I want you to spend a bit of your time considering these two bible passages, when you have a quiet moment to contemplate them.
Read them carefully and attentively and see if you can spot the points of interest that I highlight in the small list below.
First, read the passages....slowly 😉
You quote Rom 11:25 about the blinding of Israel, but the very next verse clarifies that God has not suspended His plan with Israel but that they would all still be rescued. Rather God encourages them doing so by opening the door to the Gentiles via Paul. Please explain.
Also, I find it interesting but rather strange that you conclude that Jesus has two ministries. The triune God is the Alpha and the Omega and knew from the very beginning all that would unfold in future. What is your meaning on this?
The word "suspend", (as in, God would suspend His plans for Israel), is just that. It does not mean cancelled. The plan for Israel is temporarily halted, by design of our all-knowing God, and because of the unbelief of Israel. During this suspension, God is saving all men (Jews and Gentiles) by means of grace, through the cross work of Christ. This too was in the plan of God because God's plan is two-fold. He will use Israel to restore the earth and He will use the Body of Christ to restore the heavens.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Before I mention some insights about our
key verse above, I’d like you to read the passage below, taking note of the
name of the doctrine and the timing of its revelation,
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (26) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
The content of Paul’s 13-epistles makes up the ‘MYSTERY’ doctrine for the grace believer today, 1Cor 4:1; Eph 3:3-4. According to Rom 16:25 above, the mystery doctrine was kept secret since the world began, BUT NOW has been made manifest for our consumption. This doctrine was not intended for other dispensations but was designed for the delivery of pure grace to us through Christ and was targeted exclusively for a spiritual body with a heavenly purpose.
Paul’s 13-epistles constitute the ‘mystery doctrine’. It is Paul himself that describes his inspired writings as mysteries,
1Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
He calls his writings mysteries, not because they were mysterious or enigmatic, but because they were a secret that was never revealed before. Paul tells us that what he made known, “was kept secret since the world began, but now made manifest”, Rom 16:25-26. Paul uses the words, “but now”, many times in his epistles, as it indicates that things were a certain way before, but now, by God’s design, they were replaced by a new set of doctrinal principles, and these principles were never prophesied and made known in the prophetic scriptures.
Accounting for the sequential order of Paul’s epistles in the Bible, the very first mystery that we encounter, is the blinding of Israel, as quoted below,
Below is a comment on one of my posts regarding salvation by grace through Christ alone. After the comment, I reply with my answer, rightly divided.
If people listen to the gospel that you preach, in which people are saved by grace alone, they would never be saved. Anybody can just narrate passages, but teachers should first learn before teaching. On a little side note before the shocker, Paul blatantly tells the Gentiles in the church that just as the Israelites have been cut out of the Olive tree, so can they, if they do not continue in His goodness. That means it is possible to NOT continue in His goodness, which he says will result in being chopped off! There are many more versus like I’LL SAY I NEVER KNEW YOU, and I’LL SPEW OUT OF MY MOUTH, and I WILL BLOT YOUR NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, and many more.
It appears that the Apostle Peter is the first to
minister to Gentiles in Acts 10, not Paul. So, how can Peter therefore be
identified as an apostle “only” to the circumcision? I’m not convinced that
“only” Paul was tasked with that ministry.
Thanks for this question. We need to understand this
scenario in the correct dispensational context. Let me provide some guidance.
The first thing to remember is that the WHOLE book of Acts
is a book that documents the transition from Kingdom to Grace, from Jews to
Gentiles, and from Prophecy to Mystery. In the beginning of Acts, we are
entirely immersed in the Kingdom and prophecy for the Jews. At the end of Acts,
we are completely immersed in the Grace and mystery for all nations. The middle
sections are how this transition evolved from the one to the other. Consider
the value of the book of Acts in another way. Think of the 4-Gospels, Matthew
to John. They are all about Jesus and the coming Kingdom. Acts is the book that
guides the reader systematically from these four Kingdom orientated gospels to
Paul’s doctrine in Romans. We have a smooth transition due to Acts. But now,
remove Acts and give a reader the 4-Gospels, followed immediately by Romans.
Suddenly you have shifted from the Kingdom and the life of Jesus for the Jews
to a Grace program for the Gentiles. How did one get from the one to the other?
There appears to be a big gap of missing info. Acts has a very unique role in
the bible to help a person transition into Paul’s ministry and
doctrine.
There is no doubt that Paul was Jewish and a
committed and fervent Pharisee in the nation of Israel (Phil.3:5-7), yet just
before he is martyred, he writes to Timothy and says the following,
2Tim.4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
So, what is significant about this
statement? Well, notice the location of the kingdom Paul confesses he belongs
to. The heavenly kingdom. Is this strange? Yes, but also no.
Paul writes to the Corinthians and says a startling thing in
2 Cor.5:16. He tells those in the church at Corinth that they should
not know man after the flesh, and even though they knew Jesus in the flesh (at
that time), they should know Him no more (in the flesh). I emphasize (in
the flesh) because this is how we must understand Paul's statement. Paul is not
saying we do not recognize Jesus' ministry, but he is saying we do not follow
after the teachings and practices that Jesus taught in His earthly ministry,
which were specific to Israel’s Kingdom program. Why?
