Billingsly/Benton Debate on The Gospels

 
 
 Proposition: 
 The scriptures teach that one will be blessed today who obeys Jesus' righteous principles for His 
 kingdom described to some extent in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the parts of their 
 documents that describe what Jesus said before He died on the cross. 
 
 Affirm:  Terry Benton
 Deny: Dan Billingsly
 
 Somewhere in Terry's 2nd affirmative, when he saw that he was losing the debate, he quit arguing 
 his proposition and began to attack me. This is a sure sign of  fear and defeat.
 
 1. Terry continues to argue, from a misinterpretation of 2 Timothy 3:16-17, that "All Scripture" in 
 the Bible can be used as New Testament doctrine. He stands shoulder to shoulder with every 
 denominational preacher and their doctrinal error.
 
 When I asked Terry where the New Testament begins in the Scriptures, he refused to answer.  You 
 see, if Terry answers it begins in Matthew 1,  that means Genesis through Malachi cannot be used 
 as New Testament doctrine. If he answers it begins in Acts 2, that means that Genesis through 
 MMLJBC cannot be used as New Testament doctrine.  So Terry must argue that the New 
 Testament began in Genesis 1.  What kind of preacher is this among churches of Christ?
 
 The Roman Catholic church defends their priesthood, the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops 
 and on down to the parish priests, because they say it is based on the Old Testament law of Moses 
 in MMLJBC.
 
 The Seventh Day Adventists defend their right to observe the Old Testament sabbath just like 
 Jesus did in MMLJBC.
 
 The Methodists and Pentecostals defend their right to use instrumental music because it is based 
 on its use in the Old  Mosaical covenant including Christ's temple worship in MMLJBC.
 
 The Baptists defend their right to practice tithing based on the teaching of the law of Moses by 
 Christ in MMLJBC.
 
 The Mormons defend their right to claim that Joseph Smith was a prophet  with new revelation 
 just like all of the Old Testament prophets in Israel -- including Christ.
 
 Let's take another look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
 
 "15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise 
 unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 
 1 6All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
 correction, for instruction in righteousness: 
 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:15-
 17).
 
 Paul is teaching Timothy that it was the Old Testament Scriptures (Exodus 20 through MMLJBC) 
 that led all Jews in old covenant Israel, including Timothy when a child,  to old covenant 
 salvation.  Paul also teaches that the Old Testament law of Moses was a "schoolmaster" to bring 
 all Jews in Israel to the Messiah (Gal. 3:24).  After the law of Moses was abolished and nailed to 
 the cross (Eph. 2:15-16; Col. 2:14), the New Testament age began in Acts 2 and  ultimately the 
 New Testament gospel led Jews to New Testament faith in the death, burial and resurrection of 
 Christ (Gal. 3:25-27).
 
 Paul makes it very clear in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, that Timothy was made wise unto New Testament 
 salvation not through the Old Testament law of Moses, but "...through faith in Christ Jesus."
 
 How could Paul be teaching that "All scripture"-- from both Old and New Testaments is new 
 covenant doctrine, when he condemns such in other New Testament passages?
 
 "15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in 
 ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 
 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity 
 thereby" (Eph. 2:15-16).
 
 "16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, 
 even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by 
 the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Gal. 2:16-17).
 
 " 3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 
 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen  from grace. 
 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 
 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which 
 worketh by love." (Gal. 5:3-6).
 
 I have made the above argument in this debate several times, and Terry has never attempted to 
 answer these Scriptures. 
 
 In making such a false interpretation of 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and taking such an erroneous doctrinal 
 position, Terry opposes, offends and contradicts the true New Testament revealed by Christ, the 
 Holy Spirit and the apostles in acts 2 through Revelation 22. Terry is wrong, wrong, wrong on 2 
 Tim. 3:16-17.
 
 2. One would think after Terry suffered such a death-blow on Romans 8:3-4 in my last rebuttal, 
 that Terry would cease and desist using this passage. Terry has no idea or knowledge of the 
 difference between the "law of sin and death" -- the divine law within man's nature as he is created 
 in the image of God -- that has ruled and reigned over innocent youth and non-covenant alien 
 sinners since the time of Adam (Gen. 2:9-17; Rom. 7:23-25; 8:1-4), and the Old Testament law of 
 Moses that reigned and ruled over old covenant Israel from the time of Moses to the death of 
 Christ.
 
 Romans 8:3-4 and "the righteousness of the law that might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after 
 the flesh, but after the Spirit," refers to the "righteousness" in the nature of innocent youth who are 
 created in the righteous, sinless image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), not the "righteousness" found in the 
 Old Testament law of Moses.
 
 Today, in this New Testament age, when an innocent youth, full of the righteousness and 
 sinlessness of his or her creation in the "image of God," is tempted by the "lusts of the flesh" and 
 transgresses the "law of sin and death" within his own nature, he or she is then alienated from God 
 by sin.  Now, this alien sinner can only be redeemed from the condemnation of the "law of sin and 
 death" --  by the  New Testament law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus -- the new covenant 
 gospel (Rom. 8:1-4).
 
 Just as Jesus prophesied  in John 3, the alien sinner must be born again to regain his or her original  
 innocence, righteousness or sinlessness. This is why New Testament baptism is for the 
 "remission" of only alien sin (Acts 2:38).  When the alien sinner is baptized for the "remission"  of 
 his or her alien sin, they are buried with Christ and raised in the likeness of his resurrection as a 
 "new creature" a "born again" Christian (Rom. 6:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:17).
 
 The New Testament gospel is the power of new covenant salvation (Rom. 1:16-18); the law of the 
 Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the seed of the New Testament kingdom.
 
 "22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love 
 of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 
 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which 
 liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Pet. 1:22-23).
 
 "13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of 
 his dear Son:
 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Col.1:13-14).
 
 "37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest 
 of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 
 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus 
 Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as 
 the Lord our God shall call. 
 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this  
 untoward generation. 
 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto 
 them about three thousand souls... 
 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily 
 such as should be saved." (Acts 2:37-41, 47).
 
 When alien sinners become New Testament Christians in obedience to the new covenant  gospel 
 of Christ, they fulfill the righteousness of the "law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:3-4). Once again, in 
 the remission of their alien sin in the waters of new covenant baptism, they regain the original 
 righteousness of their creation or birth in the "image of God."
 
 Romans 8:3-4 is not referring to Terry's wild and crazy argument about New Testament 
 "Christians" fulfilling the righteousness of the Old Testament law of Moses, for Paul condemned 
 such a thought in the following inspired  statements in the book of Romans.
 
 "21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law 
 and the prophets; 
 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that 
 believe: for there is no difference" (Rom. 3:21).
 
 Paul says that  "the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" in the New Testament 
 gospel.
 
 "4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 
 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those 
 things shall live by them. 
 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall 
 ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 
 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 
 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of 
 faith, which we preach;
  9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that 
 God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made 
 unto salvation. 
 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 
 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich 
 unto all that call upon him. 
 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 
 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in 
 him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 
 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of 
 them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 
 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 
 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"  (Rom. 10:17).  
 
 Not only does Paul say that Christ was the end of the Old Testament law for righteousness, but he 
 clearly draws a distinction between Moses description of the Old Testament righteousness which 
 was of the law and  the New Testament righteousness which is of faith in the new covenant 
 gospel.
 
 There is no Old Testament righteousness of the Old Testament law of Moses that Christians are 
 suppose to fulfill in the New Testament church.  Terry is simply wrong, wrong, wrong.
 
 3. Shadows and Substance: Terry likes to tear the Old Testament law of Moses into shreds and call 
 some commands shadows and some substance. However, Terry is wrong again, for it was not 
 certain commandments but the whole law covenant  that was a shadow of things to come in the 
 New Testament age. All of the law of Moses was the shadow, not just certain commands as Terry 
 argues.  Notice how Paul defines the shadow of the law.
 
 "1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can 
 never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto 
 perfect" (Heb. 10:1).
 
 The substance of the Old Testament shadow was the New Testament of Jesus Christ, for he took 
 away the first covenant and its shadow and replaced it with the substance of the second or new 
 covenant.
 
 "9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish 
 the second. 
 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for 
 all" (Heb. 10:9-10).
 
 Even when Terry compartmentalizes, rips apart, divides, shreds, separates, partitions, fragments, 
 dichotomizes, severs, splits, disjoins, partitions, divorces, dissects and uncouples the teachings of 
 the Old Testament law of Moses in an effort to support his debate proposition, his assumptions, 
 postulations, premises, conjectures, speculations, thesis, hypothesis and theories fail and his 
 proposition falls.
 
 Terry  has completely floundered and collapsed as he has attempted to prove his untenable and 
 unscriptural proposition.  I have asked Terry to show us where the phrase righteous principle or 
 the word principle is found in MMLJBC. He has not answered the question. No one, not even 
 Terry, can scripturally prove an unscriptural proposition.
 
 Christ's Old Testament Prophecies And Parables In MMLJBC
 
 One of the greatest doctrinal mistakes made by those, like Terry,  who believe that Jesus revealed 
 New Testament doctrine in MMLJBC, is their failure to account for Jesus' role as the last Old 
 Testament prophet that God sent to Israel (Deut. 18:15-18; Lk. 13:33; Acts 3:22). They look on 
 Jesus in MMLJBC as though he was already the New Testament Savior of the world, rather than 
 the reality that Christ was the Old Testament Messiah sent to save only Israel. Christ's mission in 
 MMLJBC was  to "fulfill" all of the prophecies and promises in the law of Moses while Israel was 
 still God's old covenant nation.  As the Old Testament Messiah, while the law of Moses was in 
 force, Jesus declared the following to the people of Israel.
 
 "17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to 
 fulfil. 
 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass 
 from the law, till all be fulfilled. 
 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he 
 shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the 
 same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:17-18, all emphasis in quotation is 
 mine, D.B.)
 
 In his mission and work as the Messiah sent to Israel, Jesus fulfilled more than 300 Old Testament 
 prophecies. In his role as Old Testament prophet, Jesus spoke many Old Testament prophecies, 
 like most all Israeli prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel among others.
 
 Like many others, Terry continually confuses Christ's Old Testament prophecies and parables in 
 MMLJBC with Christ's actual revelation of New Testament doctrine in Acts 2 through Revelation 
 22. Thus, he makes his invalid and untenable  argument that Christ revealed New Testament 
 doctrine in Old Testament books of MMLJBC.
 
 Because we cannot analyze and study all of the Old Testament prophecies spoken by Christ, let's 
 concentrate on some of his new covenant kingdom/church prophecies and parables.
 
 "18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and 
 the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 
 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on 
 earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in 
 heaven" (Matt. 16:1819).
 
 In this Old Testament  prophecy  Jesus foretells three things.
 
 1. He was going to build his church sometime in the future (I will build...my church) after 
 Matthew 16; after his resurrection from the dead.
 
 2. The "gates of hell" would not prevent him from building his church. During the three days 
 Jesus  between his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus went down into Hades and took away 
 the Devil's  power in death (Heb. 2:14), and was raised from the dead on the third day (Matt. 28; 
 Mk. 16; Lk. 24; Jn.20-21).
 
 3. He was going to give Peter the "keys" of the New Covenant kingdom. Peter received these 
 "keys" in Acts 2.
 
 Jesus did not build the New Testament church in MMLJBC. He built the church  in Acts 2. Jesus 
 revealed the New Testament plan of salvation as to how alien sinners would be saved from sin and 
 enter the church in Acts 2. 
 
 At least three other Old Testament prophets prophesied of the coming of the new covenant and the 
 establishment of the New Testament kingdom/mountain/church.
 
 "44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be 
 destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and 
 consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (Dan. 2:44).
 
 "2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be 
 established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall 
 flow unto it" (Isa. 2:2).
 
 "1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:1-2).
 
 No one today, to my knowledge, believes and teaches that the Old Testament prophecies about the 
 establishment of the New Testament kingdom in  Daniel 2 and Isaiah 2 are New Testament 
 doctrine, so why should anyone believe that the Old Testament prophecies of John and Jesus in 
 MMLJBC are New Testament doctrine?
 
 Since Terry  believes that "All Scripture" in the Bible is profitable for New Testament doctrine, 
 does he believe that Daniel 2 and Isaiah 2 are new covenant doctrine?
 
 Jesus spoke many Old Testament parables to the Jews in Israel during MMLJBC, but these short-
 range Old Testament parables/prophecies were just like all other Old Covenant prophecies.  A 
 parable was  to speak by comparison or explanation of  one prophecy to another.  Because Jesus 
 spoke only Old Testament parables in MMLJBC, it is unscriptural to speak of them as New 
 Testament parables.
 
 In capsule form, Jesus was explaining to Israel in MMLJBC all of the former or earlier old 
 covenant prophecies of Moses and the prophets. Each parable begin with an introduction like "The 
 kingdom of heaven is likened to..."  However,  Jesus did not expect or intend the Jews to 
 understand the Old Testament prophecies of Moses or his parables,  for Christ never clearly 
 revealed New Testament doctrine in any Old Testament prophecy  or parable. Here is what Jesus 
 said about the Jews in MMLJBC understanding his parables.
 
 "10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the 
 kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever 
 hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 
 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, 
 neither do they understand. 
 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall 
 not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 
 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they 
 have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should 
 understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them" (Matt. 13:10-15).
 
 It should be remembered, the Jesus' prophecies and parables about the then-soon-to-come New 
 Testament age was not a clear and understandable revelation of New Testament doctrine. 
 Therefore, his  Old Testament prophecies and parables did not produce New Testament faith. Old 
 Testament prophecies and parables were found only in the Old Testament.  There are no Old 
 Testament prophecies and parables in the New Testament.
 
 This is why MMLJBC with all of  their Old Testament prophecies and parables are not New 
 Testament books.
 
 The Scriptures teach, in New Covenant text and context in Acts 2 through Revelation 22, that  the 
 New Testament "gospel"  is revealed in "the apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42; Rom. 1:16-18), and 
 that through Christ's  soul-saving new covenant "gospel" each New Testament "Christian" can 
 stand perfect, complete and thoroughly furnished in all new covenant righteousness and doctrine  
 (Col. 4:12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
 
 In defense of his untenable proposition, we asked Terry to identify one Scripture in MMLJBC 
 where Jesus used the phrase "righteous principle" or the word "principle" as used in his 
 proposition.  He could not produce one Scripture or one usage.  If the phrases and words of Terry's 
 proposition are not in the Scriptures, his proposition cannot be proven by the Scriptures. The 
 debate is over, Terry loses.
 
 Let us all remember, Christ declared more than 100 times in MMLJBC that he was teaching the 
 Old Testament law of Moses. Not once in MMLJBC did Jesus  ever declare by "righteous 
 principle" that he was teaching New Testament doctrine.
 
 Several hundred times in MMLJBC, Christ's disciples describe him teaching the Old Testament 
 law of Moses to the "last generation" of Jews in Israel. Not once in MMLJBC do they ever declare 
 by "righteous principle" that he was teaching New Testament doctrine.
 
 In revealing "all" New Testament "truth" to the apostles in Acts 2 through Revelation 22, Christ 
 never quoted or repeated any of his teaching from MMLJBC. There is not one quotation by any 
 New Testament writer  in Acts 2 through Revelation 22 of any of Christ's teaching of "righteous 
 principles" from MMLJBC. Not one quote!!!
 
 Readers, as you study this debate, you will see a classic illustration in Terry's traditional 
 arguments  one who attempts to interpret the Scriptures by individual verses and winds up in 
 misinterpretations, confusion and error.  In my arguments, you will see one who interprets the 
 Scriptures by whole or complete covenants, were every book, chapter and verse is interpreted and 
 taught in complete harmony.
 
 It is clear that one of us is wrong. Let us pray for one another as brethren in Christ.
 
 Dan Billingsly