You are here: Home / Archives for BOOKS

BEARING FALSE WITNESS

by

ONE WITNESS SHALL NOT RISE UP AGAINST A MAN FOR ANY INIQUITY …]

 FIVE COMMANDS — BEARING FALSE WITNESS

  1. ONE WITNESS SHALL NOT RISE UP AGAINST A MAN TO CONDEMN HIM FOR ANY CRIME. AT THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES SHALL A MATTER BE ESTABLISHED (DEUT. 19:15; CP. DEUT. 17:6).
  2. IF A FALSE WITNESS RISES UP AGAINST A MAN TO TESTIFY AGAINST HIM, BOTH MEN SHALL BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE LORD AND BEFORE THE PRIESTS AND JUDGES TO SETTLE THE CONTROVERSY (DEUT. 19:16-17).
  3. THE JUDGES SHALL CROSS EXAMINE BOTH MEN AND IF THE WITNESS IS FOUND TO BE FALSE, AND HAS SOUGHT TO INJURE HIS NEIGHBOR, HE SHALL BE PUNISHED IN THE SAME WAY THAT HE THOUGHT TO PUNISH HIS NEIGHBOR (DEUT. 19:18-19).
  4. THOSE THAT REMAIN SHALL HEAR OF THE JUST JUDGMENT, AND SHALL FEAR, AND REFRAIN FROM SUCH WICKEDNESS (DEUT. 19:20).
  5. YOUR EYE SHALL NOT PITY THE FALSE WITNESS WHO HAD NO PITY FOR HIS NEIGHBOR, BUT YOU SHALL METE OUT TO HIM THE PUNISHMENT HIS NEIGHBOR WOULD HAVE RECEIVED HAD HE BEEN CONVICTED — LIFE FOR LIFE, EYE FOR EYE, TOOTH FOR TOOTH, HAND FOR HAND, AND FOOT FOR FOOT (DEUT. 19:21).

 

HOW THE INNOCENT COULD LEGALLY BE PUT TO DEATH UNDER THE LAW OF TWO OR MORE WITNESSES.

  1. AHAB WAS A WICKED KING IN ISRAEL. HE COVETED THE VINEYARD NEXT TO THE KING’S PALACE OWNED BY RIGHTEOUS NABOTH. THE KING OFFERED TO BUY IT, BUT NABOTH REFUSED TO SELL IT. THE KING WAS DEPRESSED OVER THIS REJECTION. AHAB’S WIFE, WICKED JEZEBEL, ASSURED HIM SHE WOULD GET THE VINEYARD FOR HIM. THE PLOT AND RESULTS ARE IN THE FOLLOWING VERSES.

1 KINGS 21: “BUT JEZEBEL HIS WIFE CAME TO HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHY IS THY SPIRIT SO SAD, THAT THOU EATEST NO BREAD?  AND HE SAID UNTO HER, BECAUSE I SPAKE UNTO NABOTH THE JEZREELITE, AND SAID UNTO HIM, GIVE ME THY VINEYARD FOR MONEY; OR ELSE, IF IT PLEASE THEE, I WILL GIVE THEE ANOTHER VINEYARD FOR IT: AND HE ANSWERED, I WILL NOT GIVE THEE MY VINEYARD.  AND JEZEBEL HIS WIFE SAID UNTO HIM, DOST THOU NOW GOVERN THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL? ARISE, AND EAT BREAD, AND LET THINE HEART BE MERRY: I WILL GIVE THEE THE VINEYARD OF NABOTH THE JEZREELITE. SO SHE WROTE LETTERS IN AHAB’S NAME, AND SEALED THEM WITH HIS SEAL, AND SENT THE LETTERS UNTO THE ELDERS AND TO THE NOBLES THAT WERE IN HIS CITY, DWELLING WITH NABOTH.  AND SHE WROTE IN THE LETTERS, SAYING, PROCLAIM A FAST, AND SET NABOTH ON HIGH AMONG THE PEOPLE:  AND SET TWO MEN, SONS OF BELIAL, BEFORE HIM, TO BEAR WITNESS AGAINST HIM, SAYING, THOU DIDST BLASPHEME GOD AND THE KING. AND THEN CARRY HIM OUT, AND STONE HIM, THAT HE MAY DIE.  AND THE MEN OF HIS CITY, EVEN THE ELDERS AND THE NOBLES WHO WERE THE INHABITANTS IN HIS CITY, DID AS JEZEBEL HAD SENT UNTO THEM, AND AS IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE LETTERS WHICH SHE HAD SENT UNTO THEM.  THEY PROCLAIMED A FAST, AND SET NABOTH ON HIGH AMONG THE PEOPLE.  AND THERE CAME IN TWO MEN, CHILDREN OF BELIAL, AND SAT BEFORE HIM: AND THE MEN OF BELIAL WITNESSED AGAINST HIM, EVEN AGAINST NABOTH, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE, SAYING, NABOTH DID BLASPHEME GOD AND THE KING. THEN THEY CARRIED HIM FORTH OUT OF THE CITY, AND STONED HIM WITH STONES, THAT HE DIED.” THUS, THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW WERE MET. NABOTH WAS DEAD, AND AHAB OWNED THE VINEYARD.” 1 Kings 21:5-13.

