Dr. Brown Answers Your Questions

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How can Christians know which promises to Israel it can rightly claim? Is water baptism a Jewish custom that we should repeat every year? How do the OT death penalties apply to today? Be sure to call the show with your question today!

Hour 1:

Dr. Brown’s Bottom Line: Why not find out what God could do through a yielded life? What could happen if you really went for it? Isn’t the Lord challenging us through His word, and saying to us, “I dare you to believe it”?

Hour 2:

Dr. Brown’s Bottom Line: To the extent that we fear the Lord, we need fear no person and no thing. To the extent that we are grounded in God, even though everything around us may shake, we will not be shaken. To the extent we walk in the light, the darkness must flee.


Featured Resources:

A Queer Thing Happened To America AND Can You Be Gay and Christian? (Brown/Knox Debate)

Other Resources:

The Great Debate [DVD]: Dr. Michael Brown tackles the perennial issue of suffering and the problem of pain with leading New Testament scholar and agnostic Dr. Bart Ehrman at Ohio State University.

60 Questions Christians Ask About Jewish Beliefs and Practices: Dr. Michael Brown answers sixty common questions about Jewish people and Jewish culture. He also addresses questions Christians have about their own relationship to the Old Testament Law.

Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus vol. 4 by Dr. Brown: In this volume of the Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus series, Dr. Brown counters the arguments that the New Testament mistranslates, misuses, and misunderstands the Hebrew Scriptures, also addressing the objections that Jesus or Paul abolished the Law.

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Our Hands Are Stained with Blood by Dr. Brown: This shocking and painful book tells the tragic story of the “Church” and the Jewish people. It is a story every Christian must hear.

30 Comments
  1. Christians can claim them all, Dr B. That’s like asking can a tarheels fan say, ” ‘We won!'” Christians have all of Christ and Christ is all of what Israel should have been. If Israel wanted to keep claim on the promises….psssst: you shoulda chosen Jesus!

  2. Your statement about my being outraged at someone doing to the NT what i do to the old doesn’t follow. Typology works; it is God’s language and he established it by Moses. The only time I would take issue is when it’s application isn’t consistent. My position has a very strong biblical base–a dispensational one, however, does not.

  3. I need to ask a question if okay here. Please tell me what you think of the necessity of speaking in tongues to be saved?

  4. Dr. Brown,
    Why did God give the Law to the Israelites, KNOWING that it would increase transgression — and then punish them for doing what He made them do (sin in abundance)? Isn’t this Romans 9, in action?
    “No man resists God’s will (the Law was installed, like it or lump it), and yet why does He find fault? (He destroyed Israel and Judah for sinning, which they couldn’t help but do, yet He found fault with them anyways, and scattered them — and, this was all according to plan [song of Moses talks about how He knew the entire thing would go down])”
    “The Law is the POWER of sin”; so, installing it meant people would abundantly sin — of course God knew this — and, yet, He found fault with their abounding in sins, which the Law He installed caused exponentiation of.
    The Jews are also, according to Scripture, “blinded”, and it is keeping them from being saved — right?
    So, it is God’s will that they be blinded, in order to NOT be saved. Doesn’t this present a problem for your theology?

    Thx

    Thanks

  5. Dr. Brown,
    That is, your theology says that He desires to save ALL people; however, He is purposefully blinding the Jews, and stopping them from being saved, in order that “the fulness of the Gentiles” can come in.

    “If their rejection of Messiah meant life for the world, what their their acceptance of Him be, but life from the dead?”

    So, 1) their rejection of Messiah was caused by God in order that the Gentiles might be saved, and 2) they CANNOT believe, because they have been partially blinded and 3) the blindness is of God 4) it will be taken away when the fulness of the Gentiles comes in (taken away by God).

    So, to say that He wishes for ALL to be saved (not only an “elect” few — as He elected Jacob; and, on the other hand, formed Pharaoh for wrath unti God’s glory), and that ALL have the possibility of being saved, seems to (albeit, possibly inadvertently) ignore this fact.

    This also shows that it is possible that not all Gentiles are meant to be saved — but only the ‘elect’; and Acts says, ‘as many as were APPOINTED to eternal life, believed’.

  6. Dr Brown just watched the debate Brown vs,Ehrman
    and in Dr Ehrman’s closing statement he said (life’s a gift) my question is this..A gift from whom? evolution? that would have been by chance. his parents? who gave them life?..how true it is when God said all men have a measure of faith..may the Lord quickin his faith again..amen

  7. BenKC,
    I do not think I am Calvinist nor Arminian — I have not studied those two things terribly in-depth, since I am just studying the Word.

