Tag Archives: resurrection

The ABC’s of Scripture: HYMENAEUS

Posted on by
Reply

HYMENAEUS was a contemporary of Apostle Paul, who spread false teachings to the first century saints that the resurrection had already occurred. This has been mistakenly used by some futurists today to attempt to show that Preterism cannot be true.

“And their message will spread like cancer. HYMENAEUS and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.” – 2 Tim 2:17-18

The first century saints knew that when Christ returned, the general resurrection of the saints would occur. HYMENAUES and others taught that this resurrection was just a spiritual one and not an actual physical one. Apostle Paul rebuked them for this false teaching about the return of Christ and the resurrection.

The false teaching about Christ’s return included other possible views. Some may have incorrectly seen Matthew 27:52-54 as the final resurrection. This was 30ad where the graves opened and many bodies of certain special O.T. deceased saints were raised, going into Jerusalem to witness to Christ’s resurrection.

Another false teaching about the return of Christ and the general resurrection may have been to confuse the general resurrection with the idea in Colossians that believers had been “raised with” Christ already and no further resurrection was to be expected. – Col 2:12; 3:1

Paul wrote his second epistle to Timothy in late-63ad. This was his last letter before he was martyred. The teaching of HYMENAUES and others that the resurrection had already occurred was a false teaching. Paul rebuked him for this. Consider that if those first century saints actually expected the graves to be opened and bodies to reappear at Christ’s second coming, it would be impossible for them to give HYMENAEUS any credibility. Certainly, this would also be the case if HYMENAEUS taught the physical planet earth would be destroyed at Christ’s second coming!

The first century saints knew that the New Heavens and New Earth were not referring to the physical universe, including the physical earth, as futurism teaches today. (Instead, the “heavens’ are referring to the UNSEEN spiritual realm and the organized and arrangement that God has with His people and with angels. It is not part of the UNSEEN realm).

Paul told Timothy not to listen to the blasphemers. They were spreading lies and for this Paul had delivered them to Satan.

“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are HYMENAEUS and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they man learn not to blapheme.”-1Tim 1:18-20

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. -2 Tim 4:14-15

The false teachers, like HYMENAEUS, were wrong about Christ having already returned at the time that Paul wrote Second Timothy in late-63ad. However, Christ did return at His second coming Parousia soon afterwards in 66-70ad, at that time the resurrection, rapture, and judgments all occurred. It is not ethical or responsible to connect eschatology view of Preterism (fulfilled prophecy in 70ad) with the false teachings of HYMENAEUS and others. Christ’s return was future for them. but is past for us!

-Michael Alan Nichols

_________________________________________________________________________

My thoughts: I LOVED this teaching. I love how as we grow in Christ, and we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us as we grow in the progressive prophecy understanding. Meaning how it was pointed out in this lesson that when Paul made this statement about it ‘not yet but future’, as He rebuked the ‘false teachers’ in his time, (not ours) but now we stand eons after this had happened as we live after all things written in the scriptures.

See- the resurrection is all over the scriptures, it was a physical meaning in some context of scripture, and it was of the spiritual covenant body of Christ in many other scriptures. We as serious, devote students of the word need to always allow the Spirit to teach us and to slow down and discern not only the ‘context’ of scripture but the content too. The scripture is a finished and complete literary work that consist of the testimony of Jesus Christ, He is the RESERRECTION and the LIFE! Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?” -John 11:25-26

We who are born again are the Individual Body of Christ that has many members! For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ.- 1 Cor 12:12

We were resurrected IN CHRIST, and we must walk out our salvation bringing more and more members into the body until we all become of ONE BODY! There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; / one Lord, one faith, one baptism; / one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.- Eph 4:4-6

This is a forever task and commission of the LORD. This commission shall continue generation after generation. We are to continually share the gospel message until we meet our LORD in the clouds of HEAVEN when HE welcomes us with open loving arms, when our walk here is finished, and we ran the race of faith! Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed—united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life].- Heb 12:1-2

All my resurrected, running with great endurance in the faith LOVE, ❤ Diana XO 🙂

The ABC’s of Scripture: FORSAKING CHRIST

Posted on by
Reply

“Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong because HE POURED OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH, and HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS, and He BORE THE SIN OF MANY, and made INTERCESSION for the transgressors.”- Isa 53:12

The Son of God came at His first coming to the nation of Israel. He taught that generation from the Scriptures. He performed miracles in their presence. He fulfilled all of the prophecies that spoke about the Messiah. Jesus Christ offered His life on the Cross as a sacrifice to all of His elect people throughout history.

