Paul’s Grace Message

“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God caIIeth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

“THESE things we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen,” intoned the preacher as he closed his prayer. And I knew at once that he was ignorant of the Lordship of Christ, that great truth given to us by God through the unique ministry of the Apostle Paul, for the Church which is the One Body of Christ.

There probably is no vital truth of God’s Word more universally denied by professing Christianity today, than this one. As another has said, ”The Apostles would cringe in horror if they could hear how this religious world of today dishonors that precious name that God the Father has put above all names!” Probably the leading reason for it is tradition, the traditions of men which began hundreds of years ago. Another reason is ignorance of “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (II Tim. 2: 15). so that church people have taken their guidelines from the Four Gospels instead of Paul’s Epistles. And thirdly. so many of our hymn writers have missed this great truth. It is hard for believers to find hymns that honor the Lordship of Christ.

As our first text above says, no man can acknowledge Jesus as Lord but by the Holy Spirit. A man could learn to say the words; even a parrot could learn them. But neither a parrot nor an unsaved man could speak reverently of Him as “my Lord,” in reality and truth. The unsaved just don’t speak of Him as their Lord.

Our second text gives the model for the prayers of a Spirit-taught child of God today. We are to pray TO the Father, and IN the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him His full title and office. But you say, isn’t that rather trivial? Is it? Suppose that Queen Elizabeth came to our city. What would you think of me if I mounted the platform, put out my hand, and said, “Good morning, Elizabeth”? And if we show proper honor to men and women in high office, how much more should we honor the Lord of glory?

“But Isn’t His Name Jesus!”

Yes, it is. But it is the name of His humanity and of His humiliation while here on earth. It is “Christ after the flesh,” or in His earthly ministry. Paul tells us, in II Corinthians 5:16, “Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him so no more” (margin). We know Him now as the RISEN Lord, “Head over all things to the Church, which is. His body” (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Regarding His earthly ministry, we read: “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (the Jews) for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers” (Romans 15:8). But His ministry now as the risen Lord is something else. Paul writes in verse 16 of this same chapter, “That I (Paul) should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.”

A Dispensational Change

When He was born into the world, it was written: “And thou shalt call .His name JESUS: for He shall save His people (Israel) from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Thus Jesus was to be His name as their Saviour. But compare that verse with this one:

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

What occurred in between, that changed the emphasis on “Jesus” to emphasis on His title as “Lord”? Obviously, it was His resurrection. He is now the risen Lord and Messiah. He is not “Jesus” to the Church of today; He is its risen Head, “the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In this divine “change-over,” there is an interesting phasing out, and phasing in, involving the important fact that the Book of Acts is transitional in character. In numerous ways it is a transition from the Jewish Messianic program in the Old Testament and the Four Gospels, to the great “Mystery” program of the One Body in Paul’s Epistles.

Thus we find the name “Jesus” used hundreds of times in the Four Gospels; 29 times in the Book of Acts; down to 10 times in the Prison Epistles; and only 2 times in the Prison Epistles. On the other hand, “the Lord Jesus Christ” is not found at all in the Four Gospels; used 5 times in the Book of Acts; and 32 times in Paul’s Church Epistles. And even when the name “Jesus” is used in the Epistles, there is a special reason for each occasion, as in Ephesians 4:21, “as the truth is in Jesus.” Here His earthly walk is referred to as an example for us.

An example of how the name “Jesus” changed to “Lord” in the Pauline revelations may be seen in these statements regarding the Lord’s supper. In the Gospels (Mark 14: 22) “Jesus took bread.” Paul, in I Corinthians 11:23, says, “The Lord Jesus .. took bread.” Note also, that he said he received this formula from the Lord Himself! If you go . through Paul’s Epistles carefully, you will see how faithfully the Spirit gives the risen Lord His full title of honor, “the Lord Jesus Christ:’

They All Called Him “Lord”

Even in the Four Gospels, the Lordship of Christ was consistantly honored. His name “Jesus” is only used narratively. That is, the Holy Spirit, the divine Author, in recording all the events historically of the Lord Jesus in His humanity, quite properly referred to Him as “Jesus.” And being on an equality as a part of the triune Godhead, the Spirit had every right to do this.

Nobody in the Four Gospels, nor anywhere else in the N. T., ever addressed Him as “Jesus.” To do so would have been a dishonoring familiarity. They all called Him Lord. Moreover, with but one exception, His disciples never referred to Him as “Jesus” when speaking to others about Him. The one exception is in Luke 24:19, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Clearly, this was to idenfy Him to the “stranger.” Because of the terrible shock of the crucifixion, they had temporarily lost faith in His Messiahship!

Besides the disciples, Mary, Martha and all the other women called Him “Lord.” So did the Gentile centurion in Matthew 8, the dying thief on the cross and even doubting Thomas in John 20:28 - “My Lord and my God.” In John 21:7, the disciple was careful to say to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Not, “It is Jesus,” as so many careless Christians would say today. Saul of Tarsus was respectful enough to say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Stephen “saw Jesus” at the right hand of God, but he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit” (Acts 7:59).

Those Who Call Him “Jesus”

Now let us look at the crowd that speaks of Him as “Jesus,” without the added titles of honor and respect. To every devoted child of God, this aspect should at least be very impressive. First, there is the world around us. As our beginning Scripture shows, only those who know Him personally as Lord can really Own Him as such, because it is only by the Holy Spirit. To men of the world, He is “Jesus,” the historic Jesus, the great teacher, philosopher and religious founder and reformer of nearly twenty centuries ago. He is “Jesus” the man also, to the modernist liberals who deny His deity, virgin birth and bodily resurrection. At best they call Him “Jesus Christ,” as a man with a first and last name.

The enemies of our Lord, and even demon spirits, refer to Him as “Jesus.” For examples of this, see Acts 4:2, 13, 18; 5:40; 17:7; 19:13, 15; 25:19.

The Scriptures teach us that in these last days there will be renewed activity of demonism-I Tim. 4:1. All the various cults today that are characterized by fanaticism, miracle working with signs and wonders, have definite signs of demon activity.

They are all growing by leaps and bounds. They are all famous for their disrespectful use of the name “Jesus,” to bring Him down to human level. Perhaps the highest peak of insult and dishonor to His name was reached by the notorious Aimee Semple McPherson back in the 1920s, when she stood on a platform and said, “Dear Jesus, come down and put your big, strong arms around me!” The very thought of such language should make us cringe!

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Why Loved Ones Are Taken

“In the Orient, where the shepherd still leads his sheep, it is said that he is often baffled in his desire to bring them to better pasture beyond-by the timidity of the sheep nature that shrinks from breasting the turbulence of an intervening stream. The shepherd stoops to take one of the Hock, perchance a tender lamb into his arms and carries it across. When the sheep see one of their own on yonder side, they are willing, yes eager, to make the crossing. Thus, the shepherd has his way with them and they are found feeding upon his better pastures.

“It is said with this loving desire and wisdom of purpose that the Shepherd may have reached into your circle and taken to HIMSELF one so dear. He wants to use those endearing ties to draw out your interest in HIS beyond. Knowing how ‘far better’ it is, HE has taken this means of turning your affections heavenward, to have you think of the Home over there.”-Selected.

Asaph the Psalmist wrote: “Whom have I in heaven but Thee?” (Psalm 73:25). It is true that our first attraction should be to the Person rather than to the place. Our first joy should be the glorious prospect of seeing Him who is “altogether lovely,” our precious Lord and Saviour. Nevertheless, our loved ones already “over there” do make heaven closer to us. No doubt God uses death to draw our interest heavenward, and away from the affairs, cares and ambitions of this life.

Last Day Messenger
July – August 1975

Posted By - Cecil and Connie Spivey

E-mail this Bible message to all your friends.

Tags: , Dee L. McCroskey, Dispensational Bible Study, Lordship of Christ
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Without Money By – Tom M. Olsen

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

Without Money By – Tom M. Olsen

Yes, strange as it may seem in this day when money is virtually the god of multitudes, the most valuable thing in life can be had Without Money.

It may not be possible to secure food, raiment, shelter, education and transportation without money; but that which is more important and more interesting than all these is absolutely free.

Undoubtedly it will be agreed that the salvation of God is the most valuable thing in life. And, though at an infinite cost to God, that salvation has been provided as a free gift to man. This is evident from the words of the Apostle Peter to Simon: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” (Acts 8:20). God regardeth not the rich more than the poor (Job 34:19).

And not only is this salvation to be had Without Money, it is also Without Price!

There may be those who will readily admit that it is impossible to purchase God’s salvation with money, but who at the same time insist that there is some sort of price to pay for it. To all such, the following Scripture should make it plain that salvation is without price: “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).

