The Ace Theological Company’s95 Theses #47

The Ace Theological Company’s
95 Theses #47

6:42 a.m.
Thursday, Feb 10… 2022
Hang on, let me check the temp.
30º out, a high of 47º expected.
That’s almost hot.

Good Morning, Dear One, 

Let’s do this right…

Newly Discover Letter Of James Reveals Apostles Confused Over Antioch Brothers.

James Wrote A 2nd Letter? Yes! Newly Discovered Letter by Leading Apostle Reveals Confusion Concerning The Bad Boys of Antioch.

Dateline: Saticoy, California.
Bible archeologists recently discovered a 2nd letter by the apostle James. Careful research and using one of the finest dust brushes from Walmart, reveals that the book of James in the Bible is not the only letter we have from James.
In this newly discovered letter, James gets jiggy with the bad boys from Antioch.
These bible archeologists admit, there was so much dust on this letter, it’s not surprising that it was overlooked for some 2,000 years. But it’s been sitting there right in front of the eyes of the christian world… all this time… dusty, dusty, dusty.
Before this author reveals the entire contents of this short, newly discovered letter, we must point out something very important -but overlooked- from the well-known “Book of James” that everyone seems to love and cherish.
NOTE: The address on the ORIGINAL Book of James:
The Book of James — From the Bible
Chapter 1

1. James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, TO the twelve tribes in the dispersion. Rejoice!
2. All joy deem it, my brethren, whenever you should be falling into various trials,
3. knowing that the testing of your faith is producing endurance.
   
   PROOF POSITIVE: The book of James was written TO the Jews of the first century. James calls them “THE TWELVE TRIBES”. And James acknowledges that they are scattered all around (“in dispersion”).
   For many years… this “book of James” was thought to be all we had of James’ thoughts. But now, bible students everywhere can rejoice and see what else the boy had to say.
   Turns out what James had to say was rather disappointing.
   Before we examine this newly discovered letter from James… God has magically, amazingly, surprisingly, hidden this letter right there in the Bible that everyone owns… you know the one collecting dust on the shelf. God, in His great wisdom knew that mankind needed dust collecting devices so He made the Bible and lots of nominal christians obliged themselves to get one.
   Well, if you’re not afraid of dust… you can find this mysterious, little known, letter from James in the book of Acts… hang on… let me copy and paste it here for you —
   This is from Acts:
   NOTE: I’LL THROW MY COMMENTS IN, IN “PARENTHESIS ”
   Chapter 15
   1 And some, (SOME???? NAMELESS??? TOO RUDE TO GIVE THEM A NAME???) coming down (TO ANTIOCH) from Judea, taught the brethren that, “If you should not be circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can not be saved.”(WTF??? — YOU CAN NOT BE SAVED??? HOW RUDE??? AND THEY CAME FROM “THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM”??? WHO ARE THESE GUYS? HOW IS IT THEY CAN BE SO BOSSY? AND WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT “BEING SAVED”… THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE (BOSSY) IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BE SAVED INTO, IF YOU ASK ME.)
   2 Now as Paul and Barnabas come to have no slight commotion (“No slight commotion” — HA This is flat-out war. This is an amazing figure of speech…in other words, THERE WAS A GREAT COMMOTION… and deservedly so.) and questioning (We might as well say “no slight questioning” as well) with them, (THIS IS THE BIGGEST FIGHT, THE BIGGEST TUSSLE, THE BIGGEST DEAL EVER SINCE THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF THE LORD—No slight commotion, indeed.) they prescribe that Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them are to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this question.
   3 They indeed, then, being sent forward by the ecclesia, passed through Phoenicia as well as Samaria, detailing the turning about of the nations. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.
   4 Now coming along into Jerusalem, they were received by the ecclesia and the apostles and the elders. Besides, they inform them of whatever God does with them (In Antioch, among the gentiles, who were hot for God but not for law).
   5 Yet some from the sect of the Pharisees (Pharisees??? The stench never goes away, huh?) who have believed (So, “believing” did not change them from being self-righteous a-holes). rise up, saying that they must be circumcised, (OMG… “circumcised” again? What’s with these guys? Can’t they see beauty in these new brethren from Antioch, who’s lives and hearts and heads were now changed… what the hell… now they’ve got to start jumping through hoops to PROVE they’re doing it right??? besides charging them to keep the law of Moses. (See??? The hoops never end. First chop your winier off, then “keep the law of Moses”… bother… these whiners from James are never going to be happy.
   6 Now the apostles and the elders were gathered to see about this matter. (This is such a cool verse. Pregnant with meaning.) — coffee refill time. Hang on.
   7 Now, there coming to be much questioning, (Can you feel the stress here? The James Gang will not be denied, if they can help it… and endless arguing and “what about’s” is just there style.) rising, Peter said to them (Thank God for Peter, he’s got some sense.), “Men! Brethren! You are versed in the fact that from the days at the beginning God chooses among you, that through my mouth the nations are to hear the word of the evangel and believe.
   8 And God, the Knower of hearts, testifies to them, giving the holy spirit according as to us also,
   9 and in nothing discriminates between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
   10 Why, then, are you now trying God, by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples (In other words, BACK OFF, Jack) which neither our fathers nor we are strong enough to bear? (In other words… NO ONE CAN DO WELL WITH THE LAW, SO BACK OFF, AGAIN.)
   11 But through the grace of the Lord Jesus we are believing, (NOTE TO FREEWILLERS: We don’t gen up our own belief, it’s just a gracious thing that God gives us faith, so knock it off.) to be saved in a manner even as they.”
   12 Now the entire multitude hushes, (Yay !! They finally shut up) and they heard Barnabas and Paul unfolding whatever signs and miracles God does among the nations through them.
   13 Now after they hush, James answered (Uh Oh, the “massa” speaks.) saying, “Men! Brethren! Hear me!
   14 Simeon unfolds how God first visits the nations, to obtain out of them a people for His name.
   15 And with this agree the words of the prophets, according as it is written,
   16 After these things I will turn back, ‘And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen… (NOTE: God does not dwell in tabernacles made with hands – to be revealed later.) And its overturned structure will I rebuild, And I will re-erect it… (Why is James prattling about getting the tabernacle built up again??? Is his mind wandering or something… we just had the greatest meeting of all the church, an argument and an announcement that the bad boys of Antioch are casting their eyes toward God, miracle of miracles. And he’s blathering about the Tabernacle???)
   17 So that those left of mankind should be seeking out the Lord, And all the nations, on them over whom My name is invoked, Is saying the Lord, Who is doing these things.’
   18 Known from the eon to the Lord is His work. (From the mouth of babes — I doubt James truly knew the depths of this verse… but it’s worth chomping on.)
   19 “Wherefore I decide not to be harassing those from the nations who are turning back to God, (He decided??? How sweet, how noble, aren’t we so lucky that James decided not to be harassing us. Wow.)
   20 but to write an epistle to them (THUS, the title of this episode: NEWLY DISCOVERED LETTER.) to be abstaining from ceremonial pollution with idols, and prostitution, and what is strangled, and blood.
   21 For Moses, from ancient generations, city by city, has those who are heralding him, being read on every sabbath in the synagogues.”
   22 Then it seems good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole ecclesia, choosing men from among them, to send to Antioch, together with Paul and Barnabas, Judas, called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men from among the brethren.
   23 writing through their hand as follows: (HERE IS THE OVERLOOKED, NEWLY DISCOVERED LETTER — CHECK IT OUT, IT SAYS ALMOST NOTHING TO THE BAD BOYS OF ANTIOCH. AND THAT’S WAY COOL. WE DON’T NEED “NOTHING” SAID TO US, AS WE’RE NOT ABOUT THE LAW, WE’RE JUST RECIPIENTS OF GRACE… AND THAT’S JUST PEACHY AND WAY COOL.): “The apostles and the elders and the brethren, to the brethren at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, out of the nations: Rejoice! (In James’ famous letter, he also says “Rejoice” — at least he’s consistent in that regard.)
   24 “Since, in fact, we hear that some coming out from us (Damn right they came from you guys—keep your self-righteous stick, to yourselves.) disturb you with words, dismantling your souls, (NOTE WELL: The James Gang, and all those who preach works and law, “dismantle” souls everywhere… and they don’t give a damn. They’re awful.) whom we gave no assignment, (Yeah, right, cover your ass James… They’re not called THE JAMES GANG FOR NOTHING. — see Galatians 2:12)
   25 it seems good to us, in coming to be of one accord, choosing men, to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
   26 men who give up their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (This is the nicest compliment James could ever say of our apostles. Notice he can’t say that of the James Gang… they give up nothing… but they make you give up everything… bastards.)
   27 We have, then, commissioned Judas and Silas, and they are reporting the same by word.
   28 For it seems good to the holy spirit and to us in nothing to be placing one more burden on you save these essentials:
   29 to be abstaining from idol sacrifices, and blood, and what is strangled and prostitution; from which, carefully keeping yourselves, you will be well engaged. Farewell!”
   (THAT’S IT???? That’s all James had to say??? The great “apostle” of the first church of Jerusalem??? He says avoid blood and hookers? — I’m telling you this guy James was an idiot. Throw all the dust back on this letter and — might as well throw dust on his other letter too. This guy adds nothing to the evangel of our salvation .
   OK… are you listening??? Here is your mission orders from James himself… No drinking blood… got that? And no hookers… got that? Idol sacrifices and strangled things… oh bother. I’m disappointed in this guy. He’s clearly not hip to the secrets and greater revelations we get from Ephesians, Philippians, Romans, etc.
   Good golly miss Molly. Give us a break.
   In other words… since this was a BIG FIGHT — “no slight commotion” — James and his gang just got there asses kicked.
   You want wisdom and revelation, in the realization of Him… ignore James… Stick with Paul. He’s at least got a hint and a clue. See Ephesians 1:15-16)
   30 They indeed, then, being dismissed, came down to Antioch, and gathering the multitude, hand them the epistle.
   31 Now, reading it, they rejoiced at the consolation. (Wow, these gracious boys from Antioch saw in that letter some kindness and good… why?… they were worried that they were heading in the wrong direction… they were worried that their love for God and the things of God were for naught. So… they could read between the lines of this letter from James… and fill in the blanks — and here’s what they could see: “YIPPEE !!!! WE CAN CONTINUE TO REVERE GOD… AND WE DON’T NEED TO BOTHER ‘BOUT NO LAW BUSINESS.”
   32 Both Judas and Silas, they also being prophets, by many a word entreat and establish the brethren.
   33 Now, after spending some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to those who commission them.
   34 (no verse 34)
   35 Yet Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and bringing the evangel of the word of the Lord, with many others also.
   THAT’S IT… That is the “First Letter Of James”… the one everyone is familiar with — the so-called ‘book of James”… is actually the 2nd letter of James, and it was written to JEWS… ONLY… IT was NOT written to any of us roughnecks of the Gentiles. — James would not know what to say to us. The clueless James says “ahhhh, hmmmmm, don’t drink blood and don’t be hooking up with hookers, ahhhh, hmmmm, can you pass the potatoes?”OK… that’s all I got.
   It’s 8:26 a.m.
   And… thank you so much for joining me, looking over my shoulder and distracting me in the right kind of way. So, the lesson here is that James was clueless regarding the grace of God shown and display in those of the nations. And I boldly say, don’t be bothered with that “book of James” — Instead, either DON’T BOTHER WITH the Bible and just enjoy being a recipient of grace… or… if you want to plumb the depths of understanding this grace thing… spend a decent amount of time in Paul’s letters. He’s the “king” of the grace boys… and grace is where’s it’s at. (Keep in mind that “AT” is a preposition, and prepositions don’t come at the end of the sentence… so… I should say, “Grace is where it’s at dufass.” Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?
   If you can’t forgive me, then pass the beer.
   Grace to you.
   Amen.
   8:32 a.m.
   Ace.