“For I say to you that this WHICH IS WRITTEN must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS.” For the things concerning Me have an end.” -Luke 22:37

This was all according to the plans of God form before the foundation of the world. Not only did Jesus willingly pay for the sins of all of His people through the shedding of His blood, but to add insult to injury, even His own beloved disciple FORSOOK Him out of fear for their own lives. When the Jewish mob come to arrest Jesus, He told His disciples not to fight them. Jeus said that He could call for more than twelve legions of angels if His purpose was to physically resist. He was arrested and His disciples FORSOOK Him and fled.

“But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be FULFILLED. Then ALL THE DISCIPLES FORSOOK HIM AND FLED.”- Matt 26:56

Even Apostle Peter, who had gone in among the crowd to watch the proceeding before Caiaphas the high priest, from the outside courtyard, DENIED knowing the Lord three times.

“Then he (Peter) began to curse and swear, saying, “I DO NOT KNOW THE MAN?’ Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘before the rooster crows, YOU WILL DENY ME three times.” So, He went out and wept bitterly.”- Matt 26:74

The fact that Jesus was FORSAKEN by His disciples, tells us that the fear that they had: and for the love that Christ had for them. His purpose was to pay for the sins of His elect people and He accomplished that. His sacrifice did not depend on their loyalty to Him, but it was instead HIS perfect loyalty to the Scriptures, SO THAT ALL MAY BE FULFILLED.

As sinners, His elect disciples could FORSAKE Him; but as their Holy Savior, Christ would not FORSAKE them. His elect disciples were known by their faith. Even if they stumbled, Jesus knew who His elect were. He also knew those who were not His elect.

“But there are some of you who do not believe,’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would BETRAY HIM. And He said, ‘Therefore, I have said to you that no one can come to the Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.’ FROM THAT TIME MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK AND WALKED WITH HIM NO MORE.” -John 6:64-66

The FORSAKING of Jesus by His disciples was only during the time of the Cross in 30ad. It is different than the “falling away” of some of His followers prior to His second coming in 66-70ad. The FORSAKING was when they deserted Him out of fear before His resurrection. it was sin that would be paid for by the atonement of Christ at the cross and His resurrection that WAS SOON TO OCCUR.

Consider the dramatic shift in attitude of His elect disciples AFTER He was resurrected. The disciples went from being afraid and scattered to being bold, organized, and faithful through the extreme persecutions that they ended during the transition period. The resurrection of Christ brought new power and focus to those first century persecuted Apostles and disciples. [See: “FALLING AWAY”.] https://faithfood.me/2024/04/29/the-abcs-of-scripture-falling-away/

-Michael Alan Nichols

________________________________________________________________________

*Can we see that the FORSAKING from fear brings deception and creates a heart that lacks in Faith? Fear and Faith don’t mix, we can only operate out of one or the other.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.- Matt 16:25

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.- Mark 8:35

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.- Luke 9:24

Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. – Luke 17:33

Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. -John 12:25

Isn’t it great though that Christ forgives us for our weakness’. In all seriousness the disciples and apostles that literally walked with Christ were the very scriptural elect that were chosen to preach the Gospel that the prophets of old prophesized about. The prophets of old never personally met nor walked with Christ yet, they spoke, shared and wrote down all the things that God spoke to them, the very inspired world of God.

All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.-2 Tim 3:16 &17

The disciples nor the Apostles ever preached another Gospel, they never swayed from the one TRUE JESUS… nor the sanctity of the cross. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction!” – Gal 1:8

I watch the people of this generation (and all generations since the fulfilment of the bible) continually try to be “THE GENERATION” that scripture is speaking of. So much inserting ourselves into the context of the scriptures. Don’t get me wrong, I was there once, and I am truthfully so thankful God pulled me out of that deception. It is so much clearer and more peaceful being in the full stature of Christ.

“So, we have the prophetic word made more certain. You do well to pay [close] attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the morning star arises in your hearts. But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”- 2 Pet 1:19-21

It is so much clearer and more peaceful being in the full stature of Christ. I do know that I must continually keep humble enough to be taught to see all the deceptions of the ‘churches’ and the misled heart matter- making scripture what it is not. saying what it does NOT say. So much is lost when we add to the context, history and audience relevance. We have strayed from the simplicity of Christ and HIS ONLY PURPOSE and that is to save HIS elect. Then, now and forever. Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever. – Heb 13:8

To be HIS ELECT we must believe on the FINISHED WORKS OF THE CROSS! NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS! CHRIST PLUS SOMETHING EQUALS NOTHING! CHRIST PLUS NOTHING EQUALS EVERYTHING! ❤

“For I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].” -1 Cor 2:2

All my completely satisfied in the FINSHED WORKS of CHRIST AND THE CROSS, ❤ Diana xo 🙂