    I recently understood WHY they say ‘irresistable grace’ — because it says, “no man resists the will of God’; HOWEVER, that does not stand to reason that “since I am saved, God has chosen to mercy me”, since God’s will is only that He be glorified: and that could be either by revealing His wrath or mercy upon an individual. A person who is saved does NOT necessarily stay saved. We have fled to Him for refuge (from the wrath to come); however, not all who go into Christ REMAIN in Christ. Many fall away.

    *The ‘branches grafted in’ (past-tense: they ARE SAVED) of Romans 11 are warned to remain in faith (as Hebrew 10 also warns, lest they ‘draw back unto perdition/destruction’ — ‘standing aloof’/’apostasy’), for ‘if the natural branches were not spared, how much more would He be willing to remove grafted-in branches?’. OBVIOUSLY, just because someone is grafted-in, or ‘saved’, does NOT mean they are irreversibly saved. What they don’t understand (Calvinists) is that the end-goal is God’s glory, and no man resists THAT will: His glory is revealed BOTH in His wrath, AND His mercying. They PRESUME that He will glorify Himself in mercying them “if they are really saved”; HOWEVER, Scripture shows DIFFERENTLY. The Galatians “did run well (were really saved — running the race of faith: “by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourself, but it is a gift of God”)”, but were hindered, became persuaded of “another gospel”, and LOST Jesus Christ (in accordance with the “loss of the True faith = loss of Christ” found in 2 Cor 13:5 — and this is seen in Galatians 4 (“…for whom I am in travail again till Christ be formed in you [Christ was no longer in them, for the reason stated in the following chapter]”) and Galatians 5 “Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all… You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace (His salvific grace is nullified for you, since you are not in faith in Christ and not submitted to God’s Truth, but disobeying it).”

    *Note in Matthew the parable of the Sower, THREE are ‘born-again (of the Word, according to Peter), but those ‘new lives’ do not REMAIN: only ONE perseveres, and bears fruit unto maturity — the rest “fall away”.

    *John 5 says “whoever keeps My saying will have eternal life”, but in John 6:60-66, MANY of His very disciples (believers, who would qualify as being “born again”) could not CONTINUE in His Words, so John 15 happened to them: they were cut off by the Father (though they had, at one time, been connected to Him), because without abiding in His Word, they would not be able to bear fruit, for apart from Him, they could do nothing.

    1 John warns the children in Christ to ‘remain in Him’ MANY times.
    Yes, as long as I walk in the Spirit, I am all that righteousness of God IN HIM [the Lord is the Spirit — the last Adam has become a life-giving Spirit], but Romans 8 tells me if I walk in the flesh (that is, not after the Spirit), I am subject to death — “must die”.
    God’s wrath comes only on sinners; therefore, in such a case, Hebrews happens to those who do not REMAIN IN HIM: “…there is no more sacrifice for sins…” — NOT that it is all that EASY for this to happen, because God’s grace is MARVELOUS and GREAT, and when I try to study these things, I feel that the Spirit (praise God) does not want me to learn these things [of the possibility of falling away]… but, I have to know the Truth…

    I don’t think I am a Calvinist.

  8. Also, I have to say that every good or valuable thing I learned has been by the Spirit of Grace — asking Him continually to teach me.
    I learned a great key to this walk when I listened to the broadcast, “How To Be Led By The Spirit”, and I have begun to reckon the Bible as a “Voice of God”, and ask the Spirit to teach me what it means. It works!

  9. All the promises of God in Christ are yes and Amen. (II Cor 1:20) If we can find a promise of God that was made to Israel, then can’t the same be unto us also?

    I was saved when I did not speak in tongues. When I was in a wretched and horrible condition, the grace of God came to save me. In fact, I could not speak in tongues until I had been saved.

  10. If Acts says, “as many as were appointed to eternal life, believed”, it means, “no more than were APPOINTED believed, and no less than were APPOINTED believed”: not “all” are APPOINTED. If ALL were appointed for salvation, it WOULD happen in due time; however, since “due time” has passed for so many people (they’ve died, and their judgment has already come), this doesn’t seem to be the case.

