Four Expressions of the Gospel in Dispensationalism
The Everlasting Gospel: Tribulation message and application
The Gospel of the Kingdom: the good news that the kingdom is about to appear
The Gospel of the Grace of God- the gospel message of this age
1 Corinthians 15:1-7: the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus
…we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Rom. 4:24-25 KJV)
This is the Gospel that Paul preached:
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38-39 KJV)
[There is] That which Paul calls, “my Gospel” (Rom. 2:16, refs.). This is the Gospel of the grace of God in its fullest development, but includes the revelation of the result of that Gospel in the out-calling of the church, her relationships, position, privileges, and responsibility. It is the distinctive truth of Ephesians and Colossians, but interpenetrates all of Paul’s writings.
C. I. Scofield, ed., The Scofield Reference Bible: The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments (New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press, 1917), 1343.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Col. 3:1 KJV)
IF: introduces a conditional clause
Greek only has 4 conditional clauses (English has far more conditions):
4th class condition: Fourth class (rare, remote possibility) Not found in the Greek New Testament.
3rd class condition: unreal/ contrary to fact condition
“If I were rich, I would travel the world.”
2nd class condition: Possible/ Open Condition
“If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay inside.”
1st class condition: Real/ assumed true condition
“If ye then be risen with Christ…”
Some translations say “Since you are risen with Christ…”
Our standing in Christ is we are raised to walk in newness of Christ
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ [Spirit baptism-not water] were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Rom. 6:1-7 KJV)
The old sin nature (known as our old man) is dead.
This is born out in our text:
For ye are dead… (Col. 3:3 KJV)
Illustration: the funeral of a drunk or drug addict- they have no more temptation to sin.
Victory over sin:
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 6:11 KJV)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Cor. 10:13 KJV)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man [there are only 3 temptations]: but God is faithful [note- who is faithful], who will not suffer [allow] you to be tempted above that ye are able [free will]; but will [God’s Sovereignty] with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may [personal responsibility] be able to bear it. (1 Cor. 10:13 KJV)
…Seek those things which are above… (Col. 3:1 KJV)
What is above?
God on His throne
Jesus at the Right Hand of God
New Jerusalem is Above
The Departed Saints
Our Loved Ones
Our Rewards
God’s Word is Settled Above
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (Ps. 119:89 KJV)
God’s Word is fixed, unchanging, and eternally established in heaven—completely independent of human opinion or earthly circumstances.
“God’s Word is not evolving, not up for revision, and not waiting for approval—it is already settled.”
In Heaven” = God’s Realm, Not Earth’s
“Heaven” here emphasizes:
God’s authority (not man’s)
God’s perspective (perfect and eternal)
God’s throne (ultimate rule)
…where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Col. 3:1 KJV)
The right hand of God is where He went at His ascension
He is there now as our Great High Priest
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:14-15 KJV)
Scripture explicitly identifies Christ as the Mediator:
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5)
In systematic theology, Christ’s mediatorial work is often described in three offices:
Prophet → reveals God to man
Priest → represents man before God
King → rules and applies redemption
So the priestly office is not separate from mediation—it is the heart of how mediation actually happens.
Jesus Provides the Sacrifice That Makes Mediation Possible
Old Testament priests offered animal sacrifices repeatedly
Christ, however:
“offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:27)
“once for all” (Hebrews 10:10)
Jesus now makes Intercession for us
“He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25)
“Christ… is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34)
MEDIATION IS NOT JUST PAST (THE CROSS)—IT IS ONGOING.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1 KJV)
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [Same word as Advocate], that he may abide with you for ever; (Jn. 14:16 KJV)
All of this comes together at the Lord’s Table
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor. 11:26-32 KJV)
However, Paul is quoting from the Psalms.
The Psalms play an important role in our Christology, worship, patterns of prayer, and our laments (as well as our hymns).
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col. 3:16 KJV)
