Smart "Rear End" Grace Believers

      I would have used another word for "rear end" in the title of this blog post, but some would have accused me of cussing if I had done so.  At any rate I want to address what I see as a problem among some grace believers.  In their actions and words they often come across as arrogant and "smart rear ends."  This is not how our Apostle Paul told us to conduct ourselves.  He states in Col 4:[6] "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  Unfortunately many grace believers I have witnessed speak with all salt and very little or no grace to season it.  

     I will give an example of one being a "smart rear end" grace believer.  I heard a grace preacher once speaking of the truth that we have already been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ.  This is certainly a true statement and I rejoice in it!  However, I heard him speak of some worker at a grocery store telling him to have a blessed day when he finished shopping.  I don't remember exactly what he said he told this employee, but he implied that this person was "stupid" for telling him to have a blessed day since he was already blessed with all spiritual blessings.  A better response would have been to thank this person for wishing him a good day, and maybe explain to this person the spiritual blessings that can be had in Christ. 

     You see the truth of the matter was this grace preacher was so "smart" that he actually showed his "back side" when it comes to both practical matters as well as doctrine.  He implied that he thought it is wrong to tell people to have a blessed day or to try to be a blessing.  Practically speaking we should always greet people with an attitude of blessing rather than cursing.  Our Apostle, that this grace preacher claims to follow, told us to "bless, and curse not" (Rom 12:14).  Paul actually teaches that even under grace there are physical blessings we can still experience.  He states, "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).  

     Unfortunately many grace believers' testimony is "curse, and bless not." 

Grace Believers and Hell

     Some Grace Believers reject the doctrine of hell, I assume because Paul did not specifically use the term "Hell," yet he does use terms like "flaming fire" and "everlasting destruction" that will be experienced by those that do not obey the gospel (2 Thes 1:8-10).  

     I already have a blog post on "Did Paul Believe in Hell" if you are interested.  See

https://acts20gracebeliever.blogspot.com/2022/01/did-paul-believe-in-hell.html

     If anybody, including Grace Believers, gets a doctrine wrong (hell, polygamy, Trinity, soul sleep, etc) the core of the problem is not with their "brand" of dispensationalism, whether Acts 2, Mid Acts, or Acts 28.  The core of the problem is rejecting the final authority of the King James Bible.  FYI, according to my computer the KJV uses the term "hell" 64 times in the Old and New Testament.  Although our Apostle Paul never used the term "hell," he did say in 2 Tim 3

[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

     Hell existed before Paul was given the revelation of the mystery, for example, see Mat 10:28.  Hell continued to exist after the revelation of the mystery, for example, see Rev 20:13-14.

Grace Believers and Polygamy

      There is a fringe group in the "right division grace camp" that believe polygamy is OK under Grace.  It is true that God allowed polygamy in time past, but that was not His perfect will.  Genesis 2:23-24 states,

[23] And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
[24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Note that in the beginning the first marriage was arranged by God and it consisted of only one man and one woman.  This teaching of only two in marriage (male & female) was also confirmed by Christ during His earthly ministry.  Matthew 19:5 states,

[5] And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

The Apostle Paul during the Acts period as well as after Acts 28 confirms marriage as one male and one female becoming one flesh.  1 Corinthians 6:16 states,

[16] What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

For one that might argue that things changed after the final offer of the Kingdom in Acts 28 in regards to the doctrine of marriage, note that Ephesians 5:31 (written after Acts 28) states, 

[31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

God's perfect will under Grace, even after Acts 28, is for marriage to be between one man and one woman for life!

This "fringe" group of "right dividers" who have put their stamp of approval on polygamy actually give right division a bad name and cause some to reject the Bible instruction of 2 Timothy 2:15.   Some of this same group also reject the doctrine of the "Trinity" (see my previous blog post on this subject).  Another characteristic of some in this fringe group is they also reject the doctrine of hell.  I have an old post on my blog "Did Paul Believe in Hell," but I may do an updated post on this subject as well.  Some say these people got off base on these issues because they went too far in right division.  I disagree.  My belief is that these "fringe" right dividers got off base on these issues, not because of their "right division" (whether it be Mid Acts or Acts 28), but because they rejected or changed words in the King James Bible. 

Grace Believers and the Trinity

      For some strange reason there a some grace believers that are weak on the doctrine of the Trinity.  Yes, I know the word, "trinity" is not in the Bible, but I believe based on my study of the Bible that it is a valid doctrine in the Bible.  

     The word "trinity," as stated is not in the King James Bible, but a similar word is, "Godhead."  This word is mentioned, guess how many times in the King James Bible?  Three!  Consider the following:

(1) Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

(2) Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

(3) Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Since "Trinity" means three, I find it amazing the word "Godhead" is mentioned only three times in the King James Bible.  For those that do not share my belief that God supernaturally used the King James translators to preserve His word in English, then one might argue that it is just a coincidence that "Godhead" shows up only three times.  Well, notice something else remarkable about the inspired text.  In Acts 17:29 the "Godhead" is not to be thought of in regard to how many things?  Three!  Note the three things listed in Acts 17:29, gold, silver, and stone.  

