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Relent (נָחַם)

Nacham (נָחַם) is often translated as “comfort”, “sorry”, “relent”, “repent”, “moved with pity”, or “grieved”, making it difficult to understand its true meaning. The basic meaning of נָחַם is “to relent”; however, in context it can also express “to console,” since by the nature of relenting one concedes from his distress.

The first occurrence of נָחַם (nacham) in Scripture is when Lamech named his son Noah, which is a form of נָחַם (nacham), meaning, “one who brings comfort,” Genesis 5:29. The birth of a son brought comfort to his parents because they would be able to relent from their work, having an additional hand to assist.

In Genesis 6:6, after seeing that mankind had rejected good and only goes after wrong all day long, for even every formation of the intent of his heart only sought after evil, God determines to destroy these wicked humans. Although many of our translations use the word “sorry” or “regret”, neither of these actually expresses the meaning of נָחַם (nacham), and both imply something about God that is not true. God did not change His mind, or feel regret, concerning creating humans; instead, He relented from striving with humans because of their wickedness. God did not forget His word to Adam, Eve, and the serpent. Due to the wickedness of these humans, God chose to destroy them to stop their evil ways. However, He saved eight souls, allowing humanity to continue and His word to be fulfilled. Genesis 6:6-7 show us that wickedness is very repulsive to God and that He will only permit it to go so far before bringing judgment. To ensure the wickedness of humans would not again get to the point that it was […]

Relent (נָחַם)2024-08-26T07:22:22-07:00

Acts March 17 2019

The Acts of the Apostles

The Jerusalem Council

Acts 15:15-18

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: “After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these things.’

Acts March 17 20192019-03-18T06:12:28-07:00

Dispensations and Ages

Evening School of the Bible

Dispensations and Ages

A Dispensation is a period in time in which God gives His expectations for the conduct of life through a steward for those in the household.

  1. The household is made up of people God is specifically dealing with – whether all of mankind or only a specific group.
  2. There is only one steward for each dispensation.
    • Scripture shows only one person per dispensation being given the expectations for those in the household
    • Even after the death of the Steward no other steward is put in his place
    • Most stewards did not die
    • When a steward died before the end of the Dispensation the instructions are passed down to those in the household through written word.
  3. When the steward is changed the expectations for the manner of life of the household changed
  4. Dispensations are for men and through them God shows something to mankind about mankind.

The Rules for Determining How to Define a Dispensation

Requirement for setting the rules to determine a dispensational period in Scripture

Must be taken from Scripture.

Based on the normal use of dispensation in the everyday language.

Makeup of a dispensation

Master – God

Steward, Genesis 41:41-43 ; 43:19

Household

At times it is all humanity.

Other times it is only specific groups of mankind (Jews, the Church).

A household can have only one steward at a time, Luke 16:2 .

The steward is responsible for dispensing the rules to the household, Luke 12:42 .

Only the person given the instructions for God’s expectation of conduct for the household is the steward.

Dispensations and Ages2018-11-25T05:51:43-08:00

The First Dispensation

The Dispensation of Innocence

The first dispensation begins when God creates mankind and places him in a garden in Eden, Genesis 2:8. Its title comes from the characteristics of the dispensation. Humans are in a state of being innocent, not knowing good (that which is beneficial) or evil (that which causes calamity).

The First Dispensation

Adam is given instruction by God concerning the standard by which he and those of the household are to live.

And Yahweh Elohim commanded unto Adam saying, “From every tree of the garden eating you will eat, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil do not eat from it because in the day you eat from it dying you will die.”, Genesis 2:17

Failure of the Dispensation

Adam chose to knowingly disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat and that it was desirable to the eyes, and a tree of delight to make wise, then she took from its fruit and she ate and she gave also to the man with her and he ate, Genesis 3:6

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly deceived having come to be in a transgression, 1 Timothy 2:14

The Result of Failure

  • The woman will have to work hard and now will have pain in child birth and her desire will be unto her husband.
  • The man will have to work hard to cultivate the earth for food.
  • Adam’s nature becomes bent due to his determination to disobey God.
  • Adam and Eve die spiritually – they are separated from God in their spirit.
  • Adam […]
The First Dispensation2018-11-12T10:08:21-08:00

The Law of the Christ – Theological Forum 2018

The Law of The Christ – Download paper in PDF.

The Law of The Christ

Caring for Members of the Body

Pastor Luther Walker

In the book of Galatians[1] Paul states that the bearing of another person’s weight[2] is filling up again the law of the Christ; yet, in Romans he writes that a Christian is not under any quality of law[3]. How do we reconcile passages of Scripture that seem to contradict each other? What does Scripture mean when it states a Christian is not under any quality of law, yet then indicates there is a law of the Christ and a law of the Spirit? Is a Christian under law or not? Ultimately this leads to the underlying question, “As a Christian, what are the guidelines for my life?” To better understand the rules of our household[4], that is to say God’s expectation for how the saved are to live their life today, we can examine how the word “law” is used in Scripture along with its normal meaning and use in everyday life so we know the difference between being under the Mosaic Law or any quality of law and filing up again the Law of the Christ by loving another saint while fulfilling the law the Spirit of life by our walk.

Since we are in the Dispensation of Grace, not the Dispensation of Law, the standard for our household is different. Scripture is very clear on the fact that a Christian is not under the Mosaic Law or any quality of law[5]; however, there is still a standard by which those who are a […]

The Law of the Christ – Theological Forum 20182018-11-11T22:50:12-08:00
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