God removes from the earth the person who is totally alienated from God. The "sin unto death" is not a particular sin; but it is, rather, a mental attitude of total indifference to and rebellion against the will and purpose of God. This is the point at which harsh discipline is no longer working on the believer, so God takes the believer out of this world in a very painful way. Such a believer often stops using the rebound technique. For more information, see the Doctrine of the Sin unto Death (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Slave Market of Sin

We illustrate the doctrine of redemption, is by picturing yourself being sold as a slave in a slave market. You are unable to purchase yourself, as you do not have the wherewithal to purchase yourself. A slave does not have the money to purchase himself (he lacks the coin of the realm, so to speak). Only someone who is not inside of this slave market (a non-slave) can purchase you. No fellow slave can look you over and say, "I'd like to purchase this one." This is because he is in the same boat that you are in. He cannot purchase himself and he certainly cannot purchase you. Jesus Christ does not have a sin nature and He has not committed any personal sins, so that He can purchase us from the slave market of sin.

This concept is actually based upon the real historical example, where God purchased the Israelites from Egypt, and brought them out of bondage. See the Slave Market of Sin (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Buddy Dano) (Kukis) (Wenstrom)

Soul, Human Soul, Souls

The soul is the immaterial part of man. It has volition, mentality, vocabulary, norms and standards, conscience, consciousness, self-consciousness, and the sin nature. The human soul has a technical meaning, where it is contrasted with the human spirit: the human soul stores up human experience and information about life on earth, while the human spirit specifically contains information related to God and the spiritual life. Grace Bible Church of Baytown (Characteristics, Diagram, Soul and Depravity of the Soul, Battle for Soul Control, Soul Tragedy, Prospering Soul, Soul’s Need for Daily Doctrine, Soul’s Need #2); Grace Notes (Doctrine of the Soul; PDF).

Spiritual Advance

Spiritual advance is another way to describe growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:18). We grow by keeping short accounts with God insofar as our sinning goes (that is, we often name our sins to God as per 1John 1:9); and by exposing ourselves regularly (daily) to accurate teaching of the Word of God by a well-qualified pastor-teacher, hearing and believing the spiritual principles being taught. See Basic Themes of the Bible; aka The Fundamental Themes of Scripture (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Living the Christian Life (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and Christian Mechanics (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth for the believer is an option. We do not automatically grow spiritually simply because we have believed in Jesus Christ. We grow because we spend time in the Spirit (using rebound) and because we learn Bible doctrine under the ministry of a well-qualified pastor-teacher. See Living the Christian Life (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Christian Mechanics (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), the Stages of Spiritual Growth (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Spiritual Life (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

Spiritual Life,

Spiritual Lives

The spiritual life is the life that God expects us to lead. Fundamental to the spiritual life is rebound (naming your sins to God and being filled with the Spirit) and spiritual growth (learning and believing Bible doctrine). Even though we are commanded to live the spiritual life, this is not an imposition to our lives, but enlightenment and peace of mind. The unbeliever cannot lead a spiritual life. (HTM) (PDF) (The Spiritual Life via the 10 problem solving devices—R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Walking in the Spirit—Chafer) (Spiritual Metabolism—Robert R. McLaughlin)

Spiritual skills

The most basic spiritual skills are rebound (naming one’s recent sins to God) and the intake of Bible doctrine (generally at a local church taught by a pastor-teacher). Based upon the doctrine in the soul of a believer, one mmoves on to use more advanced skills like the ffaith-rest technique. These are also known as tthe ten problem solving devices and can only bbe employed by the believer in Jesus Christ. SSee the Ten Problem Solving Devices (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (chart) (McLaughlin).

Gratitude Gauge (a graphic); from the Lighthouse Bible Church; accessed June 23, 2023.

The Tabernacle,

Tent of Meeting, Tent of Assembly

The Tabernacle was the original place of worship designed by God. It was constructed in the desert wilderness where the Jews lives before entering the Land of Promise; and it was the focal point of their worship up to the monarchy. The design of the Tabernacle, the furniture, and the way its furniture was arranged, all spoke of the first advent of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. For instance, the Ark of God was made of wood overlain with gold, speaking of the Lord’s Deity and humanity. The Tabernacle represented the 1^st Advent of the Lord, as it was moveable. The Temple (a permanent structure) represented the Lord in the Millennium as the King of Israel. See the Ark of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Model of the Tabernacle (which represents Jesus Christ and the cross) (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); the Tabernacle (Redeeming Grace); Jesus—the Golden Lampstand (Grace Bible Church).

The Temple

The Temple is a permanent structure as the place of worship of the Revealed God, originally built by Solomon. Both Solomon and the Temple represent the Lord Jesus Christ and His reign in the Millennium. Although the Levites had some limited and specific duties inside the Temple, others were not allowed in the Temple. When people are said to gather at the Temple, they are really gathering in the Temple Courtyard. See the Temple, Description and Measurements (Grace Notes); Solomon’s Temple (Redeeming Grace); the Temple (Redeeming Grace).

