Yesterday, we tackled another question concerning how the kingdom gospel to the Jews was phased out, and the gospel of the grace of God, as delivered to Paul became the only way of salvation for this dispensation. The importance of rightly dividing the word of truth is critical in being able to see this transition. The three principle scriptures that help us stay the course in rightly dividing the word, and help us stay out of “the weeds” when studying the Bible are:
Isaiah 28:9-11: Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
2 Timothy 2:15-16: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
We know that in the first century, there was a Jewish “kingdom” gospel that was given to the apostles in Matthew 10, which became the gospel of the circumcision that Peter, James, and John focused on in Galatians 2. Paul and Barnabas declared the gospel of the uncircumcision to be the new revelation given to Paul that was to supersede the “kingdom” gospel for this time period known as “the mystery.”
We looked at two occasions in Acts, the book of transition, the book of the history of Christianity in the first century, where Jews who only knew of the baptism of John (Matthew 3:1-12), were given the greater revelation of the gospel of grace through faith in death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Apollos – Acts 18:24-28: Apollos understood the scriptures and spoke boldly in the synagogues wherever he went concerning the kingdom gospel and the baptism of repentance that John the Baptist preached. Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish disciples of Paul heard him speak in Corinth, and were compelled to “the expound / teach him “the way of God more perfectly,” sharing through progressive revelation that salvation is come to all men, Jew and Gentile alike, and that there is no difference in their salvation experience.
The 12 Jewish Disciples – Acts 19:1-8: Paul encountered 12 devout Jews in Ephesus, who knew only the baptism of John, which was the kingdom gospel that Apollos had preached until his encounter with Aquila and Priscilla. Paul had to carefully show these men “the way of God more perfectly” teaching them the good news of the resurrection of their messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. These men, like Apollos, had to be converted to gospel of the grace of God, which was given to specifically to the apostle Paul.
In both instances, they had to unlearn what they had learned concerning looking to the coming messianic kingdom and focus on “the blessed hope,” the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to take his bride, the Church Age saints out of this world to Bema judgment. It was no longer a looking for the coming physical kingdom of Messiah, but of being part of the spiritual kingdom that flesh and blood cannot inherit – Romans 14:17, 1 Cor. 15:50.
Titus 2:13-15: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Remember, the prophetic program concerning Israel is in “timeout” during this dispensation of the grace of God, aka the mystery program. The prophetic program will resume when the mystery period closes at the rapture of the Church Age saints.