Our blog will share 30 different Bible Contrasts that show distinctions that matter when studying God’s Word. It is important to understand this perspective or we may get confused.
We see a number of dissimilar wordings within God’s Word. Some have seen them as contradictions in the Bible. We prefer the term “contrasts.” The main reason for these differences is that God is setting forth two separate programs (intimated even in Genesis 1:1). The first deals with the earth and Israel. The other concerns the heavens and Christ’s Body Church. It was given to the Apostle Paul to lay out these differences. He is God’s “apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13).
So then we must recognize such Bible divisions if we’d truly understand God’s Word and be approved by Him (II Tim. 2:15). Then we must follow the last directives given by God through Paul as “the commandments of the Lord” for this present time (I Cor. 14:37).
Today is Part #9:
GENEALOGY IMPORTANT: Through most of the Bible, ancestry was stressed, covering many entire chapters (e.g., I Chron. 1-9). God established “an everlasting covenant” with Abraham “and thy seed…in their generations” (Gen. 17:7). Aaron’s sons received the priesthood, but those whose “genealogy” was “not found…were… put from the priesthood” (Ex. 40:13-15; Ezra 2:62; Neh. 7:64). Only those “reckoned by genealogy among the Levites” could serve in the temple and receive benefits (II Chron. 31:16-19). “So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies” to determine “their possessions” and positions (I Chron. 9:1,2,22). God told restored Israel to “be reckoned by genealogy” (Neh. 7:5). Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was introduced by His genealogies (Matt. 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). The 144,000 end-time servants of God are descendants of specific “tribes…of Israel” (Rev. 7:3-8).
GENEALOGY IGNORED: The Apostle Paul commands believers, “Neither give heed to…endless genealogies,” to “avoid…genealogies… for they are unprofitable and vain” (I Tim. 1:4; Titus 3:9). People today become “the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus”; moreover “there is neither Jew nor Greek” (Gal. 3:26,28). In Christ ancestry means nothing.
For more information and understanding, we recommend doing the PMA “Understanding your Bible” 8 part lesson series available for free download at Free Bible Correspondence – Prison Mission Association
(These points come from Pastor David Adams, booklet, Bible Contrasts used by permission)