Dd-82. Is POST-ACTS DISPENSATIONALISM BIBLICAL? DOWNLOAD to SAVE as a PDF Doc to read OFFLINE. Dd-82. Is POST-ACTS DISPENSATIONALISM BIBLICAL? What is Post-Acts Dispensationalism? A dispensation is a period of time in which God deals with his people in a different way or manner. For example, we can clearly see a difference between the Old Covenant written in the Old Testament from the New Covenant written in the New Testament. So, the Old Covenant is one dispensation and the New Covenant is a different dispensation. And teaching these different dispensations is called dispensationalism, which some Christians called Covenant Theology. The word “dispensation” means the EXEMPTION from something that is normally required, and in Ephesians 3:2, the Apostle Paul asked the Ephesians if they had HEARD of the DISPENSATION of GRACE. So then, the “DISPENSATION” of grace is a period of time that God’s people are EXEMPT from keeping the Law of Moses IF they obey the TWO LEAST commandments under the New Covenant written in the New Testament. Now around the time of John Nelson Darby back in the 1800’s, who is accredited by some Christians as the one who founded the PRE-tribulation rapture of the church, there was also a Christian named Sir Robert Anderson. And he is accredited by some Christians as founding the teaching of Mid-Acts Dispensationalism. The Mid-Acts dispensationalism is basically the same line of reasoning as Post-Acts Dispensationalism that is also called by many other names. Some of the more popular names of the Post-Acts Dispensationalism teachings are the Acts 28 Grace Alone teaching, hyper-dispensationalism, the Grace Movement, and a few other less common names of groups of Christians. All these groups of Christians are basically teaching that there is a DIFFERENCE between the ALL Jewish church and the Gentile church. What do they mean by there is a DIFFERENCE between the very early ALL Jewish Church from the church AFTER God turned to the Gentiles? The difference that THEY are seeing is that it SEEMS like the Apostle Paul has a “DIFFERENT” gospel than the other 11 Apostles. So, what do they mean by a different gospel? They mean that AFTER the JEWS were saved by faith alone and not of works that ONLY the JEWISH Christians were required to do GOOD WORKS of righteousness in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. BUT according to them, the gospel that Paul preached to the Gentiles is a Grace ALONE gospel. And thus, they wrongly conclude that we, as Gentile Christians, are not REQUIRED to do good works in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. In other words, the GRACE ALONE gospel, according to grace alone Christians, teaches that we as Gentile believers are saved by grace through FAITH ALONE and NOT of WORKS, lest any man should boast. And, according to THEM, it is basically the same gospel preached to the early ALL Jewish church, BUT the DIFFERENCE is that the Gentile church NO LONGER is REQUIRED to do good works in order to KEEP or MAINTAIN their salvation. In other words, the Grace Movement teaches eternal security and once saved, always saved doctrines. Those doctrines teach that a true-born again Christian can NEVER LOSE their salvation no matter what they DO or do NOT DO. Those grace alone, eternal security doctrines, also teach that Christians can lose their rewards, but they can NEVER lose their salvation. And they base that claim on eternal life being a GIFT which we already HAVE and since eternal means forever, then the gift is an eternal gift which God will never take away. So, basically, all grace alone believers teach that a person can NOT EARN their salvation by doing WORKS because then there could be boasting. But, as more and more grace ALONE Christians began studying the Bible for themselves, their eyes were opened to all the verses having the CONDITIONAL word “IF” in them. And all of these verses clearly teach us that some kind of WORK is indeed required in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. So, it became very clear to them that a Christian CAN LOSE their salvation. But at the same time, some grace alone believers were still seeing OTHER verses that seem to be teaching that a Christian can NEVER lose their salvation, and we all agree that the Bible cannot contradict itself. So then, THEY set out to try to reconcile what SEEMS to be a contradiction in the Bible. The question is how can we be saved by grace and NOT by works and then WORKS are REQUIRED to receive eternal life? How is that even possible? The answer is SIMPLE! Paul is talking about the works of the law of commandments CONTAINED in ORDINANCES, according to Ephesians 2:8-15 and Colossians 2:3-23. Please read the studies called Dd-5. What Does Contained in ORDINANCES Mean?, F-1. CAN A CHRISTIAN LOSE THEIR SALVATION?, and F-2. Is ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL? for all the verses that are used to try and prove that a true born-again Christian can never lose their salvation, no matter what they do or do not do. So they searched the Bible to see HOW they could “harmonize” these verses that SEEMED to contradict each other and Sir Robert Anderson saw what has come to be called the MYSTERY “GENTILE” church which was HIDDEN from the foundation of the world. Here is a quote from one of the Grace Movement believers website. The emphasis is mine. “Mid-Acts dispensational Bible study recognizes the importance of the MYSTERY of Christ revealed to the apostle Paul as doctrine particular to the church in the present dispensation (Rom 16:25, Col 1:25-27, Eph 3:2-4). While most Bible students would make the most important division in the Bible to be between Israel and the Church or the Old and New Testaments, mid-Acts Bible study teaches the most important distinction in your Bible to be the right division between God’s MYSTERY purpose, “kept secret since the world began”, and God’s PROPHECY purpose, which had been “spoken since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21 vs. Romans 16:25). Understanding the MYSTERY of Christ revealed to Paul for us clears up the theological confusion that is created by blending Prophecy and Mystery doctrines. Some controversial doctrines resolved by Pauline right division include:” And then they give a list of several church doctrines that have become controversial among different church denominations, which I do not want to go into in this particular study in God’s word. It is too easy to get side track and this study would become a book covering many subjects or several different church doctrines. The main purpose of this study is to show the errors of interpretation made by the Grace believers that claim that the church age, also called the age of grace by some Christians, is DIVIDED into TWO parts covering THREE different dispensations. In other words, to those Christians who believe in this post-Acts dispensationalism, the ONE church age MUST be DIVIDED into THREE different parts in order to understand God's plan of salvation correctly. They CLAIM that the two parts of the one church are the very early ALL Jewish church that began on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 and the Gentile church that began when God turned to the Gentiles. Now the reason that there must be THREE dispensations while there are only TWO parts of the one church is that the EARLY ALL Jewish church was blinded in part UNTIL God turns his attention to the Jews a SECOND time as prophesied in Isaiah 11:11. This does not mean that Jews cannot be saved during this PRESENT dispensation. But rather, it means that when a Jew is saved NOW in this present world then they are saved in the same way the Gentiles are saved. And that is through the gospel of grace alone taught by the Apostle Paul. The Grace believer’s claim that THIS is the MYSTERY that was KEPT SECRET since the world began. And they quote Romans 16:25 as their proof text to try and prove that Paul’s gospel was DIFFERENT from the gospel of Peter and the other Apostles of Jesus. And thus, according to THEM, this so-called DIFFERENT gospel of Paul IS the MYSTERY. Romans 16:25. “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.” So then, according to grace alone believers, who teach Mid-Acts and Post-Acts Dispensationalism, it is the GENTILE church that was a MYSTERY that was KEPT SECRET since the world began and was REVEALED TO the Apostle Paul. These grace believers also CONTRAST Romans 16:25 with Acts 3:19-21 to try to prove that there is a DIFFERENT gospel of salvation being preached by Peter from the gospel preached by the other Apostles of Jesus. Please read Acts 3:19-21. “Repent you, 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 has SPOKEN by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” So then, according to the grace alone believers, there is a DIFFERENCE between what has been SPOKEN by God in PROPHECY from what has been KEPT SECRET and has been REVEALED TO Paul. In other words, they are CLAIMING that God did NOT give any PROPHECIES of saving the GENTILES to become part of the church. But they make an error in their interpretation of these verses to mean that there are two different gospels being preached in the New Testament. For you see, God does indeed give us PROPHECY that he would turn to a people that were NOT his people. And at the time the PROPHECY was given, the children of Israel were God’s ONLY CHOSEN PEOPLE. Please read Deuteronomy 32:21. “They (The children of Israel or God’s chosen people) have moved me (Almighty God) to jealousy with that which is not God (speaking of their idol gods); they (God’s chosen people Israel) have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy WITH THOSE which are NOT a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.” Now read where the Apostle Paul HIMSELF quotes this verse in Deuteronomy 32:21 along with other verses of PROPHECY in Isaiah 65:1,2 where Paul reveals the fulfillment of both of these PROPHECIES in Romans 10:18-21. Romans 10:18-21. “But I say, Have they (God’s chosen people Israel) not heard? (Heard WHAT? Paul is saying haven’t the children of Israel heard the WORD of God that was SPOKEN to them by the PROPHETS?) Yes verily, their SOUND (The sound of the PROPHETS) went into all the earth, and their WORDS (The words of Almighty God that he gave to the PROPHETS to PROPHESY or SPEAK to the children of Israel and) unto the ends of the world. 19. But I (The Apostle Paul) say, Did not Israel know? First Moses said, (In Deuteronomy 32:21) I will provoke you to jealousy by THEM that are NO people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20. But Isaiah is very bold, and says, I was FOUND of THEM that sought me NOT; I was made manifest unto THEM that asked not after me. (Speaking of the GENTILES hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and receiving God’s so great a salvation which the Jews, for the most part, rejected) 21. But to Israel he said, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Now, the grace alone believers should have known this PROPHECY of God, foretelling that he would turn to a people, who were NOT his people, in order that the children of Israel would be provoked to jealousy. If the grace alone believers would have kept Romans 16:25 in its CONTEXT and read verse 26 which clearly teaches us that this MYSTERY of God, turning to the Gentiles, was REVEALED to him by the SCRIPTURES. Please read Romans 16:25 AND 26. “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, 26. But NOW is made manifest (Or clearly REVEALED to us by Jesus Christ), 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:” In other words, Jesus did NOT reveal something that was kept a secret that was NOT WRITTEN in the Scriptures. But rather Jesus REVEALED to the Apostle Paul that SAME thing that he also REVEALED to the Apostle Peter and all his disciples by opening their eyes to the SCRIPTURES which PROPHESIED the Gentile church. Before we leave this verse please notice that the REASON this MYSTERY was revealed to ALL the nations is FOR the OBEDIENCE of faith. Keep in mind that these grace alone believers claim that Peter taught a DIFFERENT gospel from what Paul taught but Peter quotes this same verse in Deuteronomy 23:21 found in 1 Peter 2:6-10,16 and preaches the SAME gospel of LIBERTY that Paul preaches. 1 Peter 2:6-10, 16. “ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. 7. Unto you therefore which BELIEVE he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to THEM which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto ALSO THEY were appointed. (Speaking of this so great a salvation by faith IN Jesus Christ which was kept a secret from when the world began is ALSO preached to God’s chosen people the Jews which many have rejected not understanding the Scriptures) 9. But YOU are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that YOU should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10. Which in time past (YOU Gentiles) were NOT a people, but are NOW the people of God: which had NOT obtained mercy, but NOW have obtained mercy (BECAUSE you have believed the true gospel of Jesus Christ)…. ...16. As FREE, and not using your LIBERTY for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” The reason I want my readers to know that Peter preached the same exact gospel of grace that Paul teaches is because some of the grace alone believers CLAIM that the gospel CHANGED when God turned to the Gentiles and ONLY the Apostle Paul teaches the TRUE gospel of salvation by grace through faith. And some grace alone believers refuse any type of correction from any of the books in the New Testament EXCEPT for the POST Acts epistles written by the Apostle Paul. Here is the list of POST Acts writings of Paul that is called their “accepted” books written TO the church IN this PRESENT dispensation: Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. These are the ONLY books in the Bible that Post-Acts Dispensationalism grace alone believers use for correction, reproof, and DOCTRINE. But did not the Apostle Paul teach us in 2 Timothy which is one of their “ACCEPTED” books written TO the church in this present dispensation that ALL Scripture is profitable for DOCTRINE, correction, and reproof? 2 Timothy 3:16. “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for CORRECTION, for INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS:” Now I agree with their LOGIC that the Bible was written FOR all people, but the Bible was NOT written TO all people. What they mean by this is that some things in the Old Testament were written ONLY TO the CHILDREN of Israel for THEM to keep throughout THEIR generation. And, therefore, those things written by the handwriting of Moses in the Law of Moses were NOT written for the CHURCH to keep. And this is perfectly sound Biblical teaching, WHEN that Bible ITSELF specifically states what is FOR Israel and what is FOR the church like the Scriptures do in Exodus 31:16. Exodus 31:16. “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.” But nowhere does the Apostle Paul or any of the other Apostles of Jesus state that there are TWO gospels of salvation where one gospel is for the JEWISH believers in Jesus and the other gospel is for the Gentile believers in Jesus. What seventh DAY of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians have failed to see is the REASON for WHY God gave the DAY of REST for THEM to rest on the SEVENTH DAY throughout THEIR generations. It was for them to OBSERVE. They were to KEEP or OBEY the fourth commandment for the purpose of OBSERVING the fourth commandment. In other words, the fourth commandment was a SCHOOLMASTER for the Jews to DISCERN the TRUE MEANING hidden or KEPT SECRET from the foundation of the world. The LITERAL translation of Exodus 31:16 says that the sons of Israel KEEP the Aleph Tav Sabbath to MAKE OF the Aleph Tav Sabbath. So then, what is the Aleph Tav Sabbath? Where did that Aleph Tav come from because it is not in my King James Bible? That is because all English Bibles are TRANSLATIONS and the translators chose to NOT translate the Aleph Tav. The Aleph Tav are the FIRST and the LAST letters of the Hebrew alphabet like the Alpha and Omega are the FIRST and the LAST letters of the Greek alphabet. But if you were a Jew who reads Hebrew then you would see the Aleph Tav in front of the word Sabbath. God inspired men of old to write the Aleph Tav in places where the children of Israel would OBSERVE them to MAKE SENSE of them. So then, what do the Aleph Tav MEAN? Jesus said of himself, I am the FIRST and the LAST, the BEGINNING and the END. The Scriptures TESTIFY of ME. So the Aleph Tav, the FIRST and the LAST letters of the Hebrew alphabet, point to Messiah Jesus. So when a Jew reads Exodus 31;16 in Hebrew KNOWING this hidden secret, then in their minds they would read “Keep the Aleph Tav Messiah Jesus Sabbath to DISCERN the Aleph Tav Messiah Jesus REST.” Now, the grace alone believers who teach a different gospel of grace alone also teach a different dispensation for the Gentile believers. And they use Colossians 1:25-27 to try and prove that the MYSTERY that was kept secret or hidden is the mystery of the GENTILE church which was supposedly, according to them, NOT PROPHESIED in the Scriptures. And that is why they CONTRAST Acts 3:19-21 VERSUS Romans 16:25, to try to prove that the MYSTERY, of the grace ALONE gospel to the Gentile church, was NOT prophesied in Scripture, which we have already seen to be an ERROR in their interpretation of the Scriptures. Colossians 1:25-27. “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; 26. Even the MYSTERY which has 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:” But what they have failed to see is that the Apostle Peter made known the SAME mystery to the Jews before God ever turned the gospel to the Gentiles. Were not all 12 Apostles of Jesus JEWS? And, according to Mark 4:11,12, did not Jesus say to his JEWISH Apostles that it was given for them to KNOW the MYSTERY of the kingdom of God? Jesus spoke in PARABLES so that the Jews could hear but NOT completely understand until the “DISPENSATION of grace actually began. Jesus commissioned his Apostles to preach the Gospel of salvation and on the day of Pentecost Peter preached the FIRST Gospel message to ONLY the Jews. So then, when you study the Bible for YOURSELF you need to place emphasis on different words as I did above to show you the words that the grace alone believers emphasize. Now when you focus only on the EMPHASIZED words we may read right over other words that will CHANGE the way in which we interpret the same verses. For example, by the words I have emphasized above you can clearly see that Paul is speaking of a DISPENSATION. You can see that the preaching of this dispensation was given to Paul. You can see that this dispensation was a MYSTERY that was HIDDEN. But NOW the mystery is made KNOWN by what Paul preaches. The TRUTH is REVEALED and it is no longer a MYSTERY. And from the context, you can see that Paul is speaking TO the GENTILES. So, one could conclude that these verses mean that this MYSTERY dispensation that was kept hidden and revealed to Paul is FOR the GENTILES ONLY. And that is what the Mid-Acts and Post-Acts dispensationalism grace alone believers NEED these verses to say. But is this what these verses are truly teaching us in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God? NO! We already saw that Peter preached the SAME Gospel of GRACE to the Jews ONLY. Let us read these same verses, being left in their CONTEXT with some DIFFERENT words being EMPHASIZED. Please read Colossians 1:21-28. “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled 22. IN the body of his flesh through death, (Speaking of ALL who BELIEVE that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for their sins) to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23. IF YOU CONTINUE in the faith grounded and settled, and be NOT MOVED AWAY from the HOPE of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to EVERY creature (Speaking of those who have believed to become God’s NEW creatures created IN Jesus Christ) which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Of this GOSPEL of salvation IN Jesus Christ by FAITH. And the gospel was preached to the Jews FIRST, according to Romans 1:16) 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: (Speaking of ALL the SAINTS or EVERY person who BELIEVES in Jesus as the atonement for their sins) 25. 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; 26. EVEN the mystery (Which was PROPHESIED in Scripture that Jesus revealed to me so that I might be made a minister to FULFILL God’s word of so great a SALVATION IN His Son Jesus) which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest TO his SAINTS:(The body of BELIEVERS IN Jesus) 27. TO WHOM (Speaking of THE ALL of the whosoever who BELIEVE in Jesus as the atonement for their sins) God would make known what is the riches of the glory of THIS mystery (Of God’s so great a salvation IN his Son Jesus Christ that I Paul must FULFILL by preaching God’s gospel) 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:” Did you see the difference between what the Bible ITSELF teaches from those who are being deceived by the Mid-Acts and Post-Acts dispensational teaching? The Bible ITSELF makes no distinction between the Gospel that Peter preached from the Gospel that Paul preached. In fact, Paul teaches us that if ANYONE preaches any other gospel that what he preached, then let them be accursed. So to me, the Judaizing gospel is a PERVERTED gospel that the Apostle Paul did NOT preach. And it is VAIN to obey any other gospel that Paul did NOT preach. There is not one grace alone believer who will deny that Paul preached the gospel of salvation to the JEWS FIRST before Paul turned his full attention to the Gentiles to FULFILL the word of God. And even after Paul turned his full attention to the Gentiles he did not REFUSE any Jew to hear the gospel message to be saved. Again, the grace alone believers CLAIM that the MYSTERY that was kept secret is the GENTILE church that was NOT PROPHESIED in Scripture. But, the Bible ITSELF clearly states as a fact, with no interpretation needed, that THIS MYSTERY that Paul ALSO preached among the Gentiles IS Jesus Christ IN us. That is what RECONCILES us to God, we are cleanse of all our past sins and we found blameless before God. And IF we CONTINUE in our FAITH in Jesus and we are NOT MOVED AWAY from the HOPE of the gospel, then we will receive eternal life in the world to come. These are the words of Paul HIMSELF that he wrote in the POST Acts epistles that are the so-called “accepted” books of the New Testament written TO the church, according to the grace alone believers in their Post-Acts dispensationalism teaching. What I want my readers and seekers of the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God to see and understand is that ANY verse or verses when viewed ALONE and APART from the REST of God’s word may SEEM to be saying or maybe MADE to say something that that verse or verses are NOT TRULY saying when they are correctly interpreted in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Here is another passage of Scripture that some grace alone, eternal security, once saved, always saved believers take OUT of CONTEXT in order to try and make it appear that ONLY the Apostle Paul was revealed this MYSTERY. They CLAIM that God turning to the Gentiles IS the MYSTERY kept secret and NOT that the WAY of salvation is the mystery. But in truth, the gospel of our salvation under the New Covenant is indeed the mystery in which ALL of whosoever BELIEVES are saved under the NEW Covenant written in the New Testament. Please read Ephesians 3:3,4 which is one of their proof texts that I quoted from one of their websites at the very beginning of this study in God’s word. The writer of the Post-Acts Dispensation listed the following Scripture references CLAIMING that they prove his theory of two different gospels, one for the Jewish Christians and one for the Gentile Christians. I will start with Ephesians 3:2-4. (Rom 16:25, Col 1:25-27, Eph 3:2-4). Ephesians 2:3,4. “How that BY REVELATION he (Jesus Christ) made known unto ME the MYSTERY; (As I wrote afore in few words, 4. Whereby, when you read, you may understand MY knowledge in the MYSTERY of Christ)” Now when one is dogmatically told over and over that the MYSTERY IS the GENTILE church then one may MISS that the mystery IS the WAY OF SALVATION being IN Jesus Christ which is WHAT God chose as his WILL and good pleasure to be before the foundation of the world. In other words, God did NOT choose the ELECT before that foundation of the world but rather the WHAT that God chose before the foundation of the world was the WAY in which God will SAVE those who BELIEVE, in His great SALVATION being IN his Son Jesus Christ. Please notice in verse 4 that it says the mystery OF CHRIST. Please read Ephesians 3:3,4 again with different words emphasized. Ephesians 3:3,4. “How that BY REVELATION he (Jesus Christ) made known unto me the MYSTERY; (As I wrote afore in few words, 4. Whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY OF Christ)” Christ means ANOINTING, so the MYSTERY of salvation is that God chose to ANOINT a MAN to be His Messiah. And when we read the CONTEXT of these two verses and interpret them in the light of the rest of the book of Ephesians and then we compare our interpretation with the rest of God’s word, we can clearly see that the MYSTERY is the SALVATION IN Jesus Christ. Let us read the immediate context first by reading Ephesians 3:1-9 and then we will read a broader context in the same book of Ephesians. And then, we will compare our interpretation with the WHOLE word of God to see if our interpretation contradicts any other part of God’s word or if our interpretation AGREES with the rest of God’s word. Ephesians 3:1-9. “For this cause (Which is found in chapter 2) I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2. If you 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 you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery OF Christ) 5. Which in other ages (The UNDERSTANDING of WHO the CHRIST or the MESSIAH IS) was not made known unto the sons of men, as it (The MYSTERY of WHO is the CHRIST or the MESSIAH) is NOW revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Here we see that Paul is not the ONLY one to whom this MYSTERY of SALVATION being IN Jesus the Christ was revealed. This same mystery was revealed to ALL the apostles of Jesus.) 6. That (Or so that) the Gentiles should be FELLOW HEIRS, 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. 8. Unto me, who am less than the least of ALL saints, is this grace given, that I should preach (The GOSPEL of God’s so great a salvation IN his Son Jesus the CHRIST) among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches OF Christ; 9. And to make ALL MEN see what is the FELLOWSHIP OF the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” The English word “things” is not in the original Greek text. The LITERAL translation reads “... the God the one creating THE ALL through Jesus anointed”. So then, the ALL, are the WHOSOEVER of the ALL who BELIEVE in Jesus as the atonement for the sins that God creates through or IN his Son Jesus Christ. Now if you are still not convinced that the MYSTERY IS the WAY in which God CHOSE as the WAY he wants all men to be SAVED IN his Son Jesus the CHRIST, the ONLY name given among men whereby we MUST be saved, then please read Ephesians 1:1-14. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, TO the SAINTS which are at Ephesus, and to the FAITHFUL IN Christ Jesus: (Whoever you are and wherever you are) 2. Grace be to you (ALL the faithful saints IN Jesus Christ), and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN Christ: 4. According as he has chosen us IN HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5. Having predestined us unto the adoption of children BY Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS WILL, 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted IN the beloved. 7. IN WHOM we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8. Wherein he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9. Having made known unto us the mystery OF HIS WILL, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself: 10. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in ONE all things IN Christ, (Again the English word “things” is NOT in the original Greek text and should read “he might gather THE ALL IN Christ”) BOTH which are in heaven, (Speaking of the dead IN Jesus Christ who are in heaven under the altar awaiting the resurrection and change to be made partakers of the divine nature of immortality) and which are on earth; even IN him: 11. IN WHOM ALSO we (Who remain faithful to endure unto the end) have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works ALL things (Speaking of THE ALL of whosoever BELIEVES IN Jesus Christ as the atonement for their sins. In other words, God is still yet WORKING in us who believe in order to conform us into the image of His dear Son.) after the counsel of his own WILL: 12. That WE (THE ALL of whosoever believes) should be to the praise of his glory, who FIRST trusted IN Christ. 13. IN WHOM you ALSO trusted, AFTER that you heard the word of TRUTH, the GOSPEL of your salvation: IN WHOM also AFTER that you BELIEVED, you were sealed WITH that holy Spirit of promise, (Speaking of being baptized with the Holy Spirit that bears witness with our spirit that we are a child of God so that we will CONTINUE to believe unto the END. The word sealed does NOT mean sign, sealed and delivered, as in, a true born-again believer can never lose their salvation no matter what they do or do not do. Rather, the word sealed means that we have been given a small TASTE of God’s Holy Spirit, as a WITNESS inside of us, so that we can be assured that God’s PROMISES are faithful and true. This WITNESS of the Holy Spirit is given to us so that we will CONTINUE to believe in God’s Son unto the END. To say this another way, we who believe in Jesus have been ENDUED with POWER from on high. And the Holy Spirit dwelling in us bears witness to us that we are the sons and daughters of God) 14. Which is the earnest (Or down payment or PART) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Speaking of the redemption of our bodies), unto the praise of his glory.” So you can clearly see that what was kept a secret from the foundation of the world was the WAY in which God foreordained as the WAY of SALVATION which is IN his Son Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches us that had Satan KNOWN this mystery kept a secret from the foundation of the world then he would NOT have CRUCIFIED the Lord of glory. The Bible itself states the princes of this world did not know but we understand that the princes of this world are Satan and the fallen angels who USED men to have Jesus crucified. Please read 1 Corinthians 2:7,8. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, EVEN THE HIDDEN MYSTERY, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known IT (The HIDDEN MYSTERY that God KEPT SECRET from the foundation of the world), they would NOT have CRUCIFIED the Lord of glory.” So then, the MYSTERY that was REVEALED to the Apostle Paul and ALL the other Apostles of Jesus Christ is the Lord of glory, the LAMB who would be SLAIN for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. This was in the mind and plan of God before the foundation of the world. Had Satan known THIS MYSTERY, of the Son of man, Jesus, becoming the Lord of glory, then he would NOT have SLAIN God’s perfect Lamb on the cross. So then, Jesus CRUCIFIED, for the sins of the world, is the GOSPEL of our SALVATION which IS the MYSTERY that was kept secret until the fullness of time to save the ALL who BELIEVE in God’s so great a SALVATION. Salvation was offered to the Jews FIRST and then to the Gentiles. TO PROVOKE the yet unbelieving Jews to jealousy, so that, when God turns to the Jews a SECOND time, the remnant of Jews who are left alive will REPENT and call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Unfortunately for the Jews who WAIT until Jesus returns, it will be TOO LATE for them to receive the promise of eternal life, to rule and reign WITH Jesus during the Millennial kingdom. But there will be a REMNANT of Jews who will remain alive AFTER the WRATH of God is poured out. The remnant of Jews will recognize Jesus coming in clouds of great glory as being the Christ. And when they see Jesus they will repent calling upon the name of the Lord to save them. They will be saved ALIVE in their MORTAL bodies to go into the 1000 year reign of Jesus to be taught of the Lord. And along with the remnant of the Jews, those left alive of the nations who also call upon the name of the Lord to be saved will be saved alive in their MORTAL bodies to be taught of the Lord. So, it is true that ONLY the faithful Christians will be given eternal life to rule and reign WITH Jesus in the world to come over the MORTALS. And, it is true that the remnant of Israel will rule over those left alive of the nations. And I can certainly see the “possibility” that any Christian living in sin who repents and calls on the name of the Lord AT his coming AFTER the rapture has taken place just seconds earlier that God will forgive them. And thus they will be saved alive in their MORTAL bodies to go into the 1000 year reign of Jesus. BUT, I cannot give you Scripture and verse to ASSURE you that those Christians living in sin who do not repent will be given a second chance during the Millennium. What I mean by this is that they SHOULD surely know that the coming of Jesus is nigh by the SIGNS. We are told to be watching so that we will purify ourselves, even as Jesus is pure. And Jesus warns those Christians that are NOT watching that he WILL come upon them as a THIEF. And for SURE, I cannot give any hope to those Christians who DIE while living in sin before the coming of Jesus. And when I say living in sin, I am speaking of those Christians that know they are being convicted of sin but they refuse to CONFESS their sins and ask God to forgive them of their sins according to 1 John 1:3-10 and 1 John 2:1-17. Also, some Christians living in sin FEEL that they have crossed some kind of line, of no return, and have been DECEIVED by doctrines of devils. They sincerely believe that God no longer loves them and thus God will NOT forgive them. Therefore, they may repent and confess their sin BUT they do NOT BELIEVE that God has forgiven them. Please read the studies called F-17. WHAT is the UNPARDONABLE SIN?, and F-18. How can I know if I have SINNED unto DEATH? But for now, please read God’s FAITHFULNESS to forgive all our sin IF we simply CONFESS our sins and believe in God's word. 1 John 1:3-10 and 1 John 2:1-17. “That which WE have seen and heard declare we unto YOU, that you ALSO may have fellowship with us: and truly OUR fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4. And these things we write unto you, that your joy may be full. 5. THIS then IS the message (Or the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ the gospel of your salvation) which WE have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (Now, the Jewish Apostles of Jesus were SAVED by the gospel message that they heard from Jesus. And this verse teaches us that they the SAME Gospel message that they HEARD they DECLARED to the Gentiles. So the Mid-Acts and Post-Acts Dispensationalism Christians are MAKING a LIE, according to Revelation 22:14,15. Please read the study Dd-25. What does REVELATION 22:14 TRULY Mean?) 6. If we SAY that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do NOT the TRUTH: 7. BUT IF we walk in the light, AS HE is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. (So then, it is only IF we CONTINUALLY walk in the LIGHT, even as Jesus walked in the light, that the blood of Jesus will continually keep us CLEANSED from all sin. In other words, if we walk after the Spirit and NOT after the FLESH, then there is no condemnation of sin. We are KEPT cleansed from sin by OBEYING the leading of the Holy Spirit) 8. If we SAY that we have NO sin, we DECEIVE ourselves, and the TRUTH is NOT in us. (BUT) 9. IF we CONFESS our sins, he is FAITHFUL and just TO FORGIVE us our sins, and TO CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness. (So then, when a true born-again Christian sins, they STAIN their garment. And to be found WITHOUT spot or blemish, we must CONFESS our sins and believe in God’s FAITHFULNESS to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness) 10. IF we SAY that we have NOT sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is NOT in us…. ...1 John 2:1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that you SIN NOT. And IF any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2. And he is the propitiation (Or the atonement or the SACRIFICE) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (So, when we CONFESS our sins and ask God to forgive us of our sins, AFTER we are saved, we are BELIEVING in the FINISHED work of Jesus on the cross, to become our mediator, to plead our case before God. The simple act of obedience, to God’s word, to CONFESSING our sins and ask God to forgive us our sins is NOT a WORK of the LAW but rather it is our FAITH, believing IN the finished work of Jesus on the cross. BUT, if you SAY that you have NO sin when you know you have sinned after you have been saved and you refuse to CONFESS your sin and ask forgiveness of your sin, then you are DECEIVING yourself just as the Bible itself is teaching you right now in this passage of Scripture. Which some of you are CLAIMING that 1 John is NOT written TO YOU but ONLY to the Jewish believers in Jesus, as THEIR propitiation of THEIR sins. So, ONLY the Jewish believers in Jesus are required to CONFESS their sin and ask God to forgive them. PAUL was a Jewish believer in Jesus and he always INCLUDED himself as being a SAINT, by saying WE and us just like the Apostle John does here by saying,) 3. And hereby WE (The Jewish believer in Jesus AND the Gentile believers in Jesus because the WE is EVERY true born-again BELIEVER in Jesus whereby WE) do know that we know him, IF we keep his commandments. (This is NOT talking about the commandment contained in ORDINANCES that God gave to Moses, given to the CHILDREN of ISRAEL, for THEM to keep throughout THEIR generations but rather this is talking about the teachings found in the NEW Testament that Jesus gave to his disciples. So then, a test to see if you KNOW Almighty God the Father, his Son Jesus and you are known BY him as one of his children, IN his Son Jesus, is to look on your HEART to see if your inner man desires to KEEP the MORAL commandments of God? Your FLESH will obviously not want to keep the moral commandments of God but you no longer have to obey your flesh that is BEGGING you to sin.) 4. He that SAYS, I know him, and keeps NOT his commandments, is a LIAR, and the TRUTH is NOT IN him. 5. But whoso KEEPS his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6. He that SAYS he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, EVEN AS he walked. (And Jesus walked WITHOUT any sin. Sure you are going to slip and fall and give into temptation but all you have to do is CONFESS that you have sinned and ask God to forgive you of your sin. And he will cleanse you and make you PERFECT with HIS righteousness each and every time you CONFESS your sins) 7. Brethren (Paul was a Jewish believer in Jesus and he called the Gentile Christians his BRETHREN), I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning. 8. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him (Speaking of Jesus having the same command from the Father to not sin was IN him) AND IN YOU: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines. (Paul teaches the Gentiles that in times PAST God winked at their ignorance, to walk in darkness, but NOW God is calling ALL men everywhere to REPENT and no longer walk in darkness, after the lust of their flesh. God has written a NEW commandment on the hearts of us, who BELIEVE, to hate sin. God has given us the Spirit of LOVE and a sound mind and his word teaches us to walk in the LIGHT) 9. He that SAYS he is in the light, and hates his brother, is IN darkness even until now. (So, if you SAY you are saved and you do NOT walk in LOVE then you are IN DARKNESS until you CONFESS your sin and ask God to forgive you of your sin of hating your brother or sister in the Lord or your fellow man.) 10. He that LOVES his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. (Because walking in LOVE desires no ill thing or harm upon another person. We FULFILL all the MORAL law when we LOVE others as we love ourselves and DO unto others as we would want them to do unto us. There is no law against doing GOOD deeds of righteousness and keeping the MORAL commandment of God. That is WHY we are saved. We are saved to do good works, according to the words of Paul, revealed to him by Jesus. See Ephesians 2:8-19, which proves we are all ONE body of believers, being given the SAME gospel message, to become God’s workmanship created IN Jesus Christ to DO GOOD WORKS, ordained of God) 11. BUT he that HATES his brother is IN darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not whither he go, because that darkness has BLINDED his eyes. (ANY Christians who believe that these words of John were NOT written TO YOU have had their eyes BLINDED by the prince of darkness. BUT, your eyes can be opened by BELIEVING that these words by John and all the other apostles of Jesus, written in the New Testament, are indeed written to YOU and all you need to do is CONFESS that you were deceived and ask God to forgive you for pushing away his leading you by the Holy Spirit and ask God to help you to never do it again.) 12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (Yes, Jesus died ONCE and for all time to have every sin forgiven, for every person past, present and future but that does NOT mean that you never have to CONFESS your sins when you sin and ask God to forgive you. I personally believe that the healing of our physical body is also IN the ATONEMENT and that we are ALREADY HEALED. And thus, we do not need to ASK God, as in, BEG God to heal us. But rather, we only have to RESIST the symptoms in a like manner that we RESIST the temptation to sin, so that the devil will flee from us. But here is the thing, SOMETIMES we give into those temptations and SIN. In other words, sometimes we GIVE UP resisting the temptation unto the END until the temptation leaves. And in the SAME MANNER, sometimes we are overcome by the SYMPTOMS of the oppressor and that sickness fastens hold to us and does not flee from us as soon as we THINK we should flee from us. So, like GIVING UP or surrendering to the temptation to SIN, we sometime give up the FIGHT of resisting the symptoms of sickness and disease. And in the same manner of COMPARING resist temptation to resisting the symptoms of sickness, when we GIVE UP and SIN, then we must CONFESS our sin. We must repent of not enduring unto the END of that temptation to NOT sin and ASK God to forgive us of our sin. And then, we BELIEVE that he does forgive us this and we start OVER. And likewise, this is what we must also do when sickness fastened onto us. What I am trying to say is to NOT give up believing to receive healing that is already provided. For me, that is COMPARED to giving up that God has forgiven you of your sins. For you see, that FORGIVENESS has already been provided for you. Jesus is not going to die again. And Jesus is not going to bear those stripes again for your healing. So just like FORGIVENESS is already provided for you so also is HEALING also already provided for you. So LIKE we endure unto the end to resist the TEMPTATION to GIVE INTO sin, we OUGHT to also endure unto the end to resist the SYMPTOMS of sickness and disease to GIVE INTO accepting that God is not going to heal us. So LIKE we repent and start OVER resisting TEMPTATION, we ought to start over after not receiving healing to RESIST the SYMPTOMS of sickness unto the end and we receive our healing that is already provided for us. We should come boldly to the throne of grace and ASK for God to heal us and then BELIEVE in God’s FAITHFULNESS to do what he said he would do in his WORD. ASKING God to heal you is NOT showing God that you do not believe or have faith. Now, BEGGING God, while never truly BELIEVING God, does show a lack of faith. Some Christians FEEL like God did not forgive them so they BEG God to forgive them over and over for the SAME sin. That is what I mean by WHILE never TRULY BELIEVING that God has forgiven them after they CONFESSED their sin and have asked God to forgive them) 13. I write unto you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father. 