    How does someone who believes it is His desire that ALL be saved (rather than a certain elect group) reckon this verse with the fact that NOT all are saved?
    If they were APPOINTED to eternal life (which is AT LEAST hearing and believing, if not persisting to the end — for, we CURRENTLY have eternal life, according to 1 John) ALL would have believed. No one can resist the appointment (will) of God; however, since that is not the case, then some other thing must be true.
    Eternal life is not necessarily KEPT; many receive eternal life (by knowing Him), and then stand aloof (“draw back unto destruction”). He may APPOINT some to believe, and then APPOINT them to be destroyed, afterwards. This doesn’t alleviate me of the responsibility to do God’s will; it just means that no matter what, what ever is of value in my life, it has been done by Him — even my understanding of that, and my ASKING for understanding for that understanding is His doing. Anything of value was His doing; anything less is my doing (even if “my doing” is something He made me do before time began [I cannot reply back to Him with a bad attitude for me getting in trouble for doing what He made me do] I can only say, “I am just a created, faulted, human being, Lord; I cannot answer You back” — observe His glory, and glorify Him whenever I do evil unto reception of discipline and wrath; and observe His glory, and glorify Him whenever I submit to grace, and am shown mercy.)

  11. Look, I feel inside that I have (or that some people might perceive that I have) somehow “accused” God of wrongdoing: forgive me; I did not intend that — technically-speaking, I don’t *believe I am adding to Scripture (Romans 9); however, I could be wrong — but, I do NOT feel comfortable saying that God has made men do the evil deeds they have done (such as Pharaoh), because HE IS GOOD (and how can a GOOD GOD do anything but 100% GOOD?)…
    …but, I cannot contradict what I believe is a deep mystery, simply because I don’t understand it 100%.
    Just for the record, God never does anything wrong, even if it SEEMS to be wrong to a finite mind. In the end, we will know 100% of the Truth, and God will come out flawless (in the minds of men – not that that matters); BUT, until then, how can Romans 9’s doctrine be DISREGARDED.
    Anything that we affirm is ‘true’ ought to be able to pass any test at all — and Dr. Brown’s viewpoint isn’t capable of passing the test of Romans 9.
    I want to know more and learn more; but, I guess I will have to talk with someone who is possibly less-qualified, but willing to talk.

    Thanks.

  12. So it seems that those who believe have a divine appointment with God.

    Usually when I have an appointment it’s for a purpose. Usually it’s because of something I’ve done having injured myself.

    Someone expects me to show up on time and be there.

    Usually they call ahead of time and leave a message on my phone that I have an appointment.

    I think we all have an appointment with God for one destination or another. Some don’t seem to believe that.

    Even though it’s usually someone on the doctor’s staff that makes the appointments I’ve had, I had to call first, but with God isn’t it he that makes the first call?

    When I do have an appointment, somebody has my name, my phone number, and other information.

    God knows everything about me. He knows my name.

    The more I learn about his name the more I find out about my miserable condition and what I am called to be.

    I suppose it’s important to know that we all have an appointment with God.

    All such as shall be saved have been appointed by God unto salvation and eternal life by faith in Christ.

    I believe Christ was Israel’s Lord long before they ever saw him.

    Those who do believe have a lot in common with Israel don’t they?

  13. Daniel you wrote “Anything that we affirm is ‘true’ ought to be able to pass any test at all — and Dr. Brown’s viewpoint isn’t capable of passing the test of Romans 9.”

    Thats a strong statement to say “Dr. Brown’s viewpoint isn’t capable of passing the test of Romans 9.” Just wondering if you 100% sure you understand his viewpoint to come to this conclusion.

  14. Lord,
    I pray you will strengthen Eric and free him of the grips of anxiety and fear.

    I speak a Isaiah 40:31 over Eric’s whole being.

    31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

    I prayer for the caller who doesn’t know you Jesus or your word. Fill him with your truth and complete understanding. I speak revelation in his life.

    Thank you Lord you are the BEST!!!

  15. BenKC,
    I have been counseled by the Lord not to speak unless out of His presence. Anything I say that doesn’t lead people to His presence is invalid. I want to say things, but I can’t if I really want the best for people.

    Take care

  16. BenKC,
    No, not at all. I am not 100% certain, because I am still seeking to submit 100% to the Lord’s presence – even if I AM learning tons from the LORD ( that I am 100% certain of) – it is better for me not to say anything until I am 100% submitted.

    I am NOT saying that the Lord told me to say what I said earlier; I’m also not saying that I know for certain He was totally against 100% of what I said.

    Either way, what is important is to be submitted to Him, and I need to be careful not to spread a spirit that is not submitted to His Presence.

