Jesus saith unto them, did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. ~ Matthew 21:42-43

Jesus is the stone which the builders rejected. Who then are the builders who rejected Jesus?

They are the leaders of Israel (the chief priests and Pharisees ~ v. 45). They had corrupted the temple and had made it a den of thieves rather than a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). Now their house was desolate (Matthew 23:38) and the Kingdom was being taken from them and given to another. Consequently, “there would be not one stone left upon another” of the temple they had defiled (Matthew 24:2).

The stone they rejected is the cornerstone which God himself has placed in Zion (1 Peter 2:6). This stone, Jesus, is the foundation of God’s true temple as testified of by the prophet Isaiah.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. ~ Isaiah 28:16

Jesus had asked the chief priests and Pharisees concerning this stone, “Did ye never read in the scriptures…?”

The scriptures given to Israel had testified that God would lay the foundation for his true temple (not the end time, man made temple which modern Christian Zionists claim) but God’s true temple, the temple he has always wanted.

God personally laid the cornerstone for this temple he desired to inhabit.

It is said that the stone would be laid “in Zion”. Under the Old Testament Zion (earthly Jerusalem) was a type of the Heavenly Jerusalem to which the true people of God belong: ” you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,  heavenly Jerusalem…” says the writer of Hebrews.

When the temple authorities rejected Jesus, they rejected the cornerstone which God himself had established as the foundation for his true temple.

For this reason, the Kingdom of God was taken from them and was given to another nation  – a chosen generation, a holy nation, with a royal priesthood, a special bought people, who were purchased by the blood of the lamb, and would demonstrate the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.  ~ 1 Peter 2:9

They would bring forth the fruits of the Kingdom! For they would be inhabited by the Spirit of the Living God. The temple made with human hands would no longer serve as the residence of God among his people.

When Jesus breathed his last on the cross, and surrendered his spirit into the hands of the Father, the curtain (veil) of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51) and a new an living way was opened for the people of God (Hebrews 10:19-22).

God’s presence now abides in the temple of which his people are living stones, built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, and who offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5).

God will never again make his abode in a man-made temple. God’s plan, revealed in Jesus Christ, was to unite Jews and Gentiles into one family in Christ. This is God’s house!

For through him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye (Gentiles) are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints (the Jewish remnant who trust in Jesus), and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye (Jews and Gentiles) also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. ~ Ephesians 2:18-22

This is the temple of the Lord, for it is his doing and it is marvelous in our eyes!

What happens to a Jew when his heart is circumcised? Does he boast in his Jewish identity after the flesh, or does he boast in Christ?

In Philippians 3, Paul warns his brethren in Christ to beware of those who boast in Jewish identity after the flesh. Paul says, “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.” ~ Philippians 3:2

This was Paul’s opinion of the Judaizers, (Jews in the flesh who were persecuting Paul and opposing his ministry to the Gentiles).

Not all Jews were persecuting Paul’s ministry, but those who were zealous for the Jewish religion were. They were evangelizing the Gentiles (Acts 15:1; Galatians 1:7) attempting to convert them to “Jew’s religion” (Galatians 1:13-14), a term employed by Paul in the book of Galatians.

Paul himself had been among their ranks, and Paul knew their motives, and calls them dogs, and contrasts them to the truth that is in Christ, saying, “look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…”.v 2-3

Paul then lists his credentials as a Jew after the flesh:

• Circumcised on the eighth day,
• Of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin.
• A Hebrew of Hebrews.
• As to the law, a Pharisee.
• As to zeal, a persecutor of the church
• As to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Paul’s qualifications were many. Yet Paul did not consider any of these things of any value before God.

Paul continues, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” v. 7-8

In compassion to his relationship with Jesus, Paul considered his credentials as a Jew in the flesh as a “total loss.”

This is how a “true Jew” esteems faith in Christ.

Paul continues:

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ~ See Philippians 3

Paul did not despise his heritage as a Jew, He often used it to promote the gospel. What Paul rejected was any boasting in his Jewish identity after the flesh.