14. I have written unto you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one. (By NOT giving into what tempts you. You see dear children of God, giving into what tempts you to SIN is NOT overcoming the wicked one. RESISTING the devil, unto the END of his temptation and NOT giving in to sin, is OVERCOMING the wicked one. And when one does sin, then swallowing their pride and ADMITTING that they have sinned, coming humbling before God and CONFESSING their sin asking God to forgive them and then BELIEVING that God has forgiven them, is OVERCOMING the wicked one. You see it is Satan who does NOT want Christians to CONFESS their sins. So, any doctrine that teaches you NOT to confess your sin, is a doctrine of devils) 15. Love NOT the world, neither the things that are in the world. IF any man love the world, the love of the Father is NOT IN him. (Now anyone’s love can grow cold and Jesus WARNS us about being DECEIVED by false teachers and hardening our hearts. So, this is why I teach my readers to repent QUICKLY and do NOT try and reason away your sins. Just admit you have sinned and ASK God to forgive you of your sins. And if you keep doing the SAME sin over and over and you hate that you keep committing the same sin, then ask God to HELP to overcome that sin so that you do NOT grow COLD and hard-hearted against resting sin in your life.) 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is NOT OF the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: BUT he that DOES the WILL of God abides forever.” So then, is it the WILL of God that you SIN? Of course not! God’s word IS his will and you have just read God’s word written to ALL believers IN his Son Jesus to CONFESS our sin and that he is always faithful to forgive us of all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Now I realize that perhaps most believers who believe and teach eternal security and once saved, always saved doctrines do indeed CONFESS their sins when they give into temptation and sin. And most believers in once saved, always saved; do indeed do their best to NOT sin. BUT here is the DANGER in the once saved, always saved eternal security teaching. Those who HEAR your teaching do NOT always hear your whole message. And thus, THEY sincerely believe, with all their heart, which they can do whatever they desire to do and NEVER lose their salvation, no matter what they do or do not do. Some Christians who have heard the once saved always saved doctrine, sincerely believe that they can LIVE IN sin and NEVER CONFESS any of their sins and still never LOSE their salvation, when they DIE, WHILE living in a lifestyle of SIN. I KNOW this to be true because I point blank asked a dear brother in the Lord, who was saved through another ministry, that does NOT teach eternal security. Who wrote to me to try and convince me that I am a false teacher because I WARN my readers of the errors of interpretation made by the once saved always saved believers? Here is the point-blank question that I asked him. I asked him that if a homosexual is saved and AFTER the person who lived a homosexual lifestyle is saved that they stop sinning in other areas but decide that their sin of homosexuality is not a sin or they just love their sin more than God, if they would DIE while living in a homosexual lifestyle without confessing their sin of homosexuality, would they LOSE their salvation? And he replied back saying, NO, they would not lose their salvation but they may lose some of their rewards. I kept writing to him with more and more Scriptures and he finally told me that I needed to read about Mid-Acts Dispensationalism. So, I did and that is when I learned that those who believe this teaching are basically part of the other groups of Christians who teach Post-Acts or Acts 28 Dispensationalism. They ALL only believe the words of the Apostle Paul. And on the other EXTREME there are Christians who call themselves Jesus Words Only Christians and they claim that Paul is a FALSE teacher. And it is the SAME deception of Satan which has caused some Christians to wrongly believe that Paul teaches a DIFFERENT gospel that what Jesus and the other Apostles teach. Now, the Grace ALONE Christians have to believe Romans because that is where Paul tells us that we are not under the LAW. But, mainly their only “accepted” books in the New Testament that they accept as being written TO THEM, are the post Acts epistles of Paul which are Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, I Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. The book of Romans has things in it that took place during the Acts of the Apostles, hence the book of Acts. But, yet they believe in the rapture of the church which Paul teaches in 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians. However, Paul does NOT teach a PRE-tribulation rapture of the church which they NEED or their whole doctrine of GRACE ALONE falls completely apart and crumbles because they clearly see that WORKS are indeed needed DURING the time of GREAT tribulation in order to NOT LOSE their salvation. Please read the following studies that prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that the rapture of the church takes place AT the SECOND coming of Jesus and NOT before the time of great tribulation. Thus, the PRE-tribulation rapture is a FALSE teaching and thereby making the Mid-Acts and Post-Acts Dispensational teaching AND the once saved always saved teaching to be FALSE teachings. J-5. WRATH of God VERSUS GREAT Tribulation! J-8. WHEN is the RAPTURE of the CHURCH? J-3. The RAPTURE OCCURS at the LAST Trumpet! J-12. Jesus is COMING as a THIEF in the NIGHT! J-31. A NEW LOOK at the 70TH WEEK of DANIEL! J-32. WHEN is the MIDST of the 70TH WEEK? And they also believe MANY of the words of Jesus written in the Gospel of John because many of the verses in the gospel of John are the very verses they use to try and prove their eternal security doctrine. I mean you cannot have it both ways and say that only the words of Paul were written TO the church in this dispensation and then turn around and use the teaching in the gospel of John to try and support that the church in this dispensation is eternal saved and no man can pluck us out of the Father’s hand. Please read the study F-2. Is ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?. This study gives you another interpretation, which does not contradict any other part of God’s word, for all the verses used by grace alone, eternal security believers. Now I do indeed believe in GRACE. And just in case you may not know that in the so-called “ACCEPTED” book of Titus, by the grace alone believers, Paul teaches us that the WORK of GODLINESS is required to receive eternal life in the world to come. Please read Titus 2:11-15. “For the GRACE of God that BRINGS (Present tense) salvation has appeared to ALL men, 12. Teaching us that, DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should LIVE soberly, RIGHTEOUSLY, and GODLY, IN this present world; (So clearly Paul is teaching the GENTILE church, as well as the Jews who are converted to Christianity, that we ALL, who believe in Jesus, are to DENY or resist ungodliness and live RIGHTEOUS lives in this PRESENT world.) 13. Looking for that blessed HOPE (Which is the first resurrection at the second coming of Jesus. Which is when all FAITHFUL believers in Jesus will be changed from mortal to immortality), and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, (if you are LIVING in sin, then you are not WALKING as an overcomer, FREED from sin, by not allowing sin to have DOMINION over you. We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ) and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (God’s GRACE is still yet CONFORMING us into the image of his dear Son by TEACHING us to DENY ungodliness and walk after the Holy Spirit lest we fulfill the lust of the flesh and DIE. You see my dear brothers and sister in our Lord Jesus Christ; we must ENDURE through all those things which easily beset us. To BECOME more than a conqueror through the eternal Holy Spirit dwelling in us to empower us, to OVERCOME sin in our lives even as Jesus overcame the temptation to NOT give into sin THROUGH the SAME eternal Holy Spirit dwelling IN him. See Hebrews 9:14 later, for how Jesus overcame sin through the eternal Holy Spirit) 15. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.” I believe that the coming of Jesus is very near and that the time of great tribulation is at the door. I believe that Islam is the mark of the beast and that any Christian who DENIES Jesus, as the SON OF the living God, who suffered and died for their sins in order to save their mortal life. By taking the MARK of the beast, to confess Allah as their true god, he or she will LOSE their salvation. And I believe that many Christians who were taught the once saved, always saved doctrine have NOW had their eyes opened to the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God! The Bible itself clearly teaches us that any one of us who are true born-again Christians can become deceived and LOSE our salvation. But there are still some eternal security Christians who also know full well that those who go THROUGH the GREAT tribulation MUST ENDURE unto the END in order to receive eternal life, in the world to come. Some Christians have REFUSED to change their minds, on the once saved, always saved doctrine, that they can never lose their salvation no matter what they do or do not do. And rather than change their minds, to be in AGREEMENT will ALL of God’s word, they seek to twist the Scriptures to CLAIM that Paul taught a DIFFERENT gospel than Peter and the other disciples. Again, their WHOLE doctrine of eternal security FALLS completely apart and crumbles, when they SEE the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God! The church, IN this PRESENT dispensation, will go THROUGH the ENTIRE period of GREAT tribulation. In other words, the eternal security doctrine either stands or falls based upon the PRE-tribulation doctrine being either true or false. Now the grace alone, eternal security Mid-Acts and Post-Acts Dispensationalism, believers OPENLY admit that all the apostles, except for the apostle Paul, teach a gospel that REQUIRES WORKS AFTER a person is SAVED, if they want to RECEIVE eternal life in the world to come. And rather than taking a CLOSER look at the word “LAW” to see that Paul spoke of MORAL laws AND the LAW CONTAINED in ORDINANCES, which are the CEREMONIAL laws which were nailed to the cross, they seek to claim that there are TWO DIFFERENT gospels of salvation. Now, I agree that Paul WARNED the Judaizing Christians that THEY were teaching a FALSE gospel but Paul never once taught that we do NOT have to obey the MORAL laws of God. And Paul WARNED ALL Christians, both Jews who believe in Jesus and Gentiles who believe in Jesus, that if they walk AFTER the FLESH, then they shall DIE. First, they die “spiritually” having their garment STAINED with SIN. And then, IF they do NOT CONFESS their sin AND they should die physically, WHILE still living IN SIN, then they shall DIE the second death being cast into the lake of fire never to rise again. Please read Romans 8:7-14. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF SO BE that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now IF any man have NOT the Spirit of Christ, he is NONE of his. 10. And IF Christ be IN you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. 12. Therefore, brethren, we ARE debtors, NOT to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (But rather we ARE debtors to walk after the Spirit to NOT fulfill the LUST of the FLESH) 13. For IF you live after the flesh, you shall DIE: but IF you THROUGH the Spirit do MORTIFY the DEEDS of the body, you shall LIVE. (Paul is talking to Christians, both Jews and Gentiles saying you have TWO CHOICES. You can live after the FLESH and DIE or you can crucify your flesh and LIVE. It is YOUR CHOICE so choose wisely) 14. For as many as are LED BY the Spirit of God, THEY are the sons of God.” Now, the Apostle Paul HIMSELF clearly teaches us that IF we live AFTER the lust of our flesh then we shall DIE or LOSE our eternal life. BUT IF, we THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us MORTIFY or crucify the DEEDS of the flesh that BEGS us to sin THEN we shall LIVE or receive eternal life in the world to come. So how can you claim that the Apostle Paul taught a DIFFERENT gospel to the Gentiles than he did to the Jews who were converted to Christianity by his gospel of salvation? According to the Apostle Paul himself, he taught the SAME gospel to BOTH the Jews and the Greek Gentiles. Please read Romans 1:15,16. “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach THE GOSPEL to you that are at Rome also. 16. For I am not ashamed of THE GOSPEL of Christ: for IT (The ONE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ) is the power of God UNTO salvation to EVERYONE that BELIEVES; to the Jew first, AND ALSO to the Greek.” The TRUTH of the ONE gospel of salvation to both the Jews and also the Gentiles is that we do not receive the END of our salvation until the world to come and there is a CONDITION upon receiving the END of our salvation. But, there is NO condition for receiving the BEGINNING of our salvation which is the forgiveness of sin. Which are all our PAST sins, to cleanse our vessel so that the Holy Spirit can come and dwell IN us. Please read the words of Paul in Romans 3:22-27. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto ALL and upon ALL them that BELIEVE: for there is NO DIFFERENCE: 23. For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is IN Christ Jesus: (In other words, the OLD Covenant was slowly passing away and then completely passed away in 70AD at the destruction of the Jewish Temple. For you see, with no Jewish Temple NO Jew could have their sins forgiven by animal sacrifices under the WORK of the OLD Covenant. And NOW, under the NEW Covenant, there is no other name given among men whereby we MUST be saved and this so great a salvation is IN the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ONLY sacrifice for sins that God accepts) 25. Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are PAST, through the forbearance of God; 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he (Almighty God the Father) might be just, and the justifier of him which believe IN Jesus. (As the propitiation, the atonement or the sacrifice for their sins) 27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? (Or the law of works of offering animal sacrifices every year for sins) Nay: but by the law of faith.” When Christians SEE that there is a BEGINNING of our salvation and an END of our salvation, then they can see that the BEGINNING of our salvation is NOT of WORKS of our OWN righteousness. In other words, we do NOT EARN the RIGHT to be saved, but rather, it is God's gift to us. When one has the mindset that they DESERVE to be saved, then there will be BOASTING and PRIDE which is SIN. Thus, this cancels any SELFRIGHTEOUS person claiming that they deserve to be saved. So, God CONCLUDED ALL under sin, so that HE can provide us with HIS so great a salvation being IN His Son Jesus. And through the gospel, God's WAY to be saved is offered to ALL. And ONLY THE ALL of WHOSOEVER BELIEVES in Jesus as the SON OF the living God who endures unto the END shall be saved. Jesus suffered and died for the sins of the WHOLE world. And whosoever of any person who believes this truth and that God raised his Son from the dead shall be saved. God gives us the assurance that WE will also be made partakers of the divine nature of immortality IF we hold fast to the confidence of our faith unto the END. So then our actually receiving eternal life is CONDITIONAL upon us remaining faithful and obedient to the commandments of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament. Please read Galatians 3:21-19. “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22. But the Scripture has CONCLUDED ALL under sin, that (Or so that or in order that) the promise by faith of Jesus Christ (To be made the seed of Abraham) might be given to them that believe. (In other words, the LAW, contained in ORDINANCES, to be a PEOPLE of God, was all types and shadows pointing to Jesus Christ. So NOW instead of being circumcised in the flesh, made with hands, Jesus has become our circumcision by FAITH, IN Jesus) 23. But before faith came, we (the Jewish Christians) were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (The MYSTERY of FAITH, IN Jesus, was kept secret from the foundation of the world but NOW it has been REVEALED) 24. Wherefore the law (Speaking of the law contained in ORDINANCES) 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. (The MORAL law of God is NOT a schoolmaster. The MORAL laws were NOT nailed to the cross. So the LAW that we, as Christians, are NO LONGER under is the law CONTAINED in ORDINANCES. Which are the CEREMONIAL laws of keeping the Sabbath days and the dietary laws under the OLD Covenant) 26. For you are ALL the children of God by faith IN Christ Jesus. (Paul is teaching BOTH Jewish Christians AND Gentile Christians who were being SEDUCED by JUDAIZING Christians and the Jews to keep the Law of Moses. It seems that some Jewish Christians were deceived into believing that they are saved BECAUSE they are natural born Jews. So, they were deceived into believing that a Gentile must become a JEW FIRST before they can be saved by FAITH IN Jesus Christ. And Paul is teaching them that Gentiles can be saved by faith WITHOUT being circumcised to become a Jew FIRST and that we ALL are the children of God BY FAITH IN Jesus Christ, without being circumcised to become a Jew first) 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, (In other words, Paul is saying there is NO DIFFERENCE between a Jew being saved and a Gentile being saved because we are ALL saved BY FAITH IN Jesus Christ) there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are ALL ONE IN Christ Jesus. 29. And if you are Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Now that is the BEGINNING of our salvation, where there are NO WORKS for ANY of us, whether JEW or Gentile. We are saved BY faith IN Jesus, as the propitiation for our sin, to forgive us of ALL our PAST sins to be baptized into the body of Jesus Christ. Please read Philippians 1:5,6. “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which has BEGUN a good work in you will perform it UNTIL the day of Jesus Christ:” There WILL be a DAY when the second death will have NO MORE power over us. And that DAY is when, a true-born again believer dies physically, being found the GOOD and FAITHFUL servant. And if we are alive and remain unto the coming of Jesus, then that DAY is the DAY of the COMING of Jesus, where again, we must be found to be that GOOD and FAITHFUL servant walking in RIGHTEOUSNESS when Jesus returns. It will not matter if you believe in PRE-tribulation, the MID-tribulation, or the POST-tribulation rapture or in NO rapture at all. For you see, WHEN Jesus returns, he will give a decree when he comes. And those working unrighteousness will be found unrighteous and there will be NO time to repent before the CHANGE from mortal to immortal takes place, in a moment and in a twinkling of an eye. Please read Revelation 22:10-15. “And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. (This is speaking right AS Jesus is returning, AT the very MOMENT of the RAPTURE of the church.) 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: (So then, if a true born-again Christian is found living in sin AT the moment of the Rapture of the church, then Jesus says, let them BE UNJUST still and they will NOT be given eternal life to rule and reign with Jesus in the world to come) and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according AS his WORK shall BE. (Again, if a true born-again Christian is found living in sin, then he or she will be given the WAGES of a SINNER, which is DEATH. Now, if YOU want to take the CHANCE that you will survive the WRATH of God to repent and call upon the name of the Lord in HOPES that he will save you alive in your MORTAL body to go into the Millennium for a second chance to be saved, then that is YOUR choice) 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14. Blessed are THEY that DO his commandments, THAT (Or in order that) THEY (speaking of ONLY those of us who are IN Jesus Christ who are found to be WORKING RIGHTEOUSNESS AT our Lord’s coming) may have RIGHT to the tree of LIFE, and may ENTER in through the gates into the city. (Well done my GOOD and FAITHFUL servants ENTER you into the joy of your Lord.) 15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever LOVES and MAKES a LIE.” Many will say to Jesus on that DAY, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in your name we have done many wonderful works? And Jesus will say to the DISOBEDIENT to the gospel to depart from him. Please read Matthew 7:19-27. “Every tree that brings NOT forth GOOD FRUIT is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20. Wherefore BY their FRUITS you shall know them. 21. NOT everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall ENTER into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOES the WILL of my Father which is in heaven. (And Almighty God the Father’s WILL IS that we are PERFECT, EVEN AS our Father in heaven is PERFECT and the ONLY way we can be perfect is to CONFESS our sins when we sin and believe in God’s faithfulness to forgive us of all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The gospel is so SIMPLE, making it so easy to REPENT and confess our sins but) 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in your name have cast out devils? and in your name have done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: DEPART from me, you that WORK INIQUITY. 24. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and DOES them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell NOT: for it was founded upon a rock. (So then, those of us who PERSEVERE to ENDURE unto the end, never giving up and keeping ourselves PURE by OBEYING the words of Jesus, then we shall NOT fall away and our salvation is secure) 26. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them NOT, (Or DISOBEYS the GOSPEL of Jesus by NOT keeping sin out of your life) shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it FELL: and great was the fall of it.” We can be assured that Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith. He will never leave or forsake us. But the WHOLE word of God clearly WARNS us that any one of us can become deceived and depart from God. DECEPTION can be SO DECEIVING that you may not even KNOW you HAVE DEPARTED from the Lord. Let us read the context where Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Please read Hebrews 12:1-4. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us LAY ASIDE every weight, and the SIN which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who FOR the JOY that was SET BEFORE him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest YOU be wearied and faint in your minds. 4. You have NOT yet resisted unto blood, striving against SIN.” The Bible itself teaches us that there is a WARRING in our members where our inner man is FIGHTING and striving against sin RESISTING the lust of the flesh. We are encouraged over and over to stay in the race and fight the GOOD FIGHT of FAITH to ENDURE unto the END to be saved. Jesus is our example to follow who did no sin. EVERY apostle of Jesus, INCLUDING the apostle Paul, teaches the SAME gospel of salvation which REQUIRES that we walk in righteousness, OBEYING the leading of the Holy Spirit, in order to receive ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. You may THINK, you will only lose your REWARDS but that is NOT what the Bible ITSELF teaches. Please read the study F-1. CAN A CHRISTIAN LOSE THEIR SALVATION? which will teach you the TRUE meaning of 1 Corinthians 3:15. 1 Corinthians 3:15. “If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Your ETERNAL LIFE is at stake! The WORK being discussed in the CONTEXT is the WORK of building the body of Jesus Christ. And so, IF your WORK of bringing someone to Jesus BURNS, then that is THEIR LOSS. In other words the WORK of yours WHO does NOT remain faithful unto the END, then that WORK shall be burned and that WORK shall suffer LOSS of eternal life. But you yourself shall be saved IF you endure unto the end of the fiery trials tempting you. Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to read ALL the studies that I gave links to throughout this study concerning this subject on Sabbath TRUTH. My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
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If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me. My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com. Some Sabbath-keeping Christians CLAIM that the early church kept the Sabbath as the Jews, but I assure you that the early first-century church was accustomed to gathering together BEFORE the light of daybreak on the FIRST day of the week that THEY called the Lord's day. Please read all the studies linked within this study and all the studies linked below. This study was just the TIP of the iceberg of exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches, and the Sunday first day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians. All of the studies listed under the subject heading >>>Dd-0. What is the TRUE Sabbath?<<< And also read Dd-20. Did The Early Church KEEP the Sabbath day to learn the truth of what the early church believed. Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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