Originally published in "The Lord's Coming Herald & Wesleyan Bible Prophecy Advocate," Aug/Sept Edition, 2010
The Reproach Of The Cross
“If I yet preach circumcision, then has the reproach of the cross ceased” (Galatians 5:11).
There were certain Jews in the early Church who taught that except Gentile believers were circumcised according to the custom of Moses they could not be saved (Acts 15:1). In this matter they failed to understand the full meaning and significance of the new covenant.
The real Jew is the one who has been circumcised in heart (Romans 2:28-29). It is holiness of heart and life that matters, not physical circumcision or racial descent (I Timothy 1:5).
A similar mistake is made today by advocates of dispensational premillennialism. These stupidly imagine that the old covenant, rather than the new, is now in force for racial Jews. They will not listen to the New Testament, which plainly declares that the “seed of Abraham” to whom all of Israel’s promises were made is Christ (Galatians 3:16: II Corinthians 1:20).
Dispensationalism does not understand the fullness and finality of the new covenant. It is a return to the weak and beggarly elements of a pre-Christian Judaism, wherein Christ is crucified afresh among His professed followers in the church.
In reproving the false teachings of popular dispensational premillennialism we risk incurring the wrath of the carnal, and so join Paul in bearing the reproach of the cross.
We will never be popular exposing the heresy of Scofield/ Darbyism, but we can certainly be fruit-bearing and personally blessed standing for God’s truth in the face of the overwhelming antinomian apostasy of these last days. Please join us in the fight for light and right!
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