“Freely” here means “gratuitously,” “without a cause,” “for naught.” And “grace means “everything for nothing to one who deserves nothing but judgment.”

The Lord Jesus Christ paid the price of salvation. He “gave Himself for our sins” (Gal. 1:4). The Son of God “loved me and gave Himself for me” Gal. 2:20). Because He paid the price-His precious blood- there remains no price for us to pay. We are justified “freely” and “by His grace.” Further more, this salvation is also to be had Without Works!

Most persons have difficulty in believing that salvation is without works. They seem to be satisfied that they cannot purchase salvation in any way, but they entertain the thought that they can work for it. Let all such consider the following passages: “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9).

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an 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” (2 Timothy 1:9).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit”(Titus 3:5).

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).

Upon believing the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, you will receive the Holy Spirit. Possessing Him, you will be able to “be zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). But do not imagine that this is working For salvation. Salvation is “without works”; but every person already saved, should be zealous of good works-not to be saved, but because he is saved. In addition to all this, salvation is to be had Without Waiting!

It is difficult for many to believe that salvation is to be had without waiting. They are laboring under the impression that it is necessary for them to wait until they are better or to wait for certain feelings or to wait for certain sounds and sights. They imagine that they must wait for a “more convenient season.”

All such should be eager to know that the Scripture says: Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Cor. 6:2). It is not necessary to wait another moment to be saved. This voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:15). Will you have God’s salvation without money, without price, without works and Without Waiting?

Posted By Cecil & Connie Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

E- Mail this Gospel message to all your friends.

Tags: , Money, No Money Needed, Salvation Free, Without-Money
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WHICH GOSPEL WHEN By - Paul R. Van Gorder

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

WHICH GOSPEL WHEN
By - Paul R. Van Gorder

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

Chapter 1

The current religious scene uses the word “gospel” indiscriminately. We hear of gospel music, gospel truth, the old fashioned gospel, gospel literature, and gospel meetings. But what is the meaning of the word “gospel”? Coming from the Greek word euaggelion, it simply means “good tidings” or “good news”.

Let me raise a question that might bring opposing response and perhaps considerable disagreement. Here’s the question; is there more than one gospel;’ Some would quickly answer “of course not! There’s only one gospel.” They refer to the gospel spoken of by the apostle Paul in this familial passage:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1Cor.15:1-4

But is this [the only “good news” of the Bible? Even a cursory reading of the New Testament will demonstrate that for the 101 times the word is used, it cannot be exclusively ” the gospel” to which the apostle referred. However, if you object to the statement that there is more than one gospel, you would surely agree that if there is but one “good news” it must necessarily concern several different subjects. Paul wrote,
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Philippians 1:9-10

A marginal rendering of the phrase “approve things that are excellent”‘is simply “distinguish between the tilings which differ “. In this series of messages, I want us to consider the teaching of God’s Word relative to four different gospels mentioned in the New Testament. We will examine the four different subjects about which the gospel is concerned.

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

Early in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in Galileo, this is recorded:
And Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23 a little later we read,

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 10;5-7

This was the proclamation of the gospel of the Kingdom. John the Baptist had preached that same gospel. He announced that the long predicted Messiah, the One of whom the prophets had spoken, was standing at the door.

WHAT IS THIS GOOD NEWS?

Is this the gospel we proclaim today? This good news had relerence to the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom. Addressing the men of Israel in the synagogue at Antionch, the apostle Paul spoke these significant words.

He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man’s seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: Acts 13:22-23

God established a covenant with David, a promise that is irrevocable. That covenant had to do with a house; that is, a family or posterity, a kingdom, a sphere of rule, a throne, a roval prerogative over a kingdom. The gospel of the kingdom was the good news to Israel that their Messiah and King was at hand. The Jews are God’s chosen people. The Messial was promised to them. And they are to be the subjects of the King in a sense that Gentiles never can be.

THE FOUNDATION OF THIS GOSPEL

The gospel of the Kingdom was the central theme of the prophets. True, they spoke against the evils of their day, and they denounced Gentile oppressors by predicting divine judgment. But their prophecies had to do mainly with the person of the Messiah, the coining King, with descriptions of that kingdom, and with the children of Israel, who are the subjects of that king.

THE COMING OF THE KING

This gospel of the kingdom, with it’s foundation in the covenant made to David, was the gospel preached by John the Baptist. It was also proclaimed by Jesus Himself during His earthly ministry, prior to His rejection and . Death.

The apostle Paul declared, Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: Romans 15:8
Matthew, whose account presents Jesus Christ primarily as King, began his book by saying, The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, Matthew 1;1 When the angel Gabriel announced to the virgin Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus, he said, He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:32-33

Little wonder, then , that John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah, should proclaim, “Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2)’.

As I previously stated, Christ Himself proclaimed this gospel, the gospel of the kingdom. And when He sent forth the twelve, recorded in Matthew 10, He said, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 10:5-7

The announcement was made to Israel that the Son of David had come as their King.

The disciples, however, did not understand that the Lord Jesus was going to die. Even following His death and resurrection, just prior to His ascension, they asked Him, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6′).

The disciples were still taken up with the establishment of the earthly kingdom.

THE REJECTION OF THE KING

Not only was the gospel of the kingdom proclaimed to Israel, but the very principles of the kingdom were announced in what is commonly called the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

The King Himself demonstrated the powers of the kingdom by His miracles. But John clearly stated that “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11′) Israel did not acknowledge their Messiah but refused their King.

Perhaps the most accurate picture of Israel’s rejection of the message of the King and the Kingdom is given to us in one of Christ’s parables (Matthew 27:33-42) A householder (a depiction of God the Father) planted a vineyard and leased it out to some farmers. Later he sent servants (the prophets) to harvest the fruit from that vineyard. The tenants (representative of Israel) grabbed His servants and beat them, stoned them, and killed them.
The householder sent more servants, and they received the same treatment. Last of all He sent His Son (a picture ot Christ). You would think they surely would have received Him , but no, “they caught Him, and cast Him out of the vineyard, and slim.” (V 39)

In a similar parable in Luke 19, the Lord Jesus spoke of the “citizens”of the land who cried out, “We will not have this man reign over us” (Luke 19:14′). The King is exiled! I ask you, “Is this gospel of the kingdom what we proclaim today?” Absolutely not!

FUTURE PROCLAMATION OF THIS GOSPEL

I hear men speak of “extending the kingdom”. Nonsense! This is not the business of the church.
The King must be present in order for the kingdom to be established and extended.

Right now He is absent from the earth. The nation that rejected it’s King had this sentence of judgment passed on it by the Messiah:

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:28-39)

The time is coining when (the gospel of the kingdom will again he proclaimed. I have often heard Mattliew 24 :14 quoted as applicable to the missionary ministry of the church in this age. Those who use this verse and interpret it this way are lifting it completely out of context.

It says,And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14)

This is the message that will be proclaimed after the church is raptured. As it was at it’s first preaching, so again the gospel of the kingdom will proclaim the near approach of the King. The setting of Matlliew 24 is the tribulation period.

Alter the church age ends, the good news of the kingdom is to be heralded throughout the earth. The “end” ot ‘which Christ spoke is the close of the Jewish age, Daniel’s 70th week.

It will terminate when the Son of Man comes to reign in power and glory. A great missionary enterprise will be carried out by the godly remnant of Israel during that period of the great tribulation.

Every nation will hear the proclamation, “Behold, the King cometh!” Again, the word will go out, “Repent; for the kingdom of heaven Is at hand” And “then shall the end come.”

Mattliew 24 is essentially Jewish. It is limited to that period of time, a “week” of 7 years, called the tribulation.

The coming of the Lord for His church does not depend on the gospel of the kingdom being preached in all the world. We have been placed in trust with the gospel of the grace of God. Our work is clearly defined, and the urgency is pressed upon us. We must get on with the missionary endeavor so that all may have the privilege to hear what the Word of God says concernig Jesus Christ, His deatli, burial, and resurrection.

Our Lord’s command to us is this: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the qospd to every creature” {Mark i6:is).

The next event on God’s prophetic calendar is the rapture of the church. That event will not be preceded by signs.

It is imminent; that is, He may come at any moment. Are you prepared to meet Him? Are you numbered among those who by faith have trusted the Savior for the cleansing of your sin and the salvation of your soul? He came the first time and was rejected by His own people.

The apostle John wrote, “But as many as received Him, to them qave He power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). Today, you too may know the Savior. You will never face a more important issue.

What you do with Christ determines your destiny for eternity.

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE
Chapter 2

The meaning of the word “gospel” is simply “good news.” In every age, God has had good news for man. But that good news has not always been the same in the subject it declares.

I would not contend for a moment that anyone can be born again except by the grace of God and witliout any merit in himself. Yet I must also unequivocally state that the gospel, God’s good news, deals with different aspects of divine revelation. The gospel of the kingdom, discussed in the first lesson, was exclusively for Israel.
John the Baptist heralded that gospel. And I knew Him not; but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizin with water (John 1;31)

John the Baptist’s purpose was to manifest Christ to Israel. The gospel that he proclaimed had no message for Gentiles. Rather, it was a declaration to Jehovah’s chosen people that the kingdom of Heaven was present in the person of the King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11). The special message to Israel about their King was refused, and the King Himself was rejected.

Today He is in exile, and obviously there can be no kingdom without the King.

Israel’s rejection ot their Messiah culminated in the stoning of Stephen.

The Old Testament record reveals that they had rejected Jehovah as their King. Then God was manifest in the flesh in the person of the Son, and again they refused Him.

By the way, their rejection was complete as indicated by the words of Stephen just before he died. “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers did, so do ye” (Acts 7;51).

The kingdom is therefore now in abeyance. The gospel of the kingdom will not be preached again until just before the King returns to establish His reign in righteousness and justice. Belore this revelation ot Jesus Christ and during the tribulation period, “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

THE GOSPEL FOR TODAY

A remarkable happening is recorded in Acts 10. Peter went to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. He and his household were born again, and they received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized.

When Peter finally explained this event to his Jewish brethren in Jerusalem, they “glorified God, saying, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18).

Peter referred to this memorable occasion as the time when God “put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9)- Peter further staled, “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord fesus Christ we shall be saved, even at they (Acts 15:11)
This was the beginning of the new thing.

James said that Simon Peter “hath declared how God first did visit the nations, to take out of them a people for His name” (Acts 15:14). How was this to be accomplished? By the preaching of the gospel ot the grace ot God.

The apostle Paul spoke of this as a stewardship given especially to him. He was to preach to the Gentiles. 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)

Writing to the church at Corinth, he added, Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that e rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Yon will note that the King and the kingdom are no longer being announced. Why? Because the gospel of God’s grace is being proclaimed concerning Jesns Christ-His death, His burial, and His resurrection.This is the gospel of God’s free grace to everyone who believes the gospel of the crucified, risen, and glorified Lord.

Paul spoke of the same good news in his letter to the Romans. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, Which He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, accordingto the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name: ( Romans 1:1-5)

During this present age, the good news of the grace o God is calling sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, to the Savior. All of whom arc saved are placed into the Body of Christ, which is the church.

TO WHOM IS IT ADDRESSED?

The gospel ot the kingdom was addressed to Israel only, offering to them ttheir Messiah. The “good news” of the grace of God is addressed to all sinners without distinetion, offering to them a Savior.

The gospel which Paul was called to preach, the gospel of the grace of God, does not offer Israel a ruler. In fact, at this time God is not offering a king to anyone.

By the preaching of the gospel, God is visiting the nations “to take out of them a people for His name” [Acts 15:14). The Lord Jesus said to Simon Peter in Matthew 16:18, I will build My church,” but that was still future.

A mystery was later revealed to the apostle Paul. The mystery of the church, the Body of Christ.

That God would save Jews was no mystery; that He would save Gentiles was no mystery. The mystery was that He would put Jews and Gentiles into one body and make them fellow members, fellow heirs, and fellow partakers of His promise in Christ.

This was a new revelation. The apostle wrote, For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:1-6)
And now by the gospel of God’s grace, which is the “power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Romans 1:16), Jews and Gentile can be saved and added to the church.

“For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Greeks, whether we be bond or free” (1 Corinthians 12:13)

THE GOSPEL WE PREACH

This is good news! Called repeatedly in the New Testament “the gospel of God,” it originated in His eternal purpose for a lost world.

Designated “the gospel of Christ,” it declares the unmerited kindness of God toward ruined, condemned sinners. Known as “the gospel of salvation”, it reveals the only way the sinner may be saved through the finished work of Christ. This is the gospel we proclaim.

Outlined by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, the gospel of grace concern the person of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, in His death, burial, and resurrection.

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” This death was not a suicide, the result of an accident, or the punishment of a criminal.

This death of our Lord was a substitutionary death, “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

On the grounds of that death, God can be “just, and the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3: 26). Christ bore the debt and demerit of our sin at Calvary. Something had to be done with that sin. The penalty had to be exacted. “He hath made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:27^. The spotless Lamb of God took our place. The hymnwriter said,

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood-
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Christ’s death was “according to the Scriptures.” By type, by offering and sacrifice, and by direct prophetic statement, the death of Christ was taught in the Old Testament.

When the Savior bled and died on the cross, all the promissory notes of the past ages were paid in full, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.

“He was buried.” This is the ultimate proof that He really died. When a soul departs from a body, this separation spells physical death.

The soldiers declared that He was dead, and Pilate gave Joseph of Arimathaea permission to take the body. He buried it in a newly prepared tomb, fulfilling the Scriptures, “He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death” (Isaiah 53:9).

“He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” This is the foundation of our salvation. Paul wrote, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins” {1 Corinthians 15:17).

After His burial, the stone was rolled in front of the tomb. The Romans seal was placed upon it. Soldiers guarded that sepulclier. Men and demons did their utmost to see that the tomb would keep that body in its cold, dread grasp.

If the grave could keep the body so that it would “see corruption,” the Calvary would become a farce and salvation would be impossible. But praise God, Christ rose triumphantly! He won the victory over sin, death and Hell! (He) was delivered for our olfenses, and was raised again for (on account of) our justification (Romans 4:25).

God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him by seating Him at His right hand. The Lord’s resurrection is unmistakable proof that God is fully pleased by the work He did at Calvary. Now we who were once far off are brought to God by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13).

This is the gospel you must believe if you are ever to stand accepted before God. This is the gospel we preach.
God in His grace has provided eternal redemption for you through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son. You do not deserve it, you cannot buy it, and you cannot work for it. But God will give it too you.

By faith believe the gospel, trust the Savior, and receive the gift of eternal life through Christ.

Then you can say witli the hymnwriter,

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that he died for me.

ANOTHER GOSPEL
Chapter 3

In every age, man is saved by grace and grace alone. The proclamation of this truth is called “the gospel.”

It is “the gospel of God.” It is good news!

Even though the gospel itself has the same message in even’ age, it has ditlerent points ot emphasis.

During the ministry of John the Baptist and the earthly ministry of our Lord, the “gospel of the kingdom” was proclaimed to Israel.

The kingdom of heaven was present in the person of the King, the Lord Jesns Christ. Israel’s response was, “We will not have this man to reiqn over us” fLuke 19:14)

During church age, the gospel of the grace of God is being heralded to the world.

God has provided the only way of salvation for condemned, unworthy sinners.

We are saved through the death of Christ and His shed blood upon the cross.

The guarantee is His resurrection from the dead. The gospel of His grace reveals God’s righteousness.

By it He is “just, and the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus.

“This rules out all human works and merit.
If you and I are to be saved, to be made fit to come into the presence of a holv God, it must be totally apart from our own works. It comes exclusively by the grace of God, bv virtue of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection on our behalf.

SATAN THE COUNTERFEITER

When the seed of the Word falls on good ground and brings forth fruit, Satan is not content to let it go unhindered. As in the parable of the tares in Matthew 13, He over sows the field with a spurious wheat, a darnel.

Satan is a counterfeiter, and he is quite successful at it by simulation and substitution. God no sooner begins His work in any dispensation than our adversary, the devil, attempts to discredit (that work by offering a counterfeit.

Satan’s substitutes are never completely false. A modicum of truth gives each lie a measure of credibility.

The enemy is for too shrewd to supplant the truth with a total lie. So he adulterates the truth with a subtle mixture of error.

The apostle Paul pointed this out in his second letter to the Corinthians. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him (2.Corinthians 11:3-4)

The apostle said this to the churches in Galatia: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
(Galatians 1:6-7)

The apostle spoke of “another Jesus” and “another gospel.

” Actually, he used two different Greek words for “another”: in this verse, He was saying, “It is not another gospel (that is, another of the same kind); but it is a different gospel.”

Oh, it’s true that Satan’s deceivers use the nomenclature of Heaven to masquerade their false gospel. A cheap coin may be gilded to look like gold.

But the gilding does not make it real. Almost everywhere Paul went he found those who sought by deception to divert his converts from the message of salvation by grace alone. Our day is no exception.

ANOTHER GOSPEL

The emissaries of Satan have lodged in the great tree of Christendom. Deceivers slip the leaven of false doctrine into the pure meal of the gospel.