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable (beneficial) for (1) doctrine (teaching, policy [rules, procedure], guidelines) for (2) reproof (discipline, admonition), for (3) correction (improvement, amendment), and for (4) training in righteousness.
2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Matt 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. (They are: infallible, flawless, unfailing, perfect)
What other book on the
face of the earth can claim these credits?
Answer Request:
Is Christ's Church built on Peter or all living stones of truth? Did God reveal the truth to Peter that Jesus is The Rock?
The Greek word translated "church" in the New Testament is ekklesia. A literal translation of ekklesia would be "a called-out assembly". Thus, when God calls one out, to separate them, it is for a purpose. In other words, there is a specific function that this entity should fulfil. For example, God separated the nation of Israel for a purpose. Israel can be identified as an ekklesia, (or church in modern English).
Deut.7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Num.23:9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people [Israel] shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
The following is a slightly modified extract from an article posted at "Now the End Begins".
"I hear the sound Of a mighty rushing wind, And it's closer now than it's ever been. I can almost hear the trumpet, as Gabriel sounds the call; at the midnight cry we'll be going home!"
The incredibly beautiful and soul-stirring song 'Midnight Cry', sung by John Starnes, —from a spiritual perspective, is wonderful and one could never get tired of hearing it, but from a rightly dividing perspective it's a hot mess.
"While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." Matthew 25:5,6 (KJB)
In our last post, Part 5A, we took a high level look at the two programs, simply discussing what they are and how they are different. I'd like to wrap up this series of lessons on "Understanding and Interpreting the Bible", by confirming the scriptural proof of the divisions n the programs of Israel and the Body of Christ.
As a reminder, the below picture illustrates that we have two main parts to God's overarching redemption plan. The realms of earth and heaven, physical and spiritual. Within each of these realms, we have a people group (or agency). Earth will be inherited to Israel, and heaven will be filled with the Body of Christ. We covered these details in depth in previous posts. To clarify the 'program' portions of the image below, I can describe it as follows. The programs are the actionable components of the two divided parts. They portray the 'modus operandi' of the two people groups. The details of the programs identify the people groups based on things like signs, law, prophecy as opposed to faith, grace and mystery. There have different gospels and different destinations. Whatever is defined in the programs provides the identity, lifestyle and actions that the people do and believe.
Let's now turn our attention to facts, by pointing to scriptures that clearly show a difference in the two programs. Just like the realms and agencies, the programs should also be kept distinct and separate, by avoiding the mixing of scriptures which would create a doctrine that is skewed, and false, and dangerous.
Up to this point, we have looked at what it means to divide the REALMS and the AGENCIES. Let's place our attention on dividing the PROGRAMS within these two agencies. I'll start with a high level overview of the programs within these two groups.
Firstly, what is "programs"? I use this work to describe how each of the agencies (people groups) function. You could describe it as the operations, or procedures, or processes, or actions, that define the people group. In essence it is how you identify them. It is their "Modus Operandi".
Let's start with the agency of Israel. Please enlarge the following image and study its content. I'll discuss this image and clarify it's content.
In Part 1A, I quoted the following below, and said I'd explain the reason for me saying this.
Preachers today go about blindly teaching their denominations to follow and adhere to the parables and practices of Jesus during his 3-years of ministry in the flesh. This is wrong, and it's a false doctrine in the church today. —Now if you are shocked at my statements, I'll explain and qualified them in Part 1B.
Rom.16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest,
2 Cor.5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
In the above two scriptures, there is no reference to Israel, but what we have are references representing doctrine for the Body of Christ and some wording that represents a specific time, and a change in program. As I will continue to prove, by applying scripture divisions, we can get a deeper understanding of the passages and plainly see that there are some valuable and important instructions in here to take account of. Let's analyze these verses by applying right division and extract the proper context from them.
Before I jump back to the two passages of scripture I shared in part 6 of this series, I'd like to share this little insight with you which will help to confirm my interpretation of them. It's not often that we can take a single verse or two and build a concept or doctrine based on what it says. On the other hand, it is scripturally sound to base a concept or doctrine upon confirmations from many verses. This guidance can be illustrated clearly in a simple jigsaw puzzle. One piece provides a little bit of detail, but it's only when you join that piece up with many more pieces in the box, where the full picture comes clearly into view.
The Faith Stream
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so
that the promise might be sure to ALL the seed.
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To Cut Straight, to Handle Aright
*Recommended Read!
An invaluable study that documents Paul's mystery doctrine. |
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Matt.16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
We are probably all familiar with parts of this text above. The part I want to draw attention to is the middle part of verse 18. Jesus mentions that upon this rock, upon this foundation, I will build my church. Notice the future tense of "I will". It was only after Jesus death that the Holy Spirit could be poured out upon the apostles to empower them as witnesses of their Messiah. It is from the events in the first part of Acts that we learn that the church, the Jewish assembly, the little flock (Luke 12:32) of saved Jews, took shape upon the foundation with Peter at the helm.
Two Programs for Two Realms (Part 3)
There have been so many revelations in my dispensational journey, and one of the first (and biggest) that I learned of was the understanding of TWO programs in God's great plan of redemption. One will not see, let alone understand, this concept of two programs unless one recognizes the divisions in scripture, 2 Tim.2:15. Without the divisions, everything will seem to flow into each other and merge with each other and then you miss the entire revelation all together!
