Basics of Dispensational Truth

The following notes are taken from handwritten notes in the back of my Bible that I have often used in teaching others about right division.

 

Keys to Bible Study:

1. Believe the scriptures (1Thess. 2:13)

2. Search the scriptures (Acts 17:11)

3. Compare the scriptures (1 Cor. 2:13)

4. Consider the scriptures written by Paul (2 Tim. 2:7)

5. Rightly divide the scriptures (2 Tim. 2:15)

 

God never changes in His person, principles, and promises (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8) but He does change in His dealings with man. All scripture is profitable for us (2 Tim. 3:16) but in order to gain the profit from God’s word that He has placed in it for us, we must study it His way (2 Tim. 2:15). Notice three things in 2 Timothy 2:15:

1. What we are to do - STUDY

2. Why we are to do it - to shew thyself approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed 

3. How we are to do it - rightly dividing the word of truth 

 

Note: The modern versions totally mess up this key verse. They change "study" to something like, "do your best" and "rightly dividing" to something like, "properly handling".

 

All the Bible is the word of truth but we must recognize and consistently maintain the divisions that God put in His word if we are going to understand it. What was truth for Israel under the law may not be truth for the Body of Christ under grace. This is the dispensational approach to Bible study.

 

A dispensation (biblical word, 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10; 3:2; Col. 1:25) is basically a dealing out, distribution, or dispensing of something. It is an administration. Dispensations are not periods of time. Ages are periods of time but dispensations operate within ages. Each dispensation revealed in scripture is marked by 5 things:

1) Divine revelation (which bring clear changes in God’s dealings with men)

2) Human spokesman (such as Moses for the Law and Paul for the Mystery)

3) Human responsibility to the revelation (testing) 

4) Human failure (every dispensation ends in apostasy except the last one)

5) Divine judgment

 

Dispensations are not "cut and dried" time periods. There is some overlapping in dispensational truth. For example, the dispensation of human government will be in effect until the Kingdom Age. The following outline is an accurate overview of the dispensations revealed in scripture.

1. Innocence (Gen. 1-3)

2. Conscience (Gen. 4-8)

3. Human Government (Gen. 9-11)

4. Promise (Gen. 12-Ex. 19)

5. Law (Ex. 20-Acts)

6. Mystery (Rom. - Phile.)

7. Kingdom (Heb.-Rev.)

 

In the Bible seven is God's number of perfection and completion and eight is the number of new beginnings. I believe there are seven dispensations in human history and the eighth and final dispensation of which there will be no end is the "dispensation of the fulness of times" (Eph. 1:10).

 

The main division in the Bible concerns God's twofold purpose which is implied in the very first verse (Gen. 1:1).

1. Heaven - The Body of Christ was planned before the foundation of the world but was hid in God (Eph. 3:9) and kept secret since the world began (Rom. 16:25) until Christ from heaven revealed it through the apostle Paul. The Body of Christ will reign with Christ in heavenly places throughout the ages to come (Eph. 2:6-7).

2. Earth - Israel as a kingdom of priests ruling over the Gentile nations is the subject of prophecy. The Messianic Kingdom that God will establish on the earth has been spoken of by the prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21).

 

The major theme of the Bible is the King and His Kingdom:

1. OT - promised and prophesied

2. Gospels - proclaimed and rejected

3. Acts - offered and rejected (transition)

4. Pauline epistles - postponed (Body of Christ in spiritual kingdom, Col. 1:13)

5. Hebrew epistles - proclamation resumed

6. Revelation - established

 

 

 

Five Words

Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. (1 Cor. 14:19)

 

The gift of tongues was for a sign to the unbelieving Jews (1 Cor. 1:22; 14:21-22) during the transition period (from Israel to the Body of Christ) recorded in the book of Acts. After the transition period, and the completion of the word of God, the sign gifts CEASED for this present age (1 Cor. 13:8-13). In 1 Cor. 14 (written during the transition period) the apostle Paul taught that it was pointless to speak in an unknown tongue (a language that the speaker and hearers did not know) in the church if there was nobody present with the gift of interpretation. The purpose of speaking in the local church is to TEACH others in a way they can understand for their edification, exhortation, and comfort (v.3). He said it is better to speak FIVE WORDS that can be understood than 10,000 words in an unknown tongue. What could be taught with just five words? Let’s consider some key doctrines given in biblical statements of just five words. God has an amazing way of saying much with few words. Sadly, in the typical Charismatic church you will hear much "vain and profane babblings" (2 Tim. 2:16) but you will not hear these key doctrines being taught.

 

In the Beginning God Created (Gen. 1:1)

This plain opening statement of the scripture is foundational to everything else. If it is wrong, how can we trust the rest of the Bible? No wonder Satan has always attacked the doctrine of creation! We did not get here by chance and some kind of evolutionary process. Man was created by God and has a purpose. Jesus Christ was a creationist (Mk. 10:6; 13:19) and He knows the truth about the beginning because He was there. He is the Creator! He created the world about 6,000 years ago in six literal days. When He looked at everything He made He said it was very good. Well, there is a lot in this world now that is very bad! What happened?

 

By One Man Sin Entered (Rom. 5:12)

Adam was given dominion on the earth. Satan coveted that dominion and so he appeared as a beautiful serpent in the garden in order to tempt the woman and bring about the fall of man. The woman was deceived but Adam knowingly and willingly disobeyed the clear commandment of God concerning the tree of the knowledge of good an evil. Adam was the representative head of the human race and so when he fell he brought sin and death into the world. He was created in the image of God but all that are born into this world are born in the image of fallen Adam (Gen. 5:3). We are all sinners (Rom. 3:10, 23). The penalty for sin is death and eternal damnation (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:14). How can a sinner be saved?

 

Ye Must Be Born Again (Jn. 3:7)

The Lord Jesus said these words to Nicodemus, a very religious man who was a ruler of the Jews. No man can be saved by the works of his flesh. The Bible teaches that the flesh is corrupt (Eph. 4:22), unprofitable (Jn. 6:63), and that in it dwells no good thing (Rom. 7:18). The carnal mind is enmity with God and cannot please Him (Rom. 8:7-8). Therefore salvation is not by religious reformation but by spiritual regeneration (Titus 3:5). It is not the old man made better but rather a new life from God (Jn. 1:11-13). How is it that a holy and righteous God can put His Spirit in unrighteous sinners and make us new creatures? What is the basis? Sinners MUST be born again and therefore Christ said that He MUST be lifted up on the cross (Jn. 3:14-15).

 

Christ Died for Our Sins (1 Cor. 15:3)

In this passage the apostle Paul defines the gospel that he received by revelation of Jesus Christ (vs.1-4). The gospel of the grace of God is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. The three letter middle word in “Christ died for our sins” is very important! We must know that we are sinners and that Christ died on the cross but most importantly we must believe in our heart that He died FOR our sins! He had no sin but was made to be sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21) that He might die in our place and pay the penalty for our sins!

 

By Grace Ye are Saved (Eph. 2:5)

Saving Grace is the unmerited favor and kindness of God toward sinners by Jesus Christ. Salvation is a free gift because it was purchased in full by the finished work of Christ. In this age of grace, salvation is “no more of works” (Rom. 11:6), “not of works” (Eph. 2:9), and “not by works” (Titus 3:5). The one condition to receiving the gift of salvation is to believe in your heart (Eph. 1:12-13). To try and add one work, no matter what it may be, is to pervert the gospel of Christ!

 

Ye are Complete in Him (Col. 2:10)

The very instant we believe on Christ as our personal Savior the Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) and we become one with Him. Through this spiritual baptism we are identified with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4), and we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). His work of salvation for us is complete. Nothing can be added to it. Spiritual growth is the process of learning who we are in Christ and how to live it out in our daily walk. We will be instantly and permanently glorified with Christ when He raptures us to heaven to be with Him (1 Cor. 51-52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20-21).

 

Looking for That Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13)

Christ could come at any moment to catch away His church (the word “rapture” comes from a Latin word that means to catch away by force). We shall see Him, be like Him, and be with Him forevermore. This is the consummation of our salvation. It is a done deal (Rom. 8:30), but we are waiting on its fulfillment. In the Bible, hope is not a doubtful thing at all. It is a certain anticipation and expectation of what has been promised. Until death or the rapture we still have the flesh to deal with. How do we walk in victory over the flesh?

 

I am Crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20)

We do not have to strive for victory over our flesh. Christ defeated the flesh for us when He died in our place. The old man being crucified, I am now free to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6-8). The Christian life is about Christ living His life through me!

 

These simple but powerful five word statements will change your life forever if you truly believe them!

 

Living Reality or Empty Dogma?

From time to time on this blog I may share a small excerpt from a book I'm reading that I find to be spiritually edifying. Many of the books in my library are out of print and cannot be found in the average "Christian bookstore." The following quote is from C.H. Mackintosh (1820-1896).

"We are passing through a world of misery, of sin and death and sorrow. We are surrounded by broken hearts and crushed spirits, if we would only look them out. 

Yes; this is the point; if we would only look them out. It is easy for us to close our eyes to such things, to turn away from, to "forget" that there are such things always within reach of us. We can sit in our easy chair, and speculate about truth, doctrines, and the letter of scripture; we can discuss the theories of Christianity, and split hairs about prophecy and dispensational truth, and, all the while, be shamefully failing in the discharge of our grand responsibilities as Christians. We are in imminent danger of forgetting that Christianity is a living reality. It is not a set of dogmas, a number of principles strung together on a thread of systematized divinity, which unconverted people can have at their fingers' ends. Neither is it a set of ordinances to be gone through, in dreary formality, by lifeless, heartless professors. No; it is life—life eternal—life implanted by the Holy Ghost, and expressing itself in those two lovely forms on which we have been dwelling, namely, praise to God and doing good to man.

Such was the life of Jesus when He trod this earth of ours. He lived in the atmosphere of praise; and He went about doing good.

And He is our life, and He is our model on which the life is to be formed. The Christian should be the living expression of Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is not a mere question of leading what is called a religious life, which very often resolves itself into a tiresome round of duties which neither yield "praise" to God nor one atom of " good" to man. There must be life, or it is all perfectly worthless. "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men." Rom. 14:17-18

Beloved christian reader, let us earnestly apply our hearts to the consideration of these great practical truths. Let us seek to be Christians not merely in name but in reality. Let us not be distinguished as the mere vendors of peculiar "views." Oh! how worthless are views! How utterly profitless is discussion! How wearisome are theological hair-splittings! Let us have life, light, and love. These are heavenly, eternal, divine. All else is vanity. How we do long for reality in this world of sham—for deep thinkers and earnest workers in this day of shallow talkers!" 

Flesh vs. Spirit: Our Responsibilities

The believer has two natures: the flesh (old) and the Spirit (new). These two natures being opposite as to origin, character, and destiny produces a conflict in the believer (Gal. 5:17). 

Salvation is of the Lord. It is God’s responsibility to save us from the flesh and give us His Spirit. He takes us out of Adam and put us in Christ. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Eph. 2:10). He makes us a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). God alone is responsible for our standing in Christ. However, this does not mean that we are without responsibilities in this matter. Christ gave us the victory by His grace but we will not enjoy it if we do not fulfill our responsibilities in the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. While God alone is responsible for our standing in Christ we are responsible for our state in this life (practical daily walk). The goal is to get our state lined up with our standing. Our practical daily walk must be in the power of the Spirit but that will not happen unless we do certain things.

It is God’s responsibility to work in us but it is our responsibility to work out what He works in (Phil. 2:12-13). To “work out” demands activity. It is not possible to be physically healthy without some kind of exercise. Likewise, it is not possible to be godly without spiritual exercise (1 Tim. 4:7).

I. BELIEVE what God Says about the Flesh and the Spirit

The flesh is a SIN nature and in it dwells NO good thing (Rom. 7:18). Religious flesh is just as corrupt as non-religious flesh. The flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:8). The Spirit is a RIGHTEOUS nature and in it dwells NO bad thing (Eph. 4:24). Do you really believe this?

II. RECKON Yourself to be Dead to the Flesh and Alive in the Spirit

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 (referring to the body) I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

On the cross Christ was baptized into our death (Lk. 12:50) and was raised victorious the third day. Upon salvation the Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into Christ and thereby we are identified with Him in death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:3-4). Regardless if you feel this truth or even know this truth it is still the truth. God said the old man is dead. He said that the believer is not in the flesh but in the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). It is our responsibility to reckon (to account it so) the flesh to be dead and ourselves to be alive unto God by the Spirit (Rom. 6:11). This is not a matter of feelings but FAITH. If we are guided by our feelings we will never enjoy this truth. It is for us to “believe God”. God has declared this great fact in His word (or we could have never known it); we hear that word; faith believes it, and rejoices in what it hears; and believes God, apart from the question of feeling. 

III. MORTIFY the Flesh and Walk in the Spirit

The word “mortify” is only used twice in the Bible and both times by Paul (Rom. 8:12; Col. 3:5). It may sound strange that we are told to mortify the flesh in light of the fact that the flesh is said to be dead already. However, if we understand what the word “mortify” means it makes perfect sense. What does a mortician do? He handles dead bodies. To “mortify” the flesh means that we are treating it as dead (even though it is still present). We don’t do this through the power of the flesh (by self discipline) but “through the Spirit”. The members of our body are not available for sinful deeds when we “mortify the deeds of the body."

If we reckon ourselves to be alive in the Spirit then we should walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). The Christian life is not just about what we don’t do, it is also about what we do.

If we live in the Spirit (STANDING), let us also walk in the Spirit (STATE). (Gal. 5:25)

We walk in the Spirit when we yield to Him in our heart and obey Him in our life. Thus, the spiritual man is right inside and out. We must no longer think with the carnal mind but with the mind of Christ. Thinking with the mind of Christ will cause us to let Christ who lives in us to live through us.  

The first three chapters of Ephesians reveal our glorious standing as members of the Body of Christ. The last three chapters exhorts us to WALK WORTHY of that calling! 

IV. STARVE the Flesh and FEED the Spirit

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Rom. 13:14)

To make provision is to supply with food. Don’t feed the flesh by constantly catering to its desires (Gal. 6:7-8).

How do we feed the Spirit? There is only one spiritual food that can nourish the new nature- the word of God (1 Pet. 1:23-2:3). We are as filled with the Spirit as we are filled with the word of God (compare Eph. 5:18-21 and Col. 3:16).

Practical suggestions:
1. Turn off the TV/internet and study the Bible
2. Don't think on wrong things but right things (Phil. 4:8)
3. Separate from worldly people and fellowship with spiritual people
4. Don't listen to worldly music but sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to the Lord
5. Don't make recreation a priority over church
6. Don't seek to please self, seek to please the Lord
  

The Believer's Two Natures

... were by NATURE the children of wrath... (Eph. 2:3)

 

... ye might be partakers of the divine NATURE... (2 Pet. 1:4)

 

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines nature as being, "The essence, essential qualities or attributes of a thing, which constitute what it is."

 

The word of God teaches that every believer has two natures. It is important that believers learn about this doctrine as soon as possible lest they become confused, discouraged, and defeated. Upon salvation the believer immediately enjoys the “newness of life” that is in Christ. With a heart full of gratitude for salvation and the price that Christ paid for that salvation the new believer desires to live as pure and right as possible. However, it does not take very long for him to realize that the fleshly desires are not gone and that he is still tempted to commit the same sins he lived in before salvation. Without an understanding of what the Bible teaches concerning the two natures the new believer will lose the joy of salvation thinking that he cannot live the Christian life and will more than likely even doubt that he was ever saved.

I. The Concept Explained
When you first hear about the believer’s two natures it certainly sounds strange. How can one person have two natures? In John 3 the Lord Jesus teaches that a man must have two births to see and enter the kingdom of God. Though he was talking to a “ruler of the Jews” during the time that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, there is spiritual truth in this passage that applies to us today. Though the kingdom of heaven is not at hand during this age, the believer is spiritually “translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son” (Col. 1:13) upon salvation.

A. Every man is born of the flesh – The flesh refers to human nature or what we are by physical birth. The first man, Adam, was created in the image of God and enjoyed fellowship with Him. However, Adam sinned against God and died spiritually (Eph. 2:1) being separated from the Spirit of God. All that are born into this world are the seed of Adam and are in the image of Adam (Gen. 5:3). Kind begets kind and the flesh can only bring forth flesh. Other names in the Bible for the flesh are: natural man (I Cor. 2:14), old man (Rom. 6:6), outward man (II Cor. 4:16), carnal mind (Rom. 8:7), and sin (Rom. 7:17). In the Bible there is a distinction between “sin” which is the root and “sins” which are the fruit. The nature of “the flesh” is SIN. No matter how hard a man may try to be religious and good (like Nicodemus), “that which is born of the flesh is flesh”. 

Consider what the word of God says about the flesh:
1. It profiteth NOTHING (Jn. 6:63)
2. In it dwelleth NO GOOD THING (Rom. 7:18)
3. It is ENMITY against God and CANNOT please God (Rom. 8:7-8)
4. It CANNOT know the things of the Spirit of God (I Cor. 2:14)
5. It is CORRUPT according to the deceitful lusts (Eph. 4:22)

B. To be saved a man must be born of the Spirit – To be born of the Spirit means that the Holy Spirit has indwelt you and has thereby made you a partaker of the divine nature (II Pet. 1:4). To be born of the flesh is generation and to be born of the Spirit is “regeneration” (Titus 3:5). The regenerated believer has been “renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col. 3:10). The believer is IN CHRIST and Christ is in the believer (Col. 1:27). Other names for the new nature are: new man (Eph. 4:24), inward man (II Cor. 4:16), and the spiritual mind (Rom. 8:6). The nature of the flesh is SIN but the nature of the Spirit is HOLINESS (Eph. 4:24). 

C. Both natures exist within the believer – The apostle Paul testified “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18a). Notice that he specified “in my flesh” because in Christ there are good things in us (Phile. 6). The flesh cannot be changed and made good in the sight of God. When a sinner gets saved the flesh does not get saved. Nowhere in the Bible is it taught that the believer can “eradicate” the sin nature. The flesh will be with us until death or we are changed in the rapture.

The old nature and the new nature are opposite in origin, character (consider the contrast between the “works of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit” as listed in Gal. 5:19-23), and destiny.

II. The Conflict Experienced
The existence of two natures within the same person which are of absolute opposite origin, character, and destiny obviously causes a conflict (Gal. 5:17). The flesh desires for you to sin and the Spirit desires for you to be holy. This is a conflict every true believer experiences but it is one that too many do not understand and therefore they do not enjoy the victory that is ours when we learn to walk in the Spirit. One of the blessings of this conflict is the assurance it provides that we are “born of the Spirit” for one that is not born of the Spirit knows nothing of a conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. Another blessing of this conflict is that it teaches us by experience that our flesh is totally depraved and therefore we must depend totally on God for victory. This conflict is no excuse to walk in defeat as a believer because we can “walk in the Spirit” and thereby NOT “fulfill the lust of the flesh”.

III. The Conquest Enjoyed
What a wonderful day it was when I learned from the scripture that it is not my responsibility to defeat the flesh because Christ has already conquered it for me (Rom. 6)! As to our standing (unchangeable position), we are complete in Christ the moment of salvation (Col. 2:10). But as to our state (changeable condition), we have have a responsibility to walk by faith in the victory Christ has given us. 

Romans 6 teaches us HOW to enjoy the victory we have in Christ. Please take the time to carefully read through this great chapter. This chapter can be outlined according to 3 key words:
A. KNOW (vs.1-10) – that our old man is crucified with Christ
B. RECKON (v.11) – that we are dead to sin and alive unto God
C. YIELD (vs.12-23) – our members as instruments of righteousness

 

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (Rom. 6:17)

1. Doctrine - Know (Spirit)
2. Heart - Reckon (Soul)
3. Obeyed - Yield (Body)

 

We cannot live the Christian life in the energy in the flesh anymore than we could be saved by it. We must stop striving to make our flesh like Christ (which is impossible) and let Christ live His life through us.

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 (Gal. 2:20).

 

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (Col. 2:6)

 

 

Is 2 Chron. 7:14 the Answer for America?

The common practice in preaching today is to isolate a text from its context and then just use it however you want. Ignorant and arrogant preachers actually think they “make the Bible come to life” with their story-filled sermons. The word of God is quick and powerful (Heb. 4:12). It certainly does not need our assistance! Very few actually “preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2) in context and rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15). 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This is a well-known verse that is usually used by preachers when preaching on the need for revival in America. It will no doubt be the text for many sermons on this Fourth of July weekend. But does America have any right to claim the promises in this verse? 

Let’s consider the context. In chapter 6 king Solomon blesses the congregation of Israel (vs.1-11) and offers a dedicatory prayer for the newly built temple in Jerusalem (vs.12-42). In chapter 7:
· Fire from heaven falls on the sacrifices, the glory of the LORD fills the house (vs.1-3)
· More sacrifices are offered by the king and the people (vs.4-7)
· The king leads the people to keep the feast of tabernacles (vs.8-11)
· The LORD appears to Solomon in response to his prayer (vs.12-22)

Look at Solomon’s request in 6:24-31. This is in accordance with the covenant that God made with Israel in the wilderness (Deut. 28). In 2 Chron. 7:14 God promises to do 3 things IF Israel will do 4 things (the law is an "if" and "then" system). It is WRONG for the Body of Christ in this present dispensation of grace to put ourselves under this law system (Rom. 6:14). Do we have to do these things in order for God to:
1. Hear from heaven – Our access is based on Christ (Eph. 2:18; 3:12)
2. Forgive our sins – All of our sins are already forgiven (Col. 2:13)
3. Heal our land – We are a heavenly people with heavenly promises (Phil. 3:20; Eph. 1:3)

We may apply the moral principles in 2 Chron. 7:14 but we have no right to claim its promises. Certainly the Body of Christ should also do the 4 things mentioned in this verse:
1. Humble ourselves (Col. 3:12)
2. Pray (Col. 4:2)
3. Seek God’s face (Col. 3:1-4)
4. Turn from our wicked ways (Col. 3:5-11)  

But even if all the Christians in America faithfully obeyed these four things (which will sadly never happen) it would still not cause God to forgive the sins of our nation and heal our land from diseases and natural disasters. He has not made a covenant with America about our land! 

What is the problem with America? It is a part of this present evil world (Gal. 1:4) that is on a course set by Satan (Eph. 2:1-3) who is the god of it (2 Cor. 4:4). God has not called us to save the world. We are to preach the gospel so that sinners can get saved out of the world and placed into Christ. We are to shine as lights in the midst of this crooked and perverse nation (Phil. 2:12-16) but we are not going to change it. That is the real "Christian world view."

 

Straw Man Arguments (part 4)

The Bible plainly says that the church which is the Body of Christ was a mystery hid in God until He revealed it through the apostle Paul (Eph. 3:1-13) and that we are made members of this one spiritual Body by believing the gospel (Eph. 3:6). Which gospel? The one that Christ revealed through Paul (Gal. 1:11-12). But for some reason most fundamental preachers think that is some kind of dangerous heresy and they are dogmatic that God started building the Body of Christ before Paul was saved. A dispensation is a dispensing of divine revelation with corresponding human responsibility. How could this present dispensation begin before Christ dispensed the distinctive truths of it through Paul? 

 

Another straw man argument goes something like this, "Paul himself said that he persecuted the church before he was saved (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13) and he referred to those who were in Christ before him (Rom. 16:7)."

 

This is a straw man argument because the fact that there was a church before Paul was saved and that there were believers in Christ before him in no way refutes our position. 

 

What is a church? It is simply a called out assembly. We don't read the word "church" in the OT because it is translated from Greek and not Hebrew. However we know there was a church in the OT because that is what Stephen said Israel was when they were called out of Egypt and assembled in the wilderness (Acts 7:38). David prophesied of the kingdom church in Ps. 22:22-31. When the writer of Hebrews quotes Ps. 22:22 he says "church" instead of "congregation" (Heb. 2:12). The church in Jerusalem was certainly the church of God but it was a prophesied church looking for the Messianic kingdom (Acts 1:6; 2:30) and not a mystery hid in God! The Body of Christ is a church but not every church in the Bible is the Body of Christ.

 

What makes the Body of Christ distinct is not that we are "in Christ" but that we are "one new man" (Eph. 2:15) in which there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal. 3:27-28). Every believer that is redeemed by the blood of Christ is "in Christ" and so ALL believers on this side of the cross are "in Christ". A person can only be "in Adam" or "in Christ" (1 Cor. 15:22). When Israel is saved under the new covenant they will be "in the LORD" but they will still be a distinct nation with authority over the Gentiles.

 

(Isaiah 45:17) But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

 

(Isaiah 45:24-25) Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.  {25} In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

 

In the eternal state the nation of Israel, the saved Gentile nations, and the Body of Christ will be one family of God and will all be "in Christ"! But these groups will remain distinct throughout eternity.

 

(Ephesians 1:10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

 

(Ephesians 3:14-15) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  {15} Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

 

Another proof text I have often heard preachers use is found in the account of Paul's conversion.

 

(Acts 9:4-5) "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  {5} And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

 

We are told that this verse proves Paul persecuted the Body of Christ. Was Christ talking about the Body of Christ in the following passage? No, He was talking about Jewish saints in the tribulation period!  

 

(Matthew 25:31-46) ¶ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  {32} And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  {33} And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  {34} Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  {35} For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  {36} Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  {37} Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  {38} When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  {39} Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  {40} And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  {41} Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  {42} For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  {43} I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  {44} Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  {45} Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  {46} And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.