Though Paul had all the outward qualifications as a Jew, circumcised in the flesh, he did not know God until his heart was circumcised, at which time his understanding of what God values began to change.

God values a circumcised heart, and this has always been true even under the Old Testament.

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.” ~ Jeremiah 4:4

God’s appeal to the Jewish people through the prophet Jeremiah was “circumcise your hearts.” This message to the ancient Jews is the same message that was preached, by way of the gospel, to the Jews in the New Testament. Consider the words of John the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were supposed to be the spiritual leaders in Israel.

You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ~ Matthew 3:7-10

The message of John the Baptist to the corrupt leaders in Israel was to circumcise their hearts (Bear fruit in keeping with repentance). Their physical ancestry mattered not to God, for God was able to raise up descendants of Abraham from rocks if he so chose to.

Being Jewish in the flesh matters not to God. What matters is the heart. This comes through clearly in Jeremiah 24, where we read of a vision that God gave Jeremiah of two baskets of figs.

After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the Lord. One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. ~ Jeremiah 24:1-7

Notice that God interprets the “good figs” in Jeremiah’s vision as those among the ancient Jews whom he would give a heart to know him. God says, “they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.”

Keep in mind this is a reference to some of the Jews, not all. It is a reference to a remnant, who would do more than have an outward Jewish identity. They would have a heart towards loving God, and knowing him. They would have a circumcised heart.

Now notice what God says of the the Jews who would not circumcise their hearts:

But thus says the Lord: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them. And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.” ~ Jeremiah 24:8- 10

The Jews in Jeremiah’s day, who loved wickedness, and whose hearts were not circumcised, were exiled from the land, and even worse, they were exiled from God’s presence and their memory was being cut off.

When Jesus came, the elect (not the Calvinist doctrine of the elect, but the remnant of faithful Israel within the national Israel) received the gospel and the rest were blinded.

Why were they blinded? Because they did not believe on him whom God had sent.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. ~ John 1:11-13

This plays out in plain view in John 9 when the unbelieving, religious Jews expelled the man healed of blindness from the synagogue.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. ~ John 9:35-41

While men like the man born blind received salvation through Jesus, others like the Pharisees were blinded because of their unbelief. In Romans 11, Paul says, What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. ~ v.7

The elect (election) is a reference to those within Israel, who like the man born blind had heart towards finding the truth, for when he was asked by Jesus, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”

The Pharisees, on the other hand, had no desire to believe in him, but were rigorously opposed to Jesus because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:43), and in them was fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah: He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. ~ John 12:40

It is unfortunate, that some within Christian ranks, especially among the “prophecy gurus” have made unbelieving Jews, who despise the gospel, the central focus of their end time theology. Yet God has a people among them. Not a people who will find him in a rebuilt temple, but who will find him through the hearing of the gospel.

God has a remnant with the Jewish people, and like the man born blind, they need to know who the Son of God is so that they can believe in him.

In Elijah’s day, there was a remnant of Jews who did not bow the knee to Baal, even though the nation at large had.

Paul cites this example in his defense that God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Consider Paul’s words:

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. ~ Romans 11:1-6

Paul’s defense that God has not cast away his people is not a predicated on Israel’s national status before God, but rather, the remnant within the nation of Israel who are called according to grace.

Paul believed there was a remnant within Israel who were called according to grace. By default, we can conclude that not all within Israel were called according to grace.

This is not a reference to the Calvinist doctrine of irresistible grace, but a reference to those who are true Jews from the heart and seek to serve God in truth – they are the called according to grace and the “Israel within Israel” referenced by Paul in the early part of Romans 9.

In Romans 11 Paul uses the allegory of the olive tree to describe the family of Abraham. Israel is referred to as the olive tree by nature (the olive tree cultivated by God), and the Gentiles who are of faith in Christ are called the wild olive branch which is grafted into the family of Abraham (the olive tree).

