Who Are the Saints?

Dr. Couch, are we saints today?

Answer: Yes, we positionally saints "in Christ." In almost all of Paul's letters he starts out addressing the believers as saints. Paul means that positionally we are "holy" because we are related to Him. In our walk and experience we are to live as saints. The Bible says "Be holy for I am holy." That means to be walking sanctified. While we will never become perfect, PERFECT, we are still to do what He asks.

The church is not the kingdom, though we will live with Christ in the kingdom when He returns to establish the Davidic rule on earth. The Bible almost 100% calls the kingdom the millennial reign, though sometimes it speaks of the universal kingdom rule of the Lord over His creation, but this is really just a few times in Scripture.

Christ is presently seated on His Father's throne in heaven (Psa. 110:1-2). But He says: "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Rev. 3:21). It was told Mary, "[Jesus] will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever; and His kingdom will have no end" (Luke 1:32-33).

Thanks for asking. --Dr. Mal Couch (2/12)

Baptism in the Bible

Dr. Couch, where did baptism come from?

ANSWER: The idea of “the washing” comes from the washings from the OT. The water did not actually spiritually cleanse one, but it was a picture of such a cleansing. There are two words used in the OT context. The Greek word used in the LXX was baptizomai and the related word bapto. The baptismal work of the Holy Spirit is prophesied in Ezekiel 36:25. This is tied in to the coming of the New Covenant that was made for Israel, based on the death and the sacrifice of Christ. The New Covenant would replace the Law Covenant. See Jeremiah 31-on.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 is tied together: “I will sprinkle (“slosh” zarach) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols” (v. 25). Physical water does not make one spiritually clean. The verses go on and say, “And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes …” (v. 27). “And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers …” (v. 28). The great Jewish/Christian scholar Dr. Charles Feinberg (who was one of my profs in grad school) writes: Ezekiel 36:25 “is a parallel to Jeremiah 31:31-34. … This is the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Israel in the future. … The gift of the Spirit is frequently connected with the coming of the new economy (dispensation) for Israel (see 39:29; Isa. 44:3; 59:21; Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:16 f.).”

This is the spiritual baptism carried out by the Holy Spirit as mentioned by Christ. It launches the New Covenant that was first for Israel but would be applied to the church. The church does not fulfill the New Covenant but presently benefits from it. Israel under the dispensation of the kingdom will in the future fulfill the New Covenant when the Jewish people come to Christ in the land. We are not now in the kingdom! The New Covenant was ratified by Christ’s death and launched at Pentecost, and will be fulfilled when Israel is back in the land and trusting in their Messiah!

Keep the dispensational lines straight and the Bible will all come together. Mix up the dispensations and you have chaos, and, you’ll get rid of Israel and certainly not understand how the Word of God goes together! Only dispensationalists have it right. The covenant guys have it all wrong and they allegorize and spiritualize the great prophecies of Scripture. They are into replacement theology and get rid of Israel just like the Catholic Church does.

Thus, the idea of a washing comes from the OT. But that washing is symbolic of the washing of the Holy Spirit, a baptism! This is what truly saves one, based on faith in Christ. Water baptism does not save! It is but the sign of the spiritual work and the spiritual reality carried out by the spiritual washing, and the union that follows with Christ, all done by the work of the Spirit.

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch

God's Gift of Faith

Dr. Couch, is faith a gift of God as it seems to say in Ephesians 2:8?

ANSWER: The passage reads: "Saved by faith (Feminine), and that (Neuter) not of yourselves, it is the gift (Neuter) of God." The "gift of God" is Neuter and it points back to "that" which is also Neuter and is pointing and modifying the word "gift." Salvation includes the faith and it all is God's gift. He is the One who is activating the entire process of salvation.

Nicoll says the verse can read "God's gift it is. The salvation is not an achievement but a gift, and a gift from none other than God."

