A Refutation of Millennial Exclusion Theology by Middletown Bible Church

[bearbear]

I found a series of articles by Middletown Bible Church which critically examine the teachings of Zane Hodges, Joseph Dillow, and Robert Wilkin, who advocate a soteriology that divides Christians into "overcomers" and "non-overcomers," which is remarkably similar to Witness Lee's teachings. Hodges and others teach that some believers will be excluded from the millennial kingdom, a concept that contrasts with traditional Free Grace theology, which the church upholds. The articles argue this interpretation misrepresents biblical salvation and I think provides extensive refutations which can be help to those who are trying to deprogram themselves from Witness Lee's heretical views on salvation.

The articles can be found here: https://www.middletownbiblechurch.or...e/hodgeshp.htm

Here is an excerpt from https://www.middletownbiblechurch.or...ne/inherit.htm

Today in the evangelical world there is a mushrooming movement which professes to champion the “free grace position,” but which others see as dangerously approaching antinomianism. Those who embrace this doctrinal position insist that a true believer can depart from the faith, deny Christ totally, persist in sin (including homosexuality, drunkenness, adultery, etc.), abandon Christianity, and yet still be counted among those who are truly saved. According to this view, such apostates will gain heaven, but will suffer greatly at the judgment seat of Christ and during the kingdom reign of Christ. Indeed they teach that there will be a group of saved people during the kingdom age who will put into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (a hell for believers?).

They divide the body of Christ into two parts: 1) the joint-heirs with Christ (those who suffer with Christ and persevere to the end; 2) those saved people who are not joint-heirs with Christ (those who do not suffer for Christ and who do not continue in the faith, the non-overcomers, the immoral believers, etc.). [For a complete analysis and refutation of this doctrinal position, see the study entitled, The Theology of Zane Hodges and Joseph Dillow and the Grace Evangelical Society and also the study Refutation of the Teachings of Zane Hodges, Joseph Dillow, etc. by James Ventilato]

[bearbear]

One interesting article that is linked in the resource above is a refutation of kingdom exclusion by a Plymouth Brethren scholar William Kelley which includes a mention of Witness Lee by the poster at the end. This is evidence that millennial exclusion theology was not widely accepted by the Brethren and only embraced by a faction led by Govett, Panton and Lang.

https://www.middletownbiblechurch.or...ne/prizewk.pdf

[bearbear]

I am going through the articles by George Zeller now and found this one on apostasy to be thought provoking:

https://www.middletownbiblechurch.or...e/departff.pdf

He pushes back on both Free Grace and Lordship Salvation as two extremes using Solomon as an example. This is the first time I've encountered a teacher that is against both views. Most Christians I've encountered usually fall into one of these two camps but perhaps it really is a false dichotomy and the truth lies in the middle.

[bearbear]

George Zeller also shared with me a thought provoking article from Pastor Kelly Sensenig that pushes back on both Free Grace and Lordship Salvation:

"Is the Free Grace position really free?" by Pastor Kelly Sensenig

[bearbear]

I've been enjoying a song that I think captures the nuance in the position described in these posts.

Salvation is a free gift but it also results in transformation.

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Yet only the blood of Jesus justifies us and not our works which are like dirty rags.

Titus 3:4-6
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Blood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DtiMf1xoLM

Everything changed, it's getting harder to recognize
The person I was before I encountered Christ
I don't walk like I used to
I don't talk like I used to
I've been washed from the inside
I've been washed from the inside out

Hallelujah, hallelujah
I know it was the blood
Could have only been the blood
Hallelujah, hallelujah
I know it was the blood
Could have only been the blood
Ayy

I cannot explain, but nothing's more real than this
In the presence of God, oh, what my hеart experiencеd
When my shame hit the wayside
And my sin met the Most High
I was washed from the inside
I was washed from the inside out

...

It's never been about performance, perfection
Or striving for acceptance
Let me tell you, it's only by the blood
It's never been about deserving or earning
It's a gift that's freely given
Let me tell you, it's only by the blood
Does anybody want to be holy, righteous
Purified and spotless?
Let me tell you, it's only by the blood
Does anybody want to be worthy, forgiven
Justified, really living?
Let me tell you, it's only by the blood

Praise God for His boundless mercy and unfailing love, which He lavishes upon us so abundantly, though we are undeserving.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by bearbear

Most Christians I've encountered usually fall into one of these two camps but perhaps it really is a false dichotomy and the truth lies in the middle.

