In Luke 24 we have the account of Jesus appearing to a couple disciples after his resurrection. The disciples are downtrodden and sad. Not knowing it is Jesus they are walking with, they go on to tell him of the happenings of the past few weeks. Verse 21 is completely clear exactly what they were expecting.
Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Why were they sad? Because they were expecting the redemption of ISRAEL just like the prophets say. Every prophecy in the OT concerning Jesus’ birth and death came true LITERALLY. These men believed the promise of Israel’s restoration literally. Does Jesus then proceed to tell these disciples they were wrong, and the kingdom is actually a “spiritual” kingdom? No, he openly rebukes them for not believing ALL that the prophets said. Luke 24:24 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: The word ALL in this verse explains much that unfortunately most of Christianity doesn’t understand. The prophets did speak of Israel’s future restoration and Messiah’s reign ON EARTH. The prophets did in a few places also tell of a suffering servant. Yes, they were correct for believing in Israel’s promised earthly kingdom. Jesus wants them to understand all the prophecies. Much like todays Christianity, people want to pick and choose. Believing ALL the verses takes a willingness to stand alone in the endless sea of Bible spiritualizers. Today’s Bible spiritualizers only choose to take literally what they want to. Much like the scene as Jesus rebukes these disciples, most of Christianity will receive a rebuke from Christ at the judgment seat for not believing ALL the prophets have spoken. These men believed in a literal earthly kingdom, so the thought of the death of their King was a horrible thing. The key to understanding was believing EVERYTHING that was written. The suffering comes before the glory. I had a preacher one time throw John 18:36 at me when I pointed out that the Bible itself teaches a literal, earthly kingdom for Israel just like the prophets said. Let’s take a look at one of the verses the spiritualizers like to use. John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Of course, this preacher stopped at the colon and said that Jesus said his kingdom was “not of this world” trying to bolster his spiritual kingdom theology. Please read the WHOLE VERSE. Jesus says “but now is my kingdom not from hence” Jesus understands the timing of the matter. Jesus understands that it was prophesied that Messiah suffers before the glory. In Acts 1:6 after the resurrection the disciples now understanding the suffering ask Jesus the exact question they should have: Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? After getting their eyes opened by Jesus himself, they once again turn their attention to the HUNDREDS of promises in the OT of Israel’s restoration and reborn earthly kingdom. Jesus tells them in verse 7: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons” Jesus knows he is going to interrupt the prophecy program with a mystery. A secret that was hidden in the mind of God since BEFORE the foundation of the world. Jesus reveals this mystery to Paul. An age where we are ALL saved by grace alone through faith alone. All I ask of people is to believe EVERY verse. This concept leaves to Israel the things God promised to Israel. If your theology does not allow you to believe EVERY verse, then friend YOU need to change your theology. Jesus openly rebuked these disciples for not believing ALL the verses. This same mistake is still rampant in churches today. Christian’s sit and listen to preachers change the verses to make them say what they want. Jesus will not give you a pass on this. You will suffer loss at the judgement seat of Christ for not building on what Paul started. I Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. Paul tells you to take heed how you build upon his foundation. Jesus is all in all, and Jesus is the one that sent you an Apostle to follow in this dispensation. The decision is ours to make. We all will give account of ourselves. Are you sure? I had a conversation once with a young man that was quite offended when I said I was not worried about being called orthodox. The young man was quite offended at the notion. Maybe the young man someday will understand that orthodoxy in religious circles today is a moving target. Bring orthodox today is relative. This fact is quite easy to prove. Ask 10 men from 10 different denominations to write down their theological positions on 10 different topics. Do you know what you will get? I don’t even need to ask you because you already know that you will get MANY differing opinions on each topic. The kicker is all these men would consider themselves orthodox. Websters 1828 gives this definition for “Orthodoxy” Soundness of faith; a belief in the genuine doctrines taught in the scriptures. So, if you have 10 different men stating their opinion on a doctrine, and the opinions are different, where does that leave orthodoxy? You can