To illustrate the danger, the apostle referred back to the beginning of the human race.

He warned that false teachers will use the same methods Satan employed in beguiling Eve.
He did it through his craftiness.

Paul wrote further, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2. Corinthians 11:15-15)

Harry Ironside wrote, “That is how the devil works.

Satan never says, Good morning, I am the devil! I want to mislead you.

I want to seduce you. I want to turn your heart away from God.

I want to ruin you for a time and eternity.

No, he comes with the fairest pretenses and promises, and he endeavors to turn the heart away from Christ by his deception.”

From the New Testament we discern several instances of “other gospels,” which are perversions of the true.

Deceitfulness Imposed

The first is found in 2 Corinthians 11.

When the mind is lead astray “from the simplicity that is in Christ” (V 3), you may put it down: This is another gospel.

That word “simplicity” means “singlehearted faith” or “singlehearted loyalty.”

It carries with it the idea of being “spread out,” or “without folds or wrinkles.

“Any teaching which leads us away from sincere and pure devotion to Jesus Christ must be branded another gospel, one entirely different from the gospel of God’s grace.

Ritualism Added

Second, when a system of works or religious observances is added to or substituted for the gospel of grace, you may be sure that it is another gospel.

Paul had received news from the churches in Galatia that shocked him. They had been saved by grace through faith, totally apart from works.

But Judaizers were telling them that they had to observe days, to submit to the practices of the Mosaic law, and to engage in a system of works.

These teachers were perverting the gospel of Christ.

Whenever you mix law and grace, law is robbed of its terror and grace of its freeness. This different gospel, contrary to the teaching of the New Testament, is proclaimed in numerous forms.

Just as those Judaizing teachers told the Galalian Christians that they must observe the ancient rite of circumcision in order to have a full salvation, some religionists today insist on the baptism right or some other ordinance for salvation.

To them it is grace plus something. A verse in Galatians should settle this question once and for all. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

I care not from what quarter it comies. If the supposed gospel you have heard is one of reformation, baptismal regeneration, church membership, good works, or ritualistic practice, it is not God’s gospel.

It does not carry His blessing, and it is contrary to His Word. Don’t be deceived. To depend upon anything or anyone for your salvation other than Jesus Christ, God’s sacrifice for your sins, is to put your confidence in another gospel.

God condemns those who purvey these errors, and He calls them “false teachers.”

Christ’s Deity Perverted

A third instance is given by John. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. (2. John 1:7-9)

Please note these three: Another gospel-not the gospel of Christ-is preached, (1) when singlehearted faith is drawn away from Christ, (2) when a system of works is substituted or added to the grace of God, or (3) when the doctrine of Christ is violated.

The apostle John wrote in strong words the divine condemnation of deceivers who deny that Jesus is the Christ of God manifest in the flesh.

Check it out, friend. What does your church teach and what does your preacher believe about Jesus Christ?

All that scriptures says about Him and all that He declares concerning Himself is true. The one who departs from either is a false teacher and dispenser of a false gospel.

CONDEMNATION OF FALSE TEACHERS

The Word of God clearly condemns anyone who perverts the gospel of the grace of God, or who departs from the doctrine of Christ. In fact, you will find no stronger language in all of Scripture.

Paul said that even an angel would be “accursed” if he preached anything different. Read for yourself his inspired words:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)

The curse of God is upon all preaching that says man has to work to be saved or to be kept saved. This sounds the death knell to all who mingle law and grace.

John gave this warning about anyone who preaches another gospel. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed; For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds (2 John 1:10-11)

At the time of John’s writing, the homes of the Christians were the primary places for assembly and worship. Stated simply, these believers were to have no fellowship whatever with one who preached a different gospel, and who denied the doctrine of Christ.

May I put it pointedly to you? If you are affiliated with a church or a religious group that tolerates the preaching of another gospel, or that goes beyond or does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, you are not only exposing your family to false teaching but are disobeying the Word of God.

Ephesians 5:11 commands us to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but, rather, reprove them.”

You and I must stay by the unchanging standard given to us in the inspired Word of God. This is the safeguard for the believer. Weigh every message in the balances of God’s Word.

“To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

Dear friend, you have nothing to offer God, No good works, nothing to commend you to Him. I invite you to receive the grace of Christ. Trust the Savior who died for you, and believe the gospel of God.

Then you can say with the hymnwriter, My hope is in the Lord who gave Himself for me, and paid the price of all my sin at Calvary. No merit of my own His anger to suppress, My only hope is found in Jesus’ righteousness. And now for me He stands before the Father’s throne, He shows His wounded hands, and names me as His own.His grace has planned it all, ’tis mine but to believe, And recognize His work of Love and Christ receive. For me He died, for me He lives, And everlasting life and light He freely gives. -Norman J. Clayton

THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL
Chapter 4

God has had His witness in every generation.

In every age God’s good news has been announced.

The word “gospel” is not used exclusively in our age (nor of the message we preach).

The Bible student who fails to recognize that there are different aspects of divine revelation, and that different gospel emphases apply to various dispensations and people, who will be led into great confusion in the interpretation of the Word of God.

By the subject, Which Gospel When?, I am not suggesting that God has different gospels. But God’s gospel has different phases.

The gospel of the kingdom was given particularly to Israel. This gospel, the subject of much of the prophetic Old Testament, announced that Jesus Christ would reign on the throne of His father David, and that He would set up His kingdom upon this earth.

The same message was proclaimed by John the Baptist and by Christ Himself, and it will be heralded forth again during the great tribulation

During this age of the church, the gospel of grace of God is predominant.

The ministers of the gospel around the world preach a message of salvation made possible through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is good new that you and I may come into a right relationship with God. This was accomplished “not by works of the righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:5), but by the work of another, the perfect sacrifice, God’s Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ.

To concoct some other method of salvation to concoct some other way is to preach another gospel, and the anathema of God is upon it.

The gospel of the kingdom is primarily to Israel. But they rejected their King.

They would not have that Man to reign over them. The King is therefore in exile, and the kingdom is yet to be established upon the earth.

The “nobleman” has gone into the far country to receive His kingdom.

Just prior to His return to this earth, a great company of witnesses will again announce “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” But now you and I are to make known the good news of salvation by grace to a world that is lost and perishing.

The good news is that Christ has died “the just for the unjust, and that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

I ask you now to consider another aspect of the gospel, which is referred to in the book of Revelation. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6-7.

THE SETTING

To understand the meaning of these words, yon must know the setting.

The blackest storms always make the loveliest sunsets; and the darker the night, the brighter the stars.

In the vision given to the apostle John in chapter 13, Antichrist engages in terrible blasphemy, the earth’s multitudes worship this iniposter, and the false prophet exercises his power in the infernal, counlerteit trinity.

It would seem that chapter 14 is not placed chronologically but is a parenthesis to speak of an anticipated victory.

Remember that in the middle of the week of 7 years the lawless one (Antichrist) will renounce his covenant with Israel. He will assassinate God’s two witnesses, and he’ll be determined to exterminate the saints.

Into this dark scene the Holy Spirit interjects a chapter of hope. John looked up and saw a Lamb on Mount Zion.

He heard the song of the heavenly choir and the refrain was echoed on the earth by the 144, 0000 out of the 12 tribes of Israel who had been sealed.

This is a preview of the reigning Christ, the Lamb, sitting upon the throne.

Where? Mount Zion.

The conquering Christ is upon the throne in Jerusalem. Following this anticipatory vision, John saw another angel flying in mid-Heaven who had the everlasting gospel.

WHAT IS THIS GOSPEL?

The message of Revelation 14 is addressed to the earth dwellers immediately betore the bowls of God’s wrath are poured out.

This dreaded event will take place in the latter part of the tribulation.

The everlasting gospel is precisely this: “fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come” (Revelation 14:7).

The emphasis is upon judgment.

When God is unheeded as He speaks in grace, He is forced to speak in judgment.

But when men and women listen to His gracious admonitions and walk in His ways they will reap great blessings.

His servant Isaiah assured Israel that “the work of the righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever” (Isaiah 32:17)

Dr. John Walvoord said, “The everlasting gospel seems to be neither the gospel of grace nor the gospel of the kingdom, but rather the good news that God at last is about to deal with the world in righteousness and establish His sovereignty over the world.” God will place His King on Zion’s holy hill to reign righteously, “This is the news of God’s Ruler-not grace, His judginent! Not a Savior, but a Sovereign!

This is also the final call for guilty nations to prostrate themselves in the dust and pay homage to their Creator. The nations of the earth, which at that time will be worshiping the Beast, are called to the worship of God.

