The new racial species and the new
spiritual species in the angelic conflict. Part 2
spiritual species in the angelic conflict. Part 2
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Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!
Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).
1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]
If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:
John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]
Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.
John 3:14-18 says: "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV
Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:
Study to show yourself approved to God!
Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries
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STUDY TITLE:
The new racial species and the new
spiritual species in the angelic conflict. Part 2
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Terms & Abbreviations used:
PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth
BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible
We have been studying the two new species created by God, the new racial species of the Jew, and the new spiritual species of the Church-age believer in union with Jesus Christ. The new racial species was a blessing from the grace of God, just as the new spiritual species in the Church-age is.
In the history of the human race only two new species have ever been added: Israel was added as the new racial species. The Church has been added as the new spiritual species.
The new racial species of Israel had to be perpetuated through procreation, while in the Church-age the new spiritual species of the Royal Family of God is perpetuated through regeneration or the baptism of the Spirit which occurs at the point of salvation.
It's also interesting to note that each new species was created by God for a definite historical impact. Israel was created for a visible historical impact in the Old Testament (age of Israel) and in the Millennium through their function as a client nation. The Church was created for an invisible historical impact during the times of the Gentiles. Each new species is a witness for the prosecution in Satan's appeal trial which is coterminous with human history.
We also looked at the new species from the point of view of our position as Church-age believers. 2CO 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone [any Church-age believer] is in Christ Jesus [and they are], he is a new [spiritual] species. The old things [position in Adam, spiritual death] have lost their power; behold, new things have come [the invisible assets plus the PPOG].” The Greek words kaine ktisis does not mean that you have been renovated, but it means you have been created a brand new creature. The day that you became born again is the day that God made you a brand new person or brand new creation. Circumcision made Abraham the first Jew, and Isaac's physical birth was the first birth of the new racial species. The day when you became born again, you became a brand new spiritual species. So the phrase kaine ktisis suggests to us something brand new, something that is brought into being out of nothing. It is something that God has created in you. The new creature is not a gradual improvement of the old (Adam), it is a brand new creation from God. God has put something in us which was never there before, a brand new nature, a nature which cannot sin. 1JO 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because his seed [incorruptible seed] abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. If the church of Jesus Christ could recognize this simple but profound teaching, the Church would be revolutionized. The Christian is not the old man improved, he is not the old creature trying to do better then what he did before salvation, rather he is a brand new person from a brand new birth. The new man is indeed a new creation. JOH 3:3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
JOH 3:7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.” The Greek word for born is gennao which means to procreate or regenerate. Then the word for again is the Greek word anothen which means something totally brand new from above, or from a higher place. The new spiritual species or the new creature originates from regeneration and the mechanics of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This means that the new spiritual species is unique and exclusive to the Church-age only. The reason for the new spiritual species is the continuation of the great power demonstration of the Hypostatic-union into the Church-age. This extension demands that all the power that was first given to Jesus Christ in Hypostatic-union is now available to every believer (although it is not used by many). That is why the apostle Paul reveals how the ritual plan of God is out and the Pre-designed Plan of God (PPOG) is in. GAL 6:15 “For neither is circumcision anything [Jewish race], nor uncircumcision The new racial species, the Jew has been replaced in the Church-age by the new spiritual species, the Church. The new spiritual species in history demands new distinctions in Biblical systematic theology. As a result of the new racial species of Israel, Bible doctrine distinguishes between Jew and Gentile from Abraham to Christ. But, as a result of the new spiritual species of the Church or body of Christ, distinction between Jew and Gentile is removed during the Church-age, EPH 2:11-22, “Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by the so-called Circumcision [the Jew] which is performed in the flesh by human hands. Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. By abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”[Gentile race]; but a new spiritual species.”
The Jew as a new racial species is always distinguished in the Old Testament from the Gentile. However, the Jew has absolutely no spiritual blessings in the Church-age unless he becomes a member of the body of Christ, and then his blessings are no better than any other Church-age believer. The new spiritual species of the Church-age formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit erases all racial distinctions between Jew and Gentile, plus all other racial distinctions in the Royal Family of God. In fact, with the coming of the Church-age and the baptism of the Spirit, the following distinctions are removed: Racial, cultural, social, and sexual (GAL 3:26-28; EPH 2:11-12; 1CO 12:13). In the Church-age, there is no racial distinction at anytime for any reason for any believer; distinctions are gone forever. In the Church-age you are to regard yourself as a person, not as a member of any race, but to a new spiritual species. All Church-age believers have equal privileges and equal opportunities under the invisible assets of election and pre-destination. The application of this doctrine means tolerance for all believers. Tolerance is important because it gives all believers the necessary privacy to grow in grace.