The Gentiles are not grafted the national Israel through faith. Rather they are grafted into spiritual Israel which is the true family of Abraham, for Abraham’s true children are those who are of faith.

This is why Jesus could say of Nathaniel, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” and then say to other Jews, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.”…”You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.”

Jesus made a distinction between Nathaniel, who was a true Israelite, and those who wanted to kill him as children of the devil.

Nathaniel was called according to grace, for his heart was towards pleasing God, the others, though Israeli’s in the flesh did not have a heart towards pleasing God.

All throughout scripture there is a distinction made between Israel and “Israel within Israel” (the nation and the spiritual within the nation). This is evidenced by Paul’s theology that the promise of God did not come through Ishmael but through Isaac.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. ~ Galatians 4:22-23

Those born of promise are those who are Abraham’s spiritual descendants like Nathaniel.

In Romans 11 Paul claims that God has not cast away Israel because there is a remnant within it who have a heart for God, and though some of the natural branches have been cut off from their own tree, God is able to graft them in again if they will believe the gospel.

These are they who are in view when Paul refers to “all Israel” being saved. Paul is not preaching an end-time restoration of a Christ-less national Israel who builds a temple and offers animal sacrifices.

Paul is referring to the remnant within Israel who will be saved through the gospel.

Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all. ~ Isaiah 65:8

The all Israel who will be saved are the “true Israelites” or “true Jews”. They are the wine within the cluster. They are Israel within Israel:

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. ~ Romans 9:6-8

The remnant is the blessing within the cluster mentioned by Israel. They are the “Israel within Israel” referenced by Paul. And as Isaiah says in another place, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved,” God will be faithful and graft them in again into their own tree when they believe the gospel.

Our responsibility to the Jews is to preach the gospel to them, It is not to support their apostate temple plans or their apostate animal sacrifices.

God’s plan for the Jews is not to send them back to Israel to build an apostate temple, offer animal sacrifices, and separate them from all other nations, and make their identity distinct from Christ’s body (the church).

That is the theology of Anti-Christ!

God’s plan for every Jew is to graft them again into God’s Israel, the family of Abraham who are of faith. It is not enough to be a Jew in the flesh only.

Jesus told Nicodemus (a teacher among the Jews), “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). There is no inheritance in God’s Kingdom for any Jew apart from being born again. Yet many Christians have been taught that God has a Kingdom plan for Israel separate from the gospel which was delivered to us by the Jewish apostles of Jesus.

Paul, who was a Jew, and a man whose knowledge would be unmatched by any of today’s “prophecy gurus” tells us that God’s plan for the Jewish people has been revealed through the gospel. What then, is that plan?

The plan is the union of Jews and Gentiles in “one body” in the Messiah. God’s plan is not a Temple for Jews only. Instead, God’s plan is that Jews and Gentiles be joined together as the temple of God.

God’s plan is not that the Jews be separate from all other nations. God’s plan is for the Jews and Gentiles to be one family as the true children of Abraham, through Jesus Christ.

Paul says the following in Ephesians 3:

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. this mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ~ Ephesians 3:4-6

While Christians Zionists and “prophecy experts” teach that God has a “mysterious plan” for Israel independent of the church, Paul says otherwise, and describes this as the mystery of Christ.

God has no plan for Israel outside of Christ, and God’s plan for Israel in Christ is revealed through the gospel.

Paul continues:

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ… ~ Ephesians 3:7-8

What was Paul preaching to the Gentiles? Was Paul preaching to the Gentiles that God has a special salvation plan for them distinct and separate from his salvation plan for the Jews?

A thousand times, NO!

Paul preached to the Gentiles that they were fellow heirs with the Jews and members of the same body, or family, as the Jews who were saved through grace.

Paul continues:

… and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This is according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ~ Ephesians 3:9-13

Christian Zionist attempt to divide Israel from the church, Yet in Paul’s theology, the church is the continuation of Israel and it is the church, and not Israel after the flesh, through whom the manifold wisdom of God’s plan is revealed.

