Some Bible Truths are Subject to Change

Is biblical truth relative or does it remain the same?

This is a tricky question because it seems to answer anything but "remains the same" would be heretical and contrary to the Word of God. But there's more to the picture than many acknowledge.

I will be the first to acknowledge, there are Biblical principles that do not change.

-Jesus stays the same - Hebrews 13:8
-God's power and infinite knowledge does not change
-God's character and wisdom remains
-All are born in sin
-God hates evil
The list goes on, but there are some things that are not so concrete.

Truth is truth. But some truths change dispensationally...

Dispensation is a Biblical term. It simply means the specific information that God has "dispensed"  and is requiring man to adhere to.

What is true in one part of Scripture may not be true in another....

For instance:
Genesis 2- food is offered as vegetables and fruit only... for man and animals

Genesis 3- man sins; food is offered as plants and animals

Exodus 19- God gives Israel the law; food is specifically outlined as to what one can and cannot eat.

Acts 9- Dispensation of grace is revealed to Apostle Paul; we can eat anything, as long as it is received with thanksgiving

Acts 10- Peter is still observing food laws until Jesus shows him something is changing.

So when it comes to truth, you have to know who the audience is. I cannot tell you that God says you're only supposed to be a vegetarian because that's what He told Adam and Eve... WHY?! Even if one were to say "It says it in the Bible.", we must be more diligent in our reading and studying. The Bible saying it is not enough; you have to view the Bible dispensationally to know what God is instructing for today.

That's just with food.

Imagine how much more important it is to recognize how God offers salvation today.

It's not offered, although true in the past/and will be for Israel in the future, through a covenant, law, or the ability to endure to the end, but rather it's through free grace.

But how do we know this? We see God changing His operation when He reveals the dispensation of grace.

When God revealed to the Apostle Paul a secret that had been hidden, since the world began, everything changed!

See Ephesians 3:1-9; 1 Timothy 1:16; Romans 16:25; and Colossians 1:27

Free salvation to all men, by faith, without works, in Christ accomplished work on the cross and his ressurection for justification was never known before God revealed it.

This is how we study our Bible. We can only respond to what God has currently given for our participation. So, as for truth, we must study to know what is true and correct for us "today!"

Cherry picking, dispensationally, unripe verses may result in a sour outcome. (Bad metaphor, I know.)

Learn to study God's Word, rightly divided.

For more information on Right Division, please checkout the other posts on this site and checkout Graceambassadors.com

That's a Miracle!!!

Miracle: God, supernaturally, acting or operating in the world to change circumstances or using powerful  phenomenon to display His glorious power.

(Creation, changing languages, flooding the whole world, plagues, separation of waters - which happened 4×in Scripture and not just once with Moses, healing, and even death by judgement. There are many more...)

If you're spending all of your time praying for, asking for, and looking for miracles from God, you may not only be lacking in understanding of what God is going today, but you may be missing out on the BIGGEST miracle God has ever performed.

The "only" miracle God makes clear that He is doing today is the one where He "supernaturally" offers to take sinners(you and me, born in Adam) and crucify your old man, while imputing His Son's perfect righteousness to you. This is done in the moment you trust the Gospel of God's Grace.

Stop looking for miracles and labeling things miracles that aren't(rainbows, test grades, dream house and new job), and start paying attention to what God is doing today.

He's offering free Salvation to undeserving sinners.

Trust the Gospel!
Christ died for our sins and resurrected for our justification. Have you trusted this truth?

Ephesians 1:13-14
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

There's a whole world who needs more of God's salvation and less of our personal stories of hype.

We should be thankful in all things, but calling things miracles that are not is a lie. Make sure when you speak on God's behalf that you are sure He did or did not do it before you give Him the credit. The only miracles we know about from God for sure are the ones He said He would do. He did miracles for a sign to Israel. He did miracles for the authenticity of His apostles and His message. We know these to be miracles because Scripture testifies of it.

Sermon on the Mount Part 5

Sermon on the Mount Part 5
(Click here for Sermon Audio)

 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Matthew 5:7

Mercy: Not receiving the deserved punishment. Versus  Grace: Receiving undeserved favor.

Notice the conditional forgiveness to Israel found in Matthew 6:14-15.

Before the mystery of the cross was revealed to Paul forgiveness came to Israel only if they forgave others. Their forgiveness was conditional to their obedience.

1.        Forgiveness is offered to all, but it is offered differently:

- Phrases used for forgiveness: hide sins, to remit, cover, blot out, or impute not iniquity

- Moses: Animal sacrifices atoned for forgiveness - Lev 4:20

- David: Forgiveness through the covenant - Psalm 25:18, 32:1, 86:5, 103:4-5

- Prophets: God promised forgiveness … Jer 31:34

- John: Water baptism for the remission of sins – Mark 1:4, Acts 2:38

-Jesus: Conditional forgiveness, unforgivable sins, Matt 6:12-15, 12:31-32, 18:21-22

         *Remission to many  the faithful remnant – Mat 26:28

-Peter: Forgiveness for the obedient - Luke 24:47, Acts 3:19, 5:31-32

        *If we confess our sins… 1 John 1:9 / * Prayer of faith … James 5:15

-Paul: Forgiveness to the ungodly according to his grace; Rom 4:7, 5:8, Eph 1:7, 4:32

- Forgiveness is offered now freely through the blood of Jesus!

2.        Asking for Forgiveness Today

The blood of Christ once appropriated by faith forgives all your sin, imputes to you God’s righteousness, and places you into the body of Christ!

You are forgiven now and forever! God saw your sin on the cross and the riches of his grace was sufficient to redeem you from your debt.

The proper attitude towards your sin is to stop doing it by reckoning yourself to be dead (Romans 6:7,11).

Then thank God for his kindness and mercy.

For the saved man to pray for forgiveness as the publican would be to ignore Christ’s blood on the cross. Paul writes that we have already been forgiven! (Eph 4:32, Col 2:13)

Handling Adversity

3 Tips for a Christian in Adversity:

1.) Are you sick (cancer, flu or disease)?

Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

-Remember that this life is short and full of pain, but if you are saved, the suffering here cannot compare to the glory which is to come in our heavenly bodies.

2.) Are you angry? Not just mad, but really irritated and holding a grudge? Are you unsure of how you will ever get over the situation and forgive that person or people? What if they aren't even sorry?

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

- It's super IMPORTANT to remember that Christ died for us as sinners, not already perfected in the blood saints. God forgives us based on Christ. The pattern of this forgiveness is to forgive, even when they do not deserve it.

3.) Are you in need? Do you feel like bills keep coming and the bad news too? Do you feel trapped?

Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

- Everyone seems to know verse 13, but never consider the context when boisterously reciting it to get the psyched up for a sporting event. We have the ability, in Christ, to be content in every situation. He is our satisfaction. Jesus is more than enough. Work hard, serve God, and be thankful in all things. Even if it doesn't get better, refer to point number 1.

Trusting Your Bible-Part 3

Trusting Your Bible-Part 3
(Click here to hear Sermon Audio)

BIBLICAL INERRANCY AND RIGHT DIVISION :
A MISSING FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH

“…when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

1. What is Inerrancy
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13
a. The belief that the Bible is always true, accurate, and without error. (Bible belief)
b. Where it comes from:
i. God inspired the Bible: Mat 4:4, 2 Pet 1:21, 2 Tim 3:16
ii. God is true, accurate, and without error: His words must be too.
iii. We need God’s words today in order to function as the church
c. Your position on the Bible’s inerrancy is where you begin to grow or decline
d. Either, God is right and you’re not (Rom 3:4); or you have a different authority.

2. Why It Matters
a. The subject matter makes it important: God, life, death, salvation, right division
b. Doctrines depend on details: single words, verb tense, single/plural
i. Behold a virgin shall be with child - Mat 1:23
ii. I say unto thee, ye must be born again - John 3:7
iii. The seed doctrine - Gal 3:16 – plural or singular
c. Dispensational right division is undermined: Paul’s authority is questioned.
d. If the Bible has mistakes / errors / inaccuracies then all of it can be questioned.
e. God’s instructions are undermined: We need the words Rom 10:17; 2 Tim 2:15
f. God’s authority is undermined: the authority that corrects God is a greater one

3. Where People Place Their Trust
a. Original manuscripts – compromised Chicago statement of inerrancy, new norm
i. No one ever had all the originals; none of them exist today.
ii. We cannot use what we cannot possess.
b. Original languages – the scholar’s choice
i. This excludes early translations, requires tongue talking, texts differ
c. Minds of scholars, theologians, pastors
i. Maybe biased upon a man’s preference, interpretation, school of thought
d. Themselves – “We can’t find God’s inerrant perfect inspired words today”
i. Agnostic, subjective, experiential, forced to recreate it from books
e. Believe the Bible (the book) as inerrant / perfect / and your final authority
i. Tyndale’s idea -> to get God’s words into the hands of every man.

4. The Threat to Right Division
a. Pauline right division builds upon fundamental doctrines
b. It discourages word for word Bible study if it is not inerrant – 2 Tim 2:15
c. It discourages Pauline Bible study since his writings are more didactic

Outlines and sermons  similar to this can be found at Graceambassadors.com

Sermon on the Mount Part 4

Sermon on the Mount Part 4
(Click here for audio)

 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Matthew 5:6

1.) Israel's Harsh Treatment

- This was a time where Israel was not doninant, but rather they were being dominated by the Roman Empire.

-Not only was their persecution from their ruling government, but there was also harsh treatment coming from their own religious leaders. MATTHEW 23:1-4

- Justice, Righteousness and Judgement was definitely a constant desire of the men and women of Israel.

-They were awaiting the Messiah and the come of the "Kingdom of God"

2.) Judgment of the Lord

-The Messiah would execute Justice
JEREMIAH 23:5

-He would bring reproof
ISAIAH 11:4

-Government would rule according to the Messiah 's righteousness
ISAIAH 32:1

-The curriculum of the whole kingdom was to be Righteousness
ISAIAH 26:9

3.) The Dispensation of Grace

- All Under Sin
GALATIANS 3:22

-None Righteous
ROMANS 3:10

-All are guilty before God
ROMANS 3:19

-BUT NOW...
ROMANS 3:21-26

What a difference that has been made due to the revealing of the mystery!

Trusting Your Bible Part 2

Trusting Your Bible Part 2

(Click this link for Audio)

LITERAL BIBLE STUDY

“And they were all amazed, and were in doubt,

saying one to another, What meaneth this?”

~ Acts 2:12

1. Starting Bible Study

·        It should begin knowing our place: we are the sinner, God is the truth teller

·        Bible study isn’t textual criticism: trust his book to be right, believe His words

·        Believe God means what he says – avoid: “it doesn’t mean what it says”

·        Literal Bible study is portrayed as the tool of the ignorant, simple, and uneducated

·        Do not be fooled into thinking you have an holy imagination. Read it plainly.

2. Take it Literally

·        It is the natural reading of the text; “plain sense”, historical-grammatical approach

·        Literal means according to the letter. Limit your interpretation to the text.

·        Consider the time in which it was spoken and by whom… (dispensational?)

·        Gen 6 says God created the world in 6 days, is it literal? Exo 20:9-11

·        They argue that a “literal” reading makes no sense ex. Gen 1:3, but Rev 21:23

·        A non-literal interpretation challenges God’s power and important doctrines

·        Was Adam literal or just a metaphor? He’s in the genealogy of Luke 3:38!

·        Paul mentions him in Rom 5, 1 Cor 15:22 for doctrine. As does the Lord Matt 19:4

·        Jonah was swallowed by a whale or great fish, right? Or is it just a story? Matt 12:39

·        A lot of people do not believe a literal Jesus did literal miracles and literally raised

·        Do not make excuses for God, he is supernatural, the Bible is supernatural

·        Skeptics hate this. They won’t believe it without an explanation, literary or scientific

3. Figures of Speech

·        Psa 65:13 - You may be laughed at because Psalms mentions singing corn

·        Figures of speech are natural uses of grammar, they have rules and form

·        You must use the text of the Bible to define the figure, not your imagination.

·        Sword spitting Jesus? Could it be real? Not likely. Rev 1:16, Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17

·        Do words kill? Yes, but not just words. Jer 23:29, 5:14, and Rev 11:5, 16:8

·        There are similes and metaphors all over Rev 1:12-17, but the event was real

·        Speaking of stars… Rev 1:20. Stars are angels, the star of Bethlehem? Matt 2:2,2:9

·        Eat Jesus? John 6:51-58, the context gives the meaning - John 6:63, 6:34-35

·        What’s the point? To discern the literal meaning, even if it is a figure

·        Jesus said sell all that you have - Luke 12:33, 18:22, literally Matt 19:27, Acts 4:34

4. Conclusion

·        Beware of commentaries and “scholars” who doubt God means what he says

·        You can read the Bible and understand its letters and words (literal reading)

·        It requires you understand English, there are figures of speech.

·        Literal Bible study forces you to study the doctrine, and not spiritualize the Bible

t The unedited version of this outline can be found at graceambassadors.com.

t The use of the material found at graceambassadors.com and thegracelifeplace.blogspot.com is not only allowed, but is encouraged!

Sermon on the Mount (Part 3)

(Click this Link for Audio)
Sermon on the Mount (Part 3)

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

1.      Kingdom on the Earth

·        His chosen nation is promised a kingdom on earth. God promised a specific piece of land that would mark where He would set up his kingdom on earth (Genesis 13:15, Deuteronomy 34:4, Psalm 37:22, Matthew 5:5,Isaiah 2:2-4).

·        The kingdom will rule the world with the Messiah as King.

·        A Messiah was promised to Israel that would lead the nation into world dominion and power (Daniel 2:44-45, Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5).

2.      Earthly Kingdom People

·        Israel is created as God’s chosen people. God created the nation Israel to have a privileged status before Him as a peculiar people (Genesis 12:2, Exodus 19:5,Rom 3:1-2)

·        Israel will be the channel of blessing to the Gentile nations. Through their worldwide influence, and access to God, Israel would be the channel of God’s blessing to Gentile nations (Genesis 12:3, 22:18, Zechariah 8:20-23, Isaiah 60:3, Matt 5:16) .        Righteousness comes through God’s covenants.

·        God gave the Old Covenant as a token that Israel would be a nation that followed after God. The New Covenant would replace the old as the method of attaining righteousness and entrance into the kingdom (Deuteronomy 6:25, Ezekiel 36:24-27, Matthew 5:20, John 14:21, 1 John 3:7-10).

·        Israel will live through tribulation before entering the kingdom. With the divine protection of God, Israel would be able to live through the time of His wrath poured out on earth. They would be refined as silver and come out prepared to enter the kingdom on Earth (Daniel 9:24, Zechariah 13:9, Mark 13:13, 1 Peter 4:17).

3.      Kingdom on Earth vs Heavenly Places

·        Kingdom of heaven is not you in heavenly places – Ephesians 2:6

·        The church is not a kingdom or a nation – Matthew 21:43, Galatians 3:28

·        You do not enter the church, you are the church – Matthew 5:19,20 vs. 1 Corinthians 3:16

·        The kingdom is dominion / rule; church is a body – Matthew 19:28, Ephesians 5:30

·        Kingdom is the subject of prophecy – Psalm 103:19

·        The church is the subject of the mystery – Ephesians 2:15, Col 1:15-27

·        The kingdom come will be on the earth, church in heaven – Acts 1:6, 11, Colossians 3:2

·        The kingdom has earthly components, the church does not – Colossians 2:10, 20

·

Trusting Your Bible- Part 1

Trusting Your Bible-Part 1 (Audio)
Trusting Your Bible-Part 1 ( Video )

Trusting Your Bible-Part 1

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

-2 Timothy 3:16

1.      Dealing with the Controversy: Did God Write the Bible?

·        God is the Author; All Scripture is inspired (God-breathed). Jeremiah 36:2, Ezekiel 1:3

·        God achieved the penning of his Word by human instrumentation. (This is where the age old argument comes from- “Man wrote the Bible.”)

·        We must understand that the Bible is inspired by God; the Word of God is just that, His personal words.

Inspired: God given, not just godly motivated. 2 Peter 1:20-21, Acts 1:16

2.      What is Neccesary to have the Word of God Today?

·        Having God’s Word today is crucial to Romans 10:17

ü  Inspiration

ü  Operation

ü  Preservation

·        If the Bible is not inspired, it’s not God’s Word.

·        If God does not require our operation, or utilization, it does not affect us.

If God’s Word is not preserved, we cannot be held accountable to God’s standard.

3.      Trusting Your Bible Requires Faith.

·        Existence of God- Genesis 1:1

·        Preservation of His Word Psalms 12:6-7

·        Operation of His Word in Us 1 Thessalonians 2:13

4.      God’s Word Must Be Preserved, or God is Irrational.

·        Preach the Word

·        Faith Comes by hearing the Word

·        Study and righltly divide the Word

Ø  For any of the above to be possible, God must have kept His commitment to preserve His Word.

Saved and Didn't Know It? (Short Point)

You cannot trust Christ as the Messiah, be water baptized for remission and be awaiting future forgiveness of sins and an earthly kingdom (Gospel of the Kingdom), but yet be in a body you have no idea about (Body of Christ); this is like saying you can be presently saved without knowing about it when you were just told forgiveness doesn't come until the future.

Acts 3:19-21 is a clear indicator that Peter didn't think he was presently saved, sealed, and forgiven. He was waiting for the blotting out of sins. The Holy Spirit was Peter's informant. To say that the body of Christ had started without the dispensation being revealed is to call the Holy Spirit either lacking or lying. The Body of Christ was not in existence until the dispensation was given; it was revealed first to the Apostle Paul. See 1 Timothy 1:16.

The Gaius Dilemma

The Question below has been posed to attempt to derail the idea that Peter & the apostles of Israel's Kingdom Program and Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles did not have separate ministries, along with different messages.

"Why would John write to Gaius (3 John) (a convert of Paul's)?  What could he have to offer Gaius if John is ministering to the little flock and Gaius is part of the body of Christ?"
 
In Addressing the issue of Gaius, I must sternly say, this is a week objection. Using one verse to try and combat tons of others is not a strong tactic. But on this note, notice that Gaius was apparently a very common name among the Romans. In Acts and in the epistles there are five persons of this name.

1.) Acts 19:29, called a man of Macedonia, and Paul’s companion in travel.

2.) Gaius of Derbe, a city of Lycaonia, mentionedActs 20:4.

3.)Gaius with whom St. Paul lodged at Corinth, and called his host,Acts 16:23.

4.)One of that name, whom the apostle had baptized at Corinth, mentioned 1 Corinthians 1:14, who probably was the same person with the Gaius last mentioned.

5.)A Gaius to whom John wrote this epistle, who is clearly a different person from all those above mentioned; because the apostle claims to "father" him and the others with him , 3 John 1:4; he could not say this of the Gaiuses mentioned above.

Notice how intentional Paul is about not building on another man's foundation, or in other words, taking individuals who have already received a dispensation of information from God and try to persuade or change them. (This is not to say that Paul did not speak to or minister to those of the "little flock." Paul even laid hands on individuals who had only heard John the Baptist's gospel in order to get them up to speed with what God was doing.)

Romans 15:20-21
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:  But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

I believe it is more than fair to conclude that Peter would not have tried to "build on another man's foundation" either.

It is more than important to understand that Peter and Paul, by God's design and choosing, preached different messages to different audiences. Read it clearly:

Galatians 2:6-9
But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Did you notice in the verse above where it says "grace that was given unto me (Paul)?"

What grace?

1 Corinthians 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.

1 Corinthians 9:17
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

Not only was Paul given a special dispensation from God, he was also deemed at the "masterbuilder." Paul was the foreman, contractor, and overseer of the dispensation of grace.

This argument is one that hopes to catch off guard and debunk the real issue. There is so much negativity toward Mid Acts Dispensationalism, but with every conversation I have with those who object, I see that the real issue is not  with the facts not lining up... But rather, it's the refusal of something that's not "mainstream" or popular Christianity.

When one learns to rightly divide, he or she no longer has the need to make excuses for the Bible. Rather, the Word of God can speak clearly and boldly for itself. Do you trust your Bible? I hope so... If you do, learn to study it the way God prescribed. Learn to make distinctions between Law and Grace, Israel and the body of Christ, and the messages of Peter and Paul.

Thegracelifeplace.blogspot.com
Graceambassadors.com

Come study with us, Grace Bible Fellowship, every Thursday night at 7 and on Sundays at 10 and 11. We meet at the Rogersville, AL Senior Citizens Center.

Christ is our Foundation. The death of Jesus Christ for sins and ressurection for justification is our message. Seeing the lost saved and teaching faithful men, who strive to understand the mystery and know how to rightly divide, who are able to teach others also is our mission.

Presently Saved vs. Waiting for Forgiveness

After engaging in coversation with an individual who believes good works, water baptism, and other righteousness acts(as compared to simply trusting the Gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, which clearly says that Jesus died for our sins and ressurected; believe and trust - Ephesians 1:13), I gave him a comparison that is crucial for any man or woman on this planet to understand when it comes to know what is necessary to be saved. Here is the response....
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Thank you for your response. I would like to mention that the only 2 Verses you have listed that have anything to do with salvation are the first two(which were Ephesians 2:8-9 & Ephesians 1:7), whereas the rest of the list is talking about the desired conduct of a saint.
Salvation, in the dispensation of grace, is a free gift, not an earned reward. The specific truth that you can only find in the Pauline epistles is that with the dispensation of grace, we are presently "saved." No other Apostle in our Bible talks of present forgiveness.

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 1:13-14
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

There are many others....

The point is though, Peter and the Apostles to the Jews all spoke of and preached about a future forgiveness. One clear passage of this truth is found in early Acts:

Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT, "when" the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;(emphasis is mine)

There is a huge disconnect of understanding when we mix the epistles of Paul with the epistles to the Hebrews (including Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Paul is the only preacher that spoke of present salvation. This is the necessity of the ability to "rightly divide the word of truth."

Sincerely,
Alan
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If you don't understand that God is doing something different today that started when God revealed unto the Apostle Paul the "Dispensation of Grace," you will unknowingly mix law and grace, works and faith, and Israel with the Body of Christ. Do you know how to rightly divide your bible? It's necessary if you want to correctly follow the instructions God has given for this dispensation.

Good places to start might include visiting

thegracelifeplace.blogspot.com and graceambassadors.com

It's not about "who's" right as much as it is about "what's" right!

When did this Dispensation begin?

Had to share this outline from Justin Johnson... GREAT PICTURE of the real question that needs to be asked...

WHEN THIS DISPENSATION BEGAN
IDENTIFYING THE MOST RECENT CHANGE IN GOD’S WAYS

“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.”

1. Why it is important?
~ Ephesians 3:7
a. The opposition thinks its an insult to say we are the logical conclusion of disp. thinking
b. Ryrie says it is important because of church practice, scripture relevance/interpretation
c. Ruckman says the key issue is “when the body began” thinking baptism is the issue
d. Mid-Acts Pauline right division affects many things: tradition, church, gospel, pattern
e. When do they say it began? Matt 16, the cross, Acts 2 - though no one knew it yet.

2. What is ‘it’?
a. The question posed is always: when did the church begin? But that would be wrong.
b. Which church? Which gospel? An age is a period of time, the church is not an age.
c. If we are looking for church ages we might accept Matt 16:18, or Acts 2:47, 5:11
d. The church is many members joined together by one gospel -1Co 12:13, Eph 3:6, 4:16
e. What comes before the church, is the message; the revelation of the mystery.
f. The question should be “when was this dispensation given?” – Eph 3:1, Col 1:25
g. ‘It’ is the dispensation of grace, not when faith came, Christ came, the Spirit came

3. Distinguishing the Dispensation of Grace
a. A dispensation is a revelation from God that describes his dealings with us, and our responsibility toward him
b. The dispensation of the grace of God is the same as the revelation of the mystery
c. If man does not know it, then it is of no use to us at all, and is not a dispensation.
d. The church is just one aspect of it, others include:
       i. 1) Israel is fallen Rom 11:25; (2) salvation to the Gentiles w/o Israel Col 1:27
       ii. (3) the preaching of the cross 1 Cor 2:7-8, 9:17;
       iii. (4) the riches of God’s grace Col 1:27, Eph 3:8-9
      iv. (5) Christ over all things, heavenly places Eph 3:9-10, Eph 1:10
e. When we are trying to determine when ‘it’ began, we must know what ‘it’ entails

4. When did it start? Answer: With the revelation given to Paul.
a. Ryrie says, “If it can be proven that to Paul exclusively…”
b. To Paul, “last of all” – 1 Corinthians 15:8-10, Acts 9:15
c. To Paul, “first of all” - 1 Timothy 1:12-16
d. Israel’s fall - before Acts 28 (Rom 11:11), after Acts 3:26
e. Apostle to the Gentiles – Peter was not this apostle - Acts 10:28, 11:19; Gal 2:7-9
f. The preaching of the cross – not at Pentecost, not with Peter - Acts 2:38, Acts 15:1-2
g. Riches of grace – forgiveness now? Col 2:13; or later? Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9
h. Christ over all heavenly places– they sought an earthly kingdom–Heb 13:14, 2Pe 1:11