GRACE ANSWERS 29

These are questions sent to GraceLife Ministries by Internet E-Mail. We appreciate each person who sent the questions and hope our answers will be a help to many. If you would like to have a question answered for Grace Answers, please e-mail Mark McGee.

Jesus and the Mystery

QUESTION: Did Christ reveal anything about the "mystery " of the church between John 13 and 17? Is there anything in there that is relevant for the present dispensation of Grace?

ANSWER: Jesus did many things between John 13 and 17. He gave His disciples an example of how they should conduct themselves toward other belivers. He predicted His betrayal and Peter's denial. Jesus comforted His disciples and told them He was the Way to God. He promised the Holy Spirit would comfort them, remind them of everything He had said to them and guide them into all truth.. Jesus warned them that the world would hate them, but reminded them that the world hated Him first. He told them that their grief would soon turn to joy. Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples and all who would believe in Him.

Jesus did not reveal the "Mystery" of His Body Church in John 13 thru 17. He taught His disciples about the Kingdom Church. Jesus did not reveal the Body Church until He saved the Apostle Paul many years later.

Paul taught that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Jesus was not speaking "to" us in John 13 thru 17, but we certainly learn a great deal about Christ and His Character and Will. What Jesus said to His disciples is certainly "for" our information and edification. His prayer for "those who will believe in me through their message" gives us an insight into what Christ wants for His followers: "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." The Spirit of Christ inspired Paul to write a similar desire many years later.

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Ephesians 4:1-6

Jesus directed His statements in John 13 thru 17 to the disciples who would begin the Kingdom Church. Jesus later directed His statements to the Apostle Paul who would begin the Body Church. Different households, different messengers, but the same Lord.

Praying in the Name of Jesus

QUESTION: Are we to pray in the name of Christ?

ANSWER: Paul preached fearlessly and spoke boldly in the Name of Jesus (Acts 9:27-28). He used the Name of Jesus Christ to drive demons out of people (Acts 16:18). Paul was ready to die for the Name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13). He taught that everyone who called on the Name of the Lord Jesus would be saved (Romans 10:13). Paul wrote to Christians everywhere who called on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2). He appealed to Christians in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ that they would agree with one another so there wouldn't be divisions among them and they might be perfectly united in mind and thought (1 Corinthians 1:10). Paul told them to assemble in the Name of the Lord Jesus and His Power would be present (1 Corinthians 5:4). He told Christians they were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. Paul told Christians to make music in their hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19-20). He told them that every person in heaven and on earth and under the earth would bow at the Name of Jesus. Paul told Christians that whatever they did, whether in word or deed, they should do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17). He prayed that the Name of the Lord Jesus would be glorified in Christians, and they in Him, according to the Grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:12). Paul also said that eveyone who confesses the Name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness (2 Timothy 2:19).

I believe we can pray "in the Name of Jesus," if we are praying according to His Word.

The Bride of Christ

QUESTION: Is Israel or the Church the bride of Christ?

ANSWER: John the Baptist first spoke about the Bride of Christ in John 3. John was baptizing the people of Israel to prepare them for their Savior, the Messiah (Jesus Christ).

"An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, 'Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--well, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him.' To this John replied, 'A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. The joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less."
John 3:25-30

Jesus was the Bridegroom. John the Baptist was the friend of the Bridegroom. John was preparing the Bride, Israel, for her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. John was filled with joy when the Bridegroom arrived to take His Bride. Jesus became greater while John became less.

We read about the Bride of Christ again in Revelation 19 and 21.

"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, 'Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'"
Revelation 19:6-9

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband...One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
Revelation 21:1-2, 9-14

This is the clearest answer to your question. An angel of God carried the Apostle John away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain. He showed John "the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." The rest of John's description of the wife of Christ was about the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates of the City. The names of the twelve apostles of Christ were written on the twelve foundations of the wall of the City. It's clear that Christ's Bride is Israel living in the New Jerusalem.

The idea of Israel being God's Bride is nothing new. The Jewish Prophets spoke about Israel as a bride to God thousands of years ago.

"The word of the Lord came to me: 'Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: 'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.'"
Jeremiah 2:1-2

The prophets spoke often about Israel as an unfaithful, adulterous wife (i.e. Jeremiah 3; Ezekiel 16; Hosea) Israel is a wife who needs cleansing and forgiving. That's what Christ will do for His Bride. He is preparing a place for her. His Bride is Redeemed Israel in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.

What, then, is the Body Church's involvement in the marriage of Christ to Redeemed Israel? Remember what the angel said to John in Revelation 19. "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" Christ has sent out His invitation to His Body Church to attend the wedding supper with Redeemed Israel.

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.' The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."
Revelation 22:16-17

We are members of Christ's Body. We are not His Bride. We will have an intimate and eternal relationship with New Israel in New Jerusalem because we are Christ's Body.

But what about Ephesians 5:22-33? Doesn't that Scripture say the Church is the Bride of Christ? No. What it says is that we are members of His Body; cleansed by His Word and Sacrificial Love.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--for we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you must also love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
Ephesians 5:25-33

Paul reminded Christians husbands in Ephesians 5 that they should should care for their wives in the same way Christ cares for the Church--"for we are members of his body." We left our former life and were united to Christ. Christ is "in" us and we are "in" Christ. That gives the saying "the two will become one flesh" a remarkable, spiritual meaning. That's the profound mystery: we have become one "in" Christ.

"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness--the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Colossians 1:24-27

Redeemed Israel in the New Jerusalem is the long-promised Bride of Christ. Redeemed Christians are the Mystery of God, the Body of Christ. Bride and Body, different, yet connected eternally through Jesus Christ: Bridegroom and Head.

Slain in the Spirit

QUESTION: I am a fundamentalist Southern Baptist, and am seeking the true gifts of the Holy Spirit. I have varied from being open-minded to very Berean. Now however I am now stepping a bit back from denying totally the charismatic movement.

Recently in a black church meeting, I witnessed a fellow, even more conservative fellow white Southern Baptist Church member being "slain in the Spirit". The evangelist obviously anticipated the same to occur to me, but it didn't. However it did leave me wondering about validity and sincerity of the practice.

I coming from the angle of not wanting to miss out on any of the gifts that God wants to bestow on me. I have studied the Book of Acts from both perspectives charismatic and Berean. What I would like for you to tell me is how can this happen to a person like my friend who was adamant that this would not happen to him. If you could approach it from an apologetic posture, maybe.

ANSWER: You said you had not experienced being "slain in the Spirit." Neither have I. However, not experiencing something doesn't mean we can't learn the Truth together. I approach your question in the same way we approach all questions and Bible study in general: inductively and methodically. If it's in the Bible, we'll find it.

The phrase "slain in the Spirit" is not in the Bible. So, we have to look elsewhere to discover what it is. People who believe in being "slain" point to several Scriptures as examples of it: including the Roman soldiers falling down as they tried to arrest Jesus Christ, Saul seeing a bright light, being blinded and falling down when Jesus appeared to him from Heaven, and John being "in the Spirit" when Christ gave him the Revelation and falling down at Christ's feet "as though dead." Of course we know that the Roman soldiers got off the ground, arrested Jesus, tortured Him, mocked Him and then crucified Him. Their being "slain in the Spirit" did not have a spiritually positive affect. What Saul and John experienced was positive. Saul was saved and received back his sight. John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

Here's an explanation of what one person says "being slain" is.