God is not interested in a Gentile-less Israel. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of God’s plan and purpose for Israel, to die for the whole world. God’s plan for Israel is to fill it with both native born Jews and Gentiles alike, by circumcising their hearts and making them one family in Christ!

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. ~ Matthew 21:43

Jesus said these words to the chief priests and the Pharisees (men who were the temple authorities, and the spiritual leaders in Israel).

This statement by Jesus was the interpretation of a parable he had just spoken to them. Consider the parable:

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.  When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”  They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? ~ Matthew 21:33-42

The mission of Israel, under the Law, was to evangelize the world. Israel was chosen by God, not to be a spectacle to be paraded as God’s favorite. They were chosen for redemptive purposes, and to glorify God’s name among the godless nations of the world.

Israel failed in her commission, because of her long history of wicked spiritual leaders. Often when we think of God’s prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah, we think they were the leaders. but they were God’s messengers instead, and were sent to confront the wicked leaders who corrupted the nation with idolatry and sin. It was the wicked leaders throughout Israel’s history who killed the prophets God sent to them.

Their rejection of God’s message through his prophets reached its climax in their rejection of Jesus, and this is what the parable above is about. Jesus concludes this parable by telling them that the Kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to another nation bringing forth the fruits of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom which was entrusted to them, has been taken away, and that is why their house (their temple) was made desolate.

The Kingdom of God is no longer revealed through Israel after the flesh. Instead, it is revealed in Israel after the Spirit, which is the church founded on the faith of the Jewish remnant who followed Jesus.

The Church of the Living God is not a Gentile entity. It never has been and never will be. The church is a spiritual entity which began with a remnant of Jewish believers whose  hearts were circumcised through their faith in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church, and through him Jews and Gentiles are united as one family of God. The separating barrier has been removed and there is no longer any distinction between Jews and Gentiles as it relates to covenant with God. In Christ, they have become one!

The great commission given to the New Testament church, is not a “Gentile commission.” It is a Kingdom commission which was first entrusted to Israel after the flesh, but was taken from them and entrusted to the remnant Jews who carried it to the world.

God’s Kingdom doesn’t come to the world through modern day Israel in the flesh. God’s Kingdom comes to the world through Jesus, and the church is his body who carries his Kingdom to the world.

Abraham’s family has always been a household of “faith” in the eyes of God. Being Jewish (Israel) has never been about race only. Throughout the Old Testament and into the New, there have always been Jewish converts.

In Matthew 23:15, Jesus says the following to the scribes and Pharisees:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

On the day of Pentecost, proselytes were gathered among the many (Acts 2:11) who heard Peter preach the gospel, and those to whom Peter preached were called “ye men of Israel” (Acts 2:22). The Jewish proselytes were included as part of “all the house of Israel”. ~ Acts 2:36

Throughout the book of Acts we have accounts of Jews attempting to make converts of Gentiles, and Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written to counter the teachings and influence of the Judaizers who were attempting to proselytize the Gentiles in Galatia.

In scripture, Jewishness has never been about “race only”. If a Jew were a Jew by race only, Jews would have never sought to make converts.

Those who “became Jews” (Esther 8:17) from among the 127 Providences over which King Ahasuerus reigned (from India to Ethiopia) during the time of Esther, became Jewish by conversion.

In Scripture, being Jewish has always been a matter of faith, and not race only.

The premise on which Christian Zionism is founded is a faulty one to begin with as it rejects the key component of a true Israelite, which is his spirituality, or faith!

In the New Testament, Jesus did not think the religious Jews of his day, those were opposed him, had any special privilege with God. When they claimed that Abraham was their Father, Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father”.  ~ John 8

They responded “We are not illegitimate children, the only Father we have is God himself.” To which Jesus replied, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies”. ~ John 8

Notice that Jesus told these ungodly Jews who were actual physical descendants of Abraham, “You belong to your father, the devil.”