The message of this gospel will be that the Creator alone is to be feared and worshiped. It is called “everlasting” because these principles reach above and beyond any particular age: that God always was, is now, and always will be the proper object of man’s worship. God’s last call is being trumpeted to the Gentiles. Instead of”… now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2), the proclamation will be, “… the hour of His judgment is come” (Revelation 14:7).

It’s as if we hear this angel in mid-Heaven proclaiming the words of Psalm 2. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2:10-12)

THE CONTRAST

In reading this proclamation of the everlasting gospel, you cannot help but notice the difference between it and the announcement of the angel to the shepherds long ago on the. Judean hills. As the light shone round about, the angel said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10).

But in the day before the return of the Lord when He will establish His kingdom upon (the earth, the word of the angel will be, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.”

Yet those serious tidings will be a gospel for that time of unequaled darkness.

To many the proclamation that the hour of God’s judgment is come will not be “good news,” but to others it will bring rejoicing because only through judgment can the earth be delivered.

THE WARNING

This is God’s eternal good news to an earth long under the curse, and under the sway of the usurper.

The kings of the earth cry, “Let us breakk their bands asunder” (Psalms 2:3).

But judgment awaits the earth dwellers who refuse to give glory to God and acknowledge His sovereign right to rule.

This will be the Lord’s last warning to the nations. Let us not ignore this sobering thought:”The wicked shall be turned into sheol, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17)

The phrase, “them that dwell on the earth,” or “earth dwellers,” is used a number of tines in the book of Revelation.

It’s not as much a geographical term as a moral description.

It describes those who have taken up abode upon the earth-who desire nothing more than what the world’s commerce and religion can offer.

They have no desire for God’s eternal dwelling place nor the blessings of spiritual weath. They are worldlings, taken up with earthly things.

To you who think this world to your heart with no thought of the future and God, I ask yon to read from His infallible Word a description of the time that will come upon this earth and its inhabitants.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:15-17)

But this does not end the display of God’s wrath against those who reject His grace. Revelation speaks of that time when the books are opeaned and the book of life reveals its record .

“And whoseever was not found written in the bood of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

“OH,” you say, “that is a time in the feture.

It doesn’t concern me.” But friend, in every age and in every juncture of the divine program of time, God has held man accountable to Him.

The gospel received brings life and blessing in every dispensation. To refuse God’s good news, be it now or when the everlasting gospel is heralded by an angel to the nations, is to merit the judgment of God.

The record is plain: you and I must accept God’s message, believe His word, and trust His grace. We dare not exempt ourselves by postponing our decision, claiming that these issues are for a future day.

It would be unfair to your soul if I should close this series of studies without presenting again the claims of the gospel of the grace ol God. Personal individual faith in God’s Son as your Savior is absolutely imperative if you are to know the favor of God and the forgiveness of sins.

Let me ask you pointedly right now, can you say from your heart, “Jesus died for me, paid for my sins by (the shedding of His blood; and I have deposited my faith in Him and nothing else”?
To reject the Savior is to warrant the execution of God’s sentence of judgment upon you.

“He that believeth not is condemned already” (John 3:18).

I urge you to flee from the wrath to come. Flee to the arms of a loving Savior who died for you and rose again.

He is waiting to save you. The Scriptures says, “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37)

Posted By - Cecil & Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com

E- Mail this BIBLE STUDY is to all your friends and share the Gospel of the Grace of God

Tags: , Paul R. Van Gorder, THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, WHICH GOSPEL WHEN
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The Dispensations - By HAZEL I. BROWN

Friday, May 28th, 2010

The Dispensations

(or Divisions of the Bible)

WITH CHART

http://www.paulsgracemessage.org/rightly.htm

PLUS

Israel, Dispensationally Considered (An Enigma Solved, A Puzzle Unravelled)

HAZEL I. BROWO

The Grace Dispensation is the one in which we live. “If you have heard of the dispensation of the Grace of God … “(Ephesians 3 :2). Though this Grace Dispensation is now 1900 years old, still today, so many seem not to have heard! Tfyou should go to 10,000 doors and ask if they had heard, how many would tell you, “yes “?

What is God’s offer for this Grace Dispensation? The offer is individual salvation oll’the sole basis of depending upon the Lord Jesus Christ, His work, not yours! Please read Romans 4:5 several times and think: what does it say? “To him that worketh not but believeth on HIM that..justifies the ungodly,-his- faith is counted, for righteousness.” (Justified means given a righteous standing.) Justification and reconciliation for the alienated, for the ungodly. is offered free, .no works involved, nothing to payor to do (2 Corinthians-5: 19, 20). That is the AMAZING GRACE OF G0D!

How many hundreds of people I’ve talked to who said, “Oh, if only I could know if I’ve done enough (works, charities, rituals, etc.).” Of course you have not; no one has; it’s not that way at all; Heaven is not up for trade! It is by GRACE only.

If any say,. you make it too simple,. or it’s not that easy, I reply: when you add law-keeping, you make it too hard, in fact, you make it utterly impossible! For the Lord is not receiving any on the basis of human works in this Dispensation. If any think some works or rituals are involved for them to do for salvation or to keep salvation, they are trusting in works and not in the Lord Jesus Christ only, and so they are still lost. Any who trust in works, that is, think that salvation is by some human work or partly by some human works or goodnesses, are under the curse (Galatians 3:10).

Salvation is not part law and part grace, not part your works and part Christ’s. Works and grace, being opposites, are not to be mixed (Romans 11 :6). For by Grace are you saveby believing, Ephesians 2:8,9. Not by works of righteousness which we do (Titus 3:5). There are 147 Scriptures passages that teact salvation by believing only.
-
Grace is the only hope for the guilty. Grace is the -gift for beggars-for those who recognize themselves condemned by the Law. Some say spiritually bankrupt, but bankrupt implies you once had something; so it is even more the realization-not only I have nothing, but I never had a thing to merit God’s acceptance. Have you so realized yourself?

Though Grace is free, it is not “cheap.” It cost all the Lord suffered to make salvation possible for you. Those who think they should be accepted by their works or partly by their works are insulting the work the Lord did, for they are saying it was not enough, not sufficient. God saves by Grace because He is satisfied that the work on the cross was sufficient, and by it every claim against you has been paid. Why aren’t you, likewise, satisfied with a salvation by Grace?

The saved person of this Dispensation ‘is one’ who, seeing himself as a sinner, has believed on the Lord for salvation and who, because of having believed, knows: I have believed on the Lord and I know I am thereby saved.

Since salvation is by Grace, it is completely secure (John 3: 16; Romans 8:35-39). How life may be lived after one is saved is given in another chapter. Works pleasing to the Lord are possible after one is saved, the works flowing from the salvation already possessed (but it is not doing works to try to attain to salvation-there is a whole world of difference).

The Law was given to Israel; the Announcement and the Offer of the Kingdom were to IsraeL In the Dispensation -of Grace, to WHOM is the offer made? The offer of salvation by GRACE is open to all, Gentiles and Jews. In this Dispensation, there is no difference for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22,23). At Israel’s fall the Nation became in the same class as the Gentile nations, that is, alienated from God. If a Jew is saved, it is by depending on the Lord’s death on the cross for him. If a Gentile Is saved, it is by the same way. The responsibility to believe is personal; the offer today is to individuals. No one has a priority. There is equal opportunity for Gentiles and for Jews to be saved.

In the previous 2000 years before the Grace Dispensation began, the only way a Gentile could come to the Lord was on the “skirt” (Zech. 8:23)–we would say “coattail”–of a Jew, that is by becoming a proselyte to the Hebrew religion. Also previous to the Dispensation of Grace, some work was required as well as faith for salvation. For instance, Abel and Noah did the required works (see Hebrews 11:4,7, for explanation of the Genesis record). Under the Law Dispensation, it was obvious works were required constantly. And in the periods.of the Announcement and the Offer of the Kingdom, there were works to do including a law ritual. So the Dispensation of Grace was a complete change from anything that had gone before. As the Law Dispensation with its continual sacrifices, “do or be cut off,” was entirely different from what was offered before it, so the Grace Dispensation is entirely different from what went before-no works at all for salvation.

“The only chapter fn be interested in is the one on Grace for that’s what I need,” a friend said on hearing of the prospects of this book. So say we all. However, Grace is appreciated the more as we see mankind’s complete failure under all the other dispensations. The unique’” jewel of Grace shines all the brighter against the background of mankind’s failure under the other offers God made previous to the offer of Grace. It is serious error when the offers of other Dispensations are preached in this Dispensation of Grace .. Some may preach good things but if salvation by Grace is omitted, it is the “fatal omission.” By inspiration, Paul wrote that even though an angel from Heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which he, Paul, preached, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14,15).

