The Great Bible Mystery
The commandments given by God to Israel in the Old Testament, including the Law of Moses were taught by Jesus before his crucifixion. God intended these commandments for the Nation Israel only. They were not given to or intended for the Gentile nations or for the "Church Age" in which we live. Several years after Jesus' death and resurrection God directed Peter and some other disciples to go to Joppa. There God showed Peter that He had opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles also by faith in the gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection. Peter and his associates went to Joppa where some Jewish disciples of Jesus and many Gentiles lived. Cornelius was a righteous Gentile whom God had saved because of his great faith. A holy angel appeared to Cornelius instructing him to summon Peter.
Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout [man] and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 "Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 "He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all [these] things to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." 15 And a voice [spoke] to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. 17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 "Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them." 21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?"
God was about to reveal to Peter that He was showing no partiality between Jew and Gentile in His giving the Holy Spirit to believers.
Acts 10:22 And they said, "Cornelius [the] centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." 23 Then he invited them in and lodged [them]. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped [him]. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 "Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?" 30 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 "and said, `Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 `Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.' 33 "So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God." 34 Then Peter opened [his] mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 "The word which [God] sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- 37 "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Acts 10:39 "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 "not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, [even] to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God [to] [be] Judge of the living and the dead. 43 "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
Acts10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we [have]?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. 11:1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!" 4 But Peter explained [it] to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 "When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 "And I heard a voice saying to me, `Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 "But I said, `Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.' 9 "But the voice answered me again from heaven, `What God has cleansed you must not call common.'
God says that He gave the gospel to Israel first but they rejected it. Therefore, He is sending Paul and Barnabas to preach the word to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
Theological Seminaries Are Centers for Higher Brainwashing.
The present Church, which is referred to as the Body of Christ, began when God gave the revelation to the Apostle Paul. When the Apostle Peter was in Joppa, God instructed him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. This prepared Peter so he could support Paul at the important meeting of all the Apostles in Jerusalem. Many Jewish believers had been complaining that Paul was presenting a gospel which did not require the Gentiles to keep the Law of Moses and become circumcised. At this meeting all of the Apostles agreed with Paul and Peter that the gospel could be presented to the Gentiles without observance of the Laws of Moses or circumcision. The Gentiles were to be saved by faith alone apart from the law. Paul used the word "grace" to describe his new gospel.
Acts 15:1 And certain [men] came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses." 6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as [He] [did] to us, 9 "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." 12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men [and] brethren, listen to me: 14 "Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 `After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
This Church Age, Age of Grace, or Dispensation of Grace, was a MYSTERY hidden by God throughout the ages. It is found nowhere in prophecy. God wanted Israel to be the light unto the world, but they rejected Jesus Christ. Several years after His resurrection Jesus Christ appeared to the Apostle Paul to give the "New Revelation" for us. This revelation was kept secret by God, and Paul refers to it as "My Gospel" and "The Gospel of Grace." Paul referred to the revelation Jesus gave to him as the "MYSTERY" kept secret since the world began.
Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- 27 to God, alone wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ forever.
Many Bible teachers and preachers fail to recognize the distinct difference between the gospel given to the Apostle Paul and the gospel taught by all the other disciples. The Gospel of Grace given to Paul for the Gentiles excluded the Law of Moses and circumcision. Baptism was not required but was sometimes performed after a person became a believer. John the Baptist preached a gospel that required being "baptized for the forgiveness of sins," because Jesus had not yet taken upon Himself the sins of the whole world. Immediately after Jesus' death the other disciples were preaching "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." They preached a gospel of faith in Jesus and baptism for the forgiveness of sins. The gospel they preached also required the believer to keep the Law of Moses. This gospel was open to Jews only of whom the males were always circumcised on the eighth day after birth. Jesus specifically told them not to go to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 "And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
The gospel preached by the Apostle Paul for this Dispensation of Grace always included faith that Jesus' death was for the forgiveness of the sins of the whole world, and faith in His resurrection provides salvation and eternal life to all who sincerely believe.
Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Unfortunately, many Christians are unaware that we are living the Dispensation of Grace, which supersedes the Dispensation of Law under which Jesus Himself lived while a man. Paul did not preach that "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." The following scriptures from the New King James Version clearly describe the revelation given to the Apostle Paul as the MYSTERY.
Romans 11:9-25 And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. 10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always." 11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation [has] [come] to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall [is] riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy [those] [who] [are] my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away [is] the reconciling of the world, what [will] their acceptance [be] but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]; and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, [remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in [His] goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who [are] natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this MYSTERY, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Ephesians 3:8-13 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what [is] the fellowship of the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [places], 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Mystery No. 1
The Incarnation - Jesus Is God in the FleshThe first part of the mystery was the appearance of God manifested in the flesh. His name was Jesus.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the MYSTERY of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Mystery No. 2
The Holy Spirit - The Divine Indwelling of Christ in the BelieverThe second part of the mystery was the filling of believers with the Holy Spirit. This is often referred to as having "Christ in you," being "in Christ," or "Christ lives in me."
Colossians 1:24-27 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the MYSTERY which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness [comes] through the law, then Christ died in vain."
Acts 10:44-45 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
Mystery No. 3
The Dispensation of Grace
The Body of Christ Which is the Union of Jew and Gentile in the Church AgeThe third part of the mystery is the union of all believers, Jews and Gentiles, into one group called the Church or the Body of Christ. This is the Dispensation of Grace in which we now live. The gospel in the Dispensation of Grace is salvation by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and faith in the resurrection.
Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Ephesians 3:1-7 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the Dispensation of the Grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the MYSTERY (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Acts 13:45-46 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 14:27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Acts 15:7-9 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as [He] [did] to us, 9 "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."
Acts 22:21 "Then He said to me, `Depart, for I will send you (Paul) far from here to the Gentiles.'"
God has temporarily cast away the nation Israel because they rejected Jesus Christ. He has now turned to the Gentiles with a new method of salvation. "You will be saved by grace through faith for it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." This new method of acceptance before God is also available to the individual Jew. Two-thirds of Israel's people will die during the Tribulation, but one-third will be spared. They will be refined as silver is refined, and tested as gold is tested. They will call upon the Lord (Zechariah 13:8-9). There will be a remnant of Jews who accept Jesus. Israel will be restored during the Great Tribulation at the end of the Dispensation of Grace. At the end of the tribulation, the second coming of Jesus Christ will occur. He will defeat Satan and the Antichrist, and He will begin a 1,000-year reign called the Millennium. At the end of the Millennium will be the Great White Throne judgment for unbelievers, and they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.
False teachers often claim the unbeliever will be judged during the White Throne judgment on a sliding scale according to the degree of his sins, but the Bible teaches that God does not give the unbeliever a varying degree of punishment according to his sins. All unbelievers whose names are not in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. The atheist who managed a orphanage all of his life will receive the exact same punishment as the atheist who was a child mass murderer. God is just. God is not punishing them for their varying degrees of sins. He is punishing them all equally for their rejection of Jesus Christ's substitutionary death and their unbelief in His resurrection.
Revelation 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number [is] as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet [are]. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is [the] [Book] of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Romans 11:1-5 I say then, has God cast away His people (the individual)? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 3 "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?" 4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Zechariah 13:8 And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the Lord, "[That] two-thirds in it shall be cut off [and] die, But [one]- third shall be left in it: 9 I will bring the [one]-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, `This [is] My people'; And each one will say, `The Lord [is] my God.' "
Why did God keep the Dispensation of Grace a MYSTERY? Because Satan, his evil demons and people under his control (rulers of this age) would NOT have killed Jesus had they known about the Dispensation of Grace. In Jesus' death we become victorious over sin. We can now come into the Throne of Grace to live forever with God. The Dispensation of Grace was kept a MYSTERY hidden by God in order to give us a way of salvation.
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, the hidden [wisdom] which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Ephesians 6:17-20 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the MYSTERY of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 2:1-3 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and [attaining] to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the MYSTERY of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Many Christians and Messianic Jews still attempt to live according to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. This practice is contrary to the Word of God under this new covenant, the Dispensation of Grace. The Apostle Paul was very critical of this practice of mixing law and grace.
2 Corinthians 3:11-18 For if what is passing away [was] glorious, what remains [is] much more glorious. 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech-- 13 unlike Moses, [who] put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the [veil] is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Scripture does not teach that salvation is accomplished by having one's sins forgiven. Most Christian churches teach the false doctrine of effectual forgiveness. They teach that sins are not forgiven until one believes Jesus died for his sins. They falsely believe that having one's sins forgiven equates to being saved. The effectual forgiveness doctrine is not in the Bible. Actually, the Bible teaches just the opposite. While we were enemies of God (meaning unsaved) we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son. It does not require faith to be reconciled to God as many churches falsely teach. Reconciliation does not mean one is saved as these churches teach. It means the enmity between God and mankind as a result of Adam's transgression has been reversed by Jesus' death on the cross. This is clearly shown in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 2 Corinthians 5:14 - 6:2 and Colossians 1:20 on the following web page. Universal reconciliation is a sound Biblical doctrine, but universal salvation is not in the Bible.
We are saved by faith in the resurrection of Jesus, by receiving His resurrected life in us, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. You must have Christ in you to be saved.
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (KJV)
Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (resurrection).
Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it] [is] the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth [as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching [is] empty and your faith [is] also empty.
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, [and] has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by Man also [came] the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may [continue] [to] believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Luke 23:42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
In Romans 4:25 we see the differentiation between forgiveness of sin and salvation. Jesus was delivered up and crucified for the forgiveness of our sin, and He was raised from the dead to provide the way of salvation. The only sin which has not been forgiven is the rejection of the leading of the Holy Spirit by unbelief in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection as our Savior. Jesus said that such a person "never has forgiveness." Rejecting Jesus Christ is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This has been called by some as the "unpardonable sin." The following verses clearly show these doctrines:
Mark 3:28 " Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 "but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation"-- 30 because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."
Matthew 12:31 " Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy [against] the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the [age] to come.
In Christ all shall be made alive because of His resurrection from the dead as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22. Salvation is described as receiving life (1 Corinthians 15:22) when one's name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 20:15).
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, [and] has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by Man also [came] the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
One of the two thieves crucified on his cross next to Jesus Christ was saved by his faith in the soon-to-come resurrection of Christ when he said in Luke 23:42-43, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Nothing was said about the thief's sins or about the forgiveness of his sins. The thief was not baptized. The thief did not invite Jesus into his heart. The thief expressed faith in the soon-to-come resurrection of Jesus to His Kingdom. The thief was saved because of his faith in Jesus' resurrection. This is another clear example showing that faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basic requirement for salvation.
We are given a very clear description of salvation in Romans 10:9-10. It does not mention having one's sins forgiven, asking Jesus into one's heart or being baptized. Salvation is obtained by believing in one's heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. The heart is symbolic for having true faith as the basis for salvation and not just empty verbal expression. We must confess our sins in the admission that we need a Savior, but the confession of sins does not fulfill the requirement for salvation. We must confess faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. Likewise, Romans 5:10 says that we are saved by His life. This means that salvation is obtained by faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 gives a detailed description of the gospel.
Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Many people believe and teach there is "life in the blood," meaning eternal life comes through the shed blood of Jesus. A phrase with this meaning is not found in Scripture. Romans 5:10 says, " we shall be saved by His life." Scripture does not say we are saved by His blood or by His death. Many pastors give a plea for the unbeliever to "ask Jesus into your heart." Here again this phrase is not the gospel and is not found in the Bible.
Some like to quote Bible verses about salvation that were written prior to Jesus' death and resurrection. People were saved before the cross by believing that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. These verses were applicable at that time for those people but are not applicable to us today in this Dispensation of Grace or Church Age. They are applicable only if one interprets faith in Jesus as including His death, burial and resurrection for his complete justification.
We believe that salvation is by grace through faith based upon the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus took upon Himself the sins of all mankind by His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead provides salvation for each person who believes. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become the children of God.
We must also conclude that salvation is only possible by faith in the true Jesus of the Bible. Jesus is fully God and became a man in order to fulfill God's plan of salvation for us. Jesus is God who was manifested in the flesh. Faith in Jesus by some other definition does not result in salvation.
We believe in one God who is a personal and eternal Spirit, perfect and unchangeable in all His attributes. This one God eternally exists in three persons, impossible of division but capable of distinction as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All have precisely the same nature, attributes and perfections and are worthy of precisely the same homage, faith and obedience.
Mystery No. 4
The Seven Stars and Seven Candlesticks"The Mystery of these Candlesticks lay in the fact that the Seven Churches mentioned were representative churches, whose history was typical of the history of the Christian Church for the past 2000 years, and the Mystery could not be understood until the present time, or until the correspondence between the character of those churches and church history should be revealed." The seven churches correspond with the seven parables of Matthew 13.
Revelation 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands [One] like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair [were] white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet [were] like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance [was] like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 "I [am] He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 "The MYSTERY of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Mystery No. 5
The Kingdom of Heaven"When the Jews rejected Christ, and thus prevented the setting up of the Kingdom, the Kingdom took on another form, the 'Mystery Form.' To show the character of this 'Mystery Form' of the Kingdom, Jesus resorted to parables. These parables are 12 in number and are found in Matthew's Gospel only." Clarence Larkin. See Matthew 13:1-52.
Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the MYSTERIES of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Mystery No. 6
The Translation of the Saints - The Rapture of the ChurchThe rapture of the Church which will occur in the future was also a MYSTERY as described in 1 Corinthians 15. This occurs at the end of the Dispensation of Grace.
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a MYSTERY: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where [is] your sting? O Hades, where [is] your victory?" 56 The sting of death [is] sin, and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Mystery No. 7
Israel's Blindness and God's Casting Away of IsraelIsrael was God's chosen people in the Old Testament. God threatened them many times and punished them many times because of their unfaithfulness. They were taken into Babylonian captivity because of their adultery toward God, but God always restored them. God presented a new plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. However, Israel rejected Jesus three times. The Jews rejected Jesus' personal ministry where He offered them the Kingdom of God. The Jews rejected the Apostles when Jesus said to them, "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" The Apostle Paul presented the gospel to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles, but the Jews rejected it. Therefore, God cut off Israel and turned to the Gentiles with the gospel of grace.
Mark 15:12 Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do [with] [Him] whom you call the King of the Jews?" 13 So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" 14 Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!" 15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged [Him], to be crucified.
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 "And as you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Romans 11:13-25 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy [those] [who] [are] my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away [is] the reconciling of the world, what [will] their acceptance [be] but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]; and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, [remember] [that] you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." 20 Well [said]. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in [His] goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who [are] natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this MYSTERY, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Mystery No. 8
The Iniquity - Satan Manifested in the FleshIn 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Paul is speaking of the "man of sin" or the Antichrist. Satan has been manifested in the flesh as the Antichrist. Paul called this manifestation the "Mystery of lawlessness" or the "Mystery of iniquity," which was already at work in Paul's day. The 'Mystery of Godliness' is God manifested in the flesh as Jesus, and the "Mystery of Iniquity" is Satan manifested in the flesh.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that] [Day] [will] [not] [come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the MYSTERY of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will] [do] [so] until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the [lawless] [one] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way.
Mystery No. 9
The Mystery of Babylon the GreatBabylon the Great described in the New Testament book of Revelation was never mentioned in the Old Testament.
Revelation 17:3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast [which] [was] full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name [was] written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Mystery No. 10
The Mystery of the Church as the Bride of ChristThe MYSTERY, a sacred secret revealed, is that Christian marriage parallels the union that exists spiritually between Christ and His bride, the Church. The Church, Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ are one in the same to be married to Christ after the rapture of the Church.
Ephesians 5:32 This is a great MYSTERY, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife [see] that she respects [her] husband.
Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
The Church has been given a warning against unbelief in the gospel of salvation by grace through faith. The Dispensation of Grace could be suddenly ended by Christ if this gospel is rejected by the Gentiles. God could set aside the rapture of the Body of Christ and cut off the Gentiles just as was done with Israel because of unbelief. Paul said to the Gentiles, "For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either." The modern "Christian" churches are at high risk because of false teaching.
Romans 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in [His] goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who [are] natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this MYSTERY, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Mystery No. 11
The Mystery of the Restoration of All Things or End TimesThe Dispensation of the Fullness of the Times as mentioned in the New Testament book of Ephesians was never mentioned in the Old Testament.
Ephesians 1:7-10 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the MYSTERY of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the Dispensation of the Fullness of the Times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.
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False Doctrines of the "Pope" of Geneva
What Love Is This?
Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God by Dave HuntThe Seven Dispensations
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
by Dr. C. I. ScofieldThe best book for the study of dispensations is:
Gods' Plan for Man
by Finis Jennings Dake, 1990 ISBN-10: 1558290265Highly recommended book for studying many different theologies is:
The Moody Handbook of Theology
by Paul Enns, ISBN: 0-8024-3428-2
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