 

  1. HOWEVER, EVEN TWO WITNESS DID NOT ALWAYS PROTECT THE INNOCENT. THERE WERE TWO WITNESS AGAINST JESUS, THUS HE WAS CRUCIFIED. “NOW THE CHIEF PRIESTS, AND ELDERS, AND ALL THE COUNCIL, SOUGHT FALSE WITNESS AGAINST JESUS, TO PUT HIM TO DEATH; BUT FOUND NONE: YEA, THOUGH MANY FALSE WITNESSES CAME, YET FOUND THEY NONE. AT THE LAST CAME TWO FALSE WITNESSES.” MATTHEW 26:59-60. THE LAW WAS MET; THE SON OF GOD WAS CONDEMNED AND CRUCIFIED.

IS THERE A FOOLPROOF SYSTEM ON THIS EARTH? THERE IS NOT, BUT THIS IS THE BEST.

THERE IS ANOTHER JUDGMENT AWAITING ALL. FOR THE UNSAVED: “AND I SAW A GREAT WHITE THRONE, AND HIM THAT SAT ON IT, FROM WHOSE FACE THE EARTH AND THE HEAVEN FLED AWAY; AND THERE WAS FOUND NO PLACE FOR THEM.  AND I SAW THE DEAD, SMALL AND GREAT, STAND BEFORE GOD; AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED: AND ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED, WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE: AND THE DEAD WERE JUDGED OUT OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS, ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.  AND THE SEA GAVE UP THE DEAD WHICH WERE IN IT; AND DEATH AND HELL DELIVERED UP THE DEAD WHICH WERE IN THEM: AND THEY WERE JUDGED EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS.  AND DEATH AND HELL WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH.  AND WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.” REVELATION 20:11-15.

FOR THE SAVED: “BUT WHY DOST THOU JUDGE THY BROTHER? OR WHY DOST THOU SET AT NOUGHT THY BROTHER? FOR WE SHALL ALL STAND BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.” ROMANS 14:10. “FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST; THAT EVERY ONE MAY RECEIVE THE THINGS DONE IN HIS BODY, ACCORDING TO THAT HE HATH DONE, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR BAD.” 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10.

 

WHEN CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO THE FATHER

by

WHEN CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO THE FATHER

  1. CHRIST IS THE FIRST FRUITS TO BE RESURRECTED IN A GLORIFIED BODY-
  2. CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS TO BE RESURRECTED ACCORDING TO THEIR ORDER-
  3. CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO GOD AT THE END OF THE THOUSAND YEAR KINGDOM-
  4. CHRIST WILL SUBDUE ALL POWERS DURING HIS THOUSAND YEAR REIGN-
  5. CHRIST WILL DESTROY THE LAST ENEMY, DEATH-
  6. CHRIST WILL BECOME SUBJECT TO GOD AT THE END OF HIS THOUSAND YEAR REIGN-
  7. GOD WILL RULE OVER ALL THINGS AS HE DID IN THE ORIGINAL CREATION-

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

WHEN CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO THE FATHER

by

WHEN CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO THE FATHER

By Ken Blue

 

 

