Paul’s Grace Message

http://vodpod.com/watch/2269201-recovery-of-truth

The Gospel of Gods Grace

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.  Acts 20:24

• FULFILLED PROPHECIES AND THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES …     
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• THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE …  
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• SOME CHANGES IN GOD’S SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS  
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• THE FOUR GOSPELS AND PAUL’S GOSPEL  
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• PAUL AND GENTILES  
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• THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES  
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• ACCEPTED BY GOD  
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• THE CHANGE IN MATTHEW  
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• SHOULD CHRISTIANS FEAR AND TREMBLE?  
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• RECONCILED BY CHRIST’S DEATH  
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• ESTHER-MORDECAI-HAMAN  
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• TRANSFERRED AND TRANSFORMED 
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• SOME OF CHRIST’S BIBLE TITLES 
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• HOW THE IMPERFECT SINNER CAN BE MADE PERFECT 
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• TWO DIVINE PARACLETES
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• IS GOD’S ORDER TO THE JEW FIRST?
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• ARE CHRISTIANS DEAD OR ALIVE?
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• WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING
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• NO CREED BUT CHRIST—NO LAW BUT LOVE
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• PEACE-SAFETY-SUDDEN DESTRUCTION               
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• THE UNIVERSALITY OF SIN      
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• THE SUDDEN ENDING OF ACTS
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• SIGNS AND GIFTS BEFORE AND AFTER ACTS 28
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• SPIRITUAL HEALING OF THE BODY
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• MELCHISEDEC AND CHRIST  
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• THREE ROMAN OFFICIALS
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• GIDEON’S THREE HUNDRED
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• THE NATION ISRAEL  
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• PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES
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• AS OTHERS WHICH HAVE NO HOPE
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• A GREAT QUESTION
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• THE FORMER AND LATTER RAIN AND THE REIGN OF GRACE…
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• HOW LONG WAS ISRAEL’S ALL DAY LONG?
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• “THE GOLDEN RULE”
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• SECURE IN CHRIST   
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• CHRIST AND ISRAEL
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• THREE BLIND JEWS
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• SALVATION—IN THE FOUR GOSPELS
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• THE LAME TAKE THE PREY
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• WHO IS THIS SON OF MAN?
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• JONAH-CHRIST AND ISRAEL
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• THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S WILL    
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• SCRIPTURES USED AGAINST ETERNAL SECURITY
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• SATAN FALLING FROM HEAVEN  
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• WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY?
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• REDEMPTION—ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH
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• SONGS OF DELIVERANCE
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• PETER IN JERUSALEM—PAUL IN ROME
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• THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE
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• DIFFERENT GOSPELS
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• FOR WHOM IS THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT?
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• BORN OF WATER MEANS WHAT?
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• THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
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• CHRIST CAME UNTO HIS OWN      
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• GOD’S WILL FOR CHRIST AND CHRISTIANS
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• CHANGES TOLD BY THE WORD “NOW”
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• ALL THINGS                                                  
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• ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL, PURPOSE AND PLEASURE
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• CHRIST TO ISRAEL - PAUL TO GENTILES
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• THE JEWS - THE GENTILES - THE CHURCH OF GOD
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• WHAT CHRIST AND CHRISTIANS OBTAIN
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• THE NEW THINGS IN THE BIBLE
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• SEVERAL RESURRECTIONS
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• A DISPENSATIONAL CHANGE
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• AMBASSADORS OF RECONCILIATION
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• PRETRIBULATION PREMILLENARIANS
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• SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE
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• CHRISTIANS IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST
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• ARE WE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS?                
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• TO DEPART TO BE WITH CHRIST
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• CHRISTIANS SEE WHAT THEY DO NOT SEE
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• JOHN’S GOSPEL - SEVEN MIRACLES
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• THE DIVINE IMAGE RESTORED
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• THE FIVE HORSEMEN
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• IS THERE A CHRISTIAN SABBATH?
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• WHICH IS THE GREATEST COMMISSION? 
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• THE CHURCH OF THE MYSTERY
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• GOD’S BUILDINGS AND FOREMEN
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• HAVE YE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT?
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• WHAT (WHO) IS A CHRISTIAN?
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• ARE THE PERILOUS TIMES HERE?   
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• THE GOODNESS AND SEVERITY OF GOD
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• THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. LUKE
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• SOME OF THE BIG “IF’S” OF THE BIBLE
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• JOSEPH THE WORLD SAVIOUR
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• STAND FAST AND STEADFAST
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• ISRAELITISH SERPENTS AND GENTILE DOGS
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• THE MAN NOBODY KNOWS BUT BELIEVERS THE CHRIST WHO …
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• THE SON OF MAN
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• HIS HUMANITY AND OCCUPATION  
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• HIS SACRIFICE AND DEATH
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• A FEW CLOSING REMARKS
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• THE LOST PRECIOUS GEM
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• THIS UNPROPHESIED CHURCH AGE
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• WHAT SOME FUNDAMENTALISTS SAY
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• PAUL’S TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE MYSTERY
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• THE DISPENSATIONALISM OF DR. E. W. BULLINGER
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• DR. JAMES M. GRAY’S COMMENT CONCERNING DR. E. W. B…
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• CONCERNING ACTS 2:38
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• FAITHFUL—FAITHLESS
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• SIGNS WERE TO FOLLOW APOSTLES, NOT OTHER CHRISTIAN…
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• GENTILE SALVATION
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• PETER AND CORNELIUS
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• WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL?
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• ACCORDING TO GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE

There are different aspects and phases of “the mystery,” “the mystery of God’s will,” “the dispensation of the mystery,” which has to do with principalities and powers in the heavenlies, the inseparable and eternal union of believers with Christ, the riches of God’s grace, the riches of God’s glory, the whole family in heaven and earth, God’s inheritance in the saints and His calling. But the mystery might be defined as “God’s eternal purpose in Christ.”
In Ephesians 3:10 we learn one reason why God wants all saints to see what is the mystery, that is, that by the Church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to principalities and powers in the heavenlies, ACCORDING TO GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST. This wisdom was ordained to the glory of members of the Body of Christ before the world began. I Corinthians 2:6 to 8. This wisdom which was spoken to the perfect, in a mystery, was too much for the carnal, sectarian Corinthians, who could not take the strong meat that was for the perfect (full﷓aged) (I Corinthians 3:1 to 4, Hebrews 5:9 to 12). It seems to be too much for sectarian Christians today. They seem to be unwilling to come out from under that ecclesiastical rubbish where the precious gem has been lost for so many centuries.
Christians in 1944 should be instructed in the words of Paul, recorded in II Timothy 1:8 to 11:
“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
“Whereunto,” or “whereby,” is used by Paul several times in this same connection, his apostleship to the Gentiles with THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD, for which He was the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Dr. Ironside so truthfully stated in several of his writings the mystery was revealed to Paul alone, to pass on to others. It was not in Israel’s Scriptures. It was not revealed to the twelve apostles. Peter never preached it, so far as the Record goes. All of these statements are Dr. Ironside’s statements. Paul got into serious trouble, because he claimed that he had received this special truth by special revelation, not made known to others. He could not prove it by the Scriptures, because it had been hid in God. As many were ashamed of Paul in 64 A.D., so many Christians are ashamed today of the Lord’s servants who preach grace plus nothing, for salvation, and who endeavor to obey Ephesians 3:9 and 4:1 to 7, especially when they get to that one Body and one baptism. But Paul testified that this grace and purpose of God was given believers in Christ before the world began. In II Timothy 1:9 and in Ephesians 2:7 the apostle shows us the eternity of grace; what God did, in grace, before the ages began and what He is going to do, in grace, in the ages to come. Are you ashamed of Paul or his grace testimony or of God’s ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST? This eternal purpose is always linked with PREDESTINATION. Let’s read Ephesians 1:9 and 11:
“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
Now let’s read Romans 8:28 to 30:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Now let’s read Ephesians 1:4 and 5:
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
Do you see why religious people in the year 64: were ashamed of this mystery, and why the religious people of 1944 A.D. are ashamed of this mystery?
When we have learned that the mystery is “the eternal purpose of God in Christ Jesus,” that grace and purpose which was given members of the Body of Christ before the world began, and then read Romans 8:28 to 30, I Corinthians 2:6 to 8, Romans 16:25, we see how absurd is the teaching that “the dispensation of the mystery” was not revealed until after the close of the Book of Acts. This extreme teaching has retarded the task of recovering “the lost precious gem,” the mystery covered up under the ecclesiastical rubbish. Those men of God, who are violently opposed to obedience to Ephesians 3:9, are crying “Bullingerism” as a scare﷓crow to intimate young preachers and keep them ignorant and disobedient concerning “the mystery of God’s will” and God’s will concerning that. mystery. How many of even the leading spiritual Fundamentalists are praying for an open mouth and for open doors for the proclamation of the mystery? Ephesians 6:19 and 20. Colossians 4:3 and 4. Most of them are helping to close every door in the country against this truth that is grand and glorious and they have succeeded in closing most mouths. So the few servants of the Lord, who are earnestly endeavoring to make known this wonderful truth, without teaching the extreme views of Dr. Bullinger, concerning two Bodies, and the faulty dispensationalism of those who teach that the last days of Israel in Acts 2:16 to 21 marked the first days of the one Body of Ephesians 4:4 and 5, are being attacked from both sides.
Most of the sheep﷓like preachers, who are crying “Bullingerism,” are as ignorant of the teaching of Dr. Bullinger as they are of the mystery, and that is surely real ignorance. Some men of God, who have known Dr. Ironside for years, have tried to excuse his sixty contradictions in his “Wrongly Dividing” by saying that he was not himself when he wrote that book. But just last week he wrote to a friend of mine (and I have the letter) telling him that he was afraid he was in Bullingerism and he closed by saying that he was sending his book “Wrongly Dividing” to straighten him out. That young man is more against “Bullingerism” than he is against “Ironsideism,” and he knows that mystery is completely lost in Dr. Ironside’s “Wrongly Dividing” in which there is no answer to “Bullingerism.”
Note this statement of Dr. Ironside, in “Wrongly Dividing”:
“It is contended by Bullingerites, and others of like ilk, that Paul did not receive the revelation of THE MYSTERY OF ONE BODY until he was imprisoned in Rome, 63 A.D. Generally, too, the ground is taken that THIS REVELATION was given to him alone, and that the Twelve knew nothing of it. Let us see if these assertions will stand the test of Holy Scriptures.”
As to the first part of this statement, I am not included in the “like ilk,” although Dr. Ironside intended to include me. In the last statement both Dr. Ironside and I are the “like ilk.” Not a few times in Dr. Ironside’s “The Mysteries of God” and other earlier (and even since he published “Wrongly Dividing”) writings has he stated in no uncertain terms that the mystery concerning the Body of Christ was never made known to any one of the twelve apostles, but to Paul alone. “To the Epistles of Paul alone do we turn for the revelation of the mystery.” Note several of his statements:
“The Doctrine of the one Body the dispensation of the mystery is never referred to by any other apostle than Paul.”
“Peter never preached the mystery of the Body so far as the record goes. That was a special revelation to Paul.”
“On Page 74 of my book on the mysteries of God, I am speaking of the body, and this, of course, was made alone to the Apostle Paul that he might communicate it to others.”
At the time he made two of these statements he wrote:
“I fully believe that the prophetic clock stopped at Calvary. That is why I do not believe that the Lord was still dealing with the nation Israel in the first part of the Book of Acts.”
“There is no difference between what I am teaching now and what I have taught through all the years.”
Note his claim “no difference” and then read what he wrote in “Wrongly Dividing”.
“The mystery then is not simply centered in the term ‘Body’ but whatever expression may be used, the mystery is that during the present age all distinction between believing Jews and believing Gentiles is done away in Christ. Was this mystery made known by other servants besides the apostle Paul? It was. The apostle John makes it known in his account of our Lord’s ministry as given in the tenth chapter of his gospel.”
Thus you can see why we say Dr. Ironside has called himself a “Bullingerite,” quite unintentionally. You can see why his friends say that he was not himself when he wrote “Wrongly Dividing.” To add to his utter confusion and contradictions he has a foreword printed in his later editions of “Wrongly Dividing,” in which be claims that there is in the New Testament Scriptures two different mysteries concerning the oneness of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, one of which is “The Mystery Body”; that when John, Peter and others received the revelation of “the mystery” before Paul, that “unity” mystery was different from the mystery of Ephesians 3:6, “the Joint﷓Body.” Yet he has printed in his new edition, that they are one and the same mystery, no matter what term is used to declare that all distinctions between Jews and Gentiles have been done away in Christ.
Here we learn Dr. Ironside has accused himself of being a “Bullingerite,” for in his foreword’ he has stated the position of the extreme dispensationalists, namely; that during the “Acts” period all of the apostles knew the truth of Galatians 3:26 to 29, the oneness of Jews and Gentiles as Abraham’s seed in Christ; but the mystery of the one Body was something different, and that that “Body” mystery was made known to and through Paul alone. His foreword proves that his book is no answer to “Bullingerism,” for to this extent it is “ Bullingerism.”
It takes much grace and more humility for a man of God to say, “I am wrong”; “I have certainly made a mess of things.” “I have lost in “Wrongly Dividing” the chief gem in the diadem of the truth of Christianity.”
Hear his words:
“There is one Body and I know of no other. Nor does this result in unkind feelings or hard critical thought concerning others, equally dear to Christ, who may not be enlightened upon this great mystery. The very fact that we are all members one of another should hinder this.”
“Throughout the writings of the apostle Paul he again and again refers to a wondrous secret, which he designates in a special way as ‘the mystery,’ or ‘the great mystery.’
“For centuries it was almost entirely lost sight of. In fact, until brought to the fore through the writings and the preaching and teaching of a distinguished ex-clergyman, Mr. J. N. Darby, in the early part of the last century, it is scarcely to be found in a single book or sermon throughout a period of sixteen hundred years!”
Then he adds lost because the Church was Judaized. If Dr. Ironside would make these confessions and start over, he would make a great contribution toward uncovering that precious lost gem. Many of us think of the great blunder of the late Dr. R. A. Torrey in not having corrected his unscriptural teaching concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit in a second work of grace. He left his writings on this to be used by the Pentecostalists to support the fanaticism that follows this unsound teaching. Now the Pentecostalists use Dr. Ironside’s “Wrongly Dividing,” which in no way answers “Bullingerism,” to support their fanaticism as to Christian baptism in the second chapter of Acts and their signs which Dr. Ironside states in his “Wrongly Dividing” continued after the close of Acts. What reference? No Scripture. Church history, which in another book, is ecclesiastical rubbish. Let, us pray that he will make a public confession and withdraw his book of contradictions. Dr. Ironside seems to have willingly accepted his new title, “the archbishop of fundamentalism,” and because of this estimate by some young preachers he has become one of the arch﷓enemies of the mystery. So many of these young men reject and despise the message because of his opposition. What a pity! This is the only reason we have in quoting him so frequently.
Note again this statement from his pen, concerning the mystery:
“It is of vast importance that every child of God to be instructed as to its true character.”