easily prove the same thing with the word Fundamental. Do this same exercise with 10 men that consider themselves fundamental. You will get the same outcome. The only way you can get 10 men to give you a similar answer is to ask 10 men from the exact same group within their given denomination. This PROVES my point. The word Fundamental that I grew up hearing quite often means very little today. Nor does the word Orthodox. I do not care if people think I am fundamental or orthodox, because I am scriptural! Most times orthodoxy and fundamentalism are based on popular opinions and scripture seen through the lens of denomination. Here is just one topic to prove my point. If I told your preacher that the church today IS NOT the bride of Christ I would be called names. The Bible DOES NOT teach that the church is the bride of Christ. This is EASILY PROVEN in scripture if you had a heart for truth. Israel is the bride. We are part of the groom! We can’t be the bride. So, your “orthodox” and “fundamental” position is wrong. I believe what the Bible actually teaches that God marries Israel and his Beulah land just like Revelation says. People consider you orthodox or fundamental when you believe LIKE THEY DO. This renders the words practically speaking, useless. These two words are not found in my King James Bible. Funny thing is when I use the word dispensation, which is found in my Bible four times people want to call me names. When I teach the mystery which is mentioned over a dozen times people tell me they don’t know what I’m talking about. Read Paul. Read the information Jesus revealed ONLY TO PAUL and you will clearly see exactly what I’m talking about. I don’t have any use for the words fundamental or orthodox. I prefer the words literal, Biblical, scriptural, dispensational, and mystery. These can be studied and proven in my Bible. The Bible speaks of the simplicity that is in Christ. Wouldn’t you like to see it?
The failure to rightly divide the Bible robs Christians of many things. The comfort and peace that comes from a clear understanding of Bible doctrine can never be realized without following this simple instruction. I grew up in churches that taught me I must confess my sins to get forgiveness for them. I have heard I John 1:9 quoted probably hundreds of times. You are most likely being taught right now that this verse applies to you and that you must confess your sins. This verse is taught that to get forgiveness a confession is required. Let me ask you a simple question then. What if you don’t confess one? What if you forget one? What if you have forgotten one? Then the verse would clearly teach that you would not be forgiven. If you are not forgiven for one sin, then you are on your way to hell. You cannot say the verse teaches forgiveness based on confession then also say that the lack of confession would not send you to hell. This leaves many Christians asking God to forgive them for any sins they might have forgotten. This also leaves Christians confused because some are taught salvation can’t be lost, but this verse says you must confess EVERY sin. Confused yet? I hope so. Why would I say this? Because rightly dividing the Bible clears it ALL up. Friend, I John 1:9 DOES NOT apply to you today in the age of grace. Jesus told John during his earthly ministry NOT to go to Gentiles. I John says works are required for salvation and requires you to DO many things to be saved. This is NOT our information today. I believe EVERY WORD of I John. I also know it is NOT written to me today. Friend let me explain to you where your sins were taken care of. They were imputed TO JESUS on the cross. Every one of them! You cannot get forgiveness by confession today because if you’re saved your sins are already paid for. ALL OF THEM. Please take the time to read II Cor 5:17-21. Verse 19 tells you your sins ARE NOT being imputed to you. How can this be? Because they were imputed to Christ on the cross. II Cor 5:21 CLEARLY answers the false teaching you hear requiring constant confession of sin. Jesus was “MADE SIN” for US and we are “MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.” This is how your sins were taken care of. This happened 2000 years ago. Paul is your example and Paul would NOT tell you to confess, he tells you that you are “COMPLETE IN HIM” Colossians 2:10. Your confession today does NOTHING to take away sins. If it did then you are claiming that something YOU DO can forgive sin. If you have trusted in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for your sin, then you are complete! This is exactly the reason Paul tells you not to use your LIBERTY as a cloak of maliciousness. Confession WAS REQUIRED under the gospel of the kingdom and was required under Israel’s program. You are not in this program, and you are NOT Israel. Right division of the Bible gives peace, understanding, and freedom from religious bondage. Don’t let religion rob you of the liberty Jesus died for. Bask in the blessedness of the imputed righteousness of Jesus!!