He goes on: "That the glory of that salvation belongs wholly to God and in no degree to man, and that it has been so planned and so effected as to take from us all ground for boasting, is enforced on Paul's hearers again and again, ..."

Hendriksen writes: "Salvation is the gift of God followed by a fourth and fifth repetition, namely, not of works, for we are His handiwork."

Several other great verses tell us that faith is a gift of God. Paul writes: "Peace be to the brothers, and LOVE WITH FAITH FROM GOD THE FATHER and FROM the LORD JESUS CHRIST" (Eph. 6:23).

And "by GOD'S DOING you are IN Christ Jesus, who BECAME TO US … righteousness and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30).

Also, "God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation THROUGH, BY MEANS OF sanctification by the Spirit and (by means of) FAITH IN THE TRUTH" (2 Thess. 2:13).

Thanks for asking.
--Dr. Mal Couch (10/11)

The Anointing

Dr. Couch, what is the anointing in 2 Cor. 1:21 and 1 John 2:20, 27?

ANSWER: The Greek lexicon says that it is a smearing of unquent and an oinment. In 1 John 2:20, 27 the lexicon says "This is regarded as endued with the Holy Spirit rendering the individual holy." But there is more. 2 Cor. 1:21-22 reads: "God who establishes us with you in Chris and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave to us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge." "To establish" means "to make firm, to make steadfast and constant in the soul." Look at the results, with the anointing: "And to seal us and give us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge" (v. 22). This establishing, anointing, and sealing brings about this work of the Spirit in our hearts.

I wrote in my Holy Spirit book, "This refers to an imparting of knowledge of spiritual truth and knowledge that gives a framework for living the Christian life. The apostle John speaks of this anointing also in 1 John 2:20." Barrett adds: "God made us share the anointing of Christ Himself being the Anointed One (Xristos [Christ] --- Xrisas [Anointing]). We share His vocation and mission and as themselves anointed are assured of this not by the steadfastness of their own faith, or by the warmth of its emotional accompaniments, but by God Himself."

—Dr. Mal Couch (7/11)

Fruit Bearing

Dr. Couch, what is going on in John 15 and the issue of fruit bearing?



ANSWER: The context is about the believer being a branch in Christ who is, or who is not, bearing fruit. As a branch, if there is no fruit bearing the branch is removed from that position of being a branch. But notice, the branch is judged by "them," by "men" or by others and are burned, that is, they are judged by other people, even the lost, if no fruit is produced.

This is not about our position "in Christ" in regard to our salvation but it is about fruit bearing, not about redemption. In fellowship, all one has to do to bear fruit is "to abide in Him" (v. 5). (Present Active Indicative) "The branch who is continually sticking, staying with Christ."

This "abiding" means in Greek "to remain with" Him, stay with Him, "don't go away!" Notice that verse 6 says "they" meaning men, or people, gather them (the wayward) believer, and then men (these people) cast them into the fire (referring to a judgment) and they are burned or judged for lack of fruit bearing (v. 6). God is not casting the believer into the fire for judgment but "they" (others) are judging the believers for their lack of producing fruit.

Christians cannot bear fruit by themselves. Christ said "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides (sticks or stays with) the vine, so neither can you, unless you continually stick with, stay with" Him in a fruit bearing position (v. 4). This is not about positional salvation but about staying with Christ in order to bear fruit. Salvation is not the issue but good works is what the passage is all about!

Notice that the Father is glorified when we bear fruit. Salvation is not the issue. Bearing much fruit is what the Lord is looking for (v. 8).

I hope this helps.
—Dr. Mal Couch (7/11)

Hidden Bible Codes

Dr. Couch, I know of some Bible teachers who believe in what they call the "hidden Bible codes." Is this heresy?

ANSWER: I know some of these brothers personally and I think it is unfortunate that they take this view. The problem is God has revealed to us His revelations in full without any hidden messages or methods needed to find out what the truth is. This means that some people are "in" on secret truth and some are "out" in knowing what God has revealed. This makes them special and gives them an "up" on the rest of us.

If God is giving us His truth why would He then give a secret code in order to unlock what He has to say? It does not make sense! The book of Acts says the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily in order to confirm the truth of the gospel (Acts 17:11). They used inductive reasoning and searching and did not employ some secret key to try to understand the Word of God. Paul says the Thessalonians "received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God" (1 Thess. 2:13). Again, no secret code was needed.

Some people like to be sensationalists and mystics in interpreting the Bible. Don't fall for it. God spoke to us in plain language!

Is the "code" view heresy? No, maybe not, but it is certainly wrong and terribly misleading!

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
#296

Essential Doctrines

Dr. Couch, does Scripture help us to determine what the essential doctrines are for fellowship and for joint ministry with another church?

ANSWER: I believe the many verses that discuss heresy and error could be put together to form a guide to whom one should fellowship with. I think there are several layers of relationships to take note of that come from Scripture. (1) I can be glad for any true believer who is my brother in Christ. (2) While any true believer may be my spiritual brother, still, he may be destroying a large part of the Bible by his denial of certain doctrines. This would include those in the Reformed faith who deny the proven doctrines of the apostasy, the rapture of the church, the seven year tribulation period, and the bodily return of Jesus the Messiah who will reign on the throne of David for 1000 years in Jerusalem. (3) And then there are the believers who may outright hold to way, way out beliefs.

I could not see my church having joint ministries with any who deny the fundamentals of the Word of God. I may have a certain kind of accepting fellowship with them on a personal level but I could not share ministries with them. However, no one has ever called me an isolationist or legalist when it comes to these issues. I may write in very strong words against those who continue to give false interpretations against clear doctrinal issues but I do not have a fighting fundy mentality.

I believe a church should adopt a strong biblical doctrinal statement such as we have with Scofield Ministries. I wrote that some years ago and it has stood the test of time for a long while. Anyone reading it may feel free to use it however they wish.

A few years ago I got involved with a man who had come out of the Funda____ Bap_____ group. I thought I had him pegged right, and I thought he had disavowed some of the attitudes of that group, but when we began to do ministry together his narrowness and legalism came through. When he left our group, sure enough, he went right back to that persuasion. He lied about the fact that that had been his orientation. In fact, I caught him in over five lies on various issues. I find it interesting that he virtually claimed to walk sinless in his Christian life but he could tell fibs at the drop of a hat!

The Christian life is tricky in that groups and individuals can be deceptive and can look at the Bible in such a restrictive way. If they become embedded within a church they will set about to destroy that assembly or certainly try to take it over. They may doctrinally be in agreement but their attitude and their legalism can take a church down! Such folks I would avoid when it comes to sharing ministry.

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
#291

Memory of All of our Sins

Dr. Couch, I heard my pastor say that we will be reminded in heaven of all of our sins. We will see in glory the sins that Christ forgave us. Is this right?

ANSWER There are two things we need to consider when talking about our sins of the past. Positionally, God has forgiven us all our sins at the cross of Christ. We are justified and there are no charges against us. But in the Christian walk we sinned and we shall receive rewards for our good deeds and we will be reminded of the sins we committed as we walked through the Christian Experience in this life. Concerning the Bema Seat judgment we read:

"We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he had done, where GOOD or BAD" (2 Cor. 5:10). BAD is the Greek word "kakos" which is often translated as "Evil." So it is clear that we will be reminded of those sins we committed during our Christian life. The "recompense" is the reward or "demerit" that we shall receive at the Bema! This will not be pleasant but it does not take away our salvation. It will be a reminder of what we did in the Christian walk.