Posted by Cecil Spivey at 2:42 PM

Christians have erred exceedingly in trying to force and limit the meaning of the word “gospel” to fit into their theological thinking or some sectarian church creed and program. Every intelligent, spiritual student of the Scriptures knows the difference between “the gospel of the kingdom” and “the gospel of the grace of God.” Compare Matthew 4:23 and Acts 20:24. So should every such student of the Scriptures know the difference between the saving gospel for sinners in I Corinthians 15:1 to 4 and the gospel for saints. There is in the Bible “good news” for the unsaved and “good news” for the saved. What is the truth for saints in the Bible that transcends all other truth, grand and glorious, according to Dr. Ironside’s adjectives? It is “the mystery.” This is quite different from I Corinthians 15:1 to 4, as wonderful as is the good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised the third day. All of that good news, we are told in those verses, was “according to the Scriptures.” But. “the mystery of the gospel,” “the mystery of God’s will,” was not “according to the Scriptures” (Old Testament prophecy), but “according to the eternal purpose of God,” hid in God from before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 3: 9 to 11. If it was hid in God, Israel’s prophets said nothing and knew nothing about it.
When Christ died at the hands of Israel and made His grave with the rich and was buried and was raised again, all was in fulfillment of the writings of Israel’s prophets. Acts 13:29 and 30. But what about the present place and ministry of Christ and His relationship to Gentiles and Jews saved by grace, during this present economy and age of grace? What prophet foretold that during at least nineteen centuries Christ would remain in heaven, while the Messianic earthly kingdom of Christ would be in abeyance, that He would be the unseen Head of the Church, Which is His Body, the filling﷓up of Christ? Who foretold that Christ would be seated far above all heavens and that believing Gentiles, without subjection to the kingdom nation, could be crucified, dead, buried, raised, risen and seated with Christ, in the heavenlies, and in Him and with Him blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, while waiting for Him to appear in glory when they shall appear with Him, because they were chosen in Christ before the world began.
Apart from the violent and intense hatred of Satan for this grand and glorious truth, it is next to impossible to believe that any truly saved person would oppose and fight it. But O how some Christians, including some of our leading Fundamentalists, do hate it! One reason is, that the mystery is the death﷓blow to all sectarianism and all sectarian, religious ceremonies, as it is the golden key to unlock the Scriptures and God’s curative for all the ills and isms with which the Church of Christ is afflicted, “that ye no longer be children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.” Think of a Bible﷓teacher, who claims to be a steward of the mysteries of God (I Corinthians 4:1 to 4), knowing not the first thing about the Body, as the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 1:19 to 23), “the one new man” (Ephesians 2:15), “the one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31 and 32), “the perfect man!” Ephesians 4:13.