The Grace Dispensation was not prophesied. (”What if’ Israel had accepted that bona fide. offer by Peter? The prophesied tribulation could have come and passed swiftly and be followed immediately by the Millennium. The Gentiles would have been blessed, hear of salvation, through Israel, rather than now apart from Israel.)

The Grace Dispensation was “hidden.” It was a “sacred secret,” a mystery made known to Paul by revelations (Ephesians 3:2-5; Colossians 1:24-26; Galatians 1:1,11,12 and 2:2,7,9).

The word mystery ( secret) means God “kept His mouth closed” about this’ until He revealed it to Pau1. Paul (Saul) who had been the leader against the Messianic church, was saved in Acts 9. Then by abundant revelations from the Lord in glory he was made the leader of the new Dispensation (Romans 11: 13). Salvation by Grace alone was not proclaimed until Paul made it known. Paul did not learn about Grace from the 12 Apostles. They learned from him, and later Peter told people to grow in the thing Paul taught-Grace. “Grow in Grace” (2 Peter 3:18).

At Israel’s rejection of King and Kingdom, what a hopeless predicament the whole world was in! For since Israel was God’s witness to the” world, how could anyone come to God now that Israel would be set aside as the Gentiles had been? What utter darkness the whole world would have been plunged into-except that then God revealed the “sacred secret” of the heretofore hidden Dispensation of Grace.

Posted By - Cecil and Connie Spivey

cspivey1953@gmail.com

E-mail this Bible message to all your friends!

Tags: , Bible Studies, Dispensational, Hazek I. Brown
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RELIGION! By - Cecil Spivey

Friday, May 28th, 2010

“RELIGION”

Has many roads that leads to hell. Are you on one of them? There is only only one way and only true GOD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BFtxXI2iaE

Believing CHRIST died, that’s HISTORY.

Believing CHRIST DIED for YOU and ROSE again that’s SALVATION.

Read 1. Corinthians 15:1 –4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

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MY NAME IS “I AM” Cecil Spivey

Friday, May 28th, 2010

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IS ALLAH THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

Monday, May 24th, 2010

IS ALLAH THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

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UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE - Cecil Spivey

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (II Tim. 2: 15).

In Eph. 2 the Apostle Paul sets forth the basic three-fold division in God’s dealings with mankind: Time Past (vs.11, 12), But Now (v.13), the Ages to Come (v.7). When the Bible is “laid out” according to this divinely inspired design we easily get an overview of not only wllat we are reading but when and to whom it was written. Thus the Word of God itself provides us with the key to its own proper understanding and right division:

Time Past: Eph. 2:11,12 sets forth the basic issue in Time Past as the division between the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision, between the nation Israel and the Gentiles. When you find this issue governing the way God was working with men, you know you are in Time Past. This covers the “Old Testament” (see Gen. 17:9-14, Deut. 4:5-8, Num. 23:9) as well as Mattllew t11ru John (see Rom. 15:8, Matt. 10:5,6; 15:24, John 4:22) and the early Acts period (see Luke 24:47, Acts 1:6,8; 2:14,22,36; 5:32; 11:19).

ButNow: Eph. 2:13 indicates that in the But Now portion Gentiles are no longer “far off’ but rather the “middle wall of partition” between Israel and the Gentiles has been eliminated and now “those wlw were far off are made nigh” Romans t11ru Philemon provide the doctrine for the dispensation of grace (Rom. 11:13; 15:16; 16:25, I Cor. 14:37, Eph. 3:1-9).

The Ages to Come: God will bring His purposes to fruition and thus Eph 2:7 points to the Ages to Come. The books of Hebrews thru Revelation focus on this.

This Rightly Dividing The Word (Chart) has a foldout section to demonstrate the importance of the secret, hidden nature of the present dispensation of grace (Eph. 3:1-9). Fold the chart to hide the “mystery” section and you will see the perfect continuity of that “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began “(Acts 3:21). Open the chart to reveal the mystery program and you will visualize how the prophetic program has been temporarily interrupted by “the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest” (Rom. 16:25,26).

The present dispensation of grace is “the mystery” hid in God until first revealed to the Apostle Paul (Eph. 3:1-9, Col. 1:24-~6, Rom. 16:25,26, I Tim. 2:4-7, Tit. 1:2,3, etc.). Thus in Paul’s writings alone we find the doctrine, position, walk and destiny of the body of Christ. Remember: While all Scripture is forus, all Scripture is not written to or about us. This is the key to understanding the Bible.

The Epistles of Paul

• Canonical Order (Doctrinal Significance)

=> CHRIST and HIS CROSS

Romans Doctrine & Instruction

1,2 Corinthians Reproof for Practical Failure

Galatians Correction of Doctrinal Error

=> CHRIST and HIS CHURCH

Ephesians Doctrine & Instruction

Philippians Reproof for Practical Failure

Colossians Correction of Doctrinal Error

=> CHRIST and HIS COMING

1,2 Thessalonians Doctrine & Instruction

=> PASTORAL EPISTLES Pastoral Instruction 1,2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

• Chronological Order (Dispensational Significance)

=> Pre-Prison Epistles (written during the Acts Period)

During this time Paul had a unique ministry (1 Cor. 9:19-23), to the Jew first, then the Gentile.

Thus we see miracles, signs, and the practice of the Jewish law still in effect.

The mystery was not yet fully revealed. We must “rightly divide” these epistles.

1 Thessalonians - from Corinth (AD 52)

2 Thessalonians - from Corinth (AD 53)

1 Corinthians - from Ephesus (AD 57)

2 Corinthians - from Ephesus (AD 57)

Galatians - from Corinth (AD 57)

Romans - from Corinth (AD 58)

=> Prison Epistles (written after close of the Acts Period)

Israel, as a nation, being set aside at the close of the Acts period, miracles, signs,

and observance of the Jewish law ceases.

The mystery is fully revealed making known God’s purpose for His church today,

during this present dispensation of grace.

Ephesians - from Rome (AD 62)

Philippians - from Rome (AD 62)

Colossians - from Rome (AD 62)

Philemon - from Rome (AD 62)

1 Timothy - from Corinth (AD 67)

Titus - from Corinth (AD 67)

2 Timothy - from Rome (AD 68)

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THE CHURCH - ITS CREATION - Vernon A. Schutz

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

THE CHURCH - ITS CREATION - Vernon A. Schutz

Did you know that the word “church” in the Bible never describes a building; it is never used to mean something that is composed of bricks and mortar, wood and stone? If we had taken a first century Christian into a building with stained glass windows and arches, and said to him, “What a beautiful church!” he would not have understood what we were saying. In the Bible the “church” is always people, men and women who have responded to the message God gave them to believe for their salvation.

The Greek Word Ekklesia

The word translated church in our English Bibles is derived from the Greek word, ekklesia, and simply means a called out group of people. In its Greek background the word ekklesia was not a sacred word; it was a word of politics and of local government. Greek government was characteristically democratic. In Greek cities, ideally, all its citizens were to govern their own community. Some were for various reasons disfranchised and later a property qualification entered into the matter, but theoretically all Greek citizens were members of a political ekklesia. They were summoned by a trumpeter to a regular meeting place to decide governmental matters. Those who responded were called the ekklesia. Thus in Greek terms, an ekklesia in actual fact consisted of those who responded to the invitation to be present at a meeting for the purpose of deciding political matters. They were a called out political group of people.

The Hebrew Word Kahal

The word also has a Jewish background. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, the word ekklesia is used to translate a Hebrew word, kahal- which in English is translated as the “congregation” or the “assembly” of Israel. Israel as a congregation or assembly is often called an ekklesia in the Greek version of the Old Testament Scriptures (Deuteronomy 4:10; 9:10; 18:16; cf. I Chronicles 28:8; 29:1; II Chronicles 1:3; 6:3; 7:8;

20:5; 29:28;Nehemiahl3:l). Since our Lord and His disciples read and quoted from the Septuagint, they were used to Israel being called the ekklesia. The first historical reference to an ekklesia in the Bible is when Stephen calls Israel, after they came out of Egypt, a “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38).

What Does “Church” Mean?

The English word has taken on a variety of meanings. It may refer to a building dedicated to religious purposes;it may refer to a particular denomination; or it may mean a group of people belonging to a religious assembly. The English word “church” is derived from the Greek word kuriakos, which is the possessive form of the word Lord, thus meaning belonging to the Lord. Putting the meaning of the Greek word ekklesia together with kuriakos, the word church really means a called out group of people belonging to the Lord. (For a more detailed study of the term “church,” see the booklet in this series titled The Church-What Is It?)