Torah, The

The word torah is a Hebrew word that means law. This word is often applied to the first 5 books of the Bible. Occasionally, it may be used to refer to the entire Old Testament.

The Trinity

God exists in three Persons (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit), All with the same divine essence. Doctrine of the Trinity in the Old Testament (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Grace Notes (HTML) (PDF); Jack Ballinger (Maranatha Church); Grace Bible Church (Trinity; Trinity Diagram; Trinity Expressed); Doctrine of the Trinity (Grace Bible Church).

Type, Typical, Antitype,

Typology, Typological

A type is a person, a thing or an act which looks forward to Jesus or to Jesus on the cross. For instance, Isaac’s birth was the type; our Lord’s birth was the antitype, which was the fulfillment of the type. Typical is the adjective; and typology is the study of type. Typological, an adjective, is, of or relating to typology or types. See Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

The Virgin Birth

The virgin birth is a doctrine which is essential Christianity. The importance of the virgin birth is based upon the concept that the sin nature is passed down through the man. Because Jesus is born of a virgin, He did not inherit the sin nature. It is not a part of his genetic makeup.

Secondly, the virgin birth is prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 9:6, so this had to be fulfilled by the Messiah. See the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ (Grace Bible Church) (Doctrine.org).

Some of these definitions are taken from

http://rickhughesministries.org/content/Biblical-Terms.pdf

http://www.gbible.org/index.php?proc=d4d

http://www.wordoftruthministries.org/terms-and-definitions/

http://www.theopedia.com/

Let me simplify and condense these arguments.

JEPD Theory Options

Option One: Israel had a very simple religious package in the beginning but then, somewhere between the 10^th and 6^th centuries b.c., changed everything due to these new documents which were discovered. Centuries of one set of religious practices were completely abandoned and replaced by a completely new set of practices, which practices were extremely complex. These “newly discovered” documents changed everything. So their religious practices changed virtually overnight, but there is absolutely no record of this taking place; and this violates everything that we know about religious people. Something like this would have never happened.

Option Two: Israel’s practices remained unchanged; so the fake Mosaic documents changed nothing. There are two problems associated with this: (1) Israel’s system of worship could not have occurred without lengthy documentation (as we will find out); so (2) if this documentation is already in existence, then why are new documents developed and sold to the people as authentic when such documents already existed? Why are these new documents needed?

Option Three: The Mosaic documents, which we are studying, existed from the beginning. They provide a cohesive and complex religious system which the Jews followed from the very beginning. All of their complex religious practices started with Moses in 1445 b.c. and continued to a.d. 70. The people actually observed Moses going onto Mount Sinai to receive instructions. The people also observed Moses enter into his own pre-Tabernacle (also to be discussed later). This is essentially what the Bible teaches. Moses, at the time of the exodus, began to write (probably before that). The people were very aware of these writings and these writings formed the basis for Israel’s worship package.

There is one more thing. From the 10^th century forward, Tabernacle worship ends and Temple worship begins (David planned this out and Solomon executed it). Over a third of the book of Exodus concerns itself with the Tabernacle. Why would someone fake documents and spend most of their time describing the Tabernacle and worship around the Tabernacle, which no one faking these documents had ever seen before?

If the JEPD theory were true, why is there no record of any of this taking place, despite the bulk of the Old Testament being the best kept records of any ancient nation ever? If there was a massive change in the religious package of the Jews, why don’t we know about this?

With Exodus 20 and through the book of Leviticus (and, later, the book of Deuteronomy), we have the laws and rituals which Israel was to follow for the next 1400 years. It is easy to become confused by these multiple laws. It is a very complex and intricate system.

From Wikipedia: The Jewish tradition that there are 613 commandments (Hebrew: תרי״ג מצוות , romanized: taryag mitzvot) or mitzvot in the Torah (also known as the Law of Moses) is first recorded in the 3rd century CE, when Rabbi Simlai mentioned it in a sermon that is recorded in Talmud Makkot 23b.

How is 21^st century man to understand the laws given to Israel?

1.     The entire Old Testament is instructive to the Church Age believer. The Old Testament is also God-breathed. It is a serious mistake for the contemporary believer to only study the New Testament.

2.     What we will study can become quite confusing, and people can be beaten down with false arguments, if they do not understand what is taught in these chapters. For instance, pro-homosexual types will argue,“You eat shrimp right, and you like shrimp? Well, then, homosexuality is legitimate.”

        1)     You may not get the connection, but a number of animals are presented in the Old Testament as unclean and, therefore, are not supposed to be eaten.

        2)     Homosexuality is clearly presented as a sin in the Old Testament.

        3)     Therefore, people with an agenda say that these two things must rise or fall together.

