Questions and Answers concerning Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Questions and Answers concerning Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Social media response to a post of mine

The person responded to me with the following: “I still have some doubts with the whole concept of rightly dividing God’s word and seeing two programs between Israel and the church. What are your views on the following issues that still bug me. TX.”

Below, as per the bulleted item are their questions (issues), followed by my responses.

• Israel had a unique role in history, under the Law, covenants, and prophecy. But when Jesus came, something massive shifted. Paul talks about it in Ephesians 2:14-16—how Jesus broke down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles and made them one new humanity. If Israel and the Church were meant to stay in completely separate lanes, why would Paul describe them as one people in Christ?

The unification that Paul is referring to here is not concerning the two programs (ie: Israel under law and prophecy and the Body of Christ under grace and mystery) but rather, the unification of Jew and Gentile into the Body of Christ after Israel’s program was suspended. Remember, God has blinded Israel due to unbelief, but they are not forsaken or lost. Their program is suspended for a later time when it will be reactivated after the Body of Christ is snatched up to heaven. When the tribulation starts, the prophetic program of Israel is reactivated, and Israel will once again come into God’s focus in order to complete it. But, while their program is suspended, Jews (Israelites) and Gentiles are treated the same. Jews are no longer preeminent as God’s chosen nation. It is no longer Jews first and then the Gentiles. Paul says, “Gal_3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (see also 1Cor.12:13; Col.3:11). This is that middle wall of partition that is broken down. That pre-eminence of Israel is broken down and both Jew and Gentile are on the same level because of the cross. At this point, both Jew and Gentile are saved and added into the Body of Christ through the grace gospel until this body is taken up to heaven to end the dispensation of grace. So, Paul describes Jew and Gentile as being made one within the Body of Christ while God is forming this Body in the grace dispensation. It is not thus a unification of the two distinct and separate programs.

• Then there’s Galatians 3:28-29, where Paul flat-out says that if we belong to Christ, we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. That’s huge! He’s saying that Gentiles in Christ are now included in the very promises that were given to Abraham’s descendants. That doesn’t mean we “replace” Israel, but it does mean we are brought into the same redemptive plan—not a separate one.

The important thing to understand here is that Abraham is the father of BOTH programs. Both programs should not be merged together just because Abraham is the father. Paul says it best in this passage:

Rom 4:6-12 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. [9] Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. [10] How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. [11] And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: [12] And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

There are two types referenced here: verse 9 speaks of the uncircumcision (the grace/mystery program) and the circumcision (the law/prophecy program). Both programs come under the blessings and seal of righteousness. In verse 11-12 it clearly distinguishes two groups under Abrahams blessings: (that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be NOT CIRCUMCISED; [that is us in the grace program]) and (the father OF CIRCUMCISION to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, [that is Israel under law and prophecy]). Interesting to note how Paul clearly specifies: “who are not of the circumcision only, BUT WHO ALSO WALK IN THE STEPS OF THAT FAITH”, meaning that not all Israel is God’s Israel, but only those who walk in faith of their Messiah.

So, both programs are under the blessings of Abraham, which is righteousness by faith. It does not say that both programs are under the covenant God made with Abraham. The Body of Christ does not inherit the promised land (the Millennial Kingdom). We do not fall under the chosen nation of Israel, the preeminent of God and that royal priesthood. That is the first program under law and prophecy.

I see another pattern in the promise of righteousness of Abraham concerning the descendants promised to Abraham that number more than the sand of the seashore and the dust of the earth versus the reference of descendants promised to Abraham that number more than the stars of the sky. Its an interesting observation that the Lord points to both sand/dust and stars. I cannot validate this fact any more, but for me it is a subtle reference to Israel who inherits the earth (sand) and the Body of Christ who inherit the heavens (stars).

See this post for additional scriptures: What's the meaning of the Sand and the Stars?

• I also used to think that Jeremiah 31’s New Covenant was something that hadn’t been fulfilled yet, only for Israel in the future. But then I read Hebrews 8:6-13, where the author directly applies that passage to believers right now under Christ’s finished work. And in Luke 22:20, Jesus Himself says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” That tells me that we’re already living under the New Covenant—through Christ—not waiting for a future fulfillment just for Israel.

Our doctrine (the principles that determine and guide the grace walk and program) is found in Romans to Philemon. All scripture is for our learning, but Paul’s epistles are written to us and directly for our application. Isn’t it interesting that his epistles start with the name, “Romans” hinting on information for us as Gentiles. Similarly, “Hebrews”, as the name suggests, is the first of the remaining 9-Hebrew epistles that are addressed to them (the prophetic program) and the doctrine in these books is specific to the end times. As Romans is the foundational instructions for the Body of Christ, Hebrews is the foundational instruction for Israel in the tribulation.

With this said, the author of Hebrews is not writing and addressing his epistle to us under grace today. Our program does not involve any covenant, and Jesus is the High Priest and King over Israel, taking up that position in the Millennial Kingdom. For us, Christ is our Head and our relationship to Him is as members of His body, not as a priesthood. This is where right division is so important. We cannot mix up doctrines taking passages from Hebrews or the gospels and slotting it into our doctrine. That mixes things up and makes things murky bringing confusion and contradictions.

• And what about Romans 11? Paul says Gentiles are grafted into the olive tree—the same tree Israel was a part of. Some say, but the text doesn’t really support that. We’re connected to the same promises and blessings, not as a replacement but as those brought in by grace.

I’m not sure if you saw my reply in one of your other statements, but I’ll simply repeat it here and confess that I am part of the “some who say we’re just grafted into ‘Christ’ and not Israel …” as you mentioned.

Being grafted into the vine means that we are grafted into Christ, not into Israel. Israel is the natural branches on the vine, not the vine itself. Gentiles are branches too, (but of a wild olive), grafted into the true vine. Being grafted into Christ does not make us Israel or natural branches, but we can share in the goodness and fat of the vine, praise God.

We might be co-recipients of the blessings of Abraham and of the fat of the vine, but this is in relation to righteousness by faith which is what both the circumcision and the uncircumcision have through faith in Christ. We are however not part of the promises and covenants made to Israel, neither are we under its curses. That is solely under the prophetic program alone.

• One other thing that doesn’t quite sit right with me is the idea that Israel’s program is for the earth and the Church’s program is for heaven. That’s a really strong distinction, but when I look at Revelation 21, I see the New Jerusalem coming down to earth, where God will dwell with His people—not two separate groups, but one redeemed people. Jesus even says in Matthew 28:18 that He has all authority in heaven and on earth—He’s not running two separate redemptive plans; He’s uniting all things in Himself.

Paul says:

Eph.1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

This verse is clear that there are two programs for the two realms which are corrupt. Heaven and earth, both are under the power of Satan currently. God is using two programs (and people groups) to bring each of these realms under the authority of Christ; heaven via the Body of Christ and earth via Israel.

• God’s Multipart Plan to Redeem HEAVEN and EARTH (Part 1)
• God’s Multipart Plan to Redeem HEAVEN and EARTH (Part 2)
• God’s Multipart Plan to Redeem HEAVEN and EARTH (All other Parts)

As in my other reply, see also this post for additional scriptures: What's the meaning of the Sand and the Stars?

• So, while I understand the dispensationalist argument, I don’t think the New Testament fully supports that level of separation. I wouldn’t call it a false teaching, but I think it overcomplicates God’s plan by making distinctions that the Bible doesn’t seem to emphasize as strongly as some teach. Instead of two programs—one for Israel, one for the Church—it looks like God has one plan, one people, and one Messiah bringing it all together.

It is important to understand that they are separate now, but as Eph.1:10 says, they will eventually be merged into one after the Millennial Kingdom, in the fullness of the times.

The problem is that if one sees it all as one, and blends the doctrines specific to each dispensation together, then it creates a BIG mess which is the origin of the messed up modern denominational church doctrines of today. The moment you mix up things in the bible it causes confusion and contradictions which split churches into thousands of little pieces, each creating their own version of the truth based on human imagination and ignorance. I’ll be the first to admit that some branches of dispensationalism have gone way overboard and are dividing the bible into parts that were never intended to be divided, BUT one cannot dismiss the command to rightly divide the truth. It must be done correctly and when done correctly it will make the bible perfectly clear on every topic. It costs study and a firm understanding of both the prophetic and mystery programs.