Chapter 5 - The Law of the Literal and the Spiritual: the Principle of "Acted Parables" Flashcards
PRINCIPLE #1
The literal is the commencement of, or the foundation for, the spiritual. God leads our minds from the material world to the spiritual: from the seen and the known to the unseen and the things unknown to us through our physical senses. “That was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.” 1 Cor. 15:46.
PRINCIPLE #2
From the material things limited to certain places He taught spiritual truths which are of worldwide application.
PRINCIPLE #3
The miracles and experiences of Jesus in His Palestinian ministry were recorded as illustrations of worldwide spiritual truths, having their counterpart in the world-wide spiritual kingdom in the spiritual land of Israel. Employing the literal to illustrate the spiritual is one of the principles upon which the Bible was written a principle clearly taught in the New Testament and in the Spirit of Prophecy.
PRINCIPLE #4
In both the Old and the New Testaments operates the principle that the literal things which were enacted in Palestine were “acted parables” illustrations or types of world-wide, spiritual things pertaining to Christ’s kingdom of grace. As Jesus is the Author of the whole of the Word of God, we know that His method of teaching in the Old Testament is the same as in the New.
PRINCIPLE #5
“All” the recorded experiences of literal Israel “were our examples,” or “our figures,” 1 Cor. 10:6. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor. 10:11.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.” Rom. 15:4.
PRINCIPLE #6
After Pentecost the disciples clearly understood the Old Testament. The New Testament writers reveal the principle for interpreting the Old Testament: to see in the literal, types of the spiritual and world-wide.
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
“The first Adam” father of a sinful, mortal race.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
1 Cor. 15:45-49. Jesus, “the last Adam,” the Father of a sinless, immortal race.
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Eve - Adam’s wife.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
Eph 5:31, 32; Gen. 2:23, 24. The church - the bride of “the last Adam”.
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Saved by the ark from the flood of God’s wrath, and landing on to a new world.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Melchisedec, the king-priest of Salem, the “king of righteousness”, “the king of peace.”
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
Heb 7:2-6 - Typified Jesus, the “King of Righteousness,” the “King of Peace,” Who reigns in “the heavenly Jerusalem”. Christians are also “kings and priests”. Rev. 1:6, etc.
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Abraham, the father of the tribes of Israel.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
Rom 4:11-18 - “The father of all them that believe.” Rom. 9:7, 8; Gal. 3:7-9, etc.
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Isaac, the promised seed.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
Matt. 1:1: Gal. 3:16; 4:28. Type of Jesus, the promised Seed; also type of those who are Christ’s.
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Isaac, the miraculously born of a freewoman, was free.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
Gal. 4:28 - “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” The Christian, being born again of the Holy Spirit, is free and is a child of “the heavenly Jerusalem,” which is built of God.
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Ishmael, born of natural birth by a bondwoman, was in bondage, and persecuted Isaac, the freeborn. The bondwoman and her son were cast out of Abraham’s camp.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
OLD TESTAMANT HISTORY
Jacob, the supplanter, whose nature was changed during the long literal night of wrestling with God. His name was then changed to “Israel’’.
THE NEW TESTAMENT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION
