In light of the current discussion within the  full preterist camp, I thought it might be good to address this issue in relation to the garden.

The FP position is that Adam and Eve did not die in the day they violated a commandment of God and ate the fruit, thus they only experienced spiritual death.  Well, that’s not exactly correct because “something” died.  So what was that “something”?  I do believe it was a lamb since we are told that Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

There are some interesting words found in the curse from Gen 3:16-19.  Pain, sorrow, thorns, sweat, separation and death of dust to dust followed by:

Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them.

Here we find atonement in the Garden and notice that they had to be removed from the garden BEFORE they could partake of the tree of life and live forever.  Imagine that – eternal life available to the body.

Yes, even in the Garden God supplied provisions.

Do you think that just maybe the “second” death correlates to Adam physically dying after a very long period of time?   I happen to think there is a strong connection here between these texts and Revelation 20 and the 1000 years.  For me, the typology is a little hard to ignore.

I held a feminist theology position at one time and argued for woman’s rights to the pulpit, but I must say that when I literally searched the scriptures for myself, I could no longer support women in that role. Men and women have roles. They are different. I’ve seen much emotional argument by woman on this topic. I see scripture ripped out of context to support a view that just isn’t Biblical imho.  I’ve tried to keep this as simple as possible. 

I’ve picked 4 scriptures I selected to highlight  the role of women and I do believe Paul was very clear.

1Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ(2); and the head of the woman is the man (3); and the head of Christ is God (1).

Eph 5:23-24 For the husband is the head of the wife (3), even as Christ is the head of the church (2): and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ (2), so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing (3).

Here are Paul’s points

1. The head of Christ is God.
2. The head of every man is Christ
   Christ is the head of the Church
   The Church is subject to Christ
3. The head of woman is man
   The husband is the head of the wife
   Wives are to be subject to their husbands

By a woman usurping the authority of her husband, it is the same as the Church usurping the authority of Christ.

It’s that simple, yet I see so many women who want to deny it. I can only encourage them to reconsider their position.

So what did Paul teach? Right here in these texts we have the authority structure but there is even more to be learned from these 3 pillars of truth.

We find in 1Cor that Christ is subject to God. I don’t believe you would argue with that. We are also told that the husband is the head of the wife EVEN AS Christ is head of the Church. So the husband is the physical representative of Christ.

In Eph 5:23-24 We are told that just as the Church is subject to Christ SO LET the wives be subject to the own husbands in EVERYTHING. So the wife is the physical representative of the Church.

The Church does not have authority over Christ, nor is it equal in authority to Christ. Period.

The feminist theologians will deny that structure every time.

Then we find the real clincher in Titus:

Titus 2:3-5 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things–that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

“admonish young women to be obedient to their own husbands that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

Now if you want to know what women can do, then I can talk about that too. We have very vital roles, but they are not equal roles with our husbands. Even in Paul’s day, slaves were still subject to their masters. They did not have equality in roles. They had equality in inheritance. BIG DIFFERENCE.

I hope this will make you think about what position is Biblical versus what is rebellion.

I grew up in a small town and our graduating class was a whole 120 people.   We were a close class, not just because we went to school together, but most of us grew up together from early childhood, before our school days even began.  While there were several large Churches in town, most of us attended each of them depending on the events, like vacation Bible schools, or the Presbyterians who hosted the dances.   We really knew no boundaries when it came to spending time together.   We were just being kids. 

After graduation, we followed up with a few class reunions that were ok, but what to wear, who was driving what, who was successful became the focus.   Everyone was upwardly mobile or trying to be, raising kids, buying homes, starting businesses, etc.  Critical eyes were raised as some divorced, some fought drug and alcohol issues, adulterous relationships, depression, and financial ups and downs.  Some of us kept in touch every 5 years or so, but that was about the extent of it until Cathy went to sleep and didn’t wake up.  Some of us didn’t get the message in time to attend the funeral.   Those who did, started searching everyone out and exchanging phone numbers and email addresses.   Reality hit home.  We are aging. 

This was the message I’ve received from all I’ve talked to.  We no longer care who did what to whom – everyone needs to get over it.  It’s minor and in the greater scheme of things and it doesn’t matter.   No one is out to impress anyone anymore because we’ve all been hit with our own share of tribulations that have humbled us.  We’ve reached the age where comfort, no matter the style, has taken a front seat.  Our families are grown and while we all have friends, it’s not the same as a friend you’ve known for a lifetime, who knew your family, and through the rumor mill, still knows everything you’ve done – good or bad and no longer holds it against you.  The calls have all focused on restoring what we lost and spending the rest of our lives being there for each other because the road is only going to get rougher from this point forward.   I understand the message is being very well received and relief seems to be the result.  I keep hearing the word “spark” and that appears to be what has occurred.  There is excitement about the future.  What Cathy had not accomplished in her life, has been brought forth through her death. 

This has so brought to my mind the Gospel message as those in the 1st century must have heard it.  Paul, a murder of Christians, forgiven, and called to be an apostle.  Peter, the man who denied Christ three times, professing the message on Pentecost in Acts.  Thomas, who wouldn’t believe until he could place his hands on the wounds.   No longer were they a group who suffered under their own failures.  Jesus had given them victory over all these things.  2000 years later, their lives and testimony is still shouted from the rooftops bringing forth a message of glad tidings and great joy. 

My classmates, whether they realize it or not, have just gotten a taste of what that restoration was all about.  Do they correlate it to the Gospel, probably not all of them, but some will and those who don’t will hear it from me.   Thank you Jesus.   It’s YOUR life that got in the way to twart the plans of men and it’s YOUR death and resurrection that brought REAL life and restoration.   Praise God for that. 

Rest in peace Cathy – you will be missed.

One of the primary considerations that gives strength to theonomy is understanding when the 10 commandments went into force.  Many, probably most, would say it was introduced on tablets of stone and is considered Mosaic Law.  But was it?  Here are examples of God executing judgment on peoples and nations long before Israel was taken to Sinai, so my position is these laws are eternal. 

So for your consideration I am using the examples set forth by Ernest C Reisinger in his book “The Law and the Gospel”.  I recommend it to all: 

1st, 2nd & 3rd Commandment – Exodus 20:3-7

In regards to Pharaoh and his people

They had false gods

They had false worship

They blasphemed the one true God

There for they were punished with the plagues (Ex 5-7)

2nd Commandment

Gen 35:2 – Jacob was declared guilty of breaking the second commandment when he failed to “put away the foreign gods from among you”

4th Commandment

The Israelites broke the Sabbath commandment before Sinai and they were chastised (Ex 16:27-29)

5th Commandment

Noah’s son Ham broke it when he looked upon his father’s nakedness.  As a result, the Cannaanites were cursed (Gen 9:18-29)

Ishmael dishonored his father Abraham by mocking him and was cast out (Gen 21:9-10)

Lot’s son in laws were punished in Sodom for not honoring their father in law (Gen 19:14-15)

6th Commandment

Of course, we all know Cain broke that one (Gen 4:13)

Also, after the flood God told Noah the punishment for breaking the 6th commandment “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed”  (Gen 9:6)

7th Commandment

The sodomites were punished for this by utter destruction (Gen 19:24-25)

Also, Hamor & his son Shechem were slain by the sword for Shechem’s violation of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter (Gen 34:1-26)

8th Commandment

Adam & Eve broke it by stealing the forbidden fruit.  (Gen 2:16-17)

Rachel stole her fathers idols – an offense that Jacob considered worthy of death (Gen 31:19-32)

9th Commandment

Cain lied to God about hsi brother’s death (Gen 4:9)  He received the punishment of a curse of the ground and a fugitive and vagabond on the earth. 

10th Commandment

When Abimelech coveted Abraham’s wife, he was threatened with death unless he returned her to Abraham.  For this sin – the Lord closed the wombs of Abimelech’s house. 

Now – last but not least – Paul affirms in Rom 13:9  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if here is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

You see – a violation of a moral law is a violation of love your neighbor as yourself.  This is how Jesus spoke of the commandments:

Mar 12:29-31 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Kind of hard to get around that one.

Here is the link to an article by Reisinger that I think will provide additional foundation (here)  Enjoy!