    I’ve had tons of questions for years, and He has answered about 80%+ of them in a few days (along with giving me ‘answers’ to questions I never asked) since I applied what Dr. Brown said to do. However, I don’t feel that I am 100% submitted, and I have to have some questions answered first. I am seeking to submit my thoughts and ideas to Him through His Truth revealed to me; then, I can submit my whole self to Him. I don’t want to spread ideas from a place of less than 100% submission to Him/His Presence.

  17. BenKC,
    I do NOT want to take the Awesome Name in vain, nor say that He told me to say something He didn’t tell me to say – I fear that.
    To be clear, NO, I did not ‘hear’ the Lord tell me, ‘go declare this and that fault with Dr. Brown’s doctrine’.
    I did, however, feel a small interest in discussing/sharing my differences with him about the accuracy of his doctrines – I did NOT hear from the Creator to ‘go talk to him’.

    I do worry that believing a less-than-100%-truth can ‘sap’ my energy, and strain me unnecessarily, though, and that is PART OF why I wanted to discuss it – for myself, for Dr. Brown, and anyone else who believes the things he espouses (to question the beliefs).

    Still trying to understand this walk.

    Just a note: I did NOT mean that “I must sin” in anything that I said; I DID mean that “if I did sin”. Nor do I look forward to sinning. Don’t be delusional, and think otherwise (whoever it applies to).

  18. Thanks so much for the prayers Dr. Brown, Debbie and everyone else who prayed for me. God has really been answering the prayers in big ways.

    I have been meditating on Philippians 4:6-9 and God has been helping me overcome a lot of things. Praise Jesus, thank You Lord.

  19. Dan1el,

    Not dual covenant…whole covenant…like Paul and John keeping the commandments of YHWH AND, having the testimony of and faith in Y’shua. (Rev. 12:17; 14:12) Paul involved himself in temple sacrifices even though he was a new covenant believer. He did so to prove that he was still keeping the Torah. (Acts 21:24; 25:8) The law is not against the promises of YHWH.(Gal.3:21)

    It is the “…Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” (Rom. 9:4) And we “…were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Eph. 2:12-13,19) So will we “… say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” (Rom. 11:19-22) “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Heb. 4:1) “And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Heb. 6:11-12)

    So, “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid…” (Gal. 3:21) “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1) And be “…not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Heb. 6:12) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Heb. 10:36) And “…here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:12) And beware that “…because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mat. 24:12-13) And “…we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:2-3) Because, “…godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8) So, “…be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (Jam. 1:22-25) “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Rev. 22:14)

    “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal. 6:9) For YHWH “…will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life, but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” (Rom. 2:6-13)

    Shalom

  20. Bo,
    The Laws we are to obey come from the “Only Lawgiver” (Christ), Who “reigns in (and issues decrees from) our hearts” (Ephesians) — being The In-graft Word (James), Himself: we are not to “serve according to the oldness of the letter, but newness of the Spirit (Christ, the last Adam, is in our hearts; is a Life-giving Spirit)”, according to Scripture.
    Those who hear Him speak (but “harden their hearts” — as they ought not), but do not DO the Laws He is issuing (“I will write my commands on their hearts and minds”), are the “hearers” but not “doers” who are not “blessed”: in context, this is the meaning which the verse is speaking about.

    These Laws will vary from the Old Covenant Laws in a few ways. For instance, O.C. never commands anyone to preach the Gospel — that is just one variation/addition.
    O.C. says to fulfill your vows; N.C. says “do not make a vow at all — making a vow is a sin” (James).
    O.C. says the one who sleeps with his mother is accursed, and to be destroyed (Deuteronomy); N.C. says to take any measure to save his spirit in the Day of Christ Jesus (1 Cor 5:1-5).
    Of course holiness is never abated under the N.C.; it is increased beyond the demands of the O.C.

    N.C. is not the same as the O.C.:the only context in which the O.C. is not against the N.C. (Promise made to Abraham) is when it condemns people (it is a ministry of condemnation), showing them that they are under the righteous indignation of YHWH, and drives them to Christ for refuge from the wrath to come — Who is the Substance and Fulfillment of the O.C. demands and Its prophetic symbolism.

    As far as Rosh HaShanah’s significance: some people regard EVERY day the same seriousness as Rosh HaShanah; some people are not even serious on Rosh HaShanah, even if they are observant.