Posted by Cecil Spivey at 2:46 PM

What did Peter mean, when, in Acts 15:7, he reminded the other apostles that from among the twelve of them God had made choice that “by MY mouth the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles?” All Christians should know that Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13, II Timothy 1:11, I Timothy 2:4 to 7). But, they seek to prove by the words “disciple all nations,” that God chose all twelve of the apostles to preach to Gentiles when He gave them the so﷓called great commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20. ‘They admit that some of the Twelve would not even eat with saved Gentiles more than fifteen years after Christ gave that commission. Galatians 2:11 to 14. Aside from Peter’s message to the household of Cornelius where is there a single record that any of the other eleven apostles preached to Gentiles, unless we get into that religious, ecclesiastical rubbish, which Dr. Ironside says is responsible for the loss of the precious gem? If we substitute Church history for sound Bible doctrine, we may land at St. Peter’s in Rome instead of in the heavenlies in Ephesians 2:6 and Ephesians 1:3. There is not a record in Acts of any missionary journeys by any of the Twelve outside of the land of the Jews. In that land, at Jerusalem, we find Peter and his fellow﷓apostles in Acts 8:1 and Acts 15:1 to 19. About the time of the Jerusalem council Peter and his fellow﷓apostles agreed with Paul that they would go to the Jews. Galatians 2:9. Christians, who have some religious ax to grind, are afraid to believe some of the plain statements in the Bible. How could twelve men remain in Jerusalem or near by and obey Mark 16:14 to 18, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature?” Learn in Colossians 1:5 and 6, Colossians 1:21 to 27, under whose authority this was done. We can never learn the first thing about the glorious precious lost gem, until we learn the difference between the keys of the kingdom of heaven given to Peter and the dispensation of the grace of God given to Paul, the difference also expressed in Galatians 2:7.
Now let us compare Luke 7:1 to 9 with Acts 10:1 to 5 and Acts 10:22. In Luke we read of a Gentile centurion. who loved Israel and built them a synagogue. In Acts we learn of a Gentile centurion, who loved Israel and gave them money. In Luke, we learn that that Gentile centurion knew what most Christians do not seem to know, that Jesus Christ was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24, Acts 10:5 to 8). And therefore, that Gentile would not go into the presence of Christ or let Him come under his roof. But rather he sent the Jewish elder to intercede. At the time Peter and Cornelius met it was unlawful for a Jew to come unto an uncircumcised Gentile. Acts 10:28. The scattered Jewish disciples preached only to Jews. Acts 11:19. So far as we have any Bible record, in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, that Gentile centurion, of GREAT faith, was the only Gentile man to whom Christ ministered while He was on earth. We do not know about the unrecorded cases; but we do know that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (Romans 15:8), that He was born of the seed of David to be Israel’s Saviour (Acts 13:23), that His own, words were, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24), that Jesus Christ declared to a Gentile woman, of GREAT faith, that the children (Jews) must first be filled before blessings could reach the Gentile dogs. Mark 7:23 to 30 and Matthew 15:21 to 27. And we do know that Peter, in Acts 3:26, said, after Christ died, “to you (Jews) first”; and that Paul, in, Acts 13:46, said to the Jews (more than twelve years after the resurrection of Christ), “it was necessary that the Word of God should first be given to you (Jews)”. It was because the Jews put it away that Paul said, “lo we turn to the Gentiles.” Did Paul get his message in the great commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20, or from the Twelve? The answer is Galatians 1:11 to 23.
In Matthew 10:5 we read Christ’s words to the twelve apostles, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles.” In Acts 22:17 to 21 we read Christ’s words to Paul, “I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” Quite a difference! In Galatians 2:9 we read the agreement, that Peter and his fellow﷓apostles were to go to Jews, and Paul to the Gentiles. As we study God’s message and program for Gentiles, we should carefully compare Acts 26:21 to 24, as to what Moses and the other prophets foretold concerning God’s message for Gentiles, with Ephesians 3:8, the unsearchable riches of Christ, or an unprophesied message, for Gentiles. Surely even the babe in Christ should know the difference between God’s “prophesied” and God’s “unprophesied” message and program for Gentiles. God does not want Christians to be ignorant concerning the mystery of the blindness to Israel that ushered in “the times of the Gentiles,” spiritually. Romans 11:25 and 26. Note the consummation, climax or culmination of this in Ephesians 4:13, “the perfect man, Christ Jesus, the fulness of Christ.”
Every student of the Scriptures should know that we are living in “the times of the Gentiles,” politically. To this Christ referred in Luke 21:24. In Luke 21:27 to 33 we learn the culmination of “the times of the Gentiles,” politically, as we do in the second chapter of Daniel, where is found the Divine record of the beginning. the course and the end of “the times of the Gentiles,” politically. “The times of the Gentiles,” politically, began, according to the last chapters of II Kings and Jeremiah, about 600 B.C. “The times of the Gentiles,” politically, will be over when the Son of man comes to redeem Israel and establish His kingdom on earth. “The times of the Gentiles,” spiritually, began after Paul said in Acts 13:46, “lo we turn to the Gentiles.” ‘The casting away of Israel, the fall of Israel, the blindness of Israel, the unbelief of Israel, brought the beginning of “the times of the Gentiles,” spiritually. Romans 11:15, Romans 11:13, Romans 11:7 to 9, Romans 11:30.
When Israel, the builders, rejected the Stone, in incarnation, it was the Lord’s doing. Matthew 21:42. The death of Christ was inevitable (Acts 3:18, Acts 4:24 to 28). That death had to be, by the hands of Israel; that the Scriptures might be fulfilled (Acts 13:29, Matthew 26:24, Acts 2:22 and 23, John 12:37 to 42). Because of this, and because of Christ’s prayer on the cross (Luke 23:34), and because the Lord Jesus said, in Matthew 12:30 to 32, that Israel’s sin against the Son of man, before the Holy Spirit was given (John 7:38 and 39, John 16:7 to 9), would be pardonable, God was willing to completely forget and forgive Israel’s great crime, killing the Prince of life, on the grounds of ignorance (Acts 3:12 to 17), if Israel would repent. Acts 3:19 to 21. Therefore, after Israel committed that awful sin against the Son of man, God’s order was “to you (Jews) first.” Acts 3:26, Romans 1:16, Acts 13:46, Acts 18:5 and 6. How about that promise in Acts 2:29, to the far﷓off? That is explained in Daniel 9:8, “far﷓off” Israelites, although, according to the second chapter of Joel, to which Peter referred in Acts 2:16 to 22, the Gentiles are to be blessed after the Lord restores the kingdom again unto Israel. But the promise of Acts 2:39 has nothing to do with “the mystery, which Dr. Ironside declared was not hid in the Scriptures, but hid in God.
In Acts 7:45 to 55 we read of Israel’s three great sins. First, they rejected and killed the prophets, who foretold the coming of Christ. Second, they betrayed and murdered their Messiah, the holy One and the Just. Third, they resisted the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to bear witness to Israel, that God had raised Christ from the dead to be Israel’s Prince and Saviour. Acts 5:32. Have you not often wondered if Acts 5:29 to 32 is in the Bibles of most of the, Fundamentalists?
The thirteenth chapter of Acts contains what has been truly called “a great dispensation miracle.” There we learn that a Gentile believed God and was saved, because God sent blindness upon a Jew, whose name, Bar﷓Jesus, speaks of Israel, meaning, “the son of Jehovah the Saviour.” Then note what follows in that wonderful, dispensational chapter. We learn that Christ was raised up, in incarnation, to be Israel’s Saviour. (Acts 13:23.) We learn, in Acts 13:31 to 36, that Christ was raised up, in resurrection, to be Israel’s Saviour, that Israel might receive the sure mercies of David. After Israel receives the sure mercies of David the gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed to Gentiles. It was after Israel had rejected Christ, both in incarnation and in resurrection, according to Dr. Ironside and according to Dr. Bullinger and according to sound Bible doctrine, that God ushered in the new dispensation for Gentiles, “the dispensation of the grace of God” for Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1 to 8, “the dispensation of the mystery” for Gentiles (Colossians 1:24 to 27 and Ephesians 3:9 to 11). This was not made known to men in other ages. This age of grace did not begin when Israel committed the pardonable sin, but when Israel committed the unpardonable sin, which it was impossible for Israel to commit until after Christ had been raised from the dead and the Holy Spirit had been sent down from heaven to witness to Israel, that God had made that same Jesus whom they had crucified both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:36. Ask yourself this question, why, after Christ, in Matthew 16:20, told His apostles not to tell Israel that He was Christ, did water baptism cease until the day of Pentecost, after the prayer of Christ on the cross, and He rescinded His command of Matthew 16:20? Then the apostles again told Israel that Jesus was the Christ, and water baptism was again in order; for water baptism was to manifest Christ to Israel, as were signs and miracles. John 1:31, Acts 2:22 and 23. Signs, miracles and water are inseparably connected, and any intelligent exegesis that will eliminate one will eliminate the other. John the Baptist baptized, but performed no miracle. Jesus Christ performed miracles, but baptized none with water baptism; but with abiding baptism.
Note the word, “mystery,” in I Corinthians 2:6 to 8, Romans 16:25, I Corinthians 15:51, Romans 11:25 and 26, and after you are thoroughly indoctrinated in the truth revealed in these Scriptures, you are ready to study “the mystery among the Gentiles,” mentioned in Colossians 1:24 to 27, “the mystery of the gospel,” mentioned in Ephesians 6: 19 and 20.

Posted by Cecil Spivey at 2:47 PM

There are some foundation truths that the Christian must first know before he is ready to see and make others see what is “the dispensation of the mystery,” which was hid in God from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 3:9, Romans 16:25). One of the most important truths is stated in Romans 11:30, that the Gentiles obtained mercy from God because of Israel’s unbelief. Think of this verse seriously and prayerfully. When did the Gentiles obtain mercy from God because of Israel’s unbelief? Let us see from the Scriptures how true is the statement of Dr. Ironside that “the dispensation of the mystery” was not revealed until after Israel had rejected Christ in resurrection as well as in incarnation. This is the all﷓important truth that students of the Word of God must understand, if they want to have the eyes of their understanding opened to know the most glorious, wonderful truth for saints in all of the Bible, and be no longer children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:14). What is the meaning of Romans 11:11, that through the fall of Israel salvation was sent to Gentiles, the meaning of Romans 11:15, that the casting away of Israel brought reconciliation to the rest of the world? What is meant by “the fulness of the Gentiles” in Romans 11:25; that blindness in part happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in?

When Israel, the builders, rejected the Stone (Christ in incarnation), it was the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Matthew 21:42. Therefore Christ on the cross prayed for their forgiveness. Luke 23:34. When Israel rejected Christ in resurrection the apostle of the Gentiles cried, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11: 30 to 33.) Read Acts 5:29 to 32.
The careful student of the first nine chapters of Acts certainly knows that the twelve apostles did not preach “reconciliation’’ to Gentiles, because Israel was cast away or to provoke Israel to jealousy. They did not preach to Gentiles at all; except to proselytes. Certainly the dispensation of the grace of God for Gentiles, mentioned in Ephesians 3:1 to 3, was not committed to Peter or the Eleven, but to Paul alone. Not one of the Twelve was the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ for proclaiming the mystery to the Gentiles. Dr. Ironside so truthfully states that so far as there is any record Peter never preached the mystery of Ephesians and Colossians. He writes in the foreword of his new edition of “Wrongly Dividing” that Peter knew and preached the unity of Jews and Gentiles as the seed and children of Abraham, but that this was not the mystery mentioned in the third chapter of Ephesians and in the first chapter of Colossians. He now claims that there are two mysteries concerning the unity of believers, one in the third chapter of Galatians, one in the third chapter of Ephesians. According to his new explanation, Peter and John knew the mystery before Paul knew it; but that was a different mystery, not the mystery of Ephesians 3:6 and Ephesians 5:31 and 32. This is confusion worse confounded.
Now remember Dr. Ironside’s comments in his “Romans” (16:25). The dispensation of the mystery did not begin until Israel had been given every opportunity to receive Christ in incarnation and in resurrection.
Think this over. Dr. Ironside states that a new dispensation begins with a revelation; that this present dispensation of grace, called the dispensation of the mystery, began in the second chapter of Acts, with Peter’s message to Israel. When did Peter get the revelation that began the new dispensation? Dr. Ironside writes that Peter received the revelation when he was on the housetop, in the tenth chapter of Acts. He has the cart before the horse, having the dispensation begin seven years before he received the revelation. But in his foreword and in recent statements, Peter never did receive any revelation from Christ concerning the dispensation of the mystery, “the Body of Christ,” which began on Pentecost. What Christ revealed to Peter, on the housetop was the mystery made known by John, in the tenth chapter of his Gospel, concerning the other sheep. So then it is not true that the new dispensation began with a revelation. Notwithstanding the fact that Dr. Ironside is still sending out his revised edition of “Wrongly Dividing,” he writes in that edition that Paul received the revelation of the great (Body) mystery at the time he was saved (Acts 9:1 to 15), which was five years before Acts 10; but that Peter received it before Paul did; that the new dispensation began with the revelation, and began on the day of Pentecost. But Peter did not receive the revelation of the dispensation of the mystery, the Body of Christ at all: this was revealed to Paul alone. Do you now understand why Dr. Ironside is unwilling to gather with some other men of God, with the Bible, to look into these things? It requires much grace and humility to acknowledge such blunders. But can you explain why other Fundamentalists help him get out his well﷓named book, “Wrongly Dividing?”

Posted by Cecil Spivey at 2:49 PM

“Observe first of all that our Lord is not declaring that signs shall follow believers in the Gospel. The signs were to follow those of the apostles, who believed, and they did.”
They were very faithless in regard to going to the uttermost parts of the earth, and God had to give Peter a special vision to stir him up to go to a Gentile family.
“God has never promised in His Word that miracles and signs would remain in the Church to the end of the dispensation.”
“However, it is perfectly plain that the nearer we get to the close of the Acts, the less we have in the way of signs and wonders. This is to be expected.”
In his “Wrongly Dividing” Dr. Ironside speaks sarcastically of Dr. Bullinger as “the astute Bullinger,” of “Bullingerites,” of “Bullinger and his ilk.” He calls Bullinger “a hard﷓driven controversialist.” Note just what he did say:
“Needless to say, the contention of Dr. Bullinger is an absolute fabrication. It is the special, pleading of a hard﷓driven controversialist bound to maintain his unscriptural system at all costs, even to destroying the Word of God.”
May I ask you to judge honestly and fairly and with as little prejudice as possible after you have read Dr. Ironside’s statements above quoted. Was Dr. Bullinger any more of a hard﷓driven controversialist bound to maintain his unscriptural system than is Dr. Ironside in the above?
Now keep in mind these statements:
1. Water baptism, including Christian baptism which began with resurrection, is not a Church ordinance and the twelve apostles never received Christian baptism.
2. Water baptism as preached and practiced in Acts 2:38 and Acts 22:16, for the remission of sins, began after resurrection, and was therefore Christian baptism, but not a Church ordinance. This message was for Jews and was in harmony with the gospel of the circumcision, but was not for Gentiles and did not fit into the gospel of the uncircumcision (Galatians 2:7).Therefore, there were several meanings to water baptism. Baptism before and after resurrection was different. Water baptism in Acts 2:38 and 22:16 was not for Gentile Christians. Now Dr. Ironside has a new theory. He requires the believer to put on old clothes for a watery burial to witness that the old man is dead.
3. The Jews, who obeyed Acts 2:38 on the day of Pentecost, were born again before they received water baptism; but they were not saved until after they received water baptism.
4. The reason why the twelve apostles, for several years after the resurrection of Christ did not obey the great commission, they were lacking in spiritual energy and were not faithful.
5. The reason why the twelve apostles could do mighty miracles and we Christians cannot today, they were more spiritual and faithful.
6. Healing and tongue signs and other miracles were to follow the apostles but not other believers.
7. When other messengers of grace declare that as we come to the close of the Acts period signs and miracles were waning, they are “Bullingerites.” But Dr. Ironside says the same thing.
Have you ever heard greater confusion and contradiction? Let us look at a few Scriptures, concerning Stephen and Phillip, who were not apostles, and the Corinthians who were the least spiritual of any of the saints during the Acts period, Acts 6:8, Acts 8:5 to 7, I Corinthians 12:28 and 12:8 to 11:
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
One of Dr. Ironside’s favorite Scriptures to prove water baptism for this age of grace is Acts 18:8, concerning the Corinthians
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
But he should contend as earnestly for healing, tongues and miracles and other sign﷓gifts exercised by those baptized Corinthians because of I Corinthians 12:8 to 11. God set them in the Church. ‘The same exegesis that will prove that that the miracles and wonders of Mark 16:17 and 18 and I Corinthians 12:8 to 11 should not be perpetuated in the present﷓day Church will show us the difference between the passing baptisms of the “Acts” period and the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5, Luke 12:50 and Romans 6:3 and 4. Who gave Dr. Ironside or any other Christian preacher the authority to revise and abridge Mark 16:14 to 18 and teach, “he that believeth and is saved shall be baptized and no signs following?” Speaking of being hard﷓driven, what think ye?
John the Baptist tells us very clearly the meaning of water baptism, in John 1:31; “that Christ might be made manifest to Israel.” Surely this was the meaning of baptism in Acts 2:38 and Acts 2:22 and 23. If Christian baptism began with resurrection, that is, on the day of Pentecost, by no stretch of the imagination, by no corruption of the Scriptures can any intelligent student of the Scriptures interpret Acts 2:38 to mean that the believers were baptized with water as a witness to the world that they were crucified, dead, buried, risen with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenlies. Dr. Ironside agrees that Acts 2:38 differed from Paul’s message to Gentiles. The witness to the world is not water or any other religious ceremony, but walking in newness of life, putting off the old man and putting on the new man, seeking those things in the heavenlies where Christ is and by mortifying (putting to death) the deeds of the flesh. These are the things to do, ‘if ye be then risen with Christ.” Colossians 3:1 to 5, Romans 6:3 to 6.
It is so strange that evangelical Christians will believe that Christ is their righteousness, peace, hope, holiness, redemption, life and resurrection, because they can truly say, “I have been crucified with Christ,” “baptized into His death,” and yet they cannot see that Christ’s baptism is their baptism; that is, His “death” baptism, or crucifixion. Luke 12:50. There isn’t one Christian on this earth who has an intelligent understanding of the dispensation of the mystery, if he reads water into the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5, Colossians 2:12 and Romans 6:3 to 6. One of the most glorious doctrines in connection with the mystery is the believer’s identification with Christ, which means that Christ’s baptism is the believer’s baptism. The very moment the believer receives Christ he receives from God, as God’s free gift, righteousness, salvation, eternal life and the Holy Spirit. At that same moment he is immediately crucified, dead, buried, risen with Christ and seated in the heavenlies, where he is blessed with all spiritual blessings. Ephesians 2:5 to 8 and Ephesians 1:3. In this inseparable and eternal union, all of the mighty power of God is for the members of Christ’s Body (Ephesians 1:19 to 23), who with Christ are one flesh, the great mystery of Ephesians 5:30 to 32.
Concerning Ephesians 5:31 and 32 note these words of Dr. Ironside, “The Mysteries of God,” page 57:
“THIS IS THE MYSTERY: GLORIOUS; INCONCEIVABLY AND THANSCENDENTLY GRAND.”
Take in these adverbs and adjectives. And there is here no exaggeration. Note these other remarks of Dr. Ironside, in the same book, pages 52, 59 and 60:
“Paul learned it by direct revelation from Christ in glory.”
“To understand it is to enter into the truth for the present dispensation.”
“That those already saved might be taught what was of such great importance to all who would be, not dwarfs, but fully developed or perfect men in Christ Jesus.”
“May we more fully enter into what is so precious to His great heart of love.”
“In the Epistle to the Romans the mystery is not developed. We must turn to Ephesians especially for that.”
“It is to the Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians we must turn for the further unfolding of this mystery.”
You and I know that Ephesians and Colossians were written after Paul reached Rome, more than thirty years after Christ died. Dr. Ironside knows this.
Now imagine the very same man, who wrote the wonderful truths just quoted, writing in his Wrongly Dividing”
“There is not the slightest basis for the thought that a further unfolding of the truth had been vouchsafed to Paul and others about thirty years after Christ’s ascension. It is the message that they had heard from the beginning which he again commends unto them.”
Then note his remark concerning Galatians 3:26 to 29, concerning neither Jew nor Greek in Christ Jesus
“Is there anything in the revelation of the mystery, as given in Ephesians or Colossians that goes beyond this?”
Dr. Ironside knows full well, as you and I know, that the truth concerning the mystery, as revealed in Ephesians and Colossians, goes far beyond the truth concerning “The Lost Precious Gem” in those Epistles of Paul written before Paul reached Rome and became the ambassador in bonds for the mystery of the gospel, the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ with the dispensation of the grace of God for Gentiles. The mystery is simply mentioned, but not explained, in I Corinthians 2:6 to 8. Romans 8:28 to 32. Romans 16:25.
On page 56, “Mysteries of God,” Dr. Ironside said:
“It is so plain that one would suppose that every spiritual mind must see at once to what it refers. Yet the commentators and expositors generally are content to make it mean that in the present age God is extending to the Gentiles the same grace He offers the Jew, so that the former, by closing with His offer of grace, becomes a sharer in the kingdom promised to Israel.”
Dr. Ironside said that every Christian should be instructed as to the true character of the mystery. In his book, “Lectures on Colossians, commenting on Colossians 1:24 to 26, he said that the mystery was the capstone of Divine truth, to complete the Word of God.
All Christians, who are familiar with the teachings of Dr. E. W. Bullinger, know that every true statement concerning the mystery which we have quoted from Dr. Ironside’s writings agrees with the teachings of Dr. Bullinger.
But having learned the awful confusion and contradictions in Dr. Ironside’s “Wrongly Dividing,” we might have reason to doubt his statement concerning the mystery, page 56, “Mysteries of God.”: “It is so plain, etc.”
If it is of vast importance that Christians should be instructed as to the true character of the mystery, thus obeying Ephesians 3:9, Dr. Ironside and all, who claim to be messengers of grace and stewards of the mysteries of God, should first learn what the mystery is, and then make it known to as many saints as possible, rather than engage in “name﷓calling,” because a fellow﷓saint does not agree with some modern, fantastical water baptism theory. Dr. Ironside agrees that water baptism is not essential to salvation; for he declares he was saved many years before he was baptized. He states positively that no water baptism is needed to get into heaven. He has plainly stated in his writings that only God can admit into the true Bible Church of this age, and that water baptism is not needed to get into that Body as a saved member, that water baptism is not a Church ordinance; and yet he has been very much displeased, because I am satisfied with the Lord’s baptism and do not feel the need of any human, religious water ceremony. On every Christian doctrine that has to do with the eternal Deity and virgin birth of Christ, His perfect, finished redemptive work, His bodily resurrection, His pre﷓tribulation, premillennial coming, eternal conscious suffering for the unbeliever and eternal conscious glory of the saved, we are fully agreed. We have one mind concerning salvation by grace, rewards for service, the judgment﷓seat of Christ.
Concerning the instructions of the Holy Spirit, to rightly divide the Word of truth, Dr. Ironside and I both agree with the following statements copied from the writings of Dr. E. W. Bullinger:
“We do not say that only the Church Epistles are for the Church of God. We believe that the whole Word of God is for us; and that there is not one of its words which we do not need. ‘Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’ is necessary for our spiritual life. That is one thing. But surely every word is not ABOUT the Church of God. Every word is not addressed TO the Church of God.”
“Every word is written for our learning, and there is much to be learned from every portion of the Scriptures.”
“Yet it is sometimes said that we rob Christians of all the Bible except the Epistles addressed to them.”
“All this misunderstanding arises because our friends do not see the difference between INTERPRETATION and APPLICATION.”
“Every Scripture has its own proper interpretation, which must be determined by its scope.”
“After this it may have one or many applications of much importance concerning the Church of God, or of others.”
“Or take such a Scripture as Deuteronomy 6:25, ‘It shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments.’ Is this addressed to the Church of God? If so, it stands in flat contradiction to Galatians 2:16, ‘by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.’ But distinguish between INTERPRETATION and APPLICATION, and all difficulty vanishes. Both Scriptures are true. The one is true of Israel, of the persons and time to which it refers, and the covenant which the people were under; and the latter is true of the present dispensation of ‘grace,’ and of the Church of God.”
“We prefer to believe that the Epistles addressed to the Church of God are the Church’s special Text Books and the guide to all Church Doctrine; but we believe also that every part of God’s Word belongs TO and is FOR the Church; and is for its application, We must, however, also hold that this application must be governed by our Church Epistles; it must be applied in harmony with their teaching. Otherwise we shall be committing that fatal mistake of using one truth to upset another truth; and robbing others of what is specially addressed to and should be interpreted of them.”
“Many of our differences arise from being misunderstood; and we trust that what we have now said will remove one difference which may be easily fostered and used by the enemy to cause bitterness and division.”
There are Fundamentalists in this country who get sermons and Bible lessons from Dr. Bullinger’s “Companion Bible” secretly and then publicly condemn him. For many years, even before he taught two Bodies, he was hated, maligned and persecuted by the Plymouth Brethren in England because he challenged their interpretation of the Bible expression “breaking of bread”; and because he definitely disagreed with them in their teaching that Sunday, or the first day of the week, is called “the Lord’s day” in the Bible. What folly to teach that Revelation 1:10 refers to Sunday! So he was ever in trouble because of his teaching on the Lord’s Table and the Lord’s Day, contrary to that of the Plymouth Brethren.
In rightly dividing the Word of Truth, Dr. Bullinger endeavored to show, what every intelligent Bible student should teach, that there was a great difference between the ministry and dispensation of Jesus of Nazareth on earth, under the law (Galatians 4:4), sent only to Israel (Matthew 15:24, Acts 13:23, Acts 2:22), as a Minister of the circumcision, confirming prophetic truth, the searchable riches of Christ (Romans 15:8, Acts 17:11, Acts 26:21 to 23), and the spiritual program which Christ revealed to Paul the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13, Acts 22:17 to 22, Ephesians 3:1 to 3), the unsearchable (unprophesied) riches of Christ for Gentiles (Ephesians 3:8). Every servant of the Lord, who thus intelligently tests things that differ and shows by the Scriptures what Dr. Scofield taught concerning the normal course of the Church in Paul’s latest Epistles, is the target for the religious sectarian Christians with special attention from the zealous immersionists among the Fundamentalists who make no attempt to obey either Ephesians 3:9 or Ephesians 4:1 to 7.
Many of these religious Fundamentalists bring false charges against their fellow Body﷓members who cherish “the lost precious gem” more than they do having a believer put on old clothes and old shoes and go into a tank of water for a religious washing, and call it a witness to the world, without one verse of Scripture to support such a theory. They call them “Bullingerites,” “ultradispensationalists.” They say they have done away with much of the Bible; they leave only two or three Epistles left; they do not believe in the Four Gospels. All of these statements are untrue, and the charges ungracious. But inasmuch as they have no Scriptural answer to the Word of God, rightly divided, they must do everything in their power to discredit the messenger and bring false charges against him, in addition to their maligning, disfellowshiping and ostracizing, especially if they must defend a certain denominational label. It is the same old tactics practiced by Rome against Martin Luther and his friends.
Religious Christians have ever caused the offense of the cross to cease by adding something religious to the finished work of Christ and the gospel of grace. The precious gem, the mystery, has been lost for centuries, because the Church has been Judaized. These are the words of Dr. Ironside. Dr. Scofield taught that the way to rid the Church of the last vestige of Judaism is to find God’s spiritual program for members of the Body of Christ in Paul’s prison Epistles. Although pressure has been put on the Moody Colportage Association to cause them not to reprint and distribute the booklet, “Signs. Visions, and Miracles Not God’s Order for Today,” Fundamentalists do not call Dr. Scofield a “Bullingerite” for his “ultra﷓dispensationalism” in this book. Why? Because the water baptism was not mentioned as having passed away with the signs, healing and tongues, after the close of the “Acts” period. In I Corinthians, the first chapter, Paul thanked God that he had baptized none (but a very few). In I Corinthians, the fourteenth chapter, Paul thanked God that he had spoken with tongues more than others. The zealous immersionists among the Fundamentalists today do not thank God for either. They simply rule out the “tongues” and “miracles,” without explanation or apology, and are all confused and disagreed as to the meaning of the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5. You have learned in this message Dr. Ironside does not know why he is for water baptism. However he does not use one of the favorite expressions of other Fundamentalists, “following the Lord Jesus in baptism”; for in his “Baptism” booklet he stated clearly that Christ’s water baptism was not Christian baptism, but was a shadow of his baptism on the cross (Luke 12:50). Christ received His shadow baptism before he received His real baptism. Dr. Ironside, and others, want Christians in this age of grace to receive their shadow baptism after they receive their real baptism. The shadow should precede the real thing.
In the book we recently published, called “Let’s DeJudaize the Church,” we certainly proved that if the precious gem, the glorious, grand mystery, has been lost because the Church has been Judaized, certainly the only way to get it out from that ecclesiastical religious rubbish is to De﷓Judaize the Church.
Several times in Dr. Ironside’s “Wrongly Dividing,” when he could not prove his point by the Bible, he sought to prove it by the “ecclesiastical rubbish.”
Now, instead of calling other men of God insulting names, let’s look into some Scriptures concerning Gentile salvation inasmuch as the Gentiles have a very prominent place in “the mystery.”