Try to follow my "brief" reasoning here.

In the section of Hebrews 9.26-28, the sacrifice for sins is addressed for those both under Law and under Grace (iow, OT and NT) Interestingly, the phrase "reserved for men once to die, and then judgment" is referred to. This Judgment determines where we will wait or "sleep." Where we wait is in Hades, under the earth, where Jesus Himself also went. The story of Lazarus and the rich man tells us that Hades has two parts. Following death there is immediately a judgment to determine our temporary resting place. Luke 16.29 informs us that it is not our wealth or poverty that determines where we wait, but whether we "hear Moses and Prophets," which means do we believe God and His Word.

The story of the 2 criminals on the cross with Jesus is informative. Initially both criminals mocked Jesus (Matt 27.44), but later one had a change of heart, (Luke 23.40-43) to whom Jesus famously responded "today you will be with Me in Paradise." It is just that easy to change your resting place. Perhaps these two criminals had a similar conversation across the great divide as Lazarus and the rich man.

All those who stress "grace, by faith, never perish, forgiveness of sins, etc." stress stories like this. And they are right. All these scriptures are a witness at this judgment following our death. But this Paradise under the earth is where we wait; it is not "heaven" or our final destiny. All of past mankind is now in Hades, under the earth, waiting to be resurrected.

The Bible does speak of the pending "Judgment Seat of Christ" for all believers after our resurrection at the last Trumpet. (I Ths 4.16) Here we will be judged for our works, our life, all things "good and worthless." All those who stress the requirements of faithfulness and obedience to the Lord until the end correspond with the book of James which is a witness at this Judgment Seat. Therefore he states "faith without works is dead," because at this time we will be "justified by works." (James 2)

[bearbear]

Originally Posted by Ohio

The story of the 2 criminals on the cross with Jesus is informative. Initially both criminals mocked Jesus (Matt 27.44), but later one had a change of heart, (Luke 23.40-43) to whom Jesus famously responded "today you will be with Me in Paradise." It is just that easy to change your resting place. Perhaps these two criminals had a similar conversation across the great divide as Lazarus and the rich man.

The thief on the cross is indeed an interesting case study of a saved person. The key to his salvation I believe is as you wrote "but later one had a change of heart". This is consistent with the theme that "salvation is a free gift but results in transformation". Like the prodigal who realized his true wretched condition and the error of his ways and that he was not worthy of being his father's son, the thief realized he did not belong in Jesus' kingdom and only ask to be remembered. I believe the thief could have been a prodigal son who was born again. In the last moments before death, he became a good tree bearing good fruit and belonged to the kingdom.

Another interesting case study to bring the free grace view into focus in my opinion would be Matthew 7:21-23. These people claimed Jesus as Lord but Jesus branded them as "workers of lawlessness" and that "he never knew them". In the context leading up to these verses Jesus explained that you can identify a tree by it's fruit and that the bad trees are burned in the fire in Matthew 7:19. The workers of lawlessness hence are bad trees and bad fruit bearers whose end is to be burned just like the tares who blended in with the wheat in Matthew 13:40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age". The false disciples claimed to know Jesus but their hearts were not transformed. They had works but their hearts did not experience transformation and hence they were not recipients of the free gift of salvation.

The Apostles also affirmed Jesus' teachings and wrote extensively concerning these false brethren.

Titus 1:16
"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:5
"Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

2 Peter 2:1
"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction."

1 John 2:4
"He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

1 John 3:8
"Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."

Jude 1:4
"For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."

Revelation 2:2
"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars."

The workers of lawlessness who Jesus denied with the words "depart from me" stand in stark contrast to the thief on the cross. While the workers of lawlessness outwardly professed faith, their actions "works of lawlessness" revealed their inward denial of it. In contrast, the thief, much like the prodigal son, did not initially claim faith, yet his transformed heart demonstrated that he truly belonged in the kingdom which Jesus says is neither here or there but lives within us.