  21. The Law of Moses came about 400+ years after the Covenant was already decided upon with Abraham; while we were all waiting for the Promised Seed of Abraham to appear — the Messiah — the Law came about. Since the Covenant with Abraham was already decided upon, the Law (as an Insertion into that Covenant) could never work against the Promise in the already-decided-upon Covenant; it had to flow in the same direction with its already-decided-upon aims (“in your SEED [Christ], all nations will be blessed”): it is not against that Promise, inasmuch as it reveals God’s righteousness, and our wickedness and LACK of holiness; thereby condemning all and shutting their mouths so they do not try to justify themselves, but walk straight to Messiah.

    THAT is the only way “the Law is not contrary to the Promises”, my friend! God be with you!

  22. The Law’s ministry (service to God) was to condemn! That was its PURPOSE! See? In order to rush people to Messiah!
    It is a GOOD thing to be condemned by the Law — that means the Law is doing its job! It is the condemned who are being ministered to by God!

    Somewhere, I remember a man going up to pray, begging for mercy, beating his breast, and ending up more justified than the hypocritical Pharisee, who was blind to his unjust judgments and lack of mercy (“thou shalt not have differing weights”) — whereas God makes the sun rise on the good and evil, they trampled people underfoot, thinking themselves to be great; but Messiah will trample the proud people under His Feet, and exalt the humbled (those humbled by the Law).
    It is ONLY those who are IMPRISONED in guilt via the Law’s Ministry that are Christ’s sheep — they are in the FOLD (which is an ENCLOSURE, like a HOLDING CELL): the un-affected (self-righteous) are not His!!!! You must become CONDEMNED, you must SEE and TASTE and FEEL the WRATH of a HOLY GOD on you before you FLEE to Messiah for refuge (Hebrews 6)

  23. Dan1el,

    You forget that those that are truly in the new covenant, walking by the Spirit, love the Torah of YHWH and obey/fulfill it. The carnal minded man cannot subject itself to YHWH’s Torah. If you are unable or unwilling to keep YHWH’s Torah, it proves that you are either failing the grace of YHWH or that you are not really a partaker of the new covenant with it’s promises of walking righteously. The deceived man thinks that he is righteous even though he cannot be subject to YHWH’s Torah. He continues to break the Torah and is not cleansed from all unrighteousness for he does not agree with John that transgressing the law is sin.

    Romans 8
    4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
    5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
    6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
    7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

    1 John 3
    4 ¶ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
    5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
    6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
    7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
    8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

    1 John 1
    9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    Chag Sameach! and Shabbat Shalom

  24. Bo,
    Why do you obstinately resist the plain interpretation of Scriptural Truth?
    Why didn’t they stone the man in 1 Cor 5:1-5?

    May God grant you repentance and understanding, that you be fully pleasing to Him.

    Can I ask you a question? Are you saying Apostle Paul was unrighteous and deceived, since he didn’t stone the man who slept with his mother? What, precisely, are you saying?

    Thx Brother

  25. Concerning Dr. Brown’s bottom line of hour 1, “I dare you to believe it.” , I couldn’t help but notice a sign from the scriptures, something Jesus said about himself that testifies that he indeed is who he said he is.

    It’s also a sign that what the apostle Paul said in Romans 1:20 is also true.

    It’s in Luke 13. Look at Luke 13:51-53, and see if there is any other name in the world that has been the cause of division more than the name of Jesus.

    It’s been said that people know we are Christians by the divisions we have. Are they saying by that that they know the Bible is true?

    Just from what we can know of living life in this world, is there anyone else that has lived and breathed upon the face of this earth ever in history that so many people have matters over?

    George Washington? Adolf Hitler? Martin Luther King? Anybody more than Jesus?

    I can find no excuse. Jesus is the eternal power of God. (Rom 1:20)

  26. Dan1el,

    Neither Paul nor the assembly of Y’shua has earthly governmental authority. At the time the NT was written the nation of Israel was ruled by the Romans and even Israel was unable to carry out the death penalty. The correct judgement for adultery or murder is the death penalty, but it has to be carried out by an earthly governmental jurisdiction. Messiah’s kingdom is not of this world. Messiah’s assembly has the authority to excommunicate/disassociate a nonrepentant brother. Paul judged correctly. The law and the truth of it’s judgements have not changed. The assembly of Y’shua does not replace Israel or any other nation, for that matter. It is a called out assembly, not a dully authorized legal court. It exists as an embassy to the nations. Messiah did not come to change or abolish the law. He came to pay for our sins and offer us a place in His kingdom to come. At that time the Torah will be upheld and administered to the world through His cabinet members. Until that time the current authorities will be judged for not applying the righteous judgements of YHWH.

    Psalms 19
    9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
    10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
    11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

    Shalom

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