     Romans 1:20 takes the context back to creation in discussing the "Godhead."  In Genesis chapter one we see God refers to Himself in the plural "us" and "our."  Genesis 1:26 states, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."  Adam of course had a physical body that was made in God's image as stated in Genesis chapter one.  Notice how the third reference to "Godhead" in Colossians 2:9 states in Christ dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  In Genesis one you have God mentioned as well as the Spirit of God in reference to the work of creation.  Colossians 2:9 seals the deal of the Trinity by showing that the bodily image of Adam had to be that of the Son, Jesus Christ.  So at creation, you have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all present.

     In conclusion, most grace believers I know claim to be Bible believers, so I am not sure why a number of them seem to be week on the doctrine of the Trinity in light of the above passages, and of course there are many more passages that I could have cited defending the Trinity. 

Hebrews Provides Doctrine for Believers in the 7 Churches of Revelation 1-3

      After the "Mystery Body of Christ" is raptured there will be people who receive Christ as the Messiah and Savior during the period that follows.  Of course the mystery program will be over as we know it now, so these believers will need new instructions on how to live until the Second Coming of Christ to the earth.  From my study it appears that Hebrews through Jude will be the "go to guide" for these believers.  My purpose in this post will be give some examples from Hebrews on how believers after the rapture will find instruction on how to conduct themselves until the Second Coming of Christ.  Please consider the following examples from Hebrews.

     First, consider Hebrews 10:25.  " Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  The churches John writes to in Revelation 2 and 3 will see the Day of the Lord approaching and should assemble to exhort one another during their time of tribulation.  As a side note, how many times have you heard Hebrews 10:25 taken out of context and applied to the "Mystery Church" of the dispensation of grace.  The "Mystery Church" is raptured, so it will not see the "day" approaching.

     Second, Hebrews is written with the context of the "Last Days" in mind.  Consider Hebrews 1:1-2: 

[1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  

The last days would have been accomplished in the first century had Israel accepted her Messiah, but Israel rejected Christ during the period of the Gospels as well as in the book of Acts.  Sometime late in Acts or after the Acts period it is revealed to Paul that the "last days" have been postponed and are now to occur in the future.  Consider 2 Timothy 3:1:  "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."  The believers in Revelation will once again be in the last days (see Acts 2:17-20 & Revelation 6:12-13) and will need the book of Hebrews for instructions.  

     Third, Hebrews speaks of a rest that pictures the 1,000 year reign of Christ.  Consider Hebrews 4:1-4:

 [1] Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
[2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
[3] For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
[4] For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 

The believers in Revelation will be looking for the Second Coming of Christ and the "rest" He brings during the 1,000 year reign on earth (see Rev 20:1-2).  The book of Hebrews will encourage them in this hope.

     Fourth, Hebrews warns of an unpardonable sin that can't be repented of (see Hebrews 6:4-6).  I believe this corresponds with the only unpardonable sin that I am aware of in the book of Revelation which concerns that taking the mark of the beast.  Consider Rev 14:9-12:

[9] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
[10] The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
[11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
[12] Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

     Fifth, Hebrews reminds, especially Jewish believers in Revelation, of the New Covenant that Israel will experience after the Second Coming.  Nationally, Israel's sins will be blotted out at the Second Coming of Christ (see Acts 3:19).  This New Covenant is better than the Old because it is based on the blood of Israel's New Testament (see Matt 26:27-29).  Hebrews 9:14-15 states:

[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

 Paul explained in Galatians that the first covenant was associated with the Law and bondage while the new one is associated with freedom (Gal 4:24-26).  Paul wrote Galatians before national judgment was pronounced on Israel.  In light of this fact, the initial message of Galatians would apply to believers that would need to leave the bondage of the Old Covenant (Gal 5:1) and would experience the freedom of the New Covenant that would be established if Israel had repented during Acts.  In hindsight, with Israel's final rejection of Christ at Acts 28, the grace Paul preached in Galatians and other pre-Acts 28 Epistles becomes the foundation for the dispensation of Grace and the Mystery program of this present age.

     The last thing I will mention, although much more could be said, is that Hebrews reminds the believers of Revelation of a heavenly city awaiting for them to experience.  Hebrews 12:22 states, " But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels."  We see an early glimpse of this city in heaven.  Revelation 14:1-3 states:

[1] And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
[2] And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
[3] And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

This city comes down out of heaven in Revelation 21:2 which states, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

     I hope you see from the above examples how the believers in Revelation will find doctrine, instruction, and comfort from the book of Hebrews.  Lord willing I may do some follow up posts showing how James through Jude will also be books of doctrine and comfort for those believers  that will see the day of the Lord approaching.