AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM…

Hyper-Dispensationalism doctrine teaches the exclusivity of a mental assent to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 for salvation. This teaching denies the new birth. According to Hyper-Dispensational teaching, the new birth, the Gospels, and the words of Jesus Christ were  not for the church, but only for the Jews. This is only a small glimpse of the many nefarious teachings of Hyper-Dispensationalism. Dispensational doctrine was first introduced in the 1800’s by John Nelson Darby and was further propagated by Cyrus I. Scofield in the Scofield Study Bible.

In the words of evangelist George Mueller… “My brother, I am a constant reader of my Bible, and I soon found that what I was taught to believe (by Darby’s doctrine) did not always agree with what my Bible said. I came to see that I must either part company with John Darby, or my precious Bible, and I chose to cling to my Bible and part from Mr. Darby.” – George Mueller

This Bible says…

AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM 

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Meyer Commentary:

Faith lies in the name of the person on whom we believe; the uttered name contains the whole confession of faith.

The name itself, moreover, is no other than that of the historically manifested Logos.

Believers, from their knowledge of God in Christ (John 17:3), become children of God, by being born of God (comp. John 3:3; 1 John 3:9), i.e. through the moral transformation and renewal of their entire spiritual nature by the Holy Ghost;

Pulpit Commentary:

Believing in his Name…

The Name here especially present to the writer is the Logos, the full revelation of the essence, character, and activity, of God.

Vincent Commentary:

To believe in, or on, is more than mere acceptance of a statement. 

ALL MEN

John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Vincent Commentary:

All – John The Baptist took up the work of the prophets, as respects their preparation for the universal extension of the divine call (Isaiah 49:6). His message was to men, without regard to nation, sect, descent, or other considerations.

WHEN THE SWORD COMES INTO A FAMILY

When a family is presented with the gospel, some believe and some do not. This brings division. This also brings deep sorrow of heart. This has been true in my life. It was true when I was born again. It is true today, almost thirty years later. (As I review this post, in January 2018, it is still true.)

PEACEMAKERS

When a family is presented with the gospel, some believe and some do not. This brings division. This also brings deep sorrow of heart. This has been true in my life. It was true when I was born again. It is true today, almost thirty years later. (As I review this post, in January 2018, it is still true.)

Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

Luke 12:51-53 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five…

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THE SURGEON SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE TWO OR THREE WORST CASES HE HAD EVER SEEN

Here’s a photo of a tract entitled A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. I only had one of these tracts left and I found it recently when I was looking for something else. I wrote it many years ago. This testimony has already been posted with a different title but I believe it bears repeating. Here’s the tract with some minor editing. When the Lord does such an awesome thing in your life you just have to keep telling it again and again. I pray it will encourage someone today. All the glory to Jesus! 

A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH

In the summer of 1992, at the age of 74, my mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer. After having a hysterectomy she had radiation treatments for 25 consecutive days.  The doctors told her that intestinal distress would be a side effect of the radiation, and that it could last as long as two weeks after treatment was completed.

In November the treatments were finished and my mother was experiencing the side effects she was told to expect.  But instead of getting better she seemed to be getting worse.  I didn’t know what to think.  My uncle who was always joking and very upbeat took one look at her and started to cry.  On Thanksgiving weekend she began to hallucinate.  We later learned the hallucinating was the result of dehydration.  My father and brother rushed her to the hospital emergency room.  The diagnosis was a ruptured colon.  She was a dying woman as she went into emergency surgery late that night.  The doctor told us that it was one of the two or three worst cases he had ever seen.  He didn’t give us a lot of hope, he was telling us to prepare ourselves for her death.

When we realized the gravity of the situation I went, with my husband and daughter, into an empty waiting room at the hospital and began to pray.

I prayed within …

“Jesus, if my mother were to die tonight and if she were to go to heaven that would be alright with me because she’s very sick and she’s suffering.  If she would go to be with you I know she would be much happier there, than here in this world.” 

Then I prayed… 

“BUT Jesus, you know and I know that according to your Word, if she died tonight she would not be going to heaven because she’s not ready to die, she’s not born again.  Please spare her life and give her more time to repent.”

We had been praying no longer than about 15 or 20 minutes when the phrase “a man under authority” came to me. (The phrase was from Matthew chapter 8:9) 

At that moment I knew that my mother was going to survive and that Jesus Christ would bring healing to her body and extend her life.  I didn’t say anything to anyone, I was afraid to stop praying, but within a few moments my husband said “your mom is going to be OK” so we stopped praying and went back to be with the rest of the family.

When I woke up the next morning I began to doubt. Did I really hear from the Lord.  Was my mother really going to live. I read the words of Jesus in John 4:48 . . . “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe”. Then I realized it was all about faith.  I was doubting because I had not seen anything yet with my physical eyes.  My mother had not hopped out of bed and said “I’m fine now, let’s go home”.

It was Sunday morning and we went back to the hospital.  My mother was in intensive care recovering from the surgery. Her whole body was swollen and she had tubes everywhere.  When I looked at her she reminded me of one of those helium filled balloons at the Thanksgiving Day parade.  She really looked pretty awful.  

But she did recover.

The Lord did spare her life. 

He did answer my prayer, and my mother lived for another 15 years!

And at the end of those 15 years she was born again, and washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, and my mother witnessed to my father of his need for the Holy Spirit if he wanted to go to heaven.

Hallelujah!

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Where would you go if you died today? 

Have you been born again?

See also …

Man Under Authority – II– My mother’s road to the Lord

Man Under Authority – III – What I spoke at my mother’s funeral service