The Bible does not speak of demerits so I am stepping out on a limb when I say this. But we will be recompensed by the "deeds done in the body," whatever that will be proven to be! Thus, we "know the fear of the Lord" when we stand before Him at this judgment. Our Walk will be "made manifest to God" (v. 11) in our conscience as we appear before the Lord in heaven. The fear is not about the loss of salvation. Our salvation is secure in Christ, and indeed, all of our sins were Positionally forgiven at the cross. These verses have to do with the judgment of what we did while believers here on earth, but loss of salvation is not an issue.

Most Bible teachers have not handled this subject, and it is only recently that I began to look at what Paul was saying about the Christian life and the sins that we commit as believers. But to review: all our sins are forgiven and taken care of at the cross, there is no doubt about this.

A final reminder: "Why do you judge your brother? Why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. … For every knee shall bow to Me, ..." (Rom. 14:10-11). "So then, each one of us shall give account of himself to God" (v. 12).

James adds: "The coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing right at the door (to take us home in the rapture) for the Bema judgment (James 5:9). If He came right now we will go into the judgment of the Bema and some of that judgment will not be pleasant!

To live our lives right now is a serious matter. We are to be responsible in the Christian Experience!

Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (3/11)

Filling of the Spirit

Dr. Couch, what is the filling of the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18?

Good question. The Greek word is "plaroo" and it means to "fill," or to have control. This is the only place where this word is used in regard to believers after Acts, and after the church had matured. It is a Present Passive Imperative (command) and could be translated: "You be daily (continually) controlled by the Spirit." We are to allow His control to come upon us continually! With the command we know that we are to have some awareness of what the Spirit is doing with us. We are to be conscious of His activity with our heart and soul.

I did not know it but Dr. Harold Hoehner, a good friend of mine who died a few years ago, wrote in his classic Ephesian commentary this:

"The Spirit of God directs and empowers a believer to live a life pleasing to God and His will. Those who live under the control of their flesh will not please God and God does not control their lives. … This is the Spirit's activities realized in and through us. Believers are commanded to be filled by the Spirit so that they will understand the will of the Lord and allow God's control of their lives rather than succumbing to the desires of the flesh. If believers were only filled with wisdom, the influence would be impersonal; however, the filling by the Spirit adds God's personal presence, influence, and enablement to walk wisely, all of which are beneficial to believers and pleasing to God. … To be filled by the Spirit enables the Spirit to have all of the believer: The wise walk, therefore, is one that is characterized by the Holy Spirit's control."

What is the difference of the filling of the Spirit in the book of Acts?

First of all the Greek word for filling in Acts is different but still the same, if that makes sense! It is the word "pimplemi" that is distinctly related to "plaroo." "pimplemi" is used only by Dr. Luke in the Gospel of Luke and Acts. It is like a classical Greek word but all scholars realize that it is virtually just like "plaroo".

The first reference to "pimplemi" is found in Acts 2:4, 4:8, 4:31, 9:17, 13:9. In Acts 2:4 we read that the disciples "were filled, controlled with the Holy Spirit." They were "filled, filled up, controlled" (Aorist Passive Indicative). The action of the Spirit came sovereignly upon them. They were not commanded to be controlled like believers are today, as found in Ephesians 5:18.

Peter then was "controlled" by the Spirit (Acts 4:8) and began to speak. It is an Aorist Passive Participle. This is another sovereign work of the Spirit. Peter does not ask for it, it just happened to him. "The action of the Holy Spirit came suddenly upon him" and he began to speak. The Participle ties the action of the Spirit closely together with Peter speaking. "Peter was characterized as having begun to speak ..."

In Acts 4:31 we read the disciples were "filled, controlled by the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness." This to is an Aorist Passive Indicative. "They were suddenly controlled by the (sovereign work of the) Spirit" and by this control they began to speak! Nicoll notes that they were controlled that they might speak with boldness. Their prayer was immediately answered. They proceeded to speak (the Past Tense) also implying that they continued to speak. They were filled, controlled with the Holy Spirit who was actually working in the apostles!