There were two things from my childhood that really set me on the right course when it came to thinking about the wisdom found in God’s laws.  My family didn’t have a lot of money and I grew up living in a small house my parents rented that sat on 80 acres of orange groves and I grew up with all the citrus families in the area.

At that time, the citrus families practiced gleaning.  There were always trees on the outside rows left for others to help themselves.  The purpose served was that they watched and it was reported who stopped.  It gave them information about who might have lost a job, were their strangers in town, etc.  If they saw a local making good use of the trees, discreet inquiries would be made to see if they needed help.  If help was needed, it was delivered by the Church and the contributors were never revealed.  It could even lead to the offer of work.

Also, there was a man who lived down the road who planted a few acres of beans each year.  He sold them and people picked their own beans but he never published his prices.  Everyone knew he was fair and he charged according to your ability to pay.  Not a soul complained.  The rich knew they financed those who were unable to pay much.  To them, it was a form of tithing.   When you were finished picking he would approach you and tell you how much you owed him.  It was all done quietly.  No one suffered embarrassment over their lack of ability to pay much.  Everyone got beans and as much as they needed.

These systems didn’t place the poor in a position of feeling like they were getting charity.  They didn’t have to sign up, they didn’t have restrictions on what they could buy.  It was a system that didn’t make them feel any worse about their situation.  It allowed them to maintain some dignity.  Our welfare system today falls way short of that and I even hear complaints about how the Churches handle their food distribution.

Some things to think about when it comes to God’s laws.

No man can keep the law.  We are all guilty.  When Jesus gave the sermon on the mount, He left none of us without excuse.  We are all condemned by the law.  Rom 3:10-18 gives us a good picture of our natural state.   Our antidote is the blood of Jesus.  He redeemed us from the penalty of the law.  He is our city of refuge.  So what part does the law play for us today?  Is it abrogated or taken to a new level? 

When Jesus spoke of the law in Matt 5:17-18 ”Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 

In Romans 7, Paul spoke of the 10th commandment and this is what he said:  (vs7) What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shall not covet.  (v12) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Holy just and good – very important concepts. 

What God calls Holy, no man should call profane but what does that mean for us?

Eze 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

1Pet 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

In Rom 7:7 Paul said he would not have known sin except for the law.  That’s a vital component to my position.  The law convicts sinners.  The good news of the Gospel is there is a remedy in Christ.  Our Churches should preach and teach the law, first to convict sinners and second so that we learn the law and know when we have caused offense to God.  In repentance, we should be able to define the law we broke as part of our growing experience and because it brings glory to God that we recognize the price Jesus paid on our behalf.  How do we do that if we don’t know the laws of God?  Also, in our obligation to “judge” within the Church, we should judge by righteous judgment.  That takes knowledge of God’s laws and recognizing when sin has occurred.  I see a lot of people claim someone has sinned when, in fact, they have not violated a law.  It’s ignorance of the law that leads to false charges.   

Paul highlighted the fact that the law convicts:

Rom 7:1 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.

1Tim 1:8-11 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

So with that said, I hold that the Church should know how to conduct herself in a “Holy” and law abiding manner.  By doing so, she obtains a good report within the nation she resides.  Thus the nation will recognize her value and civil law will be designed to compliment her.  Thus everyone experiences the blessing of God’s laws when the Church is conducting herself with purity and our civil government is implementing the laws of God on her behalf.     

When we see nations start to fall away in moral decay, we have a good clue that as the Church we are failing in our responsibility to reflect Christ in word and deed.  That’s why God allows us to suffer under the weight of unjust laws, like abortion & homosexual marriage.  I call that the shot across the bow.  As the Church, we should start with self examination when confronted with such things. 

I guess the main question I would ask – is by what standard do we live?  Some will respond Christ and I affirm that, but we must realize that Christ was sinless and perfect and did not violate the laws of God.  I know there are some who preach He did, but they are mistaken.  The moral laws of God are eternal laws because they do reflect his Holy and moral character.  To uplift the law is to uplift the work of Christ and his Holy and moral character.

Anyone interested in ordering it – can find it (here)

Happy reading!!!!

If you don’t know what Preterist means – well you’ll just have to ask questions.

Thee content here will vary from funny to serious.