Yesterday’s Bible study was so exciting seeing how Paul received the message of salvation by grace for this dispensation, by direct revelation from the Lord himself, and then compared that revelation to the revelation that John received some 30 – 35 years after the death of Paul, concerning the prophecy for the end of the age! We believe in progressive revelation throughout the Bible, and these two events are just more proof the God reveals his plan for man in a very organized manner. Paul’s revelation is for this time where there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, and all are saved by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the propitiation of individual sin, and John’s revelation is a prophecy concerning the restoration of Israel to fellowship with God.
Ephesians 3:1-7: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 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 fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 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.
(Romans 16:25-27; Colossians 1:25-29)
Revelation 1:1-3: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
The two following verses confirm that God reveals his plans exactly when the time is right in his divine calendar.
Mark 13:32: But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Deuteronomy 29:29: The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
We were able to compare Paul’s account of his meeting with the council in Jerusalem in Galatians 2, with Luke’s account in acts 15. This helps us to understand that the revelation delivered to Paul was shared with Peter, James, and John, and the elders in Jerusalem. This forever changed the way the apostles viewed the Gentiles, especially as they experienced the waning of the gospel of the circumcision / the kingdom, and was replaced with Paul’s gospel of grace. This definitely influenced them as Christianity grew throughout the Roman world.
Luke’s Account Paul’s Account
Acts 15:12 Galatians 2:1-9
Acts 15:13-21 Galatians 2:10
Acts 15:22-35 Galatians 2:11-21
Acts 15:36-41 Galatians 2:13
(Paul & Barnabas part company over Mark)
(2 Timothy 4:11 — Mark becomes profitable later)
Next week we will begin our overview of Paul’s letters to believers of this dispensation of grace, the mystery period hidden from the beginning of the world!