Posted by Cecil Spivey at 6:51 AM

Now, read these several statements from the pen of Dr. Ironside and decide whether he believed that Peter and the Eleven were spiritual and faithful or that they “did not have spiritual energy or faith.”

“It seems that for a period of six or seven years they did not have the spiritual energy or the faith to launch out beyond Jerusalem and Judea except that Philip went into Samaria and John and Peter went down to see the work and endorsed it. Later God had to give Peter a special vision to stir him up to go to a Gentile home and then Paul—Saul of Tarsus—was converted and became the great apostle to the Gentiles.”
“In the beginning there were far more such evidences of the miracle﷓working power of the Spirit of God in connection with the healing of the body than we perhaps see today; but there was greater reason for it. Men knew less of the human body and its ailments and how to minister to them than they know today.”
“There is another thing we should think of. When the Church went forth in the beginning in its purity, ‘terrible as an army with banners,’ it was the delight of the Lord to allow signs to accompany it; but we must remember that we live in a day when we can look back over a period of fifteen hundred years or more of grave departure from the Word of God.”
“When the Church was in its first love, the Lord Jesus delighted to grace her with many gifts; but the Church has been unfaithful. We have drifted far from the principles of those early days, and the Lord has had to deal with us in much more reserve than in the beginning.”

Posted by Cecil Spivey at 6:53 AM

“This power (remission) Peter was exercising when he offered remission of sins to all who submitted, upon repentance, to baptism. Quite in keeping with this it will be found that Gentiles are never told to be baptized for the remission of their sins. To Paul, a Jew, Annanias conveyed a similar message (Acts 22:16). As baptized out of it (Israel) his sins would be governmentally washed away.” (Page 29.) “I should not judge that one could preach baptism for the remission of sins, save in a much more general sense, after the dispersion of the nation, and the demolition of the temple (Matthew 24:2) it is never mentioned in the Epistles. It was God’s message for the time, which soon passed away.” “Throughout the dispensation one’s sins could be said to be remitted by baptism not before God, but before the Church (John 20:22 and 23). That is, the past sins are no longer held against the baptized person by the public body of believers.”
“Evidently you did not at all understand what I said yesterday morning. I did not say that those on Pentecost were saved before their obedience to Peter’s words, ‘repent and be baptized.’ I said they were born again, which is an entirely different thing.”
“Christian baptism certainly did begin with the Resurrection. The twelve apostles, so far as I know, were not baptized over again, as they were the appointed representatives of the Lord to begin a new dispensation.”

Posted by Cecil Spivey at 6:55 AM

From the pen of the former president of the Moody Bible Institute, Dr. James M. Gray. This article was printed in the Moody Monthly:“Bullinger would be called a Fundamentalist were he now on earth, for he was an able defender of the inspiration of the Bible, the deity and virgin birth of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, the premillennial coming and all that. But he was an extremist, some would call him a faddist, on dispensational truth, and he was unscriptural as we believe on future retribution. Because of these last named errors the Monthly has not felt free to advertise Bullinger’s books, certainly not all of them, and yet the writer of these lines owes one of his richest spiritual blessings to that great teacher, for a truly great teacher he was. No one ever set before us from the Word of God so clearly as did Bullinger, the profound mystery of the Body of Christ, and we always shall be indebted to him.”