In Acts 9:17 Ananias laid his hands on Paul and said he was doing so in order that Paul would "regain his sight, and then be filled (controlled) with the Holy Spirit." The Spirit took over in a sovereign way and "Immediately the scales fell from Paul's eyes … and he began to immediately proclaim Jesus" (vv. 18, 20). This is an Aorist Passive Subjunctive. "That you should be immediately controlled by the Spirit ..."

In 13:9-10 we read that "Paul was controlled by the Spirit and said ..." Again, a sovereign work. This is another Aorist Passive Participle. The force of the Participle: "Paul was characterized as one who was suddenly controlled by the Spirit ..."

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (2/11)

Believers and Satan

Dr. Couch, can believers be possessed by Satan?

ANSWER: No, they cannot. Also, remember, he is not omni-present, that is, he is not everywhere, though he certainly may send his spiritual lackeys, the demons, to do his biding and mislead the believing community. Paul, James and Peter speak in many places about such deception.

1 Peter 5:8. Peter told the Christians to be sober and alert because their "adversary, the devil" prowled about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." The word "adversary" is the Greek word "antidikos" meaning "the opponent in court." How can he so devour? First, the word devour means "to swallow, overwhelm." William Baker ties this to Romans 12:3 where Paul points out that many Christians, by their false pride, can lose "sound judgment" in the spiritual life. This means that Satan can worm his way into the life of believers and sell them on false views, like charismatic beliefs.

James 4:7. How can Satan trap believers? He can do this if they have not submitted themselves to God in full and complete trust. Therefore James say, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." What would he be doing that was causing the believer to be weak? James does not say, but certainly this would include certain false beliefs, or misplaced doctrines. "To resist" Satan means that he is influencing the Christian in doctrinal issues or in doing things that are wrong. In verse 8 James addresses the issue of having dirty hands, but also of being "double-minded" or "double-souled." This would more than likely have to do with what the Christian is thinking in terms of doctrine or beliefs.

Hebrews 13:9. Though the writer of Hebrews does not speak of Satan in this verse, he does say: "Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace ..." This could be translated as "by different colored and foreign (alien) doctrines." The writer then adds, "for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace ..." The heart or the emotions are being sidetracked. While charismania is not in view here, any strange and different teaching is! And this could certainly include the strange views of the charismatic folks.

On Hebrews 13:9 Nicoll writes: "These teachings were 'various,' inasmuch as they laid stress now on one aspect, now on another of doctrine. They were 'foreign' both as being novel and as being irreconcilable with pure Christian truth." Again, one cannot help but think of charismatic false doctrine! The BKC says this passage is speaking about those who hawked "strange teachings and tended to idealize these beliefs by their wilderness [wild] experiences."

Ephesians 4:14. Believers are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming. Notice "every wind of doctrine" no matter what that doctrine or doctrines might be about!

On this verse the BKC well says: "blown here and there (whirled around, like in a violent swinging that makes one dizzy) by every gust of wind of teaching, by trickery (dice-playing)." And "moving toward a system of error. False teachers cause this kind of confusion regarding the truth in order to try to bring believers into their erroneous schemes." This is exactly what takes place in the charismatic teaching!

Galatians 5:20. The charismatic movement can also inspire "disputes, dissensions, factions." Satan would have to be behind this kind of confusion. He loves to split churches and bring about false belief systems. These last three words imply "quarreling, selfish ambition, and heretical sects." The charismatic movement often spawns what the BKC calls "self-aggrandizing" in attitude, working to get ahead at other's expense. There is a competition in the charismatic movement. "I am better than you," or "I know more than you." Satan certainly loves to fan such attitudes!

Acts 20:17-31. The Ephesian elders were going to depart doctrinally someday in the future, according to Paul's thinking. He warned the elders of this happening in their group. He said that "among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (v. 30). Notice that this would happen between elders, and the purpose was to cause some of them to be drawn away to higher teaching! "Perverse things" is a Perfect Passive Participle verb. The word "diastrepho" refers to a "twisted teaching," as with a misshapen potter's wheel, or a wheel that is "twisted, crooked."

