Hi Mike,

Thank you for answering the questions I sent. I didn’t attend AC but have visited the 3 campuses. I’d appreciate it if you would answer some more questions that are currently bugging me.

1. Can you explain Mat 5:38-42? I understand that it’s about not taking revenge, but taken literally it implies that we should be doormats. For example:

• does verse 39 imply that if some psychotic threatens you with a baseball bat, you let him hit you and ask for more?;
• does verse 40 imply that since you were in the wrong and lost a court case, you should doubly compensate the person who sued you?;
• does verse 41 imply that if someone hijacks your car at gunpoint, you offer to chauffeur him for a second trip?
• does verse 42 imply that if someone asks for your life earnings you are required to give them away, or at least lend without hope of return?

2. How do I know that Christ is in me? I was deluded into believing I was in the “right”church for a considerable portion of my life. How can I be sure that I’m on the right track now? The early church experienced an obvious baptism of the Holy Spirit. Does this still occur today? I can’t just accept that since I’m not very wise, then I must be amongst the elect. Doing so can easily be a form of pride.

3. Why does Paul seem to grade Adam’s sin as less serious than Eve’s in 1Ti 2:14? Surely, taking the fruit out of delusion is even worse than taking it knowingly and wilfully?

Doesn’t Paul exonerate himself somewhere (I can’t remember where) for sinning in ignorance?

While Adam was first formed, God had planned male and female humans from before Creation as a matching set – male for female, as well as female for male. Christ was formed from a woman. Christ showed much respect to women. Yet Paul seems to favour subservience in 1Ti as well as in 1Co 14:34-35.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
C____

Hi C____,
Thank you for your questions:
You ask:

1. Can you explain Mat 5:38-42? I understand that it’s about not taking revenge, but taken literally it implies that we should be doormats. For example:

• does verse 39 imply that if some psychotic threatens you with a baseball bat, you let him hit you and ask for more?;
• does verse 40 imply that since you were in the wrong and lost a court case, you should doubly compensate the person who sued you?;
• does verse 41 imply that if someone hijacks your car at gunpoint, you offer to chauffeur him for a second trip?
• does verse 42 imply that if someone asks for your life earnings you are required to give them away, or at least lend without hope of return?

At least you got the point! That in itself is rare. In order to answer this question, I am forced to answer your next questions in the process.

2. How do I know that Christ is in me? I was deluded into believing I was in the “right” church for a considerable portion of my life. How can I be sure that I’m on the right track now? The early church experienced an obvious baptism of the Holy Spirit. Does this still occur today? I can’t just accept that since I’m not very wise, then I must be amongst the elect. Doing so can easily be a form of pride.

The requirements of the scriptures above are humanly impossible. Only “Christ in you… can do all [ these] things.”

Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I’m not sure what you mean by “an obvious baptism of the Holy Spirit,” but if you are referring to speaking in other languages, as so many understand this, you are confusing gifts of the spirit with the fruits of the spirit. ‘Christ in you’ will strengthen you to obey the fleshly impossible demands of the new covenant. False humility and pride, so common among those who have fallen for the lie that the unknown tongues of today are the same thing being discussed in 1Co 14, does not exist in anyone who is capable of obeying Mat 5. Assuming that since you are among the elect that therefore you don’t need to be the most vigilant person on earth is a lie of the Devil. Here are the only people who are already saved, and even they are awaiting the resurrection:

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

The elect ” count not themselves to have apprehended…” They understand that there is no place for pride, and they know that they must “endure to the end.”

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Phi 3:13&nbs Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

And here is another hint at who they are: “Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake.” Are you up to all that? I think you know that YOU of your own power are not. Here is the solution. You don’t have to worry about false pride with this formula:

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The elect are aware to their marrow that they don’t even contribute the ‘faith’ to be saved. Even it is “the faith of Christ.”
Here is your next question:

3. Why does Paul seem to grade Adam’s sin as less serious than Eve’s in 1Ti 2:14? Surely, taking the fruit out of delusion is even worse than taking it knowingly and willfully?

You miss the point that Paul is making. Paul is not concerned with the degree of the sins committed. Both produce death.
What Paul is pointing out is that just as Adam willingly laid down His life to remain with his wife whom he loved bringing death upon all men, likewise Christ willingly and knowingly laid down His life for His ‘wife’ bringing life to all men.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Paul tells you clearly that whenever he is discussing marriage, he is actually discussing Christ and the church:

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The last third of this chapter is concerned with the proper relations in a marriage union. Men are exhorted to be as Christ, to love and care for their wives and be leaders “even as Christ for the church.” Women are exhorted to submit to their husbands “as unto Christ.” Modern day ‘feminism,’ which is anything but feminine, is the natural outgrowth of men who have forsaken their God- ordained role as spiritual and physical leaders of their wives and children. Paul has not changed his writing style in Timothy. Here is what you ask about:

1Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

There is not one word here that does not also apply to men in relation to Christ and His words.
Paul is not trying to make Adam’s sin look smaller than Eve’s. Verse 8 exhorts men to take the lead in spiritual matters. Men do not do that, generally speaking. If there is any spiritual life in a family at all, it is usually women who are insisting upon it. So what is Paul’s point in telling us that Adam was not deceived? From Genesis to Revelation we are shown what happens when we are out of God’s order. Even when godly women are forced to be leaders, it is pointed out in no uncertain terms that there is a price that men must pay for their lack of faith and courage.

Jdg 4:1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
Jdg 4:2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Jdg 4:3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
Jdg 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Jdg 4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
Jdg 4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Jdg 4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
Jdg 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. [ How is that for a ‘leading man?’]
Jdg 4:9 An d she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

I am personally wondering where Lapidoth is while all this is going on? I’ll bet you have never even heard of ‘Lapidoth.’ He was Deborah’s husband, obviously not fit to be a judge. This whole story of Deborah and Barak tells us one thing. It tells us that just as Barak lost his honor in battle “into the hand of a woman,” so all Israel had lost their ability to judge “into the hand of a woman.”

Isa 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

The rulership of women, either in or out of the home is the work of “leaders who cause you to err, and to destroy thy paths.” Deborah’s judgeship did not coincide with Barak’s spinelessness for no reason. It is a story that demonstrates how far from God was the entire nation of Israel at that time. It is even worse today.

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

And that is Paul’s point here. When men follow their wives, it is the same as if Christ were following the church. We will inevitably end up out of order. It is all the working of God Himself, but it is as the soul leading the spirit. It is not to be tolerated among God’s elect.
Next you ask:

Doesn’t Paul exonerate himself somewhere (I can’t remember where) for sinning in ignorance?”

Here is that scripture:

1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Now you tell me; is obtaining mercy the same as being exonerated? ‘Exonerate’ according to Webster means

“To cast off, as a charge or as blame resting on one; to clear of something that lies upon the character as an imputation; as, to exonerate one’s self from blame, or from the charge of avarice.”

Paul never once tried to “exonerate one’s self from blame.” He, along with those who slew our Savior, did it “in ignorance.”

Act 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot [ old English- know] that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

But look at how Paul views himself in the very next verses:

1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

It was Paul’s own experience that convinced him of the salvation of the Gentiles, and eventually through the fiery experience of 1Co 3, what John calls ‘the lake of fire,’ the salvation of all men, of all time.

1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Now here is your final question:

While “Adam was first formed,” God had planned male and female humans from before creation as a matching set – male for female, as well as female for male. Christ was formed from a woman. Christ showed much respect to women. Yet Paul seems to favour subservience in 1 Timothy as well as in 1Co 14: 34-35.”

Once again, you did at least get Paul’s point. Can you receive it? It is another of those humanly impossible things for many wives. Your wording would lead one to believe that if we were expected to be “subservient” to Christ, that this would somehow be disrespectful toward us on the part of Christ. Christ is showing no disrespect toward His wife, the church, by expecting us to submit ourselves unto Him. Is God disrespectful of us when He expects us to “submit” to Him?

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

The word ‘subject’ here in Rom 8:7 is the exact same as the Greek translated ‘submit’ in this verse:

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Is God disrespecting us when He expects us to be “subject to the law ofGod?”
The most respect any man can show towards his wife is to be a Christ- like leader and provider.
Read the paper on the trinity to understand why Christ created Adam first. It was for the express purpose of teaching us that God created Christ first. Christ came out from the side of the Father, just as Eve came out from Adam’s side. Then just as the entire creation came through Christ, so do all men come through the women. Nevertheless we must never forget that Christ was first, and we were created for Him. It is not vice- versa. We are to submit to Him, never vice- versa. That is what the marriage relationship should teach us all.
I hope this is of some use to you. You asked some questions which to answer scripturally will never be well received in our apostate ‘feminist’ society. God had planned mankind from before the creation of Christ. Christ is the beginning of the creation of God:

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

That in no way entitles us to become the head of the body. We are to submit ourselves to Christ.

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

The carnal mind simply cannot be subject to the law of God. It simply does not like God’s way of doing things.
That is another way of knowing God’s elect. All of God’s elect “come out of Babylon.” This necessitates shedding a lot of “idols of the heart” (Eze 14: 1-9). Very few are capable of this painful process. It is a fiery experience.
I hope this helps to give you the ability to proceed with much more confidence.

Mike