Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
There are some facts that are so basic to one's understanding of the New
Testament books that without being aware of them, one cannot possibly understand
what the apostles wrote. Beginning today, I will present to you the essentials
with which every student of the New Testament ought to begin his study. Before
opening for the first time any of the books written by the apostles, one ought
to already know these things. Fathers, teach these truths to your children.
Pastors ought to teach these fundamentals to the congregation. These are foundations
upon which all right knowledge of the truth of Christ is laid.
Usually, a foundation is not much seen; nevertheless, its function is critical to a safe building. The focus of attention is always on the building that is built upon a foundation, but if the foundation is not well laid down, or if the materials in it are substandard, the building is unlikely to stand for long. This third stone of the foundation that I am laying for you is mentioned in the New Testament but a few times, but the truths that rest upon it are critical to obtaining a pure faith.
Jesus was sent only to the Jews. Peter and the other disciples of Jesus were sent only to the Jews. The importance of knowing this cannot be exaggerated, not because of itself but because of the revelations from God that build upon that knowledge. If you do not know this simple truth, most of what the apostles wrote in the New Testament books, and especially the epochal revelation that God gave to Paul, will make little or no sense to you.
Did you know that it was Paul's custom
to preach first to the Jews of the cities to which he traveled, and only then would
he go to the Gentiles? He said that God required him to do that (Acts 13:44-46).
Because the importance of this fact is so little appreciated in our time,
those who quote Romans 1:16 often leave out the crucial last part of that verse,
for they don't know what to do with it. You have heard this famous verse, in
which Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth". But how often have
you heard the rest of what Paul wrote in that verse: "TO THE JEW FIRST,
and also to the Greek."
You must understand that Jesus and his first
disciples were sent by God only to the circumcised nation, the Jews, because
A.
Upon this foundation is built the knowledge that Jesus' commandments
were directed toward people who were already in covenant with God; at that
time, this meant only the circumcised nation, Israel (Rom.15:8). Failing to understand
this, some of Jesus' commandments have been applied by Christian ministers
to those who are not in covenant with God, leading to tragic results. Notable
among these misinterpreted Scriptures are those concerning marriage and divorce
(For more on that topic, see my booklet, "Marriage and Divorce"). Many an innocent
person has been harmed by Christian ministers who misunderstand what Jesus
said about that issue.
B. Upon this foundation is built the knowledge
of why the Samaritans and Gentiles were excluded from the blessings Jesus
bestowed during his earthly ministry (Mt.10:1-6; Mt.15:21-28; Jn.12:20-23).
C.
Upon this foundation is built the sure doctrine that forgiveness
of sin, which came through the baptism of the holy Spirit, was given first to the
Jews (Acts 2:1-5). Others from outside of Israel were allowed into the congregation
only after as many as three years or more had passed.
D. Upon
this foundation is built the knowledge of why the earliest assembly, being exclusively
Jewish, continued to live as Jesus lived, under the Law. The entire
assembly in the land of Palestine pursued with great zeal obedience to Moses' Law,
for decades after the New Testament began in Acts 2 (Acts 21:17-27). They saw
no reason not to do so.
E. Upon this foundation is built the knowledge
of why Jesus submitted to all the ordinances and statutes of the Law of
Moses.
F. Upon this foundation is built the understanding of why
the Jews who had the holy Ghost were utterly astonished when God gave His Spirit
to someone who was not circumcised (Acts 10).
G. Upon this foundation
is built the knowledge of why God chose another man, Paul, to preach a new
gospel designed for the Gentiles (Gal.2:1-10).
There is great knowledge
in matters related to the New Testament available to those who understand that
Jesus was sent by his Father only "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This
truth is not spoken of much because it is "below grade", as builders would say,
serving as foundational material for other doctrines that are important to the
body of Christ. The attention rightly goes to them, but the foundation is what
holds them up and makes them understandable.
This is the third stone that
I have used to lay out for you for a foundation, a sure foundation, upon which
you may safely build as you grow in the knowledge of God.