With the Perfect Tense the idea is that this teaching took a period in which it came up to being twisted and distorted. It did not happen at once. This would absolutely be applicable to the charismatic teachings.

While Satan is not mentioned in all of the above verses he certainly likes to fan false beliefs. He does not sleep when it comes to confusing and sidetracking the doctrines of the believers in Christ.

—Dr. Mal Couch (2/11)

Positional Sins

Dr. Couch, what is this "forgiving men their transgressions" in Matthew 6:14 all about? Can we forgive men of their Positional sins so that they can go to heaven?

ANSWER: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) mainly has to do with how the Jews related to each other. It is not about them possessing authority to forgive men of their sins so that they can go to heaven. The Beatitudes (vv. 3-12) that begin chapter 5 start out dealing mainly with how people treat each other. Note the down-to-earth exhortations: "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law" (5:25). "You shall love your neighbor" (5:43). "Beware of PRACTICING your righteousness before men" (6:1). "When you give alms" (6:3). "When you pray" (6:6). Christ's discussion is about PRACTICING righteousness in the Walk!

Then 6:14-15: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions [in their Walk], your heavenly Father will also forgive you [in your Walk]. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions [in your walk]."

This has to do with sin between men in their relationships, not about forgiveness for receiving salvation. Compare Luke 17:3-4. Forgiving comes by repentance or confession. This restores fellowship or the relationship. This is similar to 1 John 1:9. In the walk confession and forgiveness restores our fellowship. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteousness to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" in our Christian walk. The walk is implied, and is clear, in the context: "IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED (in the Christian walk), we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." This is not about our POSITION in Christ but about our WALK (EXPERIENCE) with Christ.

The same in Matthew 6:14. The passage is about the issue of fellowship with each other. By the way, note Luke 17:3-4 again. "If the brother SINS." And "If he SINS against you ..." Then IF HE REPENTS of that sin against you, you are to forgive him!

Anyone who thinks Matthew 6:14 is about getting to heaven they are confused over the salvation POSITION and the Christian living WALK in the spiritual life.

In his Matthew commentary, my old Greek teacher, Dr. Stanley Toussaint, well explained what is going on in the Sermon on the Mount: "Judicial forgiveness is not in view (Acts 10:43) but fellowship (1 John 1:5-9). It is impossible for one to be in fellowship with God as long as he harbors ill will in his heart."

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

Sanctified by the Law of Moses

Dr. Couch, would we say that the Jews in the Old Testament were sanctified by the Law of Moses, if they kept it? ANSWER:  I don't think so. Looking up all the words for "sanctification" in the OT, we do not find that idea mentioned. The Lord says the seventh day of the week is to be sanctified, He is sanctified in Israel, the sons of Israel would be sanctified, but the work of the Law in sanctifying Israel is not mentioned.    In Hebrew, the word "sanctify" and its related words, is Ko'desh. It means "to be holy," "to set something aside," thus making it unique or special.    In the NT there is Positional Sanctification that takes place when one accepts Christ as Savior. And then there is Progressive Sanctification, in both the OT and the NT, that is, we are to become more and more sanctified as we grow or mature. This was to be true for both the Jews in the OT and for the Christians in the NT.    The OT Jews were told "Be sanctified" or "Be holy; for I am holy" (Lev. 11:44), and for Christians in the NT (and quoting Leviticus 11:44), we read "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:15-16).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch  (1/11)