Dr. Bullinger’s dispensationalism was extreme. But he was uncompromisingly opposed to any theory of annihilation. Concerning “universal reconciliation,” read what he wrote the very year he died:
“God has accepted Christ as His provided substitute for every one who believes what He has revealed as to their guilt, and as to their need of a Saviour. So with what is spoken of as “reconciliation”—there is no such thing as regards the sinner. There is conciliation on God’s part toward the sinner in virtue of the substitute which He has provided and accepted, but there is an everlasting destruction,” not some future reconciliation, for those who refuse to believe Him.”
I repeat that I am neither a Bullingerite nor an ultradispensationalist. I uncompromisingly oppose the teaching of Dr. E. W. Bullinger, that the Body of Ephesians and Colossians is a Body different from the Body of Romans 12:4 and 5 and that the Body of Ephesians did not begin historically until after the close of the years covered by the Book of Acts. I am equally opposed to the teaching of Dr. Ironside that the dispensation of the mystery and the Body of Ephesians began the moment the Holy Spirit fell on the day of Pentecost. It is not to be wondered at that I do not agree with Dr. Ironside in this matter, as he most heartily disagrees with himself. Note my proof.
Dr. Ironside’s contradictory statements in:
WRONGLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH
“A dispensation then is a period of time in which God is dealing with men in some way in which he has not dealt with them before. Moreover, there may be degrees of revelation.”
“The Body of Christ, otherwise called ‘the dispensation of the mystery’ began the moment the Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost.”
Then Dr. Ironside adds, that a new dispensation begins with a revelation. Who received the “Body” revelation?
“On page 74 of my book on ‘the mysteries of God’ I am speaking of the mystery of the Body and this, of course, was made known ALONE to the apostle Paul.”
“The whole counsel of God was not made known until Paul received this revelation of the mystery.”
“It was a special revelation given not to the twelve, but to him as the apostle of the new dispensation.”
The revelation concerning the new dispensation was given to Paul, not to Peter and the Eleven, according to Dr. Ironside’s own statements.
When did Paul receive the revelation that ushered in the new dispensation, the dispensation of the mystery? Hear Dr. Ironside’s answers from his “Wrongly Dividing” and “Romans”:
“When then did Paul get this revelation of the truth of the one Body? He tells us he had been preaching it throughout the world among all nations. The answer clearly is, he received it at the time of his conversion, when he cried in amazement, “Who art Thou, Lord?” and the glorified Saviour answered, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” This was the revelation of the mystery. In that announcement our Lord declared that every Christian on earth is so indissolubly linked up with Him as the glorified Head in Heaven, that everything done against one of them is felt by the Head. This is the mystery—members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”
“This was not until Israel had been given every opportunity to receive Christ both in incarnation and resurrection.”
In the language of the present day newscaster concerning certain battle areas, “the situation is confused.” Paul received the revelation to usher in the new dispensation in the ninth chapter of Acts, after Israel had had every opportunity to receive Christ in resurrection. The new dispensation, which began with a revelation, began in the second chapter of Acts before Paul was even saved. Something radically wrong with this dispensationalism or illogical, if not irrational, thinking.
Some months ago a Baptist brother published a book which he called “O’Hairism.” He too inferred that I taught the extreme dispensationalism of Dr. Bullinger, Mr. Charles Welch and Mr. Mills. In order that he might turn Christians against me he intimated that when Dr. James M. Gray wrote in the Moody Monthly his article, “Dispensationalism Running Wild,” he was exposing Mr. O’Hair’s “Bullingerism.” I have in my office files the following letter from Dr. James M. Gray
Dear Mr. O’Hair:
“. . . At present, however, you may be relieved to learn that in the writing of our editorial, “Dispensationalism Running Wild,” your name never came into mind. Personally, I have not associated you with Bullinger.”
“Yes, I am reading and with much interest, your booklet, “Much, Little, No Water,” and although I do not go all the way with you, I regard it as a fine piece of exegesis.”
As I said, I disagree with Dr. Bullinger, that this present dispensation of grace and the Body of Christ began after Paul reached Rome. I believe that this present economy and the Body of Christ began before Paul wrote his first Epistle. I agree with Dr. C. I. Scofield that the normal course of the Church is found in Paul’s last Epistles and in them God’s spiritual program for members of the Body of Christ differs somewhat. from the program for the Church during the Acts period. The early Epistles of Paul, like the Old Testament Scriptures and the Four Gospels, must be interpreted and applied in the light of Paul’s last Epistles.
However, I have not heard any logical sane exegesis or explanation for the abolition or elimination of the Lord’s Supper after Paul’s pronouncement in Acts 28: 25 to 28. Because of the language in I Corinthians 11:23 and 26 I do not believe that Dr. Bullinger had Scriptural right to rule out that memorial which was given for members of the Body of Christ until Christ shall have come.
In his book, “Baptism,” Dr. Ironside has stated that water baptism is a kingdom ordinance, and was therefore unlike the Lord’s Supper, and he says water baptism will be practiced after the close of the Church age. Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are not linked together as ordinances for the Body of Christ. One is all over in a few moments. The other is repeated many times.
As Dr. Gray wrote, Dr. Bullinger was a Fundamentalist. He was a zealous, spiritual member of the Body of Christ, my fellow﷓member and Dr. Ironside’s fellow﷓member. In his book, “Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth,” in dealing with Dr. Bullinger, Dr. Ironside seems to have forgotten what he wrote in other books:
“Doctrinal correctness will never atone for lack of brotherly love. It is far more to God that His people walk in love toward one another than they contend valiantly for some forms of truth however Scriptural.” Page 40:
“A brother who believes quite differently to me on baptism may have far more fervent love for the Lord Jesus than I. Together we can enjoy sweetest fellowship, while respecting each others conscience as to a question that has provoked much strife in the Church.”
It is next to impossible for religious men with strong convictions to deal justly and without prejudice and ill feeling with a fellow﷓Christian with contrary opinions. Christians should be honest, just and gracious.
In his “Wrongly Dividing” Dr. Ironside intimates that the dispensationalism of Dr. E. W. Bullinger leads to Universal Reconciliation, Annihilation and other pernicious and evil doctrines. Such a charge is unfair and ungracious. Is Dr. Ironside responsible for all of the heresy and fanaticism taught by religious groups or men whose slogan is “back to Pentecost,” because Dr. Ironside taught that this “grace” dispensation began at Pentecost? Certainly he is not. But certainly this erroneous teaching of his has caused him no end of confusion, in his attempt to explain Mark 16:14 to 18, Matthew 28:19 and 20, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19 to 21 and Acts 5:29 to 32 and Acts 22:16. He has been asked many times why Paul did not preach Acts 2:38 to Gentiles, why the twelve apostles remained in the land of the Jews and did not obey Matthew 28:19 and 20 at least until after Cornelius was saved, and what about the signs of Mark 16:17 and 18.
Note these Scriptures:
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
“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? 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.”
“And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
Before we give you Dr. Ironside’s comments on the above Scriptures, or the doctrines contained in them, because of his great admiration for Mr. John Darby who is credited by Dr. Ironside with recovering the mystery covered up in religious rubbish, let us read what Mr. Darby, as well as the late Dr. James M. Gray, and Dr. W. T. Pettingill, taught concerning the so﷓called great commission of Matthew 28: 19 and 20.
“The accomplishment of the Commission here in Matthew has been interrupted but there is the promise to be with those who went forth in it to the end of the age. Nor do I doubt it will be so. This testimony will go forth to the nations before the Lord comes. The brethren will carry it to warn the nations. The commission was given, but we find no accomplishments of it. It connects the testimony with the Jewish remnant owned by a risen Lord of all, with the earth and his earthly directions, and for the present it has in fact given place to a heavenly commission, and the Church of God.”
Mr. Darby stated that which any careful student of the Scriptures should know, that under the hand of God, the twelve remained in their land and the risen Christ sent Saul (Paul) forth with the grace message, under a new commission. Acts 8:1, Acts 15:1 to 7. Galatians 2:9. Acts 10:28.
Now concerning the doctrines in the Scriptures quoted, note Dr. Ironside’s statements:
taken to heaven.”

Posted by Cecil Spivey at 6:57 AM