The only distinctions recognized in the new spiritual species are: 1) Between carnal and spiritual believers, which is the absolute concept of Christianity. 2) Between winner and loser believers, which is the relative concept of Christianity, based on spiritual momentum or retrogression.
The new spiritual species or the new creature is classified as body of Christ, Royal Family of God, and the Church. This means that the new spiritual species is unique and exclusive to the Church-age only. This new spiritual species, or the new creature, provides equal privilege and equal opportunity for all believers to execute God's will, plan, and purpose for the Church-age. The reason for the new spiritual species is the continuation of the great power demonstration of the Hypostatic-union into the Church-age. This extension demands that all the power first given to Jesus Christ in Hypostatic-union is now available to every believer (although it is not used by many believers). You now stand on the threshold of history with the opportunity to have an impact which can change history, and the course of not only our nation but also the world. You can sink back into the swamp of preoccupation with self, or your erroneous standards and priorities, or your mixed-up, confused, and hopeless attitude. Or you can forget all of that nonsense and take advantage of the opportunity God has given you to have a life of fantastic purpose and meaning. You do have a choice! Whether you ever exploit your fantastic opportunity or not depends upon your Perception, Metabolization ,and Application (PMA) of Bible doctrine and your resultant spiritual growth. In 1CO 3:5 “the Lord gives opportunity to each one.” GAL 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
GAL 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only {do} not {turn} your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. COL 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
Think of it, we have the same assets and Divine power available to us as did Jesus Christ, yet we are imperfect. This is why we had to be created a new spiritual species at salvation, apart from which we could not use Divine power. This unprecedented grace provision of Divine power to every believer demands a new spiritual species for the utilization of that power. This power could never have been used by the Old Testament saints, not being a new spiritual species.
So some of the characteristics of this new spiritual species are as follows: The new spiritual species is created by the baptism of the Spirit at salvation. This positional sanctification constitutes the equal privilege of pre-destination. The new spiritual species is forever protected from liability at the last judgment; in other words, you cannot lose your salvation (ROM 8:1).
The new spiritual species possesses eternal life (1JO 5:11).
The new spiritual species possesses a double Divine righteousness: First, the imputed perfect righteousness of God the Father (ROM 3:22), and secondly, the perfect righteousness we share with Jesus Christ through positional sanctification (1CO 1:30).
The new spiritual species has an inheritance protected by the omnipotence of God (1PE 1:4). Being a new spiritual species is not progressive. It cannot be improved in time or in eternity. It is a gift of God and originates from His sovereignty; therefore, we cannot improve it by anything we do.
Being a new spiritual species is not an emotion or an experience. Emotion is a normal part of life, a normal soul function, but it has no part in the Christian life; it is not part of the spiritual life. You can be filled with the Holy Spirit and be emotional about something, but emotion is not a sign of spirituality; it is not a function of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Being a new spiritual species is not related to any form of human works or human merit.
The new spiritual species of the Church-age is both justified and sanctified (ROM 3:24; 1CO 1:2; 1CO 1:30; HEB 10:10; HEB 10:14). We are justified as new spiritual species, Old Testament believers were also justified upon receiving the imputation of God's perfect righteousness. We are sanctified (entered into union with Christ) as new spiritual species (1CO 1:2; 1CO 1:30; HEB 10:10; HEB 10:14).
The new spiritual species is unique to the Church-age, and never existed in any previous dispensation, nor will it exist in any future dispensation. This means that there is a the challenge for the new spiritual species. The Church-age is the greatest opportunity afforded to individual believers in Christ in all of human history. We have more going for us than even Adam had in the perfect environment of the Garden, or any group of people in history. We should never stoop to claiming any superiority based on any human standards by which members of the human race are distinguished. We now have the privilege of becoming a person with a purpose under the greatest plan from God. Our impact is not only extensive and invisible in human history, but it also extends into the angelic conflict with the elect and fallen angels. As a new spiritual species, you have a greater spiritual impact than Israel had in the Old Testament. Never has such an opportunity been afforded by God as is now given to each of us.