Progressively Sanctified

Dr. Couch, how were the OT believers progressively sanctified? ANSWER:  To be sanctified means "to be holy." The Hebrew word is Ko'desh and all its variants have to do with being holy, to sanctify, or to be sanctified. The main Hebrew verses are in Leviticus 11:44; 19:2 which say "Be holy; for I am holy." In the context of 11:44 it has to do with staying clean from eating unclean animals. The verse before says "Do not render yourselves detestable" by eating unclean things. The reason is that it is God who brought the Jews "up from the land of Egypt, … thus you shall be holy for I am holy" (v. 45). Further, this is part of the Mosaic law. In other words, they were to keep the law in order to be clean or holy. Verse 46 says "This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, ..."    Verse 44 then is used by Peter to tell church saints that they are to be holy. Peter writes "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Pet. 1:14-16).    Peter applies the Leviticus 11 passage on being holy and not eating unclean things to the believer to remind them to be morally holy in all things. If I said that this was progressive holiness for the OT saints, I meant it in the sense that no one can become instantly holy in their spiritual walk. We progressively walk toward holiness, and so did the OT saints. And even with this, no one becomes holy all at once, in fact, no one becomes completely holy in the spiritual walk. We grow in holiness, and so did the OT saints, but no one becomes completely perfect or holy in this life.    There were OT saints, or holy ones. "As for the holy ones (Ko'deshim) that are in the earth ..." (Psa. 16:3). There are saints in the dispensation of the law, saints in the church dispensation, and there are tribulation saints, those who are saved during the tribulation (Rev. 13:7). While all of these are sanctified or seen as holy, they are not of the same dispensation.    All believers are saints Positionally, and all saints are growing and learning to Walk in holiness Progressively. Position and Walk are different. Our POSITION before God is established because we are in Christ; our walk is PROGRESSIVE because we are growing in time.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch  (1/11)

Reasons for Pretrib Rapture

Dr. Couch, I hold to the PreTrib rapture of the church but my elders do not. They think the church has to go through the trib in order to be cleaned up. Could you give the reasons for the PreTrib rapture? ANSWER:  I wrote the most complete chapter on this issue that has ever been written! It is used in three nationally published books. If you want the full facts you need to order my Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, published by Kregel. In this dictionary, the full answer is given.    You will be completely convinced by reading the chapter in that volume. Your elders are simply quoting someone else. They cannot substantiate what they say from the Bible. They do not understand positional justification and sanctification. They thus are very theologically ignorant and should not be elders!    The rapture of the church is as defensible as the virgin birth or the deity of Christ. I still cannot figure out why some are so adamant about denying the rapture. They just "don't like" the doctrine but have no reason to resist so much. Some folks just cannot read! They do not know how to study Scripture. And they are great quoters. They just say what someone else has said!    It will prove to me that those who do not order my book are showing that they really don't want to know the answers to this doctrine. The issue is over from my chapter! You need to get it!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

The Old Man

Dr. Couch, some people say we no longer have the old man working on us because he has been crucified when we trusted in Christ. What does the Bible say? ANSWER:  Romans 6:6-7 gives to us clarification. While it is true that the old self ("the old man," anthropos) has been crucified (our Position), we still must "consider" or "calculate" ("logizomai," Aorist Infinitive) ourselves to be dead to sin (v. 11). That is, in the "Experience" of the Christian life, we must reckon ourselves to be dead to sin. We must consider the fact that the old man has been judged, though he can still influence us in our Christian experience.    Notice how Paul uses the Greek tenses. Old man crucified (Aorist T., v. 6), ("we should not be slaves to sin" Present T., v. 6), "He has died to sin" (Aorist T., v. 7), "We have died with Christ" (Aorist T., v. 8). The old man has to do with Adam. Kroll writes: "We are free now to live in Christ as we once lived in Adam." "The death of our Lord completely removed the guilt and penalty of our sin." The old man has not been eradicated, his influence is still around, though Positionally, the old man has been judged.    To consider ourselves to be dead to sin "is the first principle in the process of our sanctification," Kroll writes. Christians will still struggle with the influence of the old man. That is what Romans 7 is all about. Paul says, "If I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me" (v. 20).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Mar., 10)