  1. CHRIST IS THE FIRST FRUITS TO BE RESURRECTED IN A GLORIFIED BODY-
  2. CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS RESURRECTED ACCORDING TO THEIR ORDER-
  3. CHRIST DELIVERS THE KINGDOM TO GOD AT THE END OF THE THOUSAND YEAR KINGDOM-
  4. CHRIST WILL SUBDUE ALL POWERS DURING HIS THOUSAND YEAR REIGN-
  5. CHRIST WILL DESTROY THE LAST ENEMY, DEATH-
  6. CHRIST WILL BECOME SUBJECT TO GOD AT THE END OF HIS THOUSAND YEAR REIGN-
  7. GOD WILL RULE OVER ALL THINGS AS HE DID IN THE ORIGINAL CREATION-

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

“GIVE NONE OFFENCE, NEITHER TO THE JEWS, THE GENTILES, THE CHURCH OF GOD:” 

by

“GIVE NONE OFFENCE, NEITHER TO THE JEWS NOR TO THE GENTILES, NOR TO THE CHURCH OF GOD:”  (1 Corinthians 10:32).

By Ken Blue
CHURCH OF GOD

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES RIGHTLY UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO DIVIDE THEM RIGHTLY. FAILURE OF THIS RULE OF BIBLE INTERPRETATION HAS LED TO ALL KINDS CONFUSION AND MISAPPLICATION OF GOD’S WORD. THE FOLLOWING VERSE IS NOT UNDERSTOOD OR IT IS IGNORED TO THE SHAME OF MANY COMMENTATORS.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:15-16.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:32 REVEALS A DIVISION, NOT OF TIME, OR EVENTS, OR PLACES, BUT OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE. THESE CONSIST OF THE JEWS, THE GENTILES (NON JEWS OR THE CHURCH), OR THE CHURCH OF GOD. EACH OF THESE MUST BE DEALT WITH SEPARATELY AND IN THEIR PROPER CONTEXT. THIS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION. THE SECOND RULE IS TO TAKE ALL SCRIPTURE LITERAL AS FAR AS THE CONTEXT WILL ALLOW. IN OTHER WORDS, DO NOT MAKE THE FIGURATIVE LITERAL, OR THE LITERAL, A FIGURE OF SPEECH.

 

SHOULD THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH ANOINT WITH OIL?

by

SHOULD THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH ANOINT THE SICK WITH OIL?

By Ken Blue
anoint with oil“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:14-16.

Several years ago one of the best-known pastors in fundamentalism preached at our church. I have no memory what the title or purpose of the sermon was. However, in the sermon, he mentioned the above text and stated that many women, who seemed barren, wanted to be anointed with oil in order to heal their bareness. He said he did so, and many of the women later conceived. Several of our ladies lined up and he proceeded to anoint them with oil.

At that time I had little understanding of right divisions of Scripture or the book of James. However, the right division of the Scriptures makes it clear that Hebrews through Revelation are Jewish epistles. Therefore, it must be understood and interpreted accordingly.  The first verse of James makes it clear to whom it is written and for the twelve tribes of Israel. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1. It is written to the twelve tribes of Israel and falls under the ministry to them.

   The book of James was written about A.D. 45 at Jerusalem before the first Christian council in A.D. 51, and is, no doubt, the first epistle written under the Kingdom of Heaven offer to Israel. James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ is the author of the book. James is more Jewish in content than Matthew, the gospel for the Jews; than Jude and Revelation, and even Hebrews. “The book of James could take a place with the Old Testament canon as far as doctrine is concerned.  There is no mention of the gospel, the incarnation, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There is no suggestion as to the Messiah has come or of redemption through Him.  There is no trace of early Christian controversies.  However, James adheres to the teachings of Christ…” Dake’s notes. The book of James parallels much of the Sermon on the Mount as found in Matthew 5-7.

We conclude that the anointing with oil is a Jewish practice under the Kingdom of Heaven ministry, and it has no place or application to the church of this grace dispensation. I have witnessed several Baptist preachers attempt to practice the anointing in order to appease a request, but I have never seen anyone follow the scriptural mandate. Nothing is as silly as a Baptist pastor with a dab of oil on his finger dabbing it on some naive Christian. However, I too was once foolish and blind to the understanding of the book of James because I had not learned to rightly divide the Word of God. The internal evidence is overwhelming that James is not to or for the church, the Body of Christ. We must study all Scripture, but we must know to whom and for what purpose they are written. Anointing oil has no place in this age of grace.