The Gospels and the Mystery
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The actual, or if I may, literal replacement theology is any doctrine that replaces Christ with natural/carnal things. In other words, its interpretations replace spiritual realities with carnal realities. This happens because carnally-minded people who embrace these doctrines are unable to see spiritual realities. Therefore, their interpretations are soulish, not spiritual
So we have to ask ourselves, who is keenly interested in us interpreting scripture naturally rather than spiritually? Why that would be satan, of course, because he is able to control us when we are blinded to spiritual realities by being focused on natural, worldly things
Therefore, a good hermeneutical principle, or rule, is to expect and look for the spiritual interpretation of scripture., and if that cannot be realistically found, then assume a natural interpretation. That is because virtually everything in the old testament is a type or shadow of the spiritual reality of Christ. First the natural (or soulish) then the spiritual is a spiritual principle that is found throughout scripture:
First the natural,
But the soulish man doesn't receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Without spiritual discernment, soulish Christians see only carnal fulfillments of scripture, and slander Christians having spiritual discernment with the accusation of 'spiritualizing' scripture. As if the invisible spiritual realities of an invisible spiritual kingdom are somehow inferior to visible, carnal things. So we have to ask ourselves, who is keenly interested in us interpreting scripture naturally rather than spiritually? Why that would be satan, of course, because he is able to control us when we are blinded to spiritual realities by being focused on natural, worldly things
Therefore, a good hermeneutical principle, or rule, is to expect and look for the spiritual interpretation of scripture., and if that cannot be realistically found, then assume a natural interpretation. That is because virtually everything in the old testament is a type or shadow of the spiritual reality of Christ. First the natural (or soulish) then the spiritual is a spiritual principle that is found throughout scripture:
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:46
For example, natural Israel is a type or shadow of the true, spiritual Israel, which is Christ, who inherited all things, and through whom we and natural Israel receive the inheritance.First the natural,
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. Hosea 11:1
then the spiritualAnd [Jesus] was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet [Hosea], saying, Out of Egypt I called my son. Matthew 2:15
Those who claim Peter's initial gospel message was the same as Paul's Gospel received directly from Christ, I noticed that they don't post the verses in order to compare them directly, such as this:
Acts 2:38 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.
Paul, on the other hand, preached this:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The difference is night-n-day. Peter's gospel that he heard from Christ Jesus and that he was required to preach unto Israel, it was water baptism unto the remission of sins. Paul, on the other hand, who said nothing about water baptism unto the remission of sins, but rather preached FAITH in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on the third day, the differences are unmistakable.
The reasons for this have already been explained in this thread for your reading enjoyment.
MM
Acts 2:38 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.
Paul, on the other hand, preached this:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The difference is night-n-day. Peter's gospel that he heard from Christ Jesus and that he was required to preach unto Israel, it was water baptism unto the remission of sins. Paul, on the other hand, who said nothing about water baptism unto the remission of sins, but rather preached FAITH in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on the third day, the differences are unmistakable.
The reasons for this have already been explained in this thread for your reading enjoyment.
MM
I see no reason to think that Peter and Paul proclaimed different gospels. Peter said during the Jerusalem council that they were saved by grace, as the gentiles were.
Paul describes this same event in Galatians 2 and reveals that he went to Jerusalem to confer with Peter and other leaders in order to determine if he had the gospel right, and wrote that they had nothing to add to it. So the implication is that they were on the same page, and the proceedings of the Jerusalem council bear that out.
Peter was in fact the first to go to the gentiles, so the gospel he proclaimed to them was the same as what he proclaimed to Jews.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:7-11
Paul describes this same event in Galatians 2 and reveals that he went to Jerusalem to confer with Peter and other leaders in order to determine if he had the gospel right, and wrote that they had nothing to add to it. So the implication is that they were on the same page, and the proceedings of the Jerusalem council bear that out.
Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. Galatians 2:1-2
But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: Galatians 2:6
for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: Galatians 2:6Peter was in fact the first to go to the gentiles, so the gospel he proclaimed to them was the same as what he proclaimed to Jews.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. Acts 10:34-48
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Furthermore, when Paul confronted Peter for his hypocritical behavior of living apart from the law when he was around gentiles, but pretending to be a law-observant Jew when Jews from Jerusalem were present, he stated that Peter was not living uprightly according to the gospel, which makes it quite clear that there was only one gospel between them. There would have been no reason for Paul to openly rebuke Peter in front of everyone if they proclaimed different gospelsBut when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Galatians 2:11-14
The doubters of scripture also ignore that Gentiles were, at one time, without God in the world except that they become proselytes into Judaism:
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Even Jesus referred to lost Gentiles as dogs:
Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
At that time, the only ones deemed by the Lord worthy of being called "the children" was Israel, and those who joined with Israel for salvation.
Oh, yes. Some, or many, ignore the ramifications of these very statements from our Lord and King, twisting them to their own ends steeped in doubt and conceit:
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.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
We all have much to learn, and rejecting what scripture says by trying to pit the word of God against itself, that is the nourishment of conceit and warped hermeneutics, we're left with nothing but blind and circular argument on the part of doubters.
MM
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Even Jesus referred to lost Gentiles as dogs:
Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
At that time, the only ones deemed by the Lord worthy of being called "the children" was Israel, and those who joined with Israel for salvation.
Oh, yes. Some, or many, ignore the ramifications of these very statements from our Lord and King, twisting them to their own ends steeped in doubt and conceit:
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.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
We all have much to learn, and rejecting what scripture says by trying to pit the word of God against itself, that is the nourishment of conceit and warped hermeneutics, we're left with nothing but blind and circular argument on the part of doubters.
MM
I don't see how you think this supports your false doctrine because all of that ended at the cross. That was life before the beginning of the dispensation in which living waters, ie the holy spirit, was poured out on mankind at Pentecost from the house of God; slowly at first, but the trickle eventually turned into a flood of living waters that covered the earth and brought forth a great multitude that no man can number.
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Ezekiel 47:1
And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. Ezekiel 47:3-5
And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. Ezekiel 47:9-10
And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. Zechariah 14:8
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this he spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:37-39
And when the day of Pentecost was fulfilled completely, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
And Jesus said unto them, Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Mark 1:17
What kind of bizarre nonsense are you teaching that it can't even conform to a broader reading of scripture than what you selectively provide? The baptism verses provided above by @GWH clearly show that water baptism was indeed part of Paul's ministry.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. Acts 16:14-15
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Acts 16:33
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. Acts 18:8
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:4-5
I was curious this morning about the Bible's choice for the word "commonwealth." Thayer's Greek Lexicon had this to say as the definition according to the grammatical and contextual construct:
"spoken of the theocratic or divine commonwealth, Ephesians 2:12. "
That leans in the direction of Divine sourcing and contact, given that the Lord established covenants with no other nation or people on the earth apart from Israel. However, Israel's rejection in getting the Romans to crucify the Lord of Glory was the one thing that brought about their cutting off from the Vine, except that it was delayed slightly:
Luke 13:6-9
6 He spake also this parable; A certain [man] had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
This very much has the appearance of an inner counsel within the Godhead, and that one year coincides with Stephen's stoning about a year after the ascension of Christ...almost like the last straw (so to speak) before the Lord set aside Israel for a time, and that time being the Mystery that remained hidden in God from creation, as is evidenced in the fact that the body of Christ was unknown to any created being until revealed to Paul, as is somewhat evidenced in this:
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The princes, the chief demons perpetrated something if which they knew nothing about. When they pushed the people to crucify Christ, as was prophesied and therefore NOT a mystery, within the outflow from that very act was the hidden wisdom of what was to come, which is the benefit we all enjoy today, which is faith alone for salvation rather than having to join with Israel and perform works for salvation. This does indeed go against the many works-based systems of assumed salvation today, as well as replacement theology. The Lord works in His own ways that are not defined by what many believe, for the majority failing to read the scriptures for themselves renders them subject to any and all systems of thought that appeal to the pride of flesh...thinking that we can add to assurances for salvation with the efforts we put forth. That falsehood has many floundering around in confusions beyond counting never considering that it is impossible to earn a gift. The irrational defiance of reason in the belief systems of so many leaves them in darkness, ever fighting against these truths that the flesh simply doesn't want to accept. Riding the bandwagon has always offered the warm fuzzies of comfort, deadening the intellectual prowess of critical thinking...proving ALL things!
MM
"spoken of the theocratic or divine commonwealth, Ephesians 2:12. "
That leans in the direction of Divine sourcing and contact, given that the Lord established covenants with no other nation or people on the earth apart from Israel. However, Israel's rejection in getting the Romans to crucify the Lord of Glory was the one thing that brought about their cutting off from the Vine, except that it was delayed slightly:
Luke 13:6-9
6 He spake also this parable; A certain [man] had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
This very much has the appearance of an inner counsel within the Godhead, and that one year coincides with Stephen's stoning about a year after the ascension of Christ...almost like the last straw (so to speak) before the Lord set aside Israel for a time, and that time being the Mystery that remained hidden in God from creation, as is evidenced in the fact that the body of Christ was unknown to any created being until revealed to Paul, as is somewhat evidenced in this:
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The princes, the chief demons perpetrated something if which they knew nothing about. When they pushed the people to crucify Christ, as was prophesied and therefore NOT a mystery, within the outflow from that very act was the hidden wisdom of what was to come, which is the benefit we all enjoy today, which is faith alone for salvation rather than having to join with Israel and perform works for salvation. This does indeed go against the many works-based systems of assumed salvation today, as well as replacement theology. The Lord works in His own ways that are not defined by what many believe, for the majority failing to read the scriptures for themselves renders them subject to any and all systems of thought that appeal to the pride of flesh...thinking that we can add to assurances for salvation with the efforts we put forth. That falsehood has many floundering around in confusions beyond counting never considering that it is impossible to earn a gift. The irrational defiance of reason in the belief systems of so many leaves them in darkness, ever fighting against these truths that the flesh simply doesn't want to accept. Riding the bandwagon has always offered the warm fuzzies of comfort, deadening the intellectual prowess of critical thinking...proving ALL things!
MM
Colossians 1:24-29
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
The unmistakable message here is that Paul was given what was known by no other man until him after his conversion. He knew the Kingdom Gospel preached by Christ and the eleven, for that Kingdom Gospel is the reason he persecuted the Church, and therefore Christ as the Lord revealed to him on the road to Damascus.
So, with Paul already knowing full well the message of the Kingdom Gospel, and a MYSTERY revealed only to him to be spread to all Gentiles and to Jews alike, there are still people claiming that the Gospel of Grace is precisely what Peter and the other apostles preached.
Ephesians 3:1-7
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Jesus referred to Gentiles as dogs, not fellow heirs, but Gentiles becoming fellow heirs was hidden from ALL men, including the angels:
Ephesians 2:11-12
11 Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Why?
Contrast that with this from Jesus:
Matthew 15:26 But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs.
So you see, the formation of the body of Christ through Paul, with Gentiles becoming fellow heirs with Israel by way of Grace, without Gentiles any longer having to join with the commonwealth of Israel to be saved so long as they endure unto the end with works of obedience and good works...we today have been given a wondrous gift, the message for which has been corrupted by so many false teaching Judaizers out there who try to couple works with grace, which is an impossible mixture that will save not one soul!
One can never do any measure of works that will add one thing to the unmerited favor already poured out upon all who believe in the death, burial and resurrection on the third day of Christ Jesus. Nobody can earn a gift...
MM
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
The unmistakable message here is that Paul was given what was known by no other man until him after his conversion. He knew the Kingdom Gospel preached by Christ and the eleven, for that Kingdom Gospel is the reason he persecuted the Church, and therefore Christ as the Lord revealed to him on the road to Damascus.
So, with Paul already knowing full well the message of the Kingdom Gospel, and a MYSTERY revealed only to him to be spread to all Gentiles and to Jews alike, there are still people claiming that the Gospel of Grace is precisely what Peter and the other apostles preached.
Ephesians 3:1-7
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Jesus referred to Gentiles as dogs, not fellow heirs, but Gentiles becoming fellow heirs was hidden from ALL men, including the angels:
Ephesians 2:11-12
11 Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Why?
Contrast that with this from Jesus:
Matthew 15:26 But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs.
So you see, the formation of the body of Christ through Paul, with Gentiles becoming fellow heirs with Israel by way of Grace, without Gentiles any longer having to join with the commonwealth of Israel to be saved so long as they endure unto the end with works of obedience and good works...we today have been given a wondrous gift, the message for which has been corrupted by so many false teaching Judaizers out there who try to couple works with grace, which is an impossible mixture that will save not one soul!
One can never do any measure of works that will add one thing to the unmerited favor already poured out upon all who believe in the death, burial and resurrection on the third day of Christ Jesus. Nobody can earn a gift...
MM
The teachers out there of falsehoods such as replacement theology, they know nothing of scripture:
Romans 11:25-27
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.
Do you see how much future tense there is in that statement, all referencing Israel, the nation? Those who are wise in their own conceits allegorize this into oblivion, making it say whatever they want it to say from their own vain imaginations.
This sets in perfectly with the Gospel of Grace and rightly dividing the word of truth.
MM
Romans 11:25-27
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.
Do you see how much future tense there is in that statement, all referencing Israel, the nation? Those who are wise in their own conceits allegorize this into oblivion, making it say whatever they want it to say from their own vain imaginations.
This sets in perfectly with the Gospel of Grace and rightly dividing the word of truth.
MM
Actual replacement theology replaces Christ with natural things; such teachings are anti-Christ (instead of Christ). Virtually everything in the old testament is a type or shadow of Christ. So focusing on natural things while denying their spiritual fulfillments in Christ is unbelief. Christ is God's firstborn son and heir of the promises to Abraham. And just as Christ is the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45), so also is Christ the last Israel. First the natural (type), then the spiritual (antitype).
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:46
First the natural firstborn son who was called out of Egypt (shadow/type)When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. Hosea 11:1
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: Exodus 4:22
Then the spiritual firstborn son who was called out of Egypt (antitype/fulfillment)And [Jesus] was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet [Hosea], saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Matthew 2:15
And there came a voice from heaven, saying, You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Mark 1:11
And [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18
I realize some people are pragmatic and stoic when it comes to reliance only upon the scriptures for their beliefs, and it is what it is. Here is a short video interview with the president of Master's College talking about the dispensationalism, which I personally do not subscribe since there are various expressions and paths of dispensationalism, thus my reluctance to align with any one -ism.
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The guy errs @3:30 when he says a promise to Israel was made when God walked through the pieces to make a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:18. The promise was to Abraham's seed, which Paul declares in Galatians 3:16 is Christ, not natural Israel
Then he continues and says natural Israel is the true Israel which isn't true either. The true Israel is Christ and his body composed of Jew and gentile.
Then he mentions that the word church isn't used in Revelation after chapter 3, which is a feeble attempt by dispensationalists to claim that the church is no longer on the earth because they have been raptured into heaven. But at the beginning of chapter 4 John himself is transported into heaven in spirit, and lo and behold, the church is not there! lol
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: Genesis 15:18
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. Galatians 3:16
Then he continues and says natural Israel is the true Israel which isn't true either. The true Israel is Christ and his body composed of Jew and gentile.
Then he mentions that the word church isn't used in Revelation after chapter 3, which is a feeble attempt by dispensationalists to claim that the church is no longer on the earth because they have been raptured into heaven. But at the beginning of chapter 4 John himself is transported into heaven in spirit, and lo and behold, the church is not there! lol
After these things I saw and beheld an opened portal in heaven, and I hear the first voice speaking with me as a trumpet saying, "Come up here and I will show you what is binding to occur after these things." Immediately I was in spirit and beheld a throne situated in heaven and one sitting upon the throne. Revelation 4:1-2
So word of advice: Spare yourself the confusion and don't listen to these carnal, unspiritual replacement theologians who replace Christ, the true spiritual Israel, with natural IsraelFor the promises of God are yes in [Christ] and amen in {Christ}, unto the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20
This guy also errs when he says the mystery hidden in God is the rapture of the church. The hidden mystery of God is Christ in his people, as plainly stated by Paul
Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:25-26
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel: Ephesians 3:4-6
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:25-27
I routinely watch and listen to materials created by those who dislike the belief in the Dispensation of Grace (DoG) and Paul's Gospel, and so far, every one of them has been steeped in emotional argumentation moreso than sticking strictly to the texts of scripture. Going on the attack in ways that outright misrepresents the thoughts and beliefs of those who follow the Gospel of Grace (GoG) distinction is the most common strategy they employ, such as claiming that there remains a divide between Israel and the Church. This absolutely misses the mark of what GoG teaches and that the DoG followers believe about it all.
I have not heard any followers of the GoG say that there remains a separation between what they call the "Church" and Israel...at least to the extreme the replacement theology gang seems to think. We are ALL saved by the same Gospel today, the difference being that we are not saved by the Gospel preached by Peter and the eleven. Water baptism does NOT remit sins, even though the replacement thology gang claims that Peter's gospel is the same as that preached by Paul, which is utterly false. Peter was not speaking TO us today, nor was he even speaking to Gentiles at all way back then standing on that balcony. The Mystery of the Gospel of Grace had not yet been revealed to Paul at that time since Paul was out persecuting the Jews who had chosen to follow Christ Jesus, and ALL of whom were still zealous for the Law. The freakish belief that Jesus nullified the Law to all the Jews is another discussion entirely...
So, as stated, the nay-sayers against the DoG all use straw men arguments and misrepresentations of the beliefs held by those who believe what Paul preached as compared to those who do not, thus unknowingly including themselves in the latter.
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I have not heard any followers of the GoG say that there remains a separation between what they call the "Church" and Israel...at least to the extreme the replacement theology gang seems to think. We are ALL saved by the same Gospel today, the difference being that we are not saved by the Gospel preached by Peter and the eleven. Water baptism does NOT remit sins, even though the replacement thology gang claims that Peter's gospel is the same as that preached by Paul, which is utterly false. Peter was not speaking TO us today, nor was he even speaking to Gentiles at all way back then standing on that balcony. The Mystery of the Gospel of Grace had not yet been revealed to Paul at that time since Paul was out persecuting the Jews who had chosen to follow Christ Jesus, and ALL of whom were still zealous for the Law. The freakish belief that Jesus nullified the Law to all the Jews is another discussion entirely...
So, as stated, the nay-sayers against the DoG all use straw men arguments and misrepresentations of the beliefs held by those who believe what Paul preached as compared to those who do not, thus unknowingly including themselves in the latter.
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