Positional Truth, Experiential Truth, and Sanctification

Dr. Couch, you have convinced me about the two facets of the Christian life, concerning Positional Truth, and Experiential Truth. How does this work out with the doctrine of sanctification? ANSWER:  Believers Positionally are "sanctified" in Christ, and they are urged to "Be holy as He is holy" which would have to do with our Experience in time. The word "sanctify" is related to the Greek word "holy" (hagios). We are positionally "holy" in Christ. Paul writes "to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified (made holy) in Christ Jesus, saints (holy ones in position) by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours" (1 Cor. 1:2).    Concerning our daily Christian walk, our Experience in time, Peter says "But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Pet. 1:15-16). And, "... what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness" (2 Pet. 3:11).    Both aspects are made clear in these verses: Our Position in Christ, and our Experience (or Walk) with Christ!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Oct., 09)

Saving Faith and Sanctifying Faith

Dr. Couch, do you think there is a difference between saving faith and the sanctifying faith of the "renewal of your mind" (Rom. 12:2)? Yes. Saving faith is the belief that Christ died for our sins. The "renewing of our mind" is written to believers presently. Paul writes: "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." In "Be not conformed to this world," Paul actually says "Do not yourselves (Middle Voice) be daily employing schematics with the world." Kroll in my commentary series on Romans puts it this way: "Believers are not to be fashioned after this world, having our thinking transformed which reaches far deeper than conformity to the world."    Instead, we are to be metamorphasized (Present Passive Imperative) by the re-newing of our mind. The Greek word re-newing means to "be up-newing." Or, making anew! These are Present Tenses and they mean believers are to be daily, right now, doing the things that make us different in the Christian walk! What Paul has in mind is found in the verses that follow. So, yes, this is a sanctifying work of believers presently. This is different than saving faith. In fact, faith is not mentioned here in Romans 12:1-2. Here in verse 2, we have a conscious act of changing what we're doing and how we look at our life and at the world. The Lord lays out the directives in chapters 12-15.    Metamorphasized is what the little butterfly does to change from an ugly creature to a beautiful butterfly! He is not aware of this happening as established by the Lord in the DNA code. But we are to be aware of this process, that's why Paul uses a command or an imperative in the passage.    I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Are we under the Law by Works?

Dr. Couch, do Romans 3:31 and Hebrews 10:16 support the Covenant theology idea that believers are under the Law as a rule of life and for sanctification? It seems to me that the NT teaches that believers are not under the Law but under grace. 

 

    ANSWER:  If we were under Law by works, we would fail, as the Jews failed trying to keep it. Peter reminded the Jews at the Jerusalem Council that they could not keep the Law which was like putting a test upon God “by placing a yoke (upon our necks) which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear” (Acts 15:10). The point in Romans 3:31 is that God sees my faith, in a sense, fulfilling the Law: “We establish the Law” by our faith. The Greek word “establish” means “to confirm.” Thus by faith God sees me as a Law keeper, though really it was Christ who lived the perfect life and kept it! 

   Romans 3:31 says nothing about placing the church believers back under the Mosaic Law system. 

   In Hebrews 10:16-17, the author is establishing the fact that the New Covenant is now in operation. Jeremiah 31:31-on shows that the New Covenant replaces the Mosaic system. By this New Covenant God sees the believer as having the Law principles established inside, in the heart and in the mind. It no longer is something to keep by external standards. If you go back and look at the prophecy of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31:31-on, you see that the Mosaic Law has been replaced. We are of course to live out in our lives the moral and spiritual principles that can be seen in the Law, but this is not saying we are now under the Mosaic Law as a way of life or as a system. We are not! 

   The Covenant guys just put all of the Bible into one big mixing bowl and stir it all up. Dispensational guys look carefully at context and see the unfolding plan. 

   Thanks for asking,

   Dr. Mal Couch