By Bishop
Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
1 Timothy 4:16. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in
them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Ephesians 4:11-14 11And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come
in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive;
Jude 1:3-4 3Beloved, when I gave all
diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to
write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men
crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation,
ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the
only LORD God, and our LORD Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 4:1 Contemporary English Version (CEV).[1] God’s
Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their
faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from
demons.
LESSON NOTES:
I.
INTRODUCTION. Besides glorifying God
and edifying the believer, soul winning is the most important job of the
Church. Jesus‘ last words to us on Earth, was His Great Commission. Adverse to
this evangelistic effort are extreme false doctrines, among these are: (1)
Everyone is saved and does not have to make a profession of Jesus as Lord or
(2) Only the Israelites will be saved and (3) Once you are saved, your cannot
lose your salvation. Believe it or not there are millions of people who adhere
to these false teachings; putting us actually in the minority. But, minority or
not, the Bible is right. Our doctrine is right. These lessons will (1) help us
to answer these challenges (not trying to win arguments, but win souls) (2)
help us arm our people with the correct doctrine and (3) help us to help new
converts from getting confused, when they are approached by these false
teachings.
1 Peter 3:15 15But sanctify the LORD God
in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh
you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
II.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH OF GOD IN
CHRIST PERTAINING TO SALVATION (SOTERIOLOGY). For a person to be rooted and
grounded it is important to study the portion of the Official COGIC Manual
which deals with both Christology and Soteriology.
III. WHO ARE THE HEBREW
ISRAELITES? Various groups that seek the
re-establishment of the faith of the biblical Israelites and a renewed
adherence to the biblical tenets of the “Ancient Judaic Religion” as recorded
in the Hebrew Scriptures. Furthermore, it is believed that what is known as
African American, Native Americans, Hispanics, etc. are the seed of the ancient
Israelites and thus they mostly refrain from using the term “black” Hebrew
Israelites. Unfortunately, many of our young men are being drawn in large
numbers to this teaching; especially because of the groups rigorous efforts on
social media to win converts.
IV.
TEXTS USED TO PUSH THE FALSE
TEACHING OF THE ISRAELITES. Whether you believe that Jesus was black or not is
not the issue. Whether you believe that African Americans, Native Americans and
Hispanics are the ancient Israelites is also really not a salvation issue. But,
the following are major issues because they pertain to salvation.
A.
ISRAELITES TEACH THAT JESUS
ONLY DIED FOR THE ISRAELITES AND ONLY THEY WILL BE SAVED; AND THAT GOING TO THE
NATIONS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL IS ONLY TO THE SCATTERED SHEEP OF ISRAEL. Here are the
Scriptures that they use.
Isaiah 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting
salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end
Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost
sheep of the house of Israel.
Mark 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled:
for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
Acts 2:36-38 36Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both LORD
and Christ. 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Revelation 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at
the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the
twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
B.
ISRAELITES TEACH THAT GOD
HATES SINNERS; AND THAT CERTAIN BOOKS WERE PURPOSELY LEFT OUT OF THE BIBLE TO
HIDE THE TRUTH. However, in evangelizing we
teach that God loves everyone and wants to see them saved.
2 Esdras
6:56 Revised Standard Version (RSV)[2]
56 As for the other nations which have descended
from Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, and that they are like
spittle, and thou hast compared their abundance to a drop from a bucket.
Ecclesiasticus 12:6 Revised Standard Version (RSV)[3]6 For the Most High also hates sinners and will inflict punishment on the ungodly.
Psalm 7:11 11God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry
with the wicked every day.
Psalm 5:5 5The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou
hatest all workers of iniquity.
C.
ISRAELITES TEACH THAT YOU MUST YET KEEP THE LAW
TO BE SAVED. Here are the Scriptures that they use.
Numbers 15:15-16 15One ordinance shall be both for you of the
congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance forever
in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. 16One
law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourned with
you.