So you must entirely change your human viewpoint and no longer regard yourself or any other believers as inferior or superior under any of these human categories. You must regard yourself as a member of the Royal Family of God, with your very own invisible assets plus an absolutely perfect and wonderful plan guaranteed to keep you on top of life as long as you live, guaranteed to give you the type of happiness you never dreamed existed, guaranteed to provide for you blessings beyond description. Your ideas and dreams of happiness, greatness or prosperity, are nothing compared to what God provides, which is beyond what you can think or imagine. You live in the age of the greatest potential dynamics to ever exist in human history. Yet, right from the start, only a small minority of all born-again believers in any generation have ever learned and fully applied the spiritual mechanics and executed God's plan under God's power. This is the great tragedy.
As new creatures or new spiritual species we can have the strength and power to live the Christian life. Remember that if we are commanded to do something in the Word of God then we can expect to receive, from God, the power to do so. The Christian way of life is a supernatural way of life and demands a supernatural means of execution.
In the Old Testament, God basically used the new racial species, the Jew as His witness.
In the New Testament, God uses the new spiritual species, the Church, as His witness.
It is also interesting to note that each new species, the racial Jew and the new spiritual species, the Church, originates from a category of Biblical death. Israel originated from Abraham's sexual death (ROM 4:17-21; HEB 11:11-12). The Church originates from the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our identification with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the Cross. This is why GAL 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”
Or ROM 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
So each new species, the racial Jew, and the new spiritual species, the Church, originates from a category of Biblical death. It's also interesting to note that each new species was formed from a significant event in history connected with circumcision. Circumcision consists in cutting away the foreskin of the male phallus using a flint knife for the operation (EXO 4:24; JOS 5:2). This ritual was related to Abraham’s supergrace sexual prosperity and represented his adjustment to the justice of God (GEN 17:1-14).
Abraham was 99 years old and was sexually dead, and circumcision signified his advance to spiritual maturity. Circumcision not only revived his sexual ability, but it was the moment when God established the new race called the Jew. Circumcision is a sign, a token, a training aid, of all that is related to the ultra supergrace prosperity of Abraham and the Jews. Circumcision is the recognition of then beginning of a new birth but also of the fact that God not only provides salvation in time, but it becomes logical that with salvation He will provide many other things that follow. There is something beyond salvation, and therefore, the ritual of circumcision is going to emphasize some of these wonderful things beyond salvation.
This circumcision was a significant and pivotal momentous occasion. Throughout the word of God, momentous occasions are accompanied by permanent training aids to bring to remembrance new doctrinal principles. For example, in the founding of the new race, the Jew, a permanent training aid was set up and that is the ritual of circumcision. In the founding of the new nation, Israel, a permanent training aid was set up the Levitical offerings, the tabernacle and the Holy days, those were permanent training aids. In the bringing forth of the new spiritual species, the Church, the Lord's supper was instituted as a training aid and as a momentous occasion to commemorate the doctrinal principle of the Lord's supper. The night before our Lord's death, He said to His disciples; JOH 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” This is another doctrinal principle that should be brought to remembrance from the momentous occasion of the Lord's supper as well. When a lot of believers think about the Lord's Supper they think about it as being a time when they go through a ritual that reveals the reality of our Lord's sacrifice, and that is partly true. However, there is another aspect of it, and that is the aspect of fellowship with God's people.
The Abrahamic covenant is so important to the Jew, to the racial Jew, that it must be guarded in every generation. The covenant is to be guarded by a memorial ritual. A ritual that will be passed down to every generation, and a ritual, which for nearly 4000 years has been faithfully observed in every generation of the Jewish race. That's how this particular ritual has perpetuated itself. The oldest of all the rituals, and therefore one of the least understood, but definitely one of the most important. Since the ritual, even at its very beginning was attacked by overflowing to others who were not Jewish, and becoming a practice for many, many other nationalities and races, it was still the order of God just to Abraham and the Jews. It was practiced by the Egyptians, but they did it simply because they thought that it was good hygiene to be circumcised. There are many gentile groups who are circumcised, but it has no meaning to these people. Just as emersion in baptism has very little meaning, if any today, to certain denominations who claim that it is a must. In other words, they practice it, but it's a ritual without meaning. That is not surprising because the same thing is true about the Lord's table, a ritual started by the Lord Jesus Christ the night He was betrayed, and a ritual, which is now nearly 2000 years old. Yet, in many churches that ritual is not understood. People go through the motions, but ritual without reality is meaningless. All ritual demands that you have the doctrinal counterpart in your soul. To go through the ritual without understanding in your soul is ritual without reality. That's true of Baptism. That's true of the Lords table. That's true of circumcision.
The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.
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