        4)     “Are shrimp unclean? Do you eat shrimp?” And when you have no idea how to answer this, they follow up with, “Just like that is old fashioned and does not apply to today’s world, so it is with the Biblical restrictions on homosexuality. Those are simply prejudices from an era long ago.”

3.     So that there is no misunderstanding, there are laws in the laws of God which stand forever; or the principles behind them stand forever. Killing, stealing, desiring what others have, and homosexual acts—these things are always sins; they are wrong to do, no matter what period of time we live in. Exodus 20–22

4.     In fact, such laws are properly practiced by all mankind. Jews and Christians and people of other faiths and backgrounds follow these laws and principles. The specific morality which we are about to study is fundamental to the laws of divine establishment (laws which have a wider application for all mankind).

5.     There were a great many rituals found in these pages of the Law, and those rituals are specifically for Israel to be followed until what they represent—Jesus Christ and His offering for sin—comes to pass in time. Then the shadows of the future give way to the reality of that future. The Levitical offerings provided for the Jewish people a complete Christology. Leviticus 1–7

6.     The animal sacrifices are known as types and Jesus offering Himself up for our sins is the antitype. The animal sacrifices are the shadow image of Jesus giving Himself for us—the reality of those animal sacrifices. Hebrews 8–9

7.     The various celebrations look forward to Israel’s future and to Jesus the Messiah. Exodus 23:10–19 Leviticus 16:1–34 23:1–44 25:1–22

8.     The Tabernacle, its rituals and its furniture point, toward Jesus the Christ. Exodus 25:10–40 26:1–37 27:1–21 30:1–10, 17–38 Leviticus. 24:1–9

9.     These things are all a part of the old contract, which has been replaced by a newer, updated contract. Hebrews 8:1–7 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.  And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.  Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.  They serve a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle, “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”  Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.  For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. (BSB)

10.   There are also laws which actually preserve the lives of the Hebrew people, which were appropriate for that time period, but not for today. They lived during a time of pre-refrigeration and a time when preservation of most food items was quite limited. There are foods which are more prone to carrying diseases when not properly preserved. So the unclean foods list was not a human history ban on these foods, but pertinent to Israel in its day and time. By avoiding such foods, Israel avoided the contaminates which came with them. Leviticus 11 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)

11.   We are no longer under these regulations. Colossians 2:16–17 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a festival, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. (BSB)

12.   The preservation of the Jews is a real thing. How many Elamites do you know or Philistines? How about Sumerians? There have been dozens of ancient nations and peoples contemporary with the Jews who no longer exist.

13.   A very important point: neither Jews nor gentiles in the Old Testament were saved by obeying the Mosaic Law. They were saved by believing in the God revealed in the Mosaic Law. Just as my knowledge of Jesus Christ was not complete when I believed in Him; so the knowledge from the Old Testament about the Revealed God was also incomplete. Nevertheless, when a person believed in God as God revealed Himself, he was saved. Genesis 15:6

14.   Jesus the Christ = the Revealed God. John 6:35 8:12 10:9, 11 11:25–26 14:6 15:5 Exodus 3:13–14

15.   The Mosaic Law was given to the Jews at the beginning of the Jewish nation; the Mosaic Law was fundamental to their foundation and continuance as a nation. It described how their nation should be governed. Exodus 20–40 The book of Leviticus

16.   The Mosaic Law was not given to the gentiles nor was it given to the church. Romans 3:19–20 Galatians 2:16, 19 3:10–14, 22–25

17.   This does not mean that there is anything wrong with the moral principles of the Mosaic Law.

18.   The Jews, under the economy of Israel, were under the Law. Galatians 3:22–25 But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.  Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.  So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 

19.   Jews today are not under the Mosaic Law, nor do they place themselves under the entire Mosaic Law. Most notably, they no longer offer up animal sacrifices and they no longer have a Tabernacle or a Temple (although, we should not be surprised if a Temple is built in Jerusalem in the near or far future). If ancient Jews observed the practices of current-day Jews, they would be flabbergasted (and vice versa). There are very few similarities between the rituals of the Old Testament and the rituals followed today in modern-day Judaism. The modern-day Passover would be completely unrecognizable to the ancient Jew.

20.   Nation Israel does not follow the Mosaic Law today (although there are some similarities, such as the observance of the Sabbath).

21.   We as gentiles learn today from the Mosaic Law the basic tenets and concepts of the laws of divine establishment. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).

If all of this material is brand new to you, then let me point out that the Ten Commandments is only a small portion of the Mosaic Law. However, they do provide for man a fundamental moral/law code. It is the final commandment that so many people in the United States need most to heed.

At this point, we may want to examine...

The Purpose of the Ten Commandments

1.     The commandments were designed by God to show that man was a sinner, that he did not measure up to God's standards, and that he needed a savior. Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator [Moses], until the seed should come on the scene [concerning] whom the promise had been made...But the Scripture concluded all under sin that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to the faithful ones (Galatians 3:19, 22).