"I believe this experience is a reaction to the Anointing of the Holy Ghost. I recall a time about eight years ago, when I attended a meeting held by Rev. Kenneth Hagin in Chicago. He preached about the anointing, and I felt faith rising in my heart like a volcano, ready to burst! After the message, I stood in a line with others that wanted Brother Hagin to pray for them. He moved from person to person, with almost everyone falling out after he prayed. There were "catchers" behind each one to insure no injuries. When he stood in front of me, I saw a flash of light, and I was on the floor. Later, I observed as Brother Hagin demonstrated how the anointing could be transfered. He laid hands on his wife, and she began to pray for those in line; down they went. Then He called someone from the audience. The anointing was transfered to him; he began to lay hands on the people, and, down they went."

Some people who have experienced what they call being "slain in the Spirit" have described it as going into a spiritual trance where they communed deeply with God. Some of these people lost control of their bodies and fell to the ground. Some are "slain" for several minutes; some for several hours. One person I spoke with about it said she didn't know what happened to her during that time, but she was thinking deeply about God and His Love. She believed it was part of "meditating in the Spirit."

Other terms people use for this experience are "resting" in the Spirit and "being filled" with the Spirit. Being "filled" with the Spirit is a Biblical phrase. An angel of God told Zechariah that his future son, John the Baptist, would be "filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth." Read what the Bible tells us about John the Baptist and we don't see him losing control of his body and falling down in a trance. He was a man "filled with the Holy Spirit" from birth. If being "slain" was part of being "filled," I would think it might be mentioned somewhere in John's life. Just an observation at this point. Zechariah was "filled with the Spirit" at his son's circumcision and prophesied. He spoke clearly to the crowd attending the event. There is no mention of his losing motor control and falling to the ground in a trance. He had complete control of his body and mouth. Jesus was "full of the Holy Spirit" after His baptism. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert "where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry." We find no mention of Jesus losing control of His Body and falling on the ground in a trance. Jesus was later "full of joy through the Holy Spirit." Jesus prayed to God, then turned to His disciples and spoke to them. Again, no losing control, no falling down, no going into a trance.

The Book of Acts has examples of people who were "filled with the Spirit." All of the believers in the "upper room" on the Day of Pentecost were "filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Read Acts 2 and we find no mention of any of these Spirit-filled believers losing motor control and falling to the ground in a trance. Each spoke in a recognizable, national language that Jews from those nations understood. Peter and the Eleven were all filled with the Spirit that day. Peter stood up with the other Apostles and preached to the crowd. Peter was "filled with the Holy Spirit" when he stood before Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. Peter did not lose control of himself. He did not fall to the ground in a trance. Peter preached the salvation of Christ to the high priest and his family members. Peter and John were released by the high priest and returned to the believers to tell them about all that happened. "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Another example of Spirit-filled people, but no losing control, no falling, no trance. Peter did go into a trance later when God gave him a vision, but there is no mention of losing motor control and falling to the ground. He later explained in detail what happened to him. "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision." As soon as the vision was over: "Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them." God gave Peter a vision to prepare him to accept something he would not normally have accepted.

The Grecian Jews who served the widows in the daily distribution of food were known to be "full of the Spirit and wisdom." Stephen was a man "full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." The Apostles prayed and laid hands on Stephen and the others. With all that's written about Stephen, not a word is mentioned about him ever losing control of his body and falling down in a trance. Saul was "filled with the Spirit" when he spoke to Elymas the sorcerer. Saul cursed Elymas, causing the sorcerer to lose his sight. Saul was "filled with the Spirit" but did not lose motor control, did not fall to the ground, and did not go into a trance. Paul had a vision during the night of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him to come to Macedonia and help him. Luke wrote, "After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them." Paul had a vision, but no mention of losing motor control and falling to the ground. The Apostle Paul had a later experience where he went into a trance while praying at the Temple in Jerusalem. "I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking. 'Quick!' he said to me. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me...Go, I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'" Another example of an Apostle speaking with God in a trance, but no mention of loss of motor control and falling to the ground. The Lord spoke to Paul another night and told him: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." No mention of motor control loss and falling to the ground.