Jesus continues; “And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God “. ~ John 8:45-47

Abraham’s children are those who are of faith that lead to Christ and who practice righteousness, for God’s promise to Abraham was to make him the father of many nations!

The church has not replaced Israel, because true Israelites in the eyes of God have always been the church. The church of Jesus Christ began with the remnant of godly Jews, who through faith believed Jesus is the Messiah. It is into this body that Gentiles who believe in the Messiah have been baptized by conversion, and have become members of the Israel of God! ~ Galatians 6:16

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ~ 1 John 4:1-3

The confession that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not an acknowledgment of a historical person named Jesus. Rather, it is the acknowledgment that this man Jesus, was more than a historical figure. He was God manifested in the flesh. It is a confession that speaks of the deity of Jesus Christ. We know this because of the emphasis John places on the deity of Christ throughout the epislte.

John begins his letter by testifying of the deity of Christ.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. ~ 1 John 1:1-3

Likewise, John ends his letter by testifying of the deity of Christ.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. this is the true God, and eternal life. ~ 1 John 5:20

The deity of Jesus Christ is a major theme in the writings of John, who tells us that every spirit that denies the deity of Christ is not of God but is of the anti-Christ.

Those who confess the deity of Christ have the Spirit of God. This is consistent with Paul’s words to the Corinthians “no man can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Spirit of God”

True fellowship with God is fellowship with the one who John says is “eternal life” and who was with the Father from the beginning. Christ is Lord, and he is exalted, and by this truth (God manifest to us) we can know the difference between the Spirit of God and the  Spirit of error.

The Holy Spirit exaltes the Son of God.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1

I have been bothered by the abundance of false teachings and so-called revelation given by those who speak with tongues. I have observed this over a long period of time.

I have finally reached a place of wanting to address it. As one who has spoken much in tongues at certain times in my life, I am disturbed that so much error has entered the church through those who speak with tongues.

Being gifted to speak with tongues does not mean you are spiritual person. The Corinthians spoke much in tongues, but according to Paul they were carnal believers.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1

When the gift of tongues is properly understood, and kept within its biblical boundries, it is a great blessing. When tongues becomes a badge of spiritually, revelation, and walking in the supernatural – abuses, error, and false teachings follow. Rather than following Jesus, those who misappropriate tongues often fall into a false sense of spirituality.

Recently, I came across something someone had written titled, 100 BENEFITS OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES. While a hand full of the mentioned benefits had scriptural support, the vast majority of them did not.

Allow me to share a few of them and the reason why they are wrong.

Benefit #4 claims, Tongues is the believer’s direct access to the throne room.

This is false, tongues is not the believer’s direct access to God’s throne, the person of Jesus Christ is. The scriptures tell us that there is only one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ. Jesus instructed his disciples to come to the Father in his name, and in the book of Hebrews we are told to come boldly into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.

Jesus is our direct access to God, speaking in tongues is not.

By claiming that tongues is the believer’s direct access to the throne room, the writer has elevated tongues to the status that only Jesus has in scripture, and by default he is closing out those who don’t speak with tongues.

Therefore this view of tongues should be rejected, for such statements elevate tongues beyond its biblical boundaries and opens the mind of carnal believers to a false sense of spirituality.

According to the Bible, the fruit of the Spirit is revealed as love, joy, peace,  patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self control ~ Galatians 5:22-23. These are the characteristics found in the lives of those who are spiritual, and according to Paul, you can speak with tongues and still be lacking in the fruit of the Spirit.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (LOVE), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1

Also on the list of 100 benefits of speaking in tongues was an unbiblical spin on speaking mysteries. Point #5 says, Tongues is speaking divine mysteries – divine coded secrets.

Obviously this statement is predicated on Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 14:2, which says, For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

The emphasis of this text as the context reveals is that tongues is spoken in a language not understood by the hearer, and that is the reason for the use of the word mysteries. Speaking mysteries doesn’t mean “divine hidden codes” which is another way of saying “hidden revelation.”

It simple means you do not understand with your mind the meaning of your tongues, no more than you would understand what a Korean, or Russian were saying if you didn’t know their language. Paul explains this when he says, Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. ~ v.11.

Soon thereafter Paul says the following:

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ~1 Corinthians 14:14-15

The New Testament does not teach that we are praying divine coded secrets when we pray in tongues, and such ideas are the breeding ground for false revelation not consistent with the sound doctrine given to us in the scriptures. When we go beyond the teachings of scripture thinking we have spiritual revelation because of tongues, this can open our minds to unscriptural doctrines.

It is almost certain that this is the reason why so many who elevate tongues beyond the scriptural boundaries very seldom obey the Bible’s instructions regarding the proper use of tongues publicly. Rather than remaining silent in obedience to God’s Word, many  elect to “display their spiritually” by speaking in tongues publicly when there is no one present to interpret. Yet the scriptures teach us to be silent in public if there is no interpreter.

The 6th benefit mentioned on the list of the 100 Benefits says, Tongues is drawing secrets to life’s complicated issues.

There is not a single text anywhere in the New Testament that even hints to this. In every place that tongues is referenced in the New Testament, where we are told what was said in other tongues, the emphasis is always that of magnifying God.

Notice Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 14:

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. ~ v. 15-17

Notice that Paul’s description of what is being said in tongues is that of blessing God and giving thanks. This is consistent with Acts 2. When the multitude heard the 120 disciples speaking in tongues they heard them speaking of “the wonderful works of God” ~ v.11.

It is also consistent with Acts 10 where we find Cornelius and his house, “speaking with tongues, and magnifying God”. ~ Acts 10:46

In Acts 11, Peter described what happened at Cornelius’s house as being similar to the experience of the 120 disciples on the Day of Pentecost.

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? ~ Acts 11:15-17

The gift of the Holy Spirit is given to us to exalt Jesus, and the gift of tongues (scripturally) is given to help us bless and thank God, and glorify him.

Speaking in other tongues is not going to straighten out your theology. It didn’t do that for the Corinthians and it won’t for you either. It is not going to make you spiritual. it didn’t do that for the Corinthians, and it won’t for you either.

This is where I think people mistake the purpose for the gift of other tongues. The primary purpose for tongues is for exalting God (praising and glorifying him) in your personal devotion.

If you pray in other tongues, your spirit is edified, but others around you are not, and that is why the gift of the interpretation of tongues is needed in public. Praying and singing in other tongues in your personal devotion will spiritually enrich you in your praying and singing in your understanding.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

Paul makes a contrast between his much speaking in tongues privately, and speaking in the church. While speaking in tongues in private edifies the individual who speaks in tongues, speaking in tongues publicly does not edify those who do not know what you are saying.

This is why Paul says he’d rather speak five understandable words in the church than 10 thousand which can’t be understood by others. Displaying tongues publicly with no interpertation is not an act of being spiritual, but carnal and selfish because it is not motivated by love towards others in the room. Such displays of tongues causes a person to be spiritually unpleasant as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, rather than a sweet fragrance of God’s love in Christ.

When we are in fellowship with others  we should be concerned with the edification of others, and not ourselves. Paul tells the Corinthians to keep silent (from speaking in tongues) in the church if there is no interpreter present.

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:27-28

The sad truth is that many Christians are robbed of the blessing of speaking in other tongues because of the abuse of carnal Christians who think speaking in tongues publicly is a sign of spirituality. It is not!

Speaking in tongues publicly with no interpretation is a sign of carnality. Being able to control yourself and keep silent is a sign of spirituality. In his instruction concerning the use of tongues and when to keep silence, Paul says, Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:20.

Spiritually mature people do not display their tongues publicly!

Spiritual people do not need to draw attention to themselves. Spiritual people are more concerned with using their gifting with discretion and wisdom so that the name of Christ is glorified and others edified.