Saturday, May 2, 2015

I am a King James Bible believing Mid-Acts Dispensationalist

(from my Statement of Faith page)

I am a King James Bible believing Mid-Acts Dispensationalist. 



Which means.....



Concerning the Bible: I believe that every word in the King James Bible is inspired and preserved (Joshua 1:8, Isaiah 30:8, 40:8, 55:10-11, 59:21, Psalms 12:6-7, 100:5, 117:2, 119:89-91, 119:160, 1 Peter 1:23-2:2, Matthew 5:17-18, 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, John 6:63, 10:35, 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, and Ephesians 5:26-27). This has been proven in that the KJB is supported by the majority of manuscripts as well as supported by the best and most accurate manuscripts. The origin of the readings of the King James Bible come from Antioch, the place where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). The King James Bible was authorized by a King, therefore it has more authority and power than any other translation of its day (Eccl. 8:4). There are no errors in the King James Bible whatsoever. 



The italic words in the King James Bible are equally inspired as the rest of the text (Psa. 16:8 with Acts 2:25, Deut. 25:4 with 1 Cor. 9:9/1 Tim. 5:8, Psa. 82:6 with John 10:34, Isa. 28:16 with 1 Pet. 2:6, Isa. 65:1 with Rom. 10:20, Deut. 8:3 with Mat. 4:4). 

The Bible is a living book (John 6:63, 1 Pet. 1:23). It is God manifest in a Book, the Holy Ghost  is in it (Eph. 6:17). Therefore the Bible
is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12). The word of God knows  thoughts (mental knowledge) and also the "intents of the heart" (heart belief). The Bible is also said be all knowing, even to the point of forseeing what God does (Heb. 4:12-13, Gal. 3:8). 

The Bible is an eternal book, I believe there has always been a copy of the Bible in heaven (Ps. 119:89). This is evident by the fact that the scripture is said to have existed before it was actually written here on earth (Rom. 9:17, Gal. 3:8). You cannot separate God from His word, the Bible is a part of Him (Rom. 9:17, Eph. 6:17). 


The King James Bible is one of the Books that will be opened at the Great White Throne Judgment (Matt. 24:35, John 6:48, Rev. 20:12). 


The Bible should be glorified by believers since God has magnified it above all His name (Ps. 138:2, Acts 13:48). It is to be published by believers and the Bible itself is our ministry (Acts 6:4, 13:49)


The Bible is more sure than words directly spoken by God from heaven (2 Pet. 1:18-19). 


The Bible is not of any private interpretation and must be rightly divided (1 Pet. 1:20-21, 2 Tim. 2:15). 


Our goal in studying the word of God is so that our service for Him will be approved at the Judgement Seat of Christ (2 Tim. 2:15) and so that we can know God (1 Pet. 2:2). The word of God washes and cleanses us (Eph. 5:26, John 17:17, 2 Tim. 3:13-17).




Concerning Modern Versions: I believe that all modern versions of the bible in the English language are corrupt (Deut. 4:2, Prov. 30:5-6, 2 Cor. 2:17, 4:2, Rev. 22:18-19). This can be proven by comparing all of the following verses of scripture with the King James Bible:

A.) Does your Bible say that "God was manifest in the flesh" or that he appeared in a body" in 1 Timothy 3:16?

B.) Does your Bible teach that Jesus is omnipresent (everywhere at once) in John 3:13?

C.) Does your Bible say that we have redemption through Christ's blood in Colossians 1:14?

D.) Does your Bible contain these verses Matthew 17:21, Matthew 18:11, Matthew 23:14, Mark 7:16, Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46, Mark 11:26, Mark 15:28, Luke 17:36, John 5:4, Acts 8:37, Acts 15:34, Acts 24:7, Acts 28:29, Romans 16:24, I John 5:7 ?

E.) Does your Bible say that man lives by the word of God in Matthew 4:4?

F.) Does your Bible say that Jesus was from "everlasting" in Micah 5:2 or does it say that He had "origins"?

G.) Does your Bible call Joseph the "father" of the Jesus or "Jospeph" in Luke 2:33?

H.) Does your Bible say that Jesus did not think it was robbery to be equal with God in Philippians 2:6 or does it say that He did not think He could grasp being equal with God?

I.) Does your Bible have a footnote saying that John 7:53-8:11 should not be there?

J.) Does your Bible have a footnote saying that the last twelve verses of Mark 16 should not be there?

K.) Does your Bible have the words "on me" in John 6:47?

L.) Does your Bible say that Lucifer fell from heaven in Isaiah 14:12 or does it say that Christ did? (morning star and dar star are names of Christ--2 Peter 1:19 and Revelation 22:16)

M.) Is your Bible copyrighted? The KJB text is not copyrighted.


N.) Was your Bible authorized by a king? (Ecclesiastes 8:4)


O.) How has America been used by God since the modern versions started appearing in the 1880's? Did the country have more "fruit" before or after the modern versions got popular? (Matt. 7:20)


P.) Does your Bible say that the love of money is the root of all evil? (1 Timothy 6:10)


Q.) Does your Bible warn you against false science? (1 Timothy 6:20)


R.) Does your Bible say to "fear" God or to only have reverence for Him? (Eph. 5:21)


S.) Who prospers you? (1 Corinthians 16:2)

T.) What did Stephen call Jesus in Acts 7:59?


U.) How magnified is the word of God? (Psalms 138:2)


V.) Who laid down His life for you? (1 John 3:16)


W.) Does your Bible let you know that there are divisions in it? (2 Timothy 2:15)


X.) Is the Bible "holy scriptures" or just "sacred writings" (2 Timothy 3:15)


Y.) Is every word of God preserved? (Psalms 12:6-7)


Z.) Jesus got angry (Mark 3:5). Is being a angry a sin or is it being angry "without a cause" that is a sin? (Matt. 5:22)


Those are only 26 corruptions, but there are hundreds more.


Concerning Salvation: I believe that salvation in this present dispensation of grace is by grace through faith and not of works (Eph. 1:13, 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, 2 Tim. 1:9, Rom. 3-5, Gal. 1-3, Acts 13:38-39, 16:31, etc.). All that believe on the Lord trusting His death, burial, and resurrection are saved (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Rom. 3:21-27, 4:4-5, 5:1-11). I reject the "sinner's prayer", water baptism, and any other work or man made gospel as corrupt (Gal. 1:6-12).



Concerning Faith: Under grace we are justified by the faith of Christ, not our own faith. Christ was always faithful to the Father's will and never failed to live by the word of God (John 8:29, Matt. 3:17-4:10). Christ is Faithful and it is by His faith that we are justified by (1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Thes. 5:23-24, 2 Thes. 3:3, 2 Tim. 2:13, Rom. 3:22, Gal. 2:16-20, 3:22, Eph. 3:12, Phil. 3:9). We are not justified by our own faith. The moment we believe on Christ we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and put into Jesus Christ, we receive instant justification through His faith (Eph. 1:13, 3:12). This is unlike past dispensations when receiving imputed righteousness and receiving justification happened at different points in time. Abraham received imputed righteousness in Genesis 15:6 for believing the word of God, but it was not until he lived faithfully doing works of righteousness for many more years when he received justification (James 2:21-23). This is not true under grace, as seen in 2 Timothy 2:13 "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."



Galatians 3:
[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
[23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  




In past administrations God justified people based on their own faith, which is the faith of man (Hab. 2:4). The faith of man is not perfect at once, it must be tried and proven in order to be found unto praise and honor by the Lord (James 1:3, 1 Pet. 1:7). That is why in the Law and Kingdom administrations justification does not come to an individual until after his faith has been proven and tried through works of righteousness (1 Pet. 1:5-9, James 2:14-26). This justification by the faith of man system will continue in Daniel's 70th week and the Millennium.



Concerning Calvinism: I am NOT a Calvinist of any sort. I reject all 5 points of Calvinism. Note: I do believe in eternal security, which some people equate with "perseverance of the saints".

Concerning Dispensationalism: We are commanded to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). We must not combine things in the word of God that are distinct. The Bible was written for those under the Old Testament, those under the Law, those in the Tribulation, and those under Grace. We must make sure who is writing to whom when we study the Bible because the doctrines throughout different dispensations are different.



I believe that Israel is not the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:28, Col. 3:11)



I believe that the Body of Christ, the Dispensation of Grace, the gospel of the grace of God, the pre-tribulation rapture of believers, the fulness of the Gentiles, and the temporary blindness of Israel were mysteries revealed to and through the apostle Paul (Rom. 11:25, 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:7, 1 Cor. 4:1, 15:51, Eph. 3:1-9, 5:32, 6:19, Col. 1:24-28, 2:2, 4:3, 1 Tim. 3:9)

I believe that the apostle Paul was not one of the 12 apostles of Israel, that he was a distinct apostle that the Lord used to give the revelation of the mystery to. It is in Paul's writings alone that we find pure grace age doctrine for the Body of Christ. The focus of all the other books of the New Testament focus on Israel, the earthly kingdom, and the Tribulation. (1 Tim. 1:11-16, Rom. 11:13, 15:15-16, 16:25, 1 Cor. 3:9-11, 4:16, 11:1-2, Phil. 3:17, 2 Tim. 2:7, Gal. 2:8, Eph. 3:1-9, Col. 1:24-28)


I believe that the gospel of the grace of God was a revelation given to Paul first, he then was sent by the Lord to communicate it to the other apostles years after his conversion. That is why Paul referred to it as "my gospel". (Acts 13:38-39, 16:31, 20:24, Rom. 2:16, 16:25, 2 Tim. 2:8, 1 Cor. 2:7, 15:1-4, Gal. 1:11-12, 2:1-9)


I believe Israel's New Covenant required them to keep the Law of Moses, with some changes, even after the crucifixion. The Law will continue to be observed in the Tribulation and Millennium under God's New Covenant with Israel, but it is not to be observed under Grace (Matt. 5:17-20, 19:17, 23:1-3, 24:20, Luke 24:53, Acts 2:46, 3:1, 6:42, 10:10-17, 15:5, 21:18-20, 22:12, James 1:25, 2:8-12, 4:11, Heb. 7:12). This is according to Old Testament prophecy about Israel in the Tribulation and Millennium under God's New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34, 32:37-42, Ezek. 36:24-28, Micah 4:2, Isa. 2:3, 66:23, Zech. 14:16-19). 




I believe that the four gospels, Matthew-Mark-Luke-John, are records of Christ's earthly ministry to the Jews (John 1:11, 1:31, Rom. 15:8, Acts 10:36, Mark 7:26-29, Matt. 10:5-6, 15:21-27). The gospel preached during this time was not the gospel of the grace of God as found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the 12 apostles did not know about that gospel (Matt. 16:21-23, Mark 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, John 20:6-10). The gospel preached by the Lord Jesus and the 12 apostles during this time and up until Acts chapter 15 was called "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Mark 1:14). The Gospel of the Kingdom included belief on Christ and good works. 



The works required under the Gospel of the Kingdom were these:
  • The Baptism of Repentance, which was repenting/confessing/baptism (Matt. 3:1-11, Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16).
  • Selling all that you had (Matt. 6:19-34, 8:20, 10:8-10, 13:44-46, 19:16-24, Mark 6:7-9, 10:17-23, Luke 3:8-11, 9:1-4, 12:15-34, Acts 2:44-45, 3:1-6, 4:32-37, 5:1-11).
  • Forgiving others of their sins against you (Matt. 6:12-15, 18:21-35, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:37, 11:4).
  • Maintain good works (Matt. 5:20, 5:48, 16:27, 19:16-19, John 5:29). This included very seemingly "little" sins, such as not calling someone a fool (Matt. 5:22).  
  • Doing works meet for repentance (Matt. 3:7-10, Luke 3:8-11).
  • Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
    pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. You must do this to be a child of God (Matt. 5:43-45).
  • Bring forth fruit to abide in God's love or be cast into the fire (Matt. 7:15-20, John 15:1-10). 
  • Do the will of God keeping His words (Matt. 7:21-27).
  • Endure to the end of the Tribulation until Christ comes without denying the Lord (Matt. 10:22, 10:32-33, 24:13-14, Luke 12:8-9, Mark 13:13, Rev. 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21, 21:7, Heb. 3:6-14, 4:1, 4:11, 6:4-8, 8:8-13, 10:16-17, 10:38-11:31).
  • Do not take the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 13:15-18, 14:9-11). 
  • Do not try and save your physical life by denying Christ in the midst of persecution, you will lose your soul if you do (Matt. 10:38-39, 16:25-26, Mark 8:35-36, Luke 9:24-25, 17:33).
  • Do not blaspheme the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29, Luke 12:10, 1 John 5:16).
  • Watch for Christ's Second Coming to the earth and be a faithful servant (Matt. 24:42-51, Mark 13:32-37, Luke 21:34-36).
  • Do not hate your brethren (1 John 3:14-15).
  • Take care of the Jews and believers in the Tribulation (Matt. 25:30-46).



This gospel was an offer of the earthly kingdom of Christ to Israel (Matt. 3:2, 4:17, 10:7, 11:14, 16:28, Mark 1:15). The emphasis is on the EARTHLY aspect, the Kingdom of God will come to the earth (Matt. 2:2, 5:35, 6:10, Luke 11:2). 



It is at the Second Coming of Christ that Kingdom Gospel believers  will have their sins taken away (Heb. 3:14, 8:8-12, Acts 3:19-21,  Rom. 11:25-27, and 1 Pet. 1:5-9). This is according to Old Testament prophecy such as Zech. 3:9, 8:8, Isa. 4:4, 25:9, 27:9, 54:13-14, 59:20, 60:21, Jer. 30:17, 31:31-34, 32:37-42, 33:8, Ezek. 36:24-33, Hos. 2:23, Deut. 30:6, and Joel 3:20-21. The Second Coming is when Christ told the 12 apostles that they would inherit everlasting life (Matt. 19:28-19) and that is what Peter taught (Acts 3:19-21, 1 Pet. 1:5-9). Though this is not true under the Dispensation of Grace (Rom. 6:4, Eph. 3:2). We under grace are now justified by Christ's blood and have now received the atonement (Rom. 5:9-11), our sins are already gone (Col. 2:11). 

Concerning the Rapture: There are several raptures and resurrections in the Bible, but the rapture of members of the Body of Christ is Pre-Tribulation (1 Thes. 1:10, 5:9, Rom. 5:9 compared with Luke 21:23, Isa. 51:17, 54:8, 60:10). The Body of Christ is not in any part of Daniel's 70th week nor any part of Old Testament prophecy (Eph. 3:1-9, 5:32, Col. 1:24-28, Rom. 11:25). The rapture of the Body of Christ is NOT the second coming of Christ to the earth, it is believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air and then taken back to heaven with Him (Titus 2:13, 1 Cor. 15:51-58, 1 Thes. 4:13-18, Phil. 3:20-21, Col. 3:1-4). This rapture was a mystery revelation given to Paul by the word of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:51, 1 Thes. 4:15).  

Concerning Eternal Security: All believers under Grace are eternally secure as members of Christ's Body (Eph. 1:13-14, 3:12, 4:30, 4:32, 5:32, Rom. 4:4-8, 8:1-9, Rom. 8:29-39, 1 Cor. 1:1-9, 3:15, 5:5, 11:32, 1 Thes. 5:9-10, 5:23-24, Phil. 1:6, 2 Tim. 2:11-13, Acts 13:38-39, Col. 2:10-13, 3:13).



Concerning Baptisms: There are 6 baptisms in the Bible. 



  • Baptism with water under the Law (Num. 8:7, Exod. 29:4, 30:20, 40:12, Lev. 8:6, Numb. 19, John 2:6, Heb. 6:2, 9:10, 10:22, Matt. 3:15, 5:17-20)
  • Baptism with water under the Kingdom (Ezek. 36:25, Matt. 3:6-11, 28:19 John 1:31, Mark 1:4-5, 16:16, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:38)
  • Baptism with the Holy Ghost under the Kingdom (Jer. 31:31-34, 32:37-42, Ezek. 36:24-28, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:14-21).
  • Baptism with fire at the 2nd Coming of Christ (Joel 1:19-2:5, Luke 17:29-30, Isa. 66:24, Matt. 3:6-11).
  • Baptism with death (Luke 12:50, Matt. 20:22-23, Mark 10:38-39).
  • Baptism into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4, Col. 2:10-13, 1 Cor. 12:13-18, Eph. 2:6, 4:1-6).



As of Acts 28:28, all baptisms except for baptism into Christ have ceased. God has "one baptism" in His program of Grace (Eph. 4:5). Water baptism has never had any significance or purpose under grace (1 Cor. 1:14-17, Col. 2:14). Baptism into Christ is done "by one Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:13) "through the faith of the operation of God" (Col. 2:12) and God does it (1 Cor. 12:18). It is not water baptism, nor is it Christ baptizing with the Holy Ghost for power. Baptism into Christ is simply that--baptism into Christ done by God the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-18, Col. 2:10-13). It is by this baptism that we become one with Christ and are crucified, buried, risen, and seated with Him. This baptism takes place when we trust Christ as our Savior (Eph. 1:13, 1 Cor. 12:13).

Baptism with water under the Gospel of the Kingdom, as under the Law, was performed by sprinkling as a figure of cleansing, though it did not literally wash away sins according to 1 Peter 3:21 (Ezek. 36:25, John 3:25-26). This pictured the blood atonement (Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:3, Acts 22:16, Rev. 1:5, with Isa. 52:14-15, Heb. 9:13-14, 10:22, 12:24, 1 Pet. 1:2).




Concerning the Lord's Supper: The Lord's supper is an optional ceremony that Paul received of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:20-34). It is symbolic of the broken body of the Lord and His shed blood on Calvary (1 Cor. 10:16-17). There is no certain time in which we should observe it (1 Cor. 11:26). The Lord's supper is not an ordinance for the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 11:2 with 11:22).



Concerning the Fall of Israel: The Lord Jesus Christ did not teach the 12 apostles about Israel's fall when He expounded the scriptures to them in Luke 24:27. Directly before the ascension of Christ, the 12 apostles asked "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6) The Lord's response was, "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."

The 12 apostles were commanded to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom in all the world (Matt. 24:14, 28:19, Mark 16:15), but beginning at Jerusalem (Acts 1:7, Luke 24:47). Notice the command:




"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." (Matt. 24:14)

"that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47)

"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 1:7-8)

The reason why the Gospel of the Kingdom was to be preached to the Jews FIRST is obvious, because Jerusalem would be the city of the King and the Jews were to be the nation of kings and priests set above the other nations in the Kingdom (Matt. 5:35, Exod. 19:5-6, Isa. 2:1-4, 60:1-22, 61:6, 62:1-12, Zech. 8:23). Therefore since the Kingdom will be a Kingdom operated by Jews in Jerusalem under the authority of the Lord Jesus, the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom would be begin at Jerusalem. It would not make sense to offer the Jewish Kingdom to the Gentile nations before Jerusalem had accepted this offer. 


So with the orders from Christ to preach the gospel of the kingdom beginning at Jerusalem, the apostles began carrying out that commission. In Acts chapter two Peter addresses "Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem" (2:14), "Ye men of Israel" (2:22), and "all the house of Israel" (2:36). The offer is the gospel of the kingdom to the Jews. Peter preaches Christ as the risen King over Israel to sit on David's throne (2:30-34). Acts 2 is concerning Israel's last days (2:16-21). Then in Acts chapter 3 Peter offered the Kingdom again to the Jews. He preached that if the repented, then Christ would return to the earth and blot out their sins and restore the Kingdom to Israel: 




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;
[20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
[21] 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.
[22] 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.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
[25] 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. 




However, this Gospel of the Kingdom was postponed. Israel fell and was blinded according to the revelation given to Paul. 



Romans 11:
[7] What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
[8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
[9] And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them:
[10] Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
[12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
[13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
[14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
[15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 


Peter did not have that revelation in Acts 1 when he asked if the Lord would at that time restore the Kingdom to Israel. The 12 apostles were commanded to preach the gospel of the kingdom to the Jews and that it what they did. However, Israel fell between Acts 3 and Acts 9. Of course, all scriptural evidence points to Acts chapter 7 as the fall of Israel when Jerusalem rejected the offer of the kingdom and blasphemed the Holy Ghost, an unpardonable sin (Matt. 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29, Luke 12:10). The leaders of Jerusalem committed this sin by killing a man filled with the Holy Ghost, Stephen, in Acts 6:8-7:60. Any action against a man filled with the Holy Ghost was considered to be an action against the Holy Ghost Himself (Acts 5:1-11). 


It was after this event that God began sending men to preach to the Gentiles and saved the apostle Paul to be the apostle of the Gentiles. God then revealed the gospel of the grace of God, the Body of Christ, and the doctrines of the Dispensation of Grace (Rom. 11:25, 16:25, 1 Cor. 2:7, 1 Cor. 4:1, 15:51, Eph. 3:1-9, 5:32, 6:19, Col. 1:24-28, 2:2, 4:3, 1 Tim. 3:9,1 Tim. 1:11-16, Rom. 11:13, 15:15-16, 16:25, 1 Cor. 3:9-11, 4:16, 11:1-2, Phil. 3:17, 2 Tim. 2:7, Gal. 2:8). 




Peter received the revelation of not being under the Law but under Grace in Acts chapter 10, that is also when he learned that God was saving people by grace through faith without works (Acts 10:1-48 with 15:7-11). Though Peter never fully understood these mysteries given to Paul, at the end of his life Peter said that they were hard to be understood (2 Pet. 3:15-16). 



Now in the Dispensation of Grace (Rom. 6:14, Eph. 3:2) the commission of the Gospel of the Kingdom has been postponed. The commission of the Gospel of the Grace of God does not include water baptism or any other works for salvation (Acts 26:15-20 with 1 Cor. 1:17). The apostles never carried out the commission that Christ gave them, they even gave up their entire Gentile ministry to Paul (Gal. 2:9). Paul was the apostle that God used to go to all nations (Rom. 15:15-16, Col. 1:5-6, 1:23) but was not sent to baptize (1 Cor. 1:17). The commission for this present Dispensation of Grace is found in 2 Corinthians 5:12-6:2, Colossians 1:24-28, and Ephesians 3:1-9.



God gave Paul the mystery of the blindess of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes. Peter's offer of the Kingdom as found in Acts 3:19-26 was postponed according to Paul's words in Romans 11:25-27.



Romans 11:
[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
[26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
[27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.




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;
[20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
[21] 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.
[22] 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.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.




Israel will get their sins blotted out at the Second Coming of Christ as it is written in the OT, but in the mystery age of grace God is building the "one new man" in which their is neither Jew nor Gentile and all are accepted by grace through faith without works (Eph. 1:6-7, 1:13-14, 2:8-22, 3:1-9, 5:32).  

Concerning Signs: The signs were for unbelieving Israel, not the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 1:22, 14:22, John 4:48). Since Israel fell and was blinded, the signs have ceased (Acts 13:45-46, 18:6, 28:28). The gift of healing clearly ceased by the end of Acts (Phil. 2:25-28, 1 Tim. 5:23, 2 Tim. 4:20).

Concerning Tongues and Prophecies: Tongues and prophecies were used (as partial revelations) to edify the Body of Christ until the perfect revelation of the word of God was come. Tongues and prophecies were partial revelations given a little at a time, but the word of God is a complete revelation (1 Cor. 13:8-12, 14:20-21, 1 Pet. 2:2, 2 Pet. 1:20, James 1:23-25, Heb. 5:12-14). This revelation was completed by the apostle Paul and the mystery dispensation given to him (1 Col. 1:25) with the last book of this revelation being 2 Timothy. It is in 2 Timothy that Paul commands "rightly dividing the word of truth" and talks about "ALL scripture". We are told to consider what he says to have understanding in all things (2 Tim. 2:7, 2:15, 3:16). 

Concerning the Godhead: I believe in the Deity of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They all share the title God. They are the Godhead, a term used three times in the Bible (Acts 17:29, Rom. 1:20, Col. 2:9).

The Bible teaches trinities. There is the trinity of man (body, soul, spirit--1 Thes. 5:23). Hoss has a body, and that is still Hoss. Hoss has a soul, and that is still Hoss. Then there is the spirit of Hoss, that is still Hoss also. Man was made in God's image (Gen. 1:27) which means that God is also a Trinity as stated plainly in Genesis 1:26, 3:22, and 11:6-8. This is stated plainly in 1 John 5:7.

The Holy Ghost is called God, as He is the Spirit of God: (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19-20, 12:13-18, Acts 5:3-4, 7:51, 2 Tim. 3:16 with 2 Pet. 1:21,  etc.). The Holy Ghost exists in seven different Spirits (Rev. 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6, Isa. 11:2). The Holy Ghost is not a "force" or "feeling", He is a Person in the Godhead that makes decisions and speaks commands (Acts 13:2, 16:6). God is a Spirit (John 4:24). 

The Son is called God countless times in the Bible (Isaiah 7:14/9:6, Matt. 1:23, 1 Tim. 3:16, Col. 1:15-18, 2:9, Heb. 1:8, John 1:1-3, 1:10, 20:28, Acts 7:59, 20:28, Rom. 9:5, 1 John 3:16, 5:20, Titus 2:13, etc. )  and is equal with the Father (John 5:18, Phil. 2:6). He is everlasting and from everlasting (Micah 5:2, John 1:14-15, John 8:58, Rev. 1:18, 4:9-10, 10:6, 15:7, etc.) and is the image of the invisible God (2 Cor. 4:4, Col. 1:15, Heb. 1:3). He is the Jehovah God, I AM, of the Old Testament (Exod. 3:13-14, John 8:58). He is the Angel of the Lord, which is God (Gen. 32:30, 48:16, Exod. 3:2-6, 23:20-23, 32:34, Judg. 13:13-22, Acts 27:23, Gal. 4:14). The Old Testament is filled with many other infallible proofs of the Deity of Christ. Psalms 68 verses 1-10, 15-21, 24, 26, 28, 31-32, and 34-35 all refer to Christ as "God" (a Psalm about the 2nd advent and millennial reign of Christ). You can also check Jeremiah 31-33 and those references to the Second Coming and Millennial Kingdom of Christ. There are dozens more and they all continuously refer to Christ as God. 

The Father is called God all through the New Testament, it is His primary title such as "Lord" is the primary title for the Son. (John 6:27, 1 Cor. 8:6, Gal. 1:1-3, Eph. 6:23, Phil. 2:11, 1 Thes. 1:1, 2 Tim. 1:2, Titus 1:4, 1 Pet. 1:2, 2 Pet. 1:17, 2 John 1:3, Jude 1:1). 

These are good outlined done by Pastor David O'Steen of Landmark Baptist Church:

Father, Son, and Spirit are called God:
1) The Father (Phil. 2:11)
2) The Son (Heb. 1:8)
3) The Holy Ghost (Acts 5:3-4)

Mentioned together in the same passage as three distinct Persons:
1) Baptism of Christ (Matt. 3:16-17)
2) Christ promising the Comforter (Jn. 14:16)
3) Kingdom Commission (Matt. 28:18-20)
4) Apostolic benediction (2 Cor. 13:14)
5) Unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:4-6)

Same attributes applied to Father, Son, and Spirit:
1) Eternal (Father, Ps. 90:2; Son, Mic. 5:2; Spirit, Heb. 9:14)
2) Omnipotent (Father, Job 42:2; Son, Rev. 19:6; Spirit, Rom. 15:19)
3) Omniscient (Father, Jer. 17:10; Son, Rev. 2:23; Spirit, Heb. 4:12)
4) Omnipresent (Father, Jer. 23:24; Son, Matt. 18:20; Spirit, Ps. 139:7)
5) Holy (Father, Jn. 17:11; Son, Rev. 3:7; Spirit, Eph. 4:30)
6) True (Father, Jn. 7:28; Son, 14:6; Spirit, 1 Jn. 5:6)

The Trinity working in Unity as the Godhead:
1) Creation – The Spirit moved (Gen. 1:2), God spoke, Christ (the Word) created all things (Jn. 1:1-3); God said, "Let US make man in OUR image" (Gen. 1:26)
2) Incarnation – The Father gave (Jn. 3:16-17), the Spirit placed the seed (Matt. 1:18; Lk. 1:35), and the Son was born of the virgin (Matt. 1:18-25)
3) Resurrection ("But God raised him from the dead", Acts 13:30) – Father (Gal. 1:1), Son (Jn. 10:17), Spirit (Rom. 8:11)
4) Salvation (Father, Eph. 1:3-6; Son, Eph. 1:7-12; Spirit, Eph. 1:13-14)
5) Prayer – We pray to the Father (Eph. 3:14), in name of the Son (Eph. 5:20), in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18)
    

1 comment:

  1. I wish Kent Hovind had this information while he was in prison. He probably would not have come under the influence of post-tribulational teaching if he had good solid teaching as this. I pray the Lord will deliver him out of this confusion of mind.

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