Different Churches in the Bible

There has always been a Church of God, because, thank God, there has always been a group of people that belonged to Him. Noah and his family were in this sense a “church,” for they belonged to the Lord. Israel was a called-out nation which belonged to the Lord, and therefore, as we have seen, was called a “church” of God. It is important to see that as history progresses God has had different ekklesias which have had various religious and spiritual programs, purposes, and ministries. We must keep these churches distinct and separate, otherwise there will be confusion.

The Kingdom Church

There was an Old Covenant Church of Israel under Moses with its program of rituals and God-ordained ceremonies. This church had apostasized and Christ proceeded to call out of this church His own Church. This Church could be called the Kingdom Church, for it will be related to the Messianic Kingdom here on earth.This Kingdom Church was anticipated in the Old Testament. Let us look carefully at Psalms 22. Verses 1 thru 21 picture graphically the suffering of our Lord upon the cross. Suddenly in verse 22, there is a change of tone. We go from the suffering of Christ to our Lord’s cry of triumph in resurrection:”In the midst of the congregation (kahal) will I praise Thee “This verse is quoted in Hebrews 2:12 in this manner:”In the midst of the church [ekklesia] will I praise Thee.”The “congregation” (kahal) is called by the Holy Spirit an ekklesia, which indicates that ekklesia and kahal are equivalents. The Church spoken of in Psalms 22:22,25 cannot be the Body Church the Apostle Paul speaks of because that Church was hid from the the Old Testament writers (Ephesians 3:
1-5; Colossians 1:25,26; Romans 16:25). The Church spoken of in Psalms 22:22,25 can be called a New Testament Church because it is to exist historically after the New Testament blood is shed. Verses 22 to 31 make it clear that this Church is related to His reign on earth as King. “My praise shall be of Thee in the great congregation [church] . . . the meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever.

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindred of the nations shall worship before Thee.”For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and He is governor among the nations. “The New Testament Kingdom Church anticipated in Psalms 22:22-31 was being formed by Christ during the period of the four Gospels. Those Israelitish disciples composed the Kingdom Church of Matthew 18:17 and 16:18. He called them His “little Hock,” and to them it was the Father’s good pleasure to give the Kingdom (Luke 12:32). Christ taught these disciples to expect and pray for. the Kingdom (Matthew 6:10). They practised the Kingdom program in that they healed the sick, handled serpents, cast out demons (Matthew 10:6-10; Mark 16:16-20; Luke 10:17-20). In the Kingdom there will be no sickness (Isaiah 35:5,6; 33:24), nor will the creature of venomous sting hurt anyone (Isaiah 11:8), nor will evil spirits be free to bother mankind (Isaiah 24:21,22; Revelation 20:1-3).

The Kingdom Church at Pentecost

On the Day of Pentecost we find God adding members daily to an already existing ekklesia (Acts 2:47). He was adding to the Kingdom ekklesia which was called out during the period of the Gospels, Matthew 18:17. The first half of the Acts is simply a continuation of the dispensational program of the Gospels. The only difference is that the great fact of the Lord’s resurrection was added to the burden of their preaching of the coming Kingdom (Acts 1:6;2:22-36^3:19-26).

The Kingdom Church of Pentecost NOT The Mystery Church of Paul

Not until Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13), began his ministry, did God begin to create the “one new man” or Church which is His Body. “The ‘new man’ of Ephesians 2:15 is not the individual believer but the church, considered, as the body of Christ in the sense of Ephesians 1:22,23; I Corinthians 12:12,13; Colossians 3:10″ (Scofield Reference Bible, p. 1251, note 2). This new Body Church was a mystery or a secret kept hid from the ages and generations until it was first revealed to Paul for this present dispensation (Ephesians 3:1-8; Colossians 1:25,26 and II Peter 3:15-17).

A New Revelation Begins a New Dispensation

Each new distinguishable economy, administration, or dispensation begins with a revelation from God. The Dispesation of Innocence began with a revelation to Adam about not eating of a certain tree, Genesis 3:16,17. The Dispensation of Conscience or Freedom began with a revelation to Abel as to how his sins could be atoned for, Hebrews 11:4 with Romans 10:17 and Genesis 3:23 thru 4:1-4. The Dispensation of Human Government began with a revelation of this principle to Noah, Genesis 9:6; Promise, when the promise was revealed to Abram, Genesis 12:1-3. The Law was given to and revealed through Moses for Israel, Exodus 19:8. Could you begin any one of these dispensations before a revelation of it was given? Of course not!
The new revelation of the prophesied Kingdom, as finally being “at hand,” was given to John the Baptist, Matthew 3:2; 11:13, and this proclamation was continued by our Lord and His disciples, Matthew 4:17; 10:6-8; Acts 1 thru 7, and will be established with the glorious revelation of Christ at His second coming, Matthew 24:30; Revelation 19:11-20 and 20:1-9.
In the meantime the Dispensation of Grace with the creation of its new Body Church was given to and revealed through Paul for us Gentiles, members of the Body of Christ, Ephesians 3:1-8, II Peter 3:15,16;Galatians 1:11,12 and 2:1-9.

No Body Church at Pentecost

There is not the slightest intimation that a new ekklesia began at Pentecost. Instead, it is evident that believers were added to an already existing Church, the Kingdom Church (Matthew 18:17; 16:18), and not to that ekklesia called the the Body of Christ. The Church of Pentecost was the ekklesia of prophecy which will find its fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom. Everything that happened in the days of Pentecost was in fulfillment of prophecy. Peter quotes Joel in Acts 2, and in Acts 3:24 he says:”Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.”The prophets foretold only events pertaining to the Kingdom and the Kingdom Church; therefore, the things that happened in Acts 2 and 3 must have to do with the Kingdom Church and not the Body Church which had been hid from the ages and generations until revealed through Paul, who at this time was not even saved.

The Church at Pentecost could not have been the Body Church for you cannot begin to reconcile Jew and Gentile in the one Body until Israel is first alienated, that is, removed from their covenant or priority position among the nations. This fact is made clear in Romans 11:15,32 and Ephesians 2:14-17. Reconciliation presupposes a state of alienation. Before the crucifixion Israel was still the favored nation and in Covenant relationship with God, “Let the children [Israel] FIRST be filled” (Mark 7:27). In the first chapters of Acts Israel still is not yet cast away or alienated, because the Son prayed for their forgiveness (Luke 23:34), and Peter declares them to be the children of the prophets and of the Covenant (Acts 3:25), and then adds, “Unto you [Israel] FIRST, God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you [first], in turning every one of you from his iniquities.” As of Acts 3:25, no change had taken place.

At Pentecost there is no mention of Gentiles. Since the Body Church is a joint-body of Jews and Gentiles, the Body could not have begun there.

Here is another important distinction to note. After the resurrection, Christ made it clear that He would baptize them on the day of Pentecost, “not many days hence” (Acts 1:5). In the baptism at Pentecost, Christ was the Baptizer, baptizing with the Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16). In I Corinthians 12:13, however, the Holy Spirit is the Baptizer, baptizing into Christ. In each case the Spirit is associated with a “baptism,” yet they are two separate and distinct baptisms. In the former Christ is the Baptizer, and in the latter the Spirit is the Agent doing the baptizing. Christ was the Baptizer on the Day of Pentecost and this baptism resulted in receiving Power from on high (Luke 24:49). This baptism was eperiential, resulting in signs, wonders, and miracles. The baptism which forms the Body Church is not experiential. There is no feeling or sensation when the Spirit baptizes you into the Body of Christ. Since this baptism was not taking place on the Day of Pentecost, we have another reason why that date could not have marked the beginning of the Body of Christ
Church.

When Did the Body Church Begin?

When did God begin this wonderful Dispensation of the Grace of God? When did He begin the Mystery or Secret Body of Christ Church in which Jew and Gentile are joined together to form the “One New Man”?

The Body Began: — Theoretically

The Body Church began theoretically or theologically in the mind of God before the age times began, before the foundation of the world. “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but accord-to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world [ages] began” (II Timothy 1:9).

How comforting to know that even as the cross was a mood in the heart of God before it became part of the history of the world, even so before the foundation of the world, or even before one speck of dust came forth from the womb of nothing, we were in the mind of God.

The Body Began: — Instrumentally

The Body Church began instrument-ally by or through the cross, but not at the cross.
“For to make in Himself of twain [Jew and Gentile] one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross” (Ephesians2:15,16).

We have already seen that at Pentecost Israel was not yet alienated, nor was the Spirit baptizing into the Body Church, nor could there be a joint-body of Jew and Gentile for there is no mention of Gentiles.

