Dispensational differences Part 4--"Rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15)
Note: Read Parts 1, 2 and 3 before reading this post.
4.) Differences concerning the gospel.
Christ's earthly ministry
Matthew
3:1-10 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness
of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The
voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's
hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts
and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all
the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and
Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of
vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth
therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within
yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God
is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also
the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Mark
1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the
gospel.
Matthew 24:3-34 And as he sat upon the mount
of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when
shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of
the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed
that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am
Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of
wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to
pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences,
and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of
sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill
you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then
shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one
another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But
he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this
gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness
unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall
see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let
them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the
housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Neither
let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe
unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the
sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since
the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And
except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved:
but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man
shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For
there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew
great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if
they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth:
behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the
lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so
shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase
is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall
not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers
of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the
Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound
of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the
fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye
know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these
things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you,
This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mark
1:1-5 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As
it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy
face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying
in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all
the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him
in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luke
7:29-30 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified
God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and
lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not
baptized of him.
Matthew 19:16-30 And, behold, one came
and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may
have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life,
keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt
do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou
shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him,
All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus
said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and
follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away
sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his
disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter
into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were
exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld
them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all
things are possible. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we
have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And
Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed
me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of
his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren,
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my
name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit
everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last
shall be first.
John 3:14-26 And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal
life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is
not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because
he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And
this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For
every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light,
lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to
the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
God. After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of
Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was
baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there:
and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into
prison. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and
the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him,
Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness,
behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
John
15:1-6 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in
me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it
abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine,
ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man
abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men
gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Mark
16:15-18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall
follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover.
Matthew 10:7-8 And as
ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give.
Matthew 10:22-34 And ye shall be
hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end
shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into
another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the
cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above
his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the
disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they
have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they
call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is
nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be
known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye
hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them
which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear
him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two
sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the
ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many
sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall
deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in
heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to
send peace, but a sword.
Mark 13:13-20 And ye shall be
hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the
end, the same shall be saved. But when ye shall see the abomination of
desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought
not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea
flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down
into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his
house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take
up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that
give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the
winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the
beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither
shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh
should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath
shortened the days.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:6-8 When they
therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou
at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto
them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the
Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both
in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth.
Acts 2:36-38 Therefore let all the
house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom
ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they
were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the
apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19-26 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; And he shall send
Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must
receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath
spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For
Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God
raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in
all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass,
that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed
from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those
that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of
these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant
which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed
shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God,
having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away
every one of you from his iniquities.
As seen from the above passages of scripture, the gospel being preached in the Gospels and early Acts involved the following:
1.) The kingdom of heaven was at hand and being offered to Israel. (Matthew 3:2, 4:7, 10:7, Acts 3:20) This is different than what Christ dispensed to Paul later. Now the kingdom is not at hand and Israel has fallen/blinded until the rapture of the body of Christ (Romans 11:25-32, Acts 28:25-28, Galatians 3:28).
2.) They must believe on Christ's name. (John 3:14-26) This is TRUE for the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God. However, the gospel of the grace of God also includes the finished WORK of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
3.) Those who did not do works meet for repentance would be lost. They must abide in Christ by works. (Matthew 3:1-10, John 15:1-6) This is not true for the present age and gospel of the grace of God (Romans 3-5, 11:6, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Galatians 2:16-3:29, Ephesians 1:7, 13, 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, 2:11-13, Titus 3:5).
4.) They must be baptized. (Matthew 3:1-11, Luke 7:29-30, Mark 16:15-16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38) This
is not true for the present age and gospel of the grace of God (Romans
3-5, 11:6, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Galatians 2:16-3:29, Ephesians 1:7, 13,
2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, 2:11-13, Titus 3:5). In this age, there is only ONE baptism that God has made part of our "calling" that we are to "walk worthy of"--that baptism is BY the Holy Spirit into Christ through the faith of the operation of God (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Colossians 2:10-13, Galatians 3:1-3, 3:27-28, Romans 6:3-4). Christ did not tell Paul to baptize (1 Corinthians 1:17) and it is not commanded in this present dispensation. Our "one baptism" is part of the "unity of the Spirit" making it spiritual and not physical.
5.) They must sell all their possessions (Verses are too many to post here, see Part 2 http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/dispensational-differences-part-2.html ) See the post on that--there is a lot of scripture on it.
6.) Their sins would be blotted out at the 2nd coming of Christ. (Acts 3:19-21, Jeremiah 31:31-34, 32:37-42, Ezekiel 36:24-33, 1 Peter 1:7-11) This
is not true for the present age and gospel of the grace of God, we are presently justified from all things through Christ's faith and finished work (Acts 13:38-39, Galatians 2:16-20, 3:1-3). We have now received the atonement, complete in Christ, accepted in the beloved (Colossians 2:10, Romans 5:11, Ephesians 1:6-7).
Here is the gospel message according to the revelation of the mystery.
Christ according to the revelation of the mystery
Romans
3:9-31 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have
before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it
is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that
understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone
out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none
that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with
their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their
lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are
swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the
way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their
eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to
them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the
world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law
there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the
knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth
to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in
Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works?
Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is
justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the
Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and
uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through
faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans
4:1-25 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to
the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath
whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now
to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also
describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth
righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities
are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the
Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the
circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that
faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then
reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in
circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 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: 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. For
the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to
Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness
of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void,
and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for
where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith,
that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all
the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which
is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is
written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he
believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things
which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope,
that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which
was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he
considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years
old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the
promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory
to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was
able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for
righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was
imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we
believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was
delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans
5:1-21 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into
this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience,
hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed
abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when
we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a
good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward
us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more
then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by
the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by
his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as
by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin
was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had
not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the
figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the
free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the
grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ,
hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is
the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift
is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence
death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace
and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus
Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men
to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came
upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall
many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might
abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin
hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through
righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
1
Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye
stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached
unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you
first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our
sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2
Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To
wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word
of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though
God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Acts
13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through
this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all
that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be
justified by the law of Moses.
Acts 16:30-31 And
brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they
said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy
house.
Galatians 2:16-21 Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the
faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of
the law shall no flesh be justified.
But if, while we seek to be
justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore
Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things
which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law
am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians
3:1-26 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not
obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set
forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye
the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are
ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by
the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in
vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh
miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the
hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to
him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith,
the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that
God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel
unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then
they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as
are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the
law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by
faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall
live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being
made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth
on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles
through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though
it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth,
or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.
He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed,
which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed
before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty
years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none
effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise:
but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law?
It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to
whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a
mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is
the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had
been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness
should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under
sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them
that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up
unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law
was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified
by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ
Jesus.
Ephesians 1:13 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,
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians
4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Part 5 coming soon.
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