Proverbs 28:9 9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the
law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Matthew 5:17-19 17Think not
that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the
kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 4:16 16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been
brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath
day, and stood up for to read.
1
John 5:3 3In
fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his
commands are not burdensome,
John
15:10 10If
you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I
have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Revelation 22:14 14Blessed 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.
V.
RESPONSE TO THE FALSE TEACHING.
A.
THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE IN CHRIST.
Ephesians 2:13-16 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who
sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our
peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law
of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one
new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one
body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus.
B.
EVERYONE THAT IS SAVED IS A PART OF THE ISRAELITE FAMILY.
Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Galatians 3:13-14 13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the
law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the
Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.
Galatians 6:15-16 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16And as
many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the
Israel of God.
C.
JESUS CAME TO SAVE EVERYONE NOT JUST JEWS ONLY.
Acts 28:28 "Therefore I
want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to
the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
Isaiah 49:6 he says: "It is
too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and
bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a
light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends
of the earth.”
Acts 9:15 But the LORD said to
Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to
the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
D.
JEW AND GENTILE MUST ACCEPT CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
E.
THE BIBLE GIVES THE ONLY OBLIGATIONS UPON GENTILES; AS FAR AS LAWS ARE
CONCERNED.
Colossians 2:13-14 13And you, being dead in your sins and
the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having
forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that
was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing
it to his cross;
Acts 15:22-29 22Then the apostles and elders, with the
whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who
were leaders among the believers. 23With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch,
Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24We have heard that some went out from us
without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they
said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear
friends Barnabas and Paul- 26men who have risked their lives for the name of
our LORD Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by
word of mouth what we are writing. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to
us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are
to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of
strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these
things. Farewell.
F.
SALVATION IS IN HIS NAME: JESUS.
1.
ISRAELITES TEACH THAT YAH IS HIS
NAME. And that Jesus is the wrong designation for the Messiah; but we must call
Him by His Hebraic name.
Psalm 68:4 4Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol
him that rides upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.
2.
WE ADMIT
THAT J-E-S-U-S WAS NOT USED UNTIL ALMOST 400 YEARS AGO. The literal name
and pronunciation "Jesus" was unheard of in biblical times. The first
time the name was first spelled as "JESUS" was June 1632 in a court
document in England.[4]
3.
WE ALSO ADMIT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS
TRANSLATIONS OF THE NAME OF THE MESSIAH. In Greek, it is Iēsous; in Aramaic, the language Jesus
spoke, Yesu. Both are derived from
the Hebrew, in which the name is Yeshua
or Joshua. Joshua is made up of
two parts: Ya, which is short for
Yahweh, and Hoshea, which means
“salvation.” Hence, Mary and Joseph gave their baby the name Jesus — “Yahweh saves.”[5]
a.
IN
SUMMARY.[6]
1)
Yaw’s was transliterated into the Greek: Iesous,
2)
Then transliterated into the Latin: Iesus
3)
Then transliterated into the English: Jesus.
4.
BUT WE
BELIEVE THAT THE POWER IS NOT IN THE TRANSLATION. But, the power is in the Person behind the Name!
VI. PRAYER FOR SALVATION.[7] As we close, if you have not received this Jesus pray
this simple prayer:
"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
[1] https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+4%3A1&version=CEV. (Accessed, August 5, 2020).
[2]
https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Esdras+6%3A56&version=RSV.
(Accessed, August 5, 2020).
[3]
https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiasticus+12%3A6&version=RSV.
(Accessed, August ).
[4] (https://www.quora.com). (Accessed, December 26,
2015).
[5]
Strong, James. The Strongest Strong’s. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, 2001.
[6] (https://www.quora.com/If-the-letter-J-wasnt-invented-until-1600-how-did-Jesus-get-his-name-2013-years-ago).
[7] http:www.joycemeyer.orgOurMinistriesEverydayAnswersHow+to+Become+a+Christian. (Accessed, March 2, 2011).
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