I finally received the promised part two of Bitter Herb's assault on Pastor O'Neal. It didn't say much that wasn't satisfactorily refuted already, but he did finally did give his take on the scriptures about the Testator in Hebrews 9. I was very disappointed.

Heb 9:15-17 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Herb retorted:

"It really sounds pretty good, until you closely examine the part about the testator's death being for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the FIRST TESTAMENT!!! He was a "Testator" for those under the "FIRST TESTAMENT" (Old Testament). Christ is the living "MEDIATOR" of the New Testament! You don't mediate anything by dying. You testate by dying! The LIVING Christ is still the mediator of the New Testament."

Christ indeed was the redeemer of the transgressions of the first testament. The sins of the Old Testament saints were only remitted, they were not yet redeemed or "put away". They were waiting for the Messiah to redeem their sins. Remission is not complete. You remit a check, but it's not cleared until it's redeemed. Cancer in remission is not the same as cancer put away. Their salvation was only "on credit" awaiting the Messiah to complete it.

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Those under the law had to be redeemed.

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Sin was not "put away" until Christ died. That's when they "received the promise of eternal inheritance".

He died to "testate" for those under the first testament, He lives to "mediate" for us in the new testament, just like it says.

Herb also carelessly said that "Jesus is the only divine Baptizer". The only problem is that God says:

John 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

That is enough to show that Bitter Herb's part two is as wanting as part one.

To contact the writer of this article, Teno Groppi Click HERE - tdg@vbe.com
Visit Brother Teno's God & Country Page: http://www.vbe.com/~tdg/

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