The Body Began: — Judicially

The Body Church could not begin until God’s act of judgment fell on Israel. We are reconciled “doctrinally,” for individual salvation, by the cross: “God was in Christ [at the cross], reconciling the world unto Himself.” But we are reconciled “dispensationally,” by the “casting away” of Israel: “For if the casting away of them [Israel] be the reconciling of the world.” Israel nationally was not yet alienated from God in the first half of Acts (Acts 3:24-26). Israel began to commit the “unpardonable sin” (Matthew 12:31,32) when they rejected the message of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles (Acts 2:4; 4:8,31;5:3,32; 7:51,55). This rejection reached a great crisis in Acts 7 at the stoning of Stephen. Sir Robert Anderson says:

“The death of Stephen was the secret crisis of their destiny. Never again was a public miracle witnessed in Jerusalem. The special Pentecostal proclamation was withdrawn …. The apostles of the Gentiles forthwith received his commission, and the current of events set steadily, and with continually increasing force, toward the open rejection of the long-favoured people . . .” (Silence of God. p. 83). M. R. DeHaan wrote in a letter to a friend, dated February 19, 1953: “After Israel rejected the offer of the kingdom in Acts 7, the gospel goes to the Gentiles …”James M. Gray says:”The martyrdom of Stephen brought to a close the second offer of the kingdom of Israel . . . and we now enter the transition period in which the Church passes out of its Jewish into its Gentile stage” (Great Epochs of Sacred History Course, p. 50).God’s prophesied plan to bless the nations through Israel was temporarily interrupted (Romans 11:26). God alienated Israel nationally from Himself, and judicially cast them away, a necessary step before He could begin the dispensational reconciling of Jew and Gentile in the One Body Church.

The Body Began: — Symbolically

The next step in preparation for the creation of the Body Church was the salvation of Saul of Tarsus or Paul the Apostle (Acts 9). He was to be the vehicle through which the revelation of the new dispensation would come.

Paul was a Hebrew:”Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5).Paul was also a Roman citizen:”Paul said . . . They have beaten us openly . . . Roman citizens. . . and they [the magistrates] feared, when they heard that they were Romans” (Acts 16:37,38). Paul is a natural symbol of God’s purpose concerning the Joint-Body of Christ, because he was both Jew and Gentile in one person, which illustrates the Jew and Gentile in the One Body.

The Body Began: — Historically

Paul’s first recorded missionary journey to Gentiles is given to us in Acts, chapters 13 and 14. However, in Acts 9:26-30 Luke tells us that Paul was sent forth from Jerusalem to Tarsus. During these years in Tarsus, Paul must have used Tarsus as a base of operation to preach, as he says, in Syria and Cilicia, Galatians 1:21.

In Acts 15:23 we read of the communication sent by the Church of Jerusalem to “the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.” In Acts 15:41 Paul “went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches.” This is evidence enough to believe that these were Gentile churches which he had founded, probably before he came to Antioch (Acts 11:26) during this Tarsus period. His first apostolic journey as outlined for us in Acts 13 and 14 did not take him into Syria and Cilicia. This Gentile ministry during this Tarsus period then (he was there for perhaps five years), could be called his “secret” missionary journey to Gentiles.

The Body Church is a joint-body of Jews and Gentiles, but at Pentecost no Gentiles are mentioned. Even those scattered by “the persecution that arose about Stephen” spake to “none but Jews only” (Acts 11:19). The conversion of Gentiles during Paul’s “secret” journey into Syria and Cilicia makes the joint-body possible, for the two ingredients necessary to make up the Body Church are now present.

Allow this illustration. The chemical composition of water is H20, i.e., hydrogen and oxygen. We cannot have water if we have only one of those. Even if we have both, they must be locked together molecularly before these two gases take on a new mode of existence as water. Similarly, we must have both Jewish hydrogen and Gentile oxygen together before we can have the creation of the Body Church. At Pentecost we have only Jews (hydrogen) who are saved; but the Body cannot exist until both ingredients, that is, Jew (hydrogen) and Gentile (oxygen) are joined together. (Note that the Greek prefix “sun” is used three times in Ephesians 3:6-”joint-heir,” “joint-body,” and “joint-partakers.””)

“To make in Himself of twain [Jew and Gentile] one new man . . . that He might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] . . . in one Body.” (Ephesians 2:15-16) In the first half of Acts we have no Gentiles; therefore, it was impossible to have the Body Church formed. Between Acts 9 and 13, through Paul’s ministry in Syria and Cilicia, Gentiles are gathered. We believe that now the two necessary ingredients were locked together and the joint-body began historically or secretly. If this be true, it is interesting to note that the Body began secretly, and it will end secretly in the Rapture of the Body Church from earth to heaven (I Thessalonians4:16-18). (The Rapture will be secret in the sense that the world will not see the Lord nor hear His shout.)

The Body Began: — Scripturally

The Body began scripturally or manifestly in Acts 13. Several significant things mark this occasion. The Holy Spirit separates Barnabas and Paul for a specific work, verse 2. Paul performs his first miracle, a sign of his entering into his Apostleship (II Corinthians 12:12), and he was the Apostle to the Gentiles for this dispensation (Romans 11:13;Ephesians 3:1-5).

The episode recorded in Acts 13:5-15 could be called a dispensational miracle. Note the particulars. “Bar-jesus,” the Jew, tried to turn Sergius Paulus, the Gentile, away from the faith. Because of this, “Bar-jesus,” which means “the child of Jehovah Saviour” is called, “the child of the Devil,” “full of guile.” Paul strikes this Jewish sorcerer with a season of blindness, and as a result the Gentile believes.

Let us keep in mind that according to Romans 11:25 and 26, that a blindness in part, and fora season, has happened to Israel. Israel, the child of Jehovah, has become in this dispensation blinded, but Israel will only be blind for a season until the Sun of Righteousness comes (Malachi 4:2).

Bar-jesus, full of guile, and blind, speaks of Israel during this present dispensation (Romans 11:25). As a result of Israel’s guile in attempting to keep the Apostles from preaching to Gentiles (I Thessalonians 2:15,16), and Israel’s being blinded (cf. Acts 13:11 and Rom-and 11:25), the Gentile, Sergius Paulus, believes and obtains the mercy of God by faith (cf. Acts 13:12 and Romans 11:25,30).

In summary we point out, Israel is judged and alienated in Acts 7; Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles is saved in Acts 9 and Gentiles are gathered and saved between Acts 9 and 13 in Paul’s secret missionary journey. Paul is separated by a distinct act of the Holy Spirit; he works his Apostolic and dispensational miracle, and he assumes his Gentile name, as he opens “the door of faith unto the Gentiles” in Acts 13 and 14. We conclude that the creation of the Body Church took place with the ministry of the Apostle Paul before he wrote his first epistle.

Any Christian who desires to be an unashamed workman will soon learn that he must “rightly divide the Word of Truth” (II Timothy 2:15); otherwise, he will confuse the spiritual programs and purposes of God. It is necessary to see the progression of revelation as God gives it in His Word so we can discern what God is doing and when He begins doing it.

The clearest example of this is given in Acts 18:24-28. Apollos, although “he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord,” was preaching and teaching an obsolete message and program. Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and brought him up to date. They “explained the way of God more perfectly,” that is, they pointed out the changes that had taken place. They instructed him in the historical and revelatory progress in God’s plan and program as they had received it from Paul (Acts 18:1-11). Apollos progressed with God. May each of us do the same.

It is sad and displeasing to the Lord, I’m sure, when some preach an obsolete message and practise the Kingdom program and do not progress in understanding the later revelation given by the risen Christ to Paul for this present administration of grace. Following the continuity of Scripture from the prophesied Kingdom program into the present purpose and program of God in this dispensation can affect your salvation, your life, your service and effectiveness for Him. May you desire:

“The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of -His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:17-19).

Posted By - Cecil and Connie Spivey

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Paul’s Grace Message

Archive for May, 2010

Dispensation Books By Grace Teachers!

Dispensation Books By Grace Teachers!

Posted By – Cecil and Connie Spivey

The Lordship of Christ Dee L. McCroskey

The Lordship of Christ Dee L. McCroskey

Without Money By – Tom M. Olsen

Without Money By – Tom M. Olsen

Yes, strange as it may seem in this day when money is virtually the god of multitudes, the most valuable thing in life can be had Without Money.

WHICH GOSPEL WHEN By - Paul R. Van Gorder

The Dispensations - By HAZEL I. BROWN

RELIGION! By - Cecil Spivey

MY NAME IS “I AM” Cecil Spivey

IS ALLAH THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

IS ALLAH THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

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Posted By – Cecil and Connie Spivey

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UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE - Cecil Spivey

THE CHURCH - ITS CREATION - Vernon A. Schutz

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