Barnabas was a man "full of the Holy Spirit and faith." Much is written about Barnabas, but nothing is mentioned about him experiencing the loss of motor control and falling to the ground in a trance.

My observation about Acts is complete. Those are all the instances of people being "filled with the Spirit" and people experiencing trances and visions, but we don't find one example of a Spirit-filled person losing control of their body and falling to the ground.

The phrase "filled with the Spirit" is used only one time in the Apostolic Letters.

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:18

Paul preceded that statement by telling the Ephesian Christians to "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Paul followed the statement about being filled with the Spirit with "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul makes no mention about losing motor control and falling to the ground in a trance in the only place where he specifically commands Christians to be "filled with the Spirit."

My conclusion based on observation and interpretation is that Christians losing control of their motor skills and falling to the ground in trance-like states doesn't have Biblical support. So where does this come from? Why do some people do it?

One of the things I've learned from observing people and listening to their experiences is that many who believe in being "slain in the Spirit" grew up in churches where it was a common part of the worship service. Most were from Pentecostal or Charismatic backgrounds. Another observation I've made is that loud music, loud preaching, and intense emotionalism in the meeting were part of each experience. Some who believe in being "slain" have told me that some people do it for show. They say others get carried away with the emotionalism of the moment. They do believe in being "slain," but they acknowledged how some abuse the experience.

I cannot say why your friend experienced being "slain." It's not one of the Charismata. It's not a "Spirit-gift" like prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing to the needs of others, leadership, or showing mercy. (Romans 12:6-8) None of the Apostles mention being "slain" in the Spirit. Even being "filled" with the Spirit is not mentioned as a Charismata. Paul details orderly worship in 1 Corinthians 14 and never mentions being "slain" in the Spirit. His concern was the problem between prophesying and speaking in tongues. We do learn that God wants order in the Church. "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace." The one place we do see "falling down" in a church service is when an unbeliever comes into the church group, hears the preaching of God's Word, is convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all. Paul writes that "the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming 'God is really among you!'" (1 Corinthians 14:24-25) However, no mention of losing motor control and falling into a trance-like state.

I am not convinced by people's experiences. Everyone has an experience. We all do. But how can we all be right when our experiences are different and even in opposition to others? We can't live our lives by someone's experience, even our own. The mind, body and emotions are powerful in leading us to believe something's true. We need something MORE powerful to make sure what we believe is really the Truth. Fortunately, we have that MORE powerful something: The Word of God.

I do not believe the Word of God teaches or recommends being "slain" in the Spirit. I do believe Christians should be "filled" with the Spirit. That filling will lead to orderly activities like praying, studying, singing, witnessing and loving others. We observed the actions of every Spirit-filled person in the New Testament and no one of them acted in ways like we see when people are "slain."

Let me be quick to say that I believe God is God. He can do anything He wants to do. If He wants to cause people to lose control of their bodies, tremble, twitch, shake, laugh, bark and fall to the ground in a trance, He certainly can and will. I am not questioning God's abilities or His Will. I am saying only that I cannot find the type of Christian behavior and worship witnessed in many churches today that claim a special spiritual experience called "slain in the Spirit." I believe God is consistent with His Word. That's why I look to His Word to learn about His Will for His Children of Grace.

Here are some other web sites that you may find helpful in your search for the Truth about this matter. Some support the belief of being "slain," some don't. I believe it's wise for Christians to understand all sides of issues confronting them and the Body of Christ. I hope my comments, these sites and your own study of Scripture will answer your question.

http://www.spirithome.com/slainman.html http://www.pacinter.net/users/chawman/slain.htm http://users.sgi.net/~moriel/slain.html http://www.cq.net/users/wi5s/slain.htm http://www.eastcoast.co.za/users/ari/testrobb.htm http://www.netpci.com/~ssimpson/slain.htm http://www.riverside-ag.org/manifest.htm http://www.interinc.com/Allfaiths/ECC/slain.html

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