Luke 17:21
The kingdom of God never comes by watching for it. Men cannot say, 'Look, here it is', or 'there it is', for the kingdom of God is inside you.

This inward transformation was affirmed by Jesus’ response to the thief’s humble request, "Remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus answered him with the promise: "Today you will be with Me in Paradise," confirming his place in the kingdom.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by bearbear

Another interesting case study to bring the free grace view into focus in my opinion would be Matthew 7:21-23. These people claimed Jesus as Lord but Jesus branded them as "workers of lawlessness" and that "he never knew them". In the context leading up to these verses Jesus explained that you can identify a tree by it's fruit and that the bad trees are burned in the fire in Matthew 7:19.

The workers of lawlessness hence are bad trees and bad fruit bearers whose end is to be burned just like the tares who blended in with the wheat in Matthew 13:40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age". The false disciples claimed to know Jesus but their hearts were not transformed. They had works but their hearts did not experience transformation and hence they were not recipients of the free gift of salvation.

As I tried to explain, salvation scripture needs context. Some verses point to our living today, some point to judgment following death which determines where we will "sleep," and some point to the judgment seat of Christ following our resurrection from the dead. If we don't discern which, then we will never properly understand scripture.

These verses in Matthew 7 refer to the judgment seat of Christ because they are related to the believers works following salvation. If these ones were not initially saved by grace thru faith, then they would never be judged for their works at the Bema Seat, but would be judged for their sins at the Great White Throne. The words "never knew" must be understood as "never approved" since Jesus knows every one of us, all mankind indeed, and all we think and do, regardless of whether we believed or not.

The fate of these evil workers are a warning to all God's children. Christians can be "bad trees" and even "bad branches" (John 15) which will suffer loss by fire. (I Cor 3.13-15) Just because the Lord will use the judgment of fire to prove our works does not mean we will be sent to the Lake of Fire. In fact, many will escape the fires at the Bema Seat because their faith and works have been already purified by fiery trials on earth. (I Pt 4) This is God's way to mature all His children, including even His Only Begotten Son.

It is not correct, however, to connect the fires of Matt 7.19 and John 15.6 with the fire of Matt 13.40-42. The "Tares" are not genuine believers with evil or worthless works, rather they are are "sons of the evil one." (Mt 13.38) The Tares do not have the spirit of God within them, though externally in their behavior they may bear some resemblances to genuine children of God. These tares are not identified by their "works," but by their inward parts. The Tares have not received the gift of eternal life thru the cleansing of sins by His shed blood. These tares are not golden wheat upon harvesting, but a black and intoxicating darnel which becomes readily apparent at harvesting.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by bearbear

The workers of lawlessness who Jesus denied with the words "depart from me" stand in stark contrast to the thief on the cross. While the workers of lawlessness outwardly professed faith, their actions "works of lawlessness" revealed their inward denial of it. In contrast, the thief, much like the prodigal son, did not initially claim faith, yet his transformed heart demonstrated that he truly belonged in the kingdom which Jesus says is neither here or there but lives within us.

We should not assume that the "Thief" on the cross was instantly transformed and matured thru his last minute faith in the Savior. Yes, his eternal destiny was changed by grace thru faith in the promised Messiah, the Lamb of God, but he too must resurrect to the judgment seat of Christ. (2 Cor 5.10) When Jesus said "today you will be with Me in Paradise," this should not be interpreted as the Thief "going to heaven," but rather the Lord visiting Paradise, the pleasant part of Hades, under the earth for "3 days and 3 nights," the sign of Jonah. (Matt 12.39-40)

We should interpret these "evil workers" in Matthew 7 according to I Cor 3 and James 3.1. Those who minister and teach may receive greater reward for their service, but they also may receive "greater judgment" for their evil works. As we see occasionally in the news, it is sometimes the most gifted members of the body of Christ who bring the most shame to His glorious name. This is a warning to us all.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by bearbear

I found a series of articles by Middletown Bible Church which critically examine the teachings of Zane Hodges, Joseph Dillow, and Robert Wilkin, who advocate a soteriology that divides Christians into "overcomers" and "non-overcomers,"

In the book of Revelation, Christians are placed into 2 groups for the purpose of the Rapture - Firstfruits and the Harvest.