When you study like a right divider you come to realize that every word matters. You come to realize that there are dozens of doctrines you were never taught in church. You come to realize some things you were taught as rock solid facts are just a pet denominational doctrine held by your church. Even this week I found something that I was taught as fact growing up is not clearly described in scripture. The reason many people don’t understand certain doctrines properly is the failure to see progressive revelation. More specifically, progressive revelation in Paul’s ministry. When Paul tells us to rightly divide, this includes his ministry also. An obvious one in Rom 2:17 is Paul speaking to those that called themselves “Jews” and “restest in the law” Why do you call me a heretic for teaching that in this context Paul is not speaking to the body of Christ? Is this that hard to figure out? Paul speaks to and about the Jews several times in Romans. Why do you call me names for believing my Bible as written? I will stand at the judgment seat with only the Bible as my standard. Some will stand there touting the size of their denomination, their education, and their man-made theological positions. Which would you rather have? Why do I teach there is no water baptism in the age of grace? Because Paul says so. Some might say “but Paul baptized” to which I agree. Paul baptized during the Acts period as he was receiving the mystery from Jesus. Acts 18:8 Paul baptizes some in Corinth. Does this make me wrong? I ask you: Why does Paul later write BACK TO THE CORINTHIANS that he was not sent to baptize? (I Cor 1:17) The answer is clear to those interested in truth. Jesus told him to stop. Why would I think this? Paul was continually receiving revelations from Jesus himself. Gal 1:11-12, Gal 2:2, Eph 3:3, II Cor 12:1, II Cor 12:7, Acts 26:16, Acts 18:9. Paul was a Jew and thus was familiar with the ceremonial washings that John the Baptist had been teaching and Jesus used during his earthly ministry. So, Paul of course would have started water baptizing. It is completely clear that Paul is later told by Jesus to stop baptizing. This of course is when Jesus explains to Paul that Circumcision and baptism are now spiritual; and not physical. Col 2:10-13. Paul tells us the ordinances were nailed to Christ’s cross. Why then do you teach 2 ordinances? Paul says we are complete in him, so why do you add things? Yes, Paul baptized during the Acts period. Where then do you find a command from Paul to water baptize in his 13 epistles? You don’t! Paul’s doctrine for us today is NOT found in the book of Acts where he was trying to do “all things” so he might win some of his countrymen. The purpose of the books of Acts is NOT to establish body of Christ doctrine. Do you shave your head and take a vow today like Paul does in the book of Acts? Of course not. But remember this, I can articulate EXACTLY WHY we would not do it today in this age. Paul says he spoke with tongues more that ANYONE. Does your church speak in tongues? Why not, Paul did!! Paul then wrote BACK TO CORINTH later that tongues were going to cease. When? At the end of the Acts period. Paul stopped speaking in tongues when JESUS TOLD HIM TO STOP, I Cor 13:8. Just like you find Paul stopped healing. Healing was promised to Israel not us. Once Israel is set aside in blindness Paul and others LOSE the ability to do miracles and healing. All these things are clear and easy to understand and make complete sense when you understand Paul had these temporary sign gifts while God was still dealing with Israel. ALL These things went away because today we live by faith not by sight. Today we get grace IN OUR TRIALS NOT deliverance from our trials. You can understand your Bible. It will take ONE THING. You must learn how to rightly divide the Bible. Does your church teach this? I do. Call me what you will. I am complete in Christ! Amen and amen!
As I have already said several times in blogs, I teach our church to be skeptical. I teach our church to find out for themselves. I teach them to listen then compare. I teach them to believe the words as written and that every word matters. As I discuss right division with people, many if not most times, they quickly become defensive and then never want to talk about it again. Proof most times does not matter because we never talk long enough to get to the proof of right division. Do you want to know where the proof is for rightly dividing the Bible? Let me first qualify my answer with a clear description of the gospel the saves today. The gospel that saves a soul today is putting your faith and trust in what Jesus accomplished on the cross for you. That is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus as sufficient payment for our sin debt plus NOTHING. If, you have trusted the clear presentation of the gospel that ONLY PAUL describes in scripture then YOU ARE THE PROOF that I teach the Bible correctly. Please see the following scripture.
2Co 3:1-3 ¶ Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. Apparently, some people had asked Paul for his credentials. Oh my, I could talk about that for a while but maybe another blog. They wanted proof from Paul as to his authority. People love to question authority today also, I digress again. Paul’s answer to proof as to his authority and Apostleship was this: LOOK IN THE MIRROR. Paul said if you want the proof of my Apostleship then look around Corinthians! The fact that they are saved and part of the body of Christ is all the proof they needed. Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles and it was Paul’s blood, sweat, and tears that had won the Corinthians along with his fellow laborers. If you are saved by the gospel I described above, you are the proof that right division is the only consistent method of proper Bible interpretation. Why? Because ONLY PAUL teaches this plan of salvation. Every wonder why there is the so called “Romans Road” on so many gospel tracts? I’ll tell you why, because you can’t write a gospel tract from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John without ending up adding works, law keeping, and water baptism to the gospel. Think I’m wrong? Go ahead and try, I dare you. With the words ALONE and not interjecting Paul’s gospel, try writing a gospel tract using the “Gospels”. You will find the cross is never mentioned till the end of Jesus ministry and it is horrible news to the ones that hear about it. Peter tries to prevent Jesus from going to the cross. They don’t understand the resurrection and eventually Peter preaches the cross as a murder indictment. By the way, don’t run to John chapter 3 because there is no cross or resurrection in John 3. If you are saved today by grace alone and trusting in Christ’s death and resurrection alone you are all the proof I need. You could only have been saved this way by believing what Paul had to say about the cross. Yes, Peter eventually figures out the real gospel well after his ministry is over. How did Peter finally learn about the gospel of grace alone in Christs shed blood? Paul. Read Acts 15 and Galatians 1-3 for the facts. The proof of right division is so overwhelming that anyone with a ready mind and an honest heart could not miss it. What does it take? A willingness to let the Bible have free course. This is a rare trait found in Christians today. One of the lies constantly perpetrated by ignorant people against right division is that we don’t read, study, or encourage our church to study the Hebrew epistles. Let me explain to you how some people react when confronted with a literal belief in every verse in scripture as I teach. Many quickly run to the internet (Because everything on the internet is true you know) and in thirty minutes they have become experts in what right division is and since it sounds different, then it must all be wrong. These 30-minute experts always find a statement from an ignorant preacher somewhere and repeat this lie; “Dispensationalists don’t use the Hebrew epistles” Let me be as honest as I possibly can here. If you have been told this, the person telling you this is a liar. I read, study, teach from and ENCOURAGE my church to read the Hebrew epistles. Do you know WHY we spend lots of time in Hebrews, JAMES, Peter, John, Jude and Revelation? Because when you believe the bible literally and understand the CONTEXT of these Hebrew epistles they make sense and are understandable. I just taught though 1 John verse by verse. Our people will tell you we teach more scripture in a week than most churches cover in months. One of the more talked about contradictions in scripture is the FACT that James says Justification includes WORKS and Paul says it does not. This discussion has continued for HUNDREDS of years. This is easily proven with just a little research. I believe EVERYTHING in James and Romans AS WRITTEN. Why can I do this? Glad you asked. James is writing about the gospel of the kingdom, where works played a part in justification, JUST AS IT READS. Paul is writing to the body of Christ in this dispensation where works plays NO PART in your salvation. Want some background? Glad you asked.
18 And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard [it], they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: When Paul visits James in Acts chapter 21 all James wants to do is brag about how they are zealous of the law. I ask you, is this Paul’s gospel of LIBERTY? Is this Paul’s teaching of the fact that we are NOT under the law? Of course it’s not. BUT, this is 20 chapters LATER than where you are regularly taught that the “church” was started. Can you see the problem? Paul is not saved till Acts 9. He is not sent out by the Holy Ghost till Acts 13. Paul continues to learn his mystery information from Jesus throughout the book of Acts. (II Cor 12:1-7) The gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of grace CONNOT be forced together without causing hundreds of doctrinal problems. Faith and works CONTRIDICT! Law and Grace CONTRIDICT! Prophecy and mystery CONTRIDICT! They are not the same thing. Leave them separate as the Bible does and leave all the verses alone and let them say what they say. This is rightly dividing the Bible. This is how I teach EVERY Sunday. I have referenced the Hebrew epistles thousands of times in the past 5 years and this includes the book of James. Any preacher telling people that we avoid scripture is a liar. I love it all, read it all and TEACH it all as do ALL dispensationalists. Of-course I DO NOT apply works for salvation in James to myself because Paul told me not to. He told me to rightly divide the scripture based on WHO its written to. Can there be a more simple rule of Bible interpretation than to not apply scripture to yourself if it’s addressed to someone else? I think not. YES, it is this simple. I’m still chuckling as I start writing this blog. YES, some men wear skirts! You might quickly start thinking of a band of Scottish men walking through the country, bag pipes in hand and a dagger in their sock. I love the sound of bagpipes. Nope, these are not the men I’m talking about. The Bible specifically speaks of some men that wear skirts. Do you know where? If not, it would not surprise me. This section of scripture should have been taught at your church several times over the years. You should be very familiar with it. Read it from Zechariah 8 with me.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. 22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. 23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. There you have it. Here we read of skirt wearing Jews that someday ALL NATIONS will grab by the skirt and follow to Jerusalem because they know God is with them. Ask your self this; Has this happened yet? No, it has not. It did not happen between Zechariah and Jesus coming in Bethlehem. It did not happen during Jesus earthly ministry, and it has not happened since. BUT IT WILL. Read with me again. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. Zech 14:16 Someday every nation will be required to go to Jerusalem to worship, and if they don’t? They will not receive rain. THIS is what Jesus came to set up on earth! THIS is what Jesus WILL set up on earth at the second coming. THIS is called, believing the Bible as written. Believing the Bible as written will help you understand everything in the Bible you struggle to understand. Jesus taught the Bible literally and believed his Old Testament. Paul taught the Old Testament literally. Peter taught the Old Testament literally. Why then is it so hard to find a church today that believes the Old Testament as written. Because we were taught to spiritualize all these verses to try to find application for us. Guess what, this IS NOT written to you. Stop forcing yourself into the things God wrote to Israel. These scriptures also teach you that Jesus IS NOT KING…….YET. But he will be. Jesus’ role currently is the HEAD of the body of Christ. The Bible is understandable, replacement theology has ruined the simplicity God wrote into the Bible. There’s a sad and interesting article on Fox news as I write this blog. Apparently, a Priest from the Diocese of Phoenix has been performing baptism’s incorrectly for the past few decades. He has been using the word “we” during the baptism instead of the word I. According to the Diocese this INVALIDATES ALL the baptisms he has performed all these years. According to the article the “church” is concerned that all the other sacraments received by members of this church might need to be repeated. Within the article there is a quote from the Diocese of Phoenix that states that baptism is a requirement for salvation. I went on to read many of the comments people have tagged on to this article. Person after person stating differing opinions or “facts” in their mind as to the reasons why the baptisms could still be or are not valid. What a sad state of affairs. The Protestant churches are no better. All have differing opinions on baptism. Most would agree that a water ceremony is required for salvation. Some say it’s required to join the church, thus making it still a requirement. Satan’s tactics have created the perfect storm of Pride + Tradition + Education + Man’s Opinions to leave Christians lost as to right doctrine on baptism. The lack of proper Bible teaching has left the “church” lost to the truth. Some time ago, my wife told a Baptist preacher that Eph 4:5 states that there is only ONE baptism today to which the preacher very quickly stated “that’s not what that verse means.” Let me be clear, if a preacher tells you a verse doesn’t mean what it says, you better be skeptical. The verse means EXACTLY what is says. Paul teaches ONE baptism and ONLY ONE is valid today and that is Spirit Baptism. This baptism has NOTHING to do with water. You CAN find scripture where water IS REQUIRED for salvation in the Bible. YOU CANNOT find it in Paul’s books. I ask you, who is your pattern for salvation today in the age of grace? There is only one answer according to the Bible. Paul is your example for church doctrine in the age of grace. Paul is your Apostle. I Cor 1:10, I Tim 1:16. How sad that hundreds of people now think that they are not saved and have not received their “sacraments” from this word changing Priest. It is JUST AS SAD that thousands of word changing preachers and teachers ignore the pattern Jesus sent to them to continue to teach Jesus’ earthly ministry Sunday after Sunday like it belongs to us. How sad it is that every week sincere people are promised Israel’s promises and Israel’s Kingdom program like it belongs to them. Millions of people are reading the Fox news article and laughing at the Catholic church for its inconsistent Bible interpretation. I know this because I would have been one of them. Be careful Christian. If Paul is not your pattern for doctrine today, you are in danger of sharing tradition instead of correct doctrine as well. How much confusion could disappear OVERNIGHT about water baptism if everyone would believe their Apostle. There is NO WATER BAPTISM valid today in this dispensation. Believe Paul and you could be moving forward accomplishing what Jesus would have you do. Yes, it is this simple.
The title is a quote by Sir Robert Anderson, but this statement has been thus said in many different ways and by many different men using many different words. Do you really believe it? I have my doubts.
Ac 15:1 ¶ And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Here we have the account of when men from the church in Jerusalem taught the Apostle Paul’s converts a DIFFERENT gospel than Paul was teaching. Did Paul teach circumcision? Of course, he did. Let’s look at the circumcision Paul taught. Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Paul’s circumcision was one of the heart and not in the flesh. Just like water baptism, Paul had no use for the so called “ordinances” your church most likely practices. Paul taught only Spirit baptism was required and Paul taught a spiritual circumcision. Notice the outcome of this argument. "They" decided the matter should be taken to the “Apostles” and “Elders” in Jerusalem. Notice the plea for popularity? Notice also NEITHER side would back down from the argument? Paul would not back down and neither would the men from Jesus and Peter’s church in Jerusalem. Isn’t this the case in Christianity today? Everyone in your circle is right and everyone else must be wrong. Both sides throwing Bible verses back and forth. So, what happens? You might not know because you have probably never been taught this or at least been taught it correctly. Notice Paul goes to Jerusalem not because they said so, he went by “revelation.” (Gal 2:2) Ga 2:1 ¶ Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. Paul went because Jesus told him too, not because he needed to win the argument. Notice also what he did there. He taught them the gospel he was preaching! Why in the world would he need to teach Peter the gospel he was preaching? Because it was different than the gospel Peter knew. The reason you struggle to understand the Bible is NOT because you need more education. You need to decide to BELIEVE what the Bible actually teaches. WE needed Paul to explain this so we can properly interpret the Bible today. There’s not room in this blog to cover this all so I will condense it here. In Gal 2:4 Paul discussed people trying to pull YOU from the liberty you could have in Christ. In Gal 2:6 Paul explains “they” (The Apostles and Elders) added NOTHING to him. In Gal 2:7-9 Paul explains that Peter will continue with the “gospel of the circumcision” and Paul will continue preaching the gospel of the “uncircumcision”. (YES, two different gospels) In Gal 2:11 Paul explains how he rebuked Peter. In Gal 2:14 Paul makes it CLEAR that PETER DID NOT know the truth of the gospel. Why? Because Peter did not receive the revelation of the mystery, Paul did. Lest go back to Acts now to see how the argument between Paul and the leaders of the church in Jerusalem works out. Ac 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. The outcome is: The Apostles and Elders IN JERUSALEM realize THEY are wrong and Paul is right. Peter declares everyone will now get saved by Paul’s gospel. Paul declares that if anyone preaches any other gospel than his (Paul’s) that they would be accursed. Ga 1:8 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. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Paul can now say this because Peter has announced publicly that Paul’s gospel is now the ONLY gospel to be preached. So how did the law keepers from Jerusalem fair when they claimed the popularity of their message was the reason they were right? The claimed the authority of the Apostles and Elders. They learned they were wrong. They learned WHY they were wrong. Because Paul’s message was a mystery that had NOT been revealed prior to Jesus revealing it to Paul. Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Friend, I understand you appeal to the size of your denomination. I understand you appeal to your education. I understand you appeal to your study. I understand you appeal to your Pastor because you think he couldn't be wrong. If Peter himself were standing here, he would caution you, if not implore you to ignore those things if they contradict PAUL’S GOSPEL. A soul is saved today not by works but buy grace through faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and ONLY Paul’s gospel teaches this! Your appeals to your tradition will be found wanting. A lifetime of ministry built upon the wrong gospel will burn up at the judgment seat. Won’t you consider YOUR Apostle? 2Ti 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 8 ¶ Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: I can’t say it any better than Paul did under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. “my gospel” Paul says “my gospel” over and over to PROVE the point. I implore you to choose to believe the Bible rightly divided over EVERYTHING and EVERYONE else. Several years ago, I heard a message about the three chairs. You might have heard it before. The message has been taught by many different preachers. The concept of the message goes like this: The first chair is occupied by a faithful Christian that loves the Lord and serves him with his life. As time goes on this Christian has a child that occupies the second chair. Due to the cares of this life and other distractions, the Christian in the first chair does not pass on his faith to his child. The child in the second chair grows up in a Christian environment but feels little connection to God. Church is a time for social activities and singing but little clarity or conviction is learned. Soon enough the son has a child and it occupies the third chair. This child is not raised with a reverence for God or the scriptures, due to the complacency of his parents. At best the person sitting in the third chair would claim agnosticism and under certain settings maybe even atheism. The point of the illustration is to show how quickly a household can fall into apostacy. Within 3 generations quite easily. How many grandparents could read this blog and see the proof of it in their grandkids. Dare I ask how many grandparents shed tears regularly as they watch their grandchildren return from college atheists? Just three generations and almost every evidence of a godly family can be lost. Sir Robert Anderson says it this way: The Christianized sceptic of to-day will soon give place to the Christianized infidel, whose disciples and successors in their turn will be infidels without any gloss of Christianity about them. (The Coming Prince, Sir Robert Anderson pg 7 Introduction) Weather you heard the message about the 3 chairs or read this book the concept is the same. A foundation in the scriptures and trust in the Bible can quickly be lost if not handed down. Problem is Christian’s today are taught to be sceptics buy the men standing behind pulpits. These men correct the Bible rather than trust it. They explain away clear meanings of words to sway listeners to their opinions. They read from the version that seams to say it the way they like. They propagate the allegory and illustration over the plain meaning the Holy Spirit gave us. They create the Christian sceptic Sir Robert Anderson talked about over 100 years ago. Churches are full of them and are led by them. Christian sceptics fill Deacon boards and choirs alike. These skeptics are created by men that were taught to teach a spiritual application to words that God gave to us to believed literally and AS WRITTEN. I teach you to be skeptical of MEN. I teach you to be skeptical of theology books. I teach you to be skeptical of higher education if it is not coupled with a solid foundation of rightly dividing your Bible as the Bible instructs. Paul tells us that men were corrupting his words even while he was still alive. Paul tells us wolves would creep in changing his doctrine. Today over the past 200 years there has been the rediscover of Paul’s doctrine. The Biblical FACT that to follow Jesus today REQUIRES YOU to follow your Apostle Paul is evidently clear in scripture. This truth has been lost so long that as I teach this truth you might be skeptical. Please pay attention: Paul was a prisoner for Jesus in Eph 3:1 “for you Gentiles.” Paul was an Apostle in Rom 11:13 “for you Gentiles.” Paul was a minister in Rom 15:16 “to the Gentiles.” Paul was a preacher in Gal 2:2 “among the Gentiles.” Paul was a teacher in I Tim 2:7 “of the Gentiles.” Paul is the wise masterbuilder in I Cor 3:10 that you MUST follow today. You can find NO such verse where Jesus claims this to you during his earthly ministry. Why, because Jesus sent Paul to you. You must choose between the scripture or your tradition. I understand this is a tough decision. Jesus would have you follow the person he sent to you. He will ask you someday why you refused to believe these plain clear and obvious instructions. What do you plan on telling him?
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AuthorSteve Schoenberger is a student of the Bible and the teacher at Abundant Grace Bible Fellowship, A Mid-Acts Dispensational Bible church teaching the Bible rightly divided according the revelation of the mystery delivered to the Apostle Paul Archives
March 2023
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