This article discusses Full Preterism, Partial Preterism, and Futurism. It will explain Full Preterism vs. Partial Preterism. It will define Full Preterism meaning, Partial Preterism meaning, and Futurism meaning. And it will explain why these are part of what the Bible calls “party spirit,” a fruit of the flesh.
I’m not going to go into the painful detail to show the inconsistencies of all three of these doctrines, but I will begin with what becomes obvious to anyone who carefully examines each of these views. None of them work fully. All of them require speculation beyond what God has revealed. All of them fit into a literal understanding of the fruit of the flesh known as “party spirit” that’s mentioned in Galatians 5:20.
What is party spirit, and why is it a fruit of the flesh? To answer this question will require laying some foundational understanding. First, I will define “party spirit.” Second, I will explain the nature and source of both the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Third, I will explain the meaning of Full Preterism, Partial Preterism, and Futurism.
“Party spirit” is translated from the Greek word “hairesis,” which means a choice or option literally. In use, it means a chosen doctrine or sect. It is the word from which we get “heresy,” and “heresy” is a word Christians use to attack anyone who doesn’t agree with their doctrine. Do you see the irony?
Preterism, Partial Preterism, and Futurism are all doctrines. They all are points of division in the Church. Division is a mark of spiritual immaturity. That which causes division will prevent a member of the body of Christ from maturing in Christ if that member follows the cause of division rather than following Christ.
A party spirit is that which chooses to believe a certain doctrine or identify with a certain group, denomination, or non-denominational denomination. For those who have cut themselves off from the body of Christ entirely, party spirit is following a sect of one’s own, a division in Christ’s body that’s limited to one person.
The fruit of the Spirit is of the Holy Spirit. And the fruit of the flesh originates in the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit always begins with a Word from the Father. That Word is a correction, leading, or teaching from the Father. The Father speaks through Scripture or one of the many means of divine revelation mentioned in Scripture. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the rhema (spoken Word) of God. Jesus (the spoken Word of God) authors our faith and then finishes it. Faith gives access to grace, and grace does the works of God and says the words of God through us as we yield to His free gift of righteousness that He imparts by grace. In other words, grace saves us from sin to righteousness. And grace is through faith. And faith comes as the Father speaks to us and we hear Him.
When God’s grace does God’s work through us, and we submit the members of our bodies to His righteousness to the point that grace can do this work, a holy Seed is planted. This is the Parable of the Sower fulfilled. That holy Seed is the Word (Jesus Christ). The Holy Spirit is forming Christ in you. Anyone who has read the books you can download for free from this site will understand this. This work that grace does through you is the fruit of the Spirit. It didn’t spring from following a doctrine or organization or philosophy or any other human idea. It came from following God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the flesh comes from the flesh. Often, evil spirits influence the flesh, but the flesh has enough rebellion in it to birth the fruit of the flesh all by itself. The flesh can be religious. It can be self-righteous when it wants to be. It will follow doctrines, people, organizations, or anything other than Christ.
Preterism, Partial Preterism, or Futurism all fall under the Scripture that says, “If anyone thinks he or she knows anything, that person doesn’t know that thing as he or she ought to know it.” There are parts of Scripture Christ brings to life for each of us. I have this experience all the time. You probably do too. When Christ is speaking to you through Scripture, it’s divine revelation. It’s alive and powerful. When revelation is disconnected from the active and alive flowing of the Holy Spirit, it loses its life. Revelation is always partial, so it’s never our foundation. We can only have one Foundation, and that Foundation is Jesus Christ. If we make a doctrine, like Preterism, Partial Preterism, or Futurism, our foundation, we have been disconnected from our Head, Jesus Christ.
The specific example here is Preterism, Partial Preterism, and Futurism, but we can see party spirit everywhere. Party spirit is a fruit of the flesh that substitutes devotion to a denomination, a single church family, or a single person for devotion to Jesus Christ. While it’s true that we must discern Christ as He comes and appears in those Christians we know, Christ doesn’t divide the Church. While it’s true that all knowledge and wisdom are hidden in Christ, devotion to a certain doctrine short circuits the unfolding revelation that comes from a relationship with Christ.
Preterism, Partial Preterism, and Futurism are partial revelations posing as something permanent or concrete. Preterism, Partial Preterism, and Futurism are all theoretical explanations of something very real. While each of these belief systems has elements of truth, Jesus Christ is the Truth. Devotion to any one of these, whether Preterism, Partial Preterism, or Futurism, is a fruit of the flesh that would like to keep us from entering into the full glory that God has planned for His body. If we continue to walk in humility, listening to the voice of our Creator God, His Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.
Full Preterism Meaning
Full Preterism is a theological position that says all end-times prophecies have been fulfilled. Full-Preterism looks at all Bible prophecy as history. For instance, Full Preterists believe that all of Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation were fulfilled in early church history. Full Preterism includes the belief that Jesus returned to earth in power and glory in 70 a. d.
Partial Preterism Meaning
Partial Preterism is a theological position that says some end-times prophecies have been fulfilled and some have not. Not all Partial Preterists are in complete agreement as to which end-times prophecies have been fulfilled and which are yet to be fulfilled.
Futurism Meaning
Futurism is a theological position that says all end-times prophecies are yet to be fulfilled. Futurism is often tied to the more popular rapture theories that have the saints of God coming up into the sky to meet Jesus and then being taken to heaven for a while before returning to earth. Keep in mind that hundreds of rapture theories exist, and many of their proponents break off fellowship with anyone who disagrees with their particular versions.
Partial Preterism vs. Full Preterism
In Matthew 23-25, Jesus pronounces a coming judgment on Israel. He says this generation won’t pass away until all these things have happened. The Partial Preterist separates the three questions at the beginning of Matthew 24 and believes some of what Jesus said at this time was fulfilled during the generation that was alive when Jesus spoke those words. The Full Preterist says everything Jesus foretold in Matthew 24 happened within one generation. The Futurist says none of this has been fulfilled and all is to be fulfilled in the future. Partial Preterists consider themselves orthodox, and they consider Full Preterists to be unorthodox. Full Preterists consider Partial Preterists to be inconsistent and themselves to be consistent.
Preterism,
Partial Preterism,
or
Futurism?
Which one?
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