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12 Truths to Understanding God's Word (Parts 1-3)
mharrell08:
The following is a basic layout of the 12 Truths paper. This is not a substitute for reading the paper, but to amplify the points Ray makes in the paper. I will try to do the other parts when time allows.
12 Truths to Understanding God's Word
#1 'First the Physical, then the Spiritual'
[A] "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the Last Adam [Jesus Christ] was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is NATURAL; and afterward that which is SPIRITUAL" (I Cor. 15:45-46).
[ B ] "It is sown [first] a NATURAL BODY [a physical body which dies]; it is raised [afterward] a SPIRITUAL BODY [which is made immortal and never dies]…" (I Cor. 15:44).
[C] "Who shall change our [first] VILE BODY, that it may be fashioned like unto His [afterward] GLORIOUS BODY…" (Phil. 3:21).
[D] "If I have told you EARTHLY things [first], and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of HEAVENLY [spiritual] things [afterward]?" (John 3:12).
As Paul writes above, God first made mankind into physical beings but for the express purpose of later making us into spiritual beings.
Throughout the Scriptures, God does a physical event to forshadow an eventual spiritual truth. This can be known as a parable, not because the physical event did not literally happen, but because the true worth is found in the eventual spiritual reality. (Examples: trial of Job, Noah's Ark, etc.)
Also, true metaphorical parables are used in scriptures that forshadow an eventual spiritual truth. (Examples: Any of Christ parables, Paul describing 'judgment by fire' [1 Cor 3]).
#2 Jesus Christ taught in Parables only
[A] "All these things spoke Jesus unto the multitude in PARABLES; and without a parable spoke He not unto them" (Matt. 13:34).
[ B ] "But without a PARABLE spoke He not unto them…" (Mark 4:34).
[C] "This PARABLE spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spoke unto them" (John 10:6).
Jesus always taught in parables. This is how the gospel was hidden, and has remained so, from the masses of humanity. Not just when He announced He was about to tell a parable but rather ANYTIME He taught, He spoke in the form of parables.
Add in the fact that Christ is the God of the OT, and He does not change [Heb 13:8], this gives us brand new knowledge with our understanding of the scriptures. When God spoke in the Book of Moses, the Psalms, the Prophets, and etc. we understand that even then He taught in parables.
#3 Jesus Christ taught in parables to His disciples and apostles too
[A] "Therefore speak I to them in parables, because they seeing SEE NOT: and hearing they HEAR NOT, NEITHER DO THEY UNDERSTAND" (Matt. 13:13).
[ B ] "How is it that you [disciples] DO NOT UNDERSTAND…" (Matt. 16:11).
[C] "But they [the disciples] UNDERSTOOD NOT this saying, and it was HID from them…" (Luke 9:45).
Even when called, the apostles & disciples did not understand the teachings from Jesus. Even after been given the Holy Spirit, Jesus still used a parable to teach Peter to bring the gospel to the Gentiles [Acts 10:9-16, 24-48].
Jesus Christ does not change [Heb 13:8]. As with His apostles, He will teach YOU by parable. The use of physical examples to relay a powerful spiritual truth for your edification and judgment.
Marques
grapehound:
Wow, thanks Marques.
I just read this after posting Parallel of Genesis.
Awesome.
Thanks for the commentary and the reminder of this teaching.
Grape
Samson:
Thank you Marques,
Good Thread, thanks for Posting this information explaining the Physical events that actually happened foreshadowing a greater, more important Spiritual reality. I procrastinated in getting to this as per Our discussion of this, but You did an excellent Job in getting the ball rolling. Some points I appreciated from your first Post found below in blue.
As Paul writes above, God first made mankind into physical beings but for the express purpose of later making us into spiritual beings.
Throughout the Scriptures, God does a physical event to forshadow an eventual spiritual truth. This can be known as a parable, not because the physical event did not literally happen, but because the true worth is found in the eventual spiritual reality. (Examples: trial of Job, Noah's Ark, etc.)
Jesus Christ does not change [Heb 13:8]. As with His apostles, He will teach YOU by parable. The use of physical examples to relay a powerful spiritual truth for your edification and judgment.
Here are some Scriptures that contrast the Physical realities with the greater Spiritual realities.
Colossians. 2:16-23 " So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a feast day or new moon or sabbaths, which are a SHADOW OF THINGS to come, but the SUBSTANCE is of CHRIST. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of Angels, intruding into things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, GROWS WITH THE INCREASE THAT IS FROM GOD, Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourself to regulations-Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, WHICH CONCERN ALL THINGS THAT PERISH WITH THE USING- according to the commandments and doctrines of men. These things indeed have an APPEARANCE OF WISDOM IN SELF IMPOSED RELIGION, false humility, neglect(asceticism) of the body, but are OF NO VALUE against the indulgence of the flesh." (caps mine for emphasis)
Read Hebrews Chapter 9, certain verses for emphasis as follows: Verse 11-But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Verse 12 Not with blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood He entered the Most Holy place once for all, having obtained Eonian redemption. Verses; 23,24- Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the Holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
Kind Regards, Samson.
Deborah-Leigh:
--- Quote ---Jesus Christ does not change [Heb 13:8]. As with His apostles, He will teach YOU by parable.
--- End quote ---
Marques, I found that in THAT statement from you ~ Galactic if not Apocalyptic measures of vast Godly meaning.
You add a most Stately contribution dear Samson.
Blessings dear brothers :-*
Arc
Marky Mark:
--- Quote ---Why would parables be the preferred way of instruction?
--- End quote ---
Joh 4:24 God is spirit, and those who are worshiping Him must be worshiping in spirit and truth."
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Peace...Mark
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