Plainer Words On …

BACKGROUND OF CHRISTIANITY

 

This series of studies includes the Introduction and Part I through Part VIII.
Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII

Part V

During the dispensation covered by the “Acts of the Apostles,” two callings of Christians existed. These two callings were discussed in previous studies. The general headings we listed them under were: (1) The Justified Ones and, (2) The Born Again Ones. The Apostle Paul had truth for those who were justified by the faith of Christ without the works of the Law. The Apostles of the Circumcision had truth for those who were born again and were still zealous of the Law.

Most all Bible commentators try to harmonize the teachings of Paul and the Circumcision Apostles. They fail to recognize that all Christians during the Acts period were not called upon to believe the same thing. God provided Truth for those He providentially chose to live on the “higher ground” of being justified, by faith alone, without the works of the Law. This was for the Justified Ones. They had Paul as their minister and apostle. It is apparent that there were those who first believed the Gospel of the Circumcision but were later called to “higher ground.” The two most notable were Barnabas (Acts 4:36; 9:27) and Mark (Acts 12:12, 25). Undoubtedly, there were many others.

On the other hand, God provided Truth for those who were to make up the calling of the Born Again Ones. The Circumcision Apostles were their ministers.

Failure to distinguish between the two callings has led Bible commentators to synthesize the two in an attempt to make them one. Both callings were of the Lord—they were not one. They could never be one until such time as it could be said after Acts 28:

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:13-16).

Following the precept of rightly dividing the Word of Truth, we will distinguish between the two doctrines.

DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCE

Instead of harmonizing, or synthesizing, the two doctrines into one, we will simply contrast the two—both of which were inspired and were truth for the particular calling.

Paul’s Doctrine to the Justified Ones without the Law:

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

Paul adds to his doctrine of justification in Romans 4:3-5:

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

James’ doctrine to the Born Again Ones:

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” (James 2:21, 22, 23, 25).

The differences between the two are crystal clear. Martin Luther was so frustrated by the God-given doctrine to James that he said the Epistle of James shouldn’t be included in the canon of Scripture. We will not curse James nor will we try to manufacture a doctrine making the two into one by tap-dancing around them. We prefer to let them stand as they are written; recognizing “to whom each was written.” Right division solves so many imagined problems in the Bible.

The Apostle Paul told those who were justified by faith, only, that when Abraham believed God in Genesis 15, he was justified because Abraham believed God’s Word concerning the promise of a son and the multiplying of his seed. The contrast is that James tells the Born Again Ones that their father, Abraham, was justified in Genesis 22 when he offered up his son, Isaac, on the altar. Both of these were true. One was true for the calling of the Justified Ones and the other was true for the Born Again Ones.

Don’t think, for one minute, that the God of Heaven cannot “work both sides of the street at the same time.”


Tom L. Ballinger

 

Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII