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A Different New Covenant The teaching of Jesus went to hell for your sins Almost unanimously with one voice the word faith teachers says Jesus went to hell to complete the new covenant. Creflo Dollar says you better hope he suffered there because if he didn’t you will. Not only does the Bible teach Jesus didn’t go to hell (and suffer to complete the new covenant) but that it is not possible to send a righteous man, the only righteous and sinless man there to suffer. This not only contradicts the Bibles words but common sense and logic. This does not register with these men who have their focus on a event that never happened and instead make it to be Biblical truth. This is a fantasy gospel of man. Lets hear from their own words what they teach: “He [Jesus] tasted spiritual death for every man. And His spirit and inner man went to hell in my place. Can't you see that? Physical death wouldn't remove your sins. He's tasted death for every man. He's talking about tasting spiritual death." (Kenneth Hagin, "How Jesus Obtained His Name," tape #44H01, side 1. Kenneth Hagin Ministries). This is the very reason he became man - to die for our sins, Hagin dismisses it and adds to the word saying he went to hell. That is a definition of a lie. "When Jesus cried, 'it is finished' He was not speaking of the plan of
redemption. There were still three days and nights to go through before He went
to the throne. . . . Jesus' death on the cross was only the beginning of the
complete work of redemption." The crucifixion is only step one according to Copeland, there were still three days and nights necessary. Copeland brings more insult to the word stating “Satan conquered Jesus on the Cross and took His spirit to the dark regions of 54hell.” (Kenneth Copeland, Holy Bible: Kenneth Copeland Reference Edition, 1991, 129.) This is why disciple Joyce Meyer says, "During that time He entered hell, where you and I deserved to go (legally) because of our sin. He paid the price there . . . no plan was too extreme . . . Jesus paid on the cross and in hell" (The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make, by Joyce Meyer, Tulsa: Harrison House 1991, chapter 4, (pg. 35).underline mine “During that time He entered hell, where you and I deserved to go (legally) because of our sin. He paid the price there” (The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make p.35) "He [Jesus] who is righteous by choice said, 'The only way I can stop sin is by Me becoming it. I can't just stop it by letting it touch Me; I and it must become one.' Hear this! He who is the nature of God became the nature of Satan where He became sin! " (TBN, 12/1/90). The only way out of hell - Jesus had to be born again. These two false doctrines are attached to each other as a necessary component for the completion of the new covenant. Hinn says, “He's [Jesus] in the underworld now. God isn't there, the Holy Ghost isn't there, and the Bible says He was begotten. Do you know what the word begotten means? It means reborn. Do you want another shocker? Have you been begotten? So was He. Don't let anyone deceive you. Jesus was reborn. You say, 'What are you talking about?'... He was reborn. He had to be reborn... If He was not reborn, I could not be reborn, I would never be reborn. How can I face Jesus and say, 'Jesus, You went through everything I've gone through, except the new birth?'" (Benny Hinn, Our Position 'In Christ,' Part 1 (Orlando, FL: Orlando Christian Center, 1991), videotape #TV-254.) It was Kenyon who formulated this for digestion. There is no question that Hagin took portions of E. W. Kenyon’s teachings, All of E. W. Kenyon’s books were available for William Branham to read. Furthermore, Branham’s manager Bosworth quoted “from the writings of Rev. E. W. Kenyon,” and recommended Kenyon's books. So of course Bosworth’s influence of Kenyon would affect Branham. Bosworth’s also had articles appear in several issues of Kenyon’s Herald of Life publication between 1949 and 1964. Kenyon was also a friend of Gordon Lindsay who published “the Voice of Healing” magazine which featured Branham. Before there was Hagin there was Branham. These topics Hagin taught were covered by Branham for over 20 years prior. Branham likewise taught that the atonement was not finished. That Jesus was not restored in his fellowship to the Father but died separated from God, He died a sinner. “He died a sinner, the Bible said, "His soul went to hell." (54-1006, Law or Grace, Branham Tabernacle, Jeffersonville, IN; 62-0513E, Letting off the Pressure, Gospel Tabernacle) And Christ represented Hisself with the Church full of sin, and was condemned, and His soul went to hell. That's right. And God raised Him up on the third day. You believe that? See? It wasn't that he didn't sin; he did sin ... God wouldn't have sent Him to--to hell pure. He had to send Him to hell condemned (See?), because He took our sins. And Christ died, not righteous;Christ died a sinner.” (55-0227A, The Position Of A Believer In Christ, Shriner Temple, Phoenix, AZ) “Then when three days and nights was up, His Spirit was loosed; It went directly to His Soul, and His Soul came back, and picked up the body" (61-0813, Faith, Branham Tabernacle, Jeffersonville, IN) It was Kenyon who put this theological construct together, “Satan triumphantly bore His Spirit to the Dark Regions of Hades. All the sufferings and torments that Hell could produce were heaped upon Jesus. When He had suffered Hell's agonies for three days and three nights, the Supreme Court of the Universe cried, "Enough." He had paid the penalty and met the claims of Justice. Satan saw Him justified. God made Him alive in Spirit right there in the presence of the cohorts of Hades. Jesus was made a New Creation... Jesus was born into the New Covenant in Hades.” (Kenyon, E.W. What Happened From the Cross to the Throne, 7th edition) Kenyon, concluded, “We have sung Nearer the Cross and we have prayed that we might be Nearer the Cross but the cross has no salvation in it. It is a place of failure and defeat." (E.W. Kenyon, Advanced Bible Course, p.279) Hagin claimed Kenyon’s influence was minute (reference- the faith of Kenneth Hagin “charisma and Christian faith 15:11 June 1990, 68) “The trouble with us is that we’ve preached a “cross religion. And we need to preach a “throne religion… when you preach the cross you’re preaching death and you leave the people in death” (p.16 The Believers Authority Kenneth Hagin, 1986) Proof of lifting statements of Kenyon. He is becoming sin. Can you hear those parched lips cry, "I am a worm and no man."? He is spiritually dead. The worm. Jesus had died of a ruptured heart. (What happened from the Cross to theThrone [Seattle: Kenyon's Gospel Publishing Society, 1969, 44-45]) He is becoming sin. . . .His parched lips cry,"I am a worm and no man." He is spiritually dead-the worm.Jesus died of a ruptured heart. ("Christ our Substitute", The Word of Faith [March 1975]), pp. 1,4,5,7) It is evident that the whole demon host, when they saw Jesus in their power simply intended to swamp Him, overwhelm Him, and they held Him in fearful bondage until the cry came forth from the throne of God that Jesus had met the demands of justice; that the sin problem was settled and man's redemption was a fact. When this cry reached the dark regions, Jesus rose and hurled back the host of darkness, and met Satan in awful combat.” (The Wonderful Name Of Jesus [Seattle: Kenyon's Gospel Publishing Society,1927], 8, 9, 11) It is quite obvious and evident that whole demon hosts, when they had Jesus within their power intended to swamp Him, to overwhelm Him, and to hold Him in fearful bondage. But the cry came forth from the throne of God that Jesus had met the demands of Justice, that the sin problem had been settled, that man's redemption was a fact. And when that cry reached the dark regions, Jesus arose and threw back the host of demons and met Satan in awful combat. ("The Name Of Jesus: The More Excellent Name"; The Word of Faith[April 1976], pp. 4-6) Hagin not only copied Kenyon but Branham, proving their fantasy doctrine took place after the cross that resulted in our sin being forgiven. Branham also said similar statements of Jesus being in hell. We proclaim Christ was sinless by the elements we take that represent Him. Paul describes the unleavened bread fulfilled in Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). In 1 Corinthians 11 we are told that as often as we eat the bread and drink the cup we are “proclaiming the Lord’s death till He comes.” Scripture speaks of only one death involved in redemption, a physical death that shed blood. This is the death we are to remember him by. The wafer represents His body and the wine (juice) represents His blood. The wafer was made with no leaven in it, as leaven is a symbol of sin. Leviticus17:11: explains “the life of the flesh is in the blood… ” Hebrews 13:21 calls this sacrifice the “blood of the everlasting covenant.” The atonement came by the blood of a sinless man. Peter further writes, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish andwithout spot” (1 Peter 1:18-20). Where did Jesus die for sin? "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree (Cross), that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24) Heb. 9:15: “He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death.” 1 Cor. 6:20: “For you were bought at a price” which is by the blood of the lamb, his death. Col. 1:20 “having made peace through the blood of His cross.” There is nothing said of being in Hell to complete this, it is figment of their imagination. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43) Jesus did not say after I die I will go to hell, but that he would enter paradise which was known as Abraham’s bosom in Hades, where the faithful reside. He did not go to hell to continue the suffering (3 days) to enact the New covenant. "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Rev. 1:5) Its the blood on the cross, his crucifixion that cleanses us from our sin. As it was given from the Old Testament, the sacrifices continued until Jesus ‘ final sacrifice; without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. With his last breath he cried out in a loud voice: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46) then said "It is Finished" ? what did he mean? The Greek word teleo means "to finish." It is a verb. This word in the Greek is tetelestai and it means "it is completed, finished" there is NO more to be done. Which does communicate to us that the new covenant is by the blood, and death of Christ. Tetelestai, ” a term in the 1st century stamped on contracts when a debt owed was paid in full. If the atonement was not completed on the cross, He could never have said it is finished and his statement would be untrue. It is the same word for it is fulfilled that Jesus used all through Matthew. This word "teleo" is in the perfect tense, indicative mood and passive voice, i.e., "has been" or "it is" finished. The perfect tense means an action that was completed in the past but has continuing results, not exact meaning in the English but usually translated as has/have. When Jesus spoke this event was finished. The passive voice means the subject (Jesus) received the action of the verb and uses a form of the verb "to be", i.e., "it is". Anyone reading this passage should understand that Jesus completed his work on the cross, as the verse before states: "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, (#5055, tetelestai) that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.. . ." (KJV John 19:28) Jesus completed, fulfilled why He came to earth as man, to dies for our sins. Colossians 2:15: “Having disarmed principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it.” This victory happened on the cross (v.14), so how can Christ suffer in Hell by these same principalities and powers, as claimed. This doctrine is dangerous and distorts the gospel message. If they do not have this beginning factor of Scripture correct what else is wrong? this means they themselves are not believing in the true gospel. Two further scriptures to consider 2 Cor. 11:3-4 “but I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it! Col.2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” Jesus had complete victory on the cross, if you believe it was defeat, you have accepted a different gospel that cannot save because it is not the truth! Placing His atoning work after the cross annul Christ’s work as the Lamb of God for our salvation. |
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