The Constitution of the King: Why We Misunderstand the Beatitudes

The Constitution of the King: Why We Misunderstand the Beatitudes

We have a tendency to turn everything in the Bible into a "how-to" guide for a better life. We open Matthew 5, read the Beatitudes, and immediately start trying to "do" them so we can be "blessed." We treat them like a spiritual ladder to climb.

But if we are to rightly divide the word of truth, we must ask a critical question: To whom was Jesus speaking, and what was He announcing?

The truth is, the Beatitudes aren't just "nice thoughts." They are the legal constitution of the Millennial Kingdom.

Context: The King is Present

When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, He wasn't giving a general lecture on ethics to the 21st-century Church. He was the Messiah of Israel, standing on a mountain, presenting the requirements for the Earthly Kingdom He was offering.

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 3 of 5)

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 3 of 5)

The Witness of the Scriptures

"...But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God..." — Romans 16:26a

The Doctrine: Scriptural Confirmation

Paul now adds another layer to the unveiling of the mystery: its manifestation is not only by divine decree but also "by the scriptures of the prophets" (Romans 16:26). This phrase emphasizes that the revelation of the mystery is consistent with, and confirmed by, the prophetic writings of Scripture. The doctrine here is one of Scriptural Harmony—the truth that the mystery, though hidden in God, does not contradict the prophetic record but stands in perfect alignment with it. The everlasting God commands its revelation, and the Scriptures bear witness to its validity (Romans 1:2–3; Acts 10:43).

Extracting the Truth in Context

The phrase "but now is made manifest" continues the dispensational contrast Paul has been drawing (Colossians 1:26–27). What was once hidden is now revealed, and this revelation is not detached from the written Word. The "scriptures of the prophets" serve as a validating witness, showing that the mystery fits within the broader framework of God’s eternal plan. Importantly, Paul is not saying the prophets themselves understood or foretold the mystery (Ephesians 3:4–5); rather, the revealed mystery now sheds light on the prophetic writings, demonstrating their coherence with God’s eternal purpose. In context, this means that the believer’s stability (Romans 16:25) and understanding of the mystery (Romans 16:25b) are reinforced by the authority of Scripture, which stands as a divine testimony to the manifestation of God’s plan.

Is Dispensational Truth Heresy? Or Is It the Key to Biblical Understanding?

Is Dispensational Truth Heresy? Or Is It the Key to Biblical Understanding?

For generations, those who rightly divide the Word have been accused of heresy. The moment we assert that the Apostle Paul was given a distinct revelation—the mystery hidden from past ages—alarm bells sound, and accusations fly. We are labelled a cult, a fringe group that negates the words of Jesus Christ. But what is the truth? Why does dispensational teaching cause such controversy? More importantly, why is it necessary to approach the Bible this way?

Why Do People Think It’s Heresy?

When someone hears a doctrine they have never encountered before, their first reaction is to question it. If their pastor or teacher has never presented the dispensational distinctions found in Scripture, it naturally sounds foreign, even suspect. The accusation often follows: “You are negating the words of Jesus!” But nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus Himself declared: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15:24) "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not." (Matthew 10:5)

Every word spoken by Jesus in His earthly ministry was in accordance with God’s prophetic plan for Israel. To recognise that Paul was later given the revelation of the mystery does not diminish Christ’s words; rather, it confirms them.

Paul—The Chosen Vessel

The first disconnect many people face is an unwillingness to accept that God gave a distinct commission to Paul. He was not one of the twelve, yet Scripture declares: