important to realize that the cross made a difference ! Some of what Jesus said before the cross and what He said after the cross were spoken under completely different covenants. You also need to see who Jesus was speaking to. At times, He was speaking to the Pharisees, who boasted in their perfect law-keeping. With them, Jesus brought the law to its pristine standard, such that it was impossible for any man to keep.
“But Pastor Prince, I believe that we should do everything that Jesus said!”
My friend, Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you… And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” 5 Have you done that?
Do you think that Jesus expects us to do all that, or does He want us to rightly divide the Word, and understand who He was speaking to in that passage and what He meant? If the church were to obey everything that Jesus said in that passage, then it would look like a huge amputation ward! (I hope that I don’t hear you saying, “Pastor Prince, you should have written this book earlier — I have already plucked out one eye and severed one arm!”)
Come on, Jesus said all that to bring the law back to its pristine standard, a standard that ensured that no man could keep the law. He said all that so that man would come to the end of depending on himself and begin to see that he desperately needs a savior. So when we read the words of Jesus in the four gospels, it is necessary for us to rightly divide the Word and understand who Jesus was speaking to.
Let me give you another example. You may have heard some preachers yelling at unbelievers and using the term “a brood of vipers”. But Jesus never called sinners — not even the prostitutes and corrupt tax collectors — “a brood of vipers”. Never! Those harsh words by Jesus were reserved only for the Pharisees 6 , whose fixation on the law blinded them from seeing God in the flesh — Jesus, who gave the law in the first place and who came to fulfill the law on man’s behalf. So learn to rightly divide the Word of God whenever you read the Bible. Not everything that Jesus said was spoken to the church.
Feed On The Letters Of Apostle Paul
Paul’s letters were written to the church and are thus for our benefit today. God raised him up to write the words of the ascended Jesus, who is seated today at the Father’s right hand. That is why, when it comes to reading the Bible, I always encourage new believers in our church to begin with the letters of Paul. (Many new believers like to start with the book of Revelation or Genesis, without first getting a foundation in the gospel of grace through reading the letters of Paul.)
Have you noticed that Paul never mentioned the unpardonable sin? Not one time, in all his letters to the churches, did he warn Christians about the unpardonable sin. If Christians could commit the unpardonable sin, he should have mentioned it in every epistle that he wrote. On the other hand, Paul emphasized that Jesus, by His death on the cross, has made us “alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” 7 . I have checked the original Greek word for “all” 8 in this verse and guess what? “All” means ALL! Jesus, with His own blood, has forgiven you of ALL your sins, so there is no sin that is unpardonable! By one perfect sacrifice, Jesus has cleansed you of the sins of your entire life and you are now sealed with the promise of eternal life! Now, this is good news that will establish your heart with grace and confidence.
God does not leave you wondering whether you are saved or not. He tells you outright that you are His and that nothing can ever separate you from the love of Christ. Not even sin because His blood is greater than your sin! Knowing that all your sins are forgiven is crucial for your health, peace of mind,
“But Pastor Prince, I believe that we should do everything that Jesus said!”
My friend, Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you… And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” 5 Have you done that?
Do you think that Jesus expects us to do all that, or does He want us to rightly divide the Word, and understand who He was speaking to in that passage and what He meant? If the church were to obey everything that Jesus said in that passage, then it would look like a huge amputation ward! (I hope that I don’t hear you saying, “Pastor Prince, you should have written this book earlier — I have already plucked out one eye and severed one arm!”)
Come on, Jesus said all that to bring the law back to its pristine standard, a standard that ensured that no man could keep the law. He said all that so that man would come to the end of depending on himself and begin to see that he desperately needs a savior. So when we read the words of Jesus in the four gospels, it is necessary for us to rightly divide the Word and understand who Jesus was speaking to.
Let me give you another example. You may have heard some preachers yelling at unbelievers and using the term “a brood of vipers”. But Jesus never called sinners — not even the prostitutes and corrupt tax collectors — “a brood of vipers”. Never! Those harsh words by Jesus were reserved only for the Pharisees 6 , whose fixation on the law blinded them from seeing God in the flesh — Jesus, who gave the law in the first place and who came to fulfill the law on man’s behalf. So learn to rightly divide the Word of God whenever you read the Bible. Not everything that Jesus said was spoken to the church.
Feed On The Letters Of Apostle Paul
Paul’s letters were written to the church and are thus for our benefit today. God raised him up to write the words of the ascended Jesus, who is seated today at the Father’s right hand. That is why, when it comes to reading the Bible, I always encourage new believers in our church to begin with the letters of Paul. (Many new believers like to start with the book of Revelation or Genesis, without first getting a foundation in the gospel of grace through reading the letters of Paul.)
Have you noticed that Paul never mentioned the unpardonable sin? Not one time, in all his letters to the churches, did he warn Christians about the unpardonable sin. If Christians could commit the unpardonable sin, he should have mentioned it in every epistle that he wrote. On the other hand, Paul emphasized that Jesus, by His death on the cross, has made us “alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” 7 . I have checked the original Greek word for “all” 8 in this verse and guess what? “All” means ALL! Jesus, with His own blood, has forgiven you of ALL your sins, so there is no sin that is unpardonable! By one perfect sacrifice, Jesus has cleansed you of the sins of your entire life and you are now sealed with the promise of eternal life! Now, this is good news that will establish your heart with grace and confidence.
God does not leave you wondering whether you are saved or not. He tells you outright that you are His and that nothing can ever separate you from the love of Christ. Not even sin because His blood is greater than your sin! Knowing that all your sins are forgiven is crucial for your health, peace of mind,
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