If you went to the dentist to get a tooth examined and the doctor asked you to bend over, it would be apparently obvious this might not be the dental office you should visiting for your dental needs. As humerous as that would be, it is less then humerous when dealing with the issues that determine where you will spend eternity. Knowing where to turn in the Bible for your marching orders is not a preference of choice, it is crucial to be on the same page with God concerning what He has to say to YOU in this present dispensation of the Grace of God. God has not always spoken the same things to people at different times....
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets
This verse in Hebrews clearly states God spoke in a variety of times with differing messages, and the scriptures are the evidence. The word "Gospel" simply means the good news, and there is alot of good news throughout the Bible. Adam and Eve were recipients of good news were they not? Noah recieved some good news from the LORD, Moses also got some good news from God as well as the prophets afterward. Jesus Christ, while in His earthly ministry preached the good news of the kingdom being at hand and that is where most people tend to place their focus, and why shouldn't they since the publishing company has emphasized Christ's words in red letters. What people tend to minimize is what God tells us to magnify, and that is Christ's heavenly ministry through the Apostle Paul for US in this present dispensation of the Grace of God! Paul was the recipient of the Gospel of the Grace of God, and this is the one directed toward us.
Adam and Eve were not privy to the information given to Noah concerning the flood. Likewise, Noah could not have known Moses would recieve the information vital to Israel's old covenant. The same way Moses had no information concerning Israel's new testament, none of the prophets had any information about the "revelation of the mystery" given to the Apostle Paul in the 9th chapter of the book of Acts. What we see in this illustration is progressive revelation. The Bible is not a snapshot of the mind of God, rather it is more like a movie, and this movie is a double feature.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The first verse in your Bible declares God's two programs, one in heaven, one on the earth. From Genesis 1:2 until Paul in the 9th chapter of the book of Acts, God is directing His attention on the earthly program. From Paul until the "catching away" of the body of Christ, God is dealing with His heavenly program. No one before the Apostle Paul had any anticipation of going to heaven when they died, rather, that they would be resurrected upon the earth.
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, THE LORD SAID UNTO MY LORD, SIT THOU ON MY RIGHT HAND,
In Christ's earthly ministry, He taught His disciples to pray that they would go to heaven?...no, no no. Jesus taught His followers to pray for the Kingdom to come to earth!
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Before Christ's ascention into heaven, the disciples were all gathered together and what did they ask him? "can we go to heaven also"? nope, rather they asked what their good news was focused upon, that being the earthly, Messianic, Davidic Kingdom in Zion with Jesus seated on David's throne, with the 12 Apostles on 12 thrones ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel having dominion on the earth.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
In short, Jesus answered them with a not yet. Jesus knew something that Peter, James, John and the other disciples could have never imagined possible because it was kept secret until revealed to one man, the Apostle Paul in the 9th chapter of Acts. What is this secret information?
Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
It never crossed anyone's mind, nor was it ever spoken by any of the holy prophets that salvation for anyone could be achieved other then through the institution of the nation Israel. But that is exactly what took place, and that is where we are today! So, when you go to your Bible for information pertaining to salvation today and the doctrines associated with your marching orders, it is not a choice you can make according to your likes and dislikes, it MUST be according to the information God has given to us pertaining to this present dispensation of the Grace of God from Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul for usward! You cannot go back to the OT books of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John because you like what is said or the promises given to Israel. God has moved past that, has set it aside and is now dealing with people according to the doctrines given to Paul.
Adam and Eve knew nothing about building and Ark.
Noah knew nothing about the 10 commandments.
Moses knew nothing about God writing the laws in Israel's mind and causing them to keep His statues.
Israel did not have clue of their fall and the result being salvation would come to the gentiles.
It is only through the information given to the Apostle Paul from the risen Lord Jesus Christ that a soul can be saved in this present dispensation of the Grace of God. Paul ALONE is the Apostle to the gentiles. Paul ALONE has our doctrines and marching orders, Paul ALONE tells us that when we die we are present with the Lord. Paul ALONE tells us we are not associated with the law, but under grace...and so on....
The Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which WE are saved
1 Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
That's what we need!!! The gospel that saves a never dying soul, what is this gospel????
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
That's it!!!! Christ died for your sins, was buried, and He rose the 3rd day.....the gospel of YOUR salvation!!!
Now what do I do? confess my sins?....ask Jesus into my heart?....make Jesus Lord?....get water baptized?....join a church?....no, no, no and no!!
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Step 1...you hear the word of truth, the gospel of YOUR salvation...(1 Cor. 15:1-4)
Step 2...you believe the Gospel...
Step 3...you trust by faith...
Step 4...you are saved!! and sealed!!
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Sounds easy doesn't it?....let me remind you, it wasn't a stroll in the park for Jesus Christ to hang on that ugly, nasty, cursed cross, for the penalty we so rightly deserve for our sins. Jesus did everything necessary to save your never dying soul, put your faith in what He has done ALONE!
If you still think it is too easy, then why can't you do it?
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets
This verse in Hebrews clearly states God spoke in a variety of times with differing messages, and the scriptures are the evidence. The word "Gospel" simply means the good news, and there is alot of good news throughout the Bible. Adam and Eve were recipients of good news were they not? Noah recieved some good news from the LORD, Moses also got some good news from God as well as the prophets afterward. Jesus Christ, while in His earthly ministry preached the good news of the kingdom being at hand and that is where most people tend to place their focus, and why shouldn't they since the publishing company has emphasized Christ's words in red letters. What people tend to minimize is what God tells us to magnify, and that is Christ's heavenly ministry through the Apostle Paul for US in this present dispensation of the Grace of God! Paul was the recipient of the Gospel of the Grace of God, and this is the one directed toward us.
Adam and Eve were not privy to the information given to Noah concerning the flood. Likewise, Noah could not have known Moses would recieve the information vital to Israel's old covenant. The same way Moses had no information concerning Israel's new testament, none of the prophets had any information about the "revelation of the mystery" given to the Apostle Paul in the 9th chapter of the book of Acts. What we see in this illustration is progressive revelation. The Bible is not a snapshot of the mind of God, rather it is more like a movie, and this movie is a double feature.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
The first verse in your Bible declares God's two programs, one in heaven, one on the earth. From Genesis 1:2 until Paul in the 9th chapter of the book of Acts, God is directing His attention on the earthly program. From Paul until the "catching away" of the body of Christ, God is dealing with His heavenly program. No one before the Apostle Paul had any anticipation of going to heaven when they died, rather, that they would be resurrected upon the earth.
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, THE LORD SAID UNTO MY LORD, SIT THOU ON MY RIGHT HAND,
In Christ's earthly ministry, He taught His disciples to pray that they would go to heaven?...no, no no. Jesus taught His followers to pray for the Kingdom to come to earth!
Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Before Christ's ascention into heaven, the disciples were all gathered together and what did they ask him? "can we go to heaven also"? nope, rather they asked what their good news was focused upon, that being the earthly, Messianic, Davidic Kingdom in Zion with Jesus seated on David's throne, with the 12 Apostles on 12 thrones ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel having dominion on the earth.
Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
In short, Jesus answered them with a not yet. Jesus knew something that Peter, James, John and the other disciples could have never imagined possible because it was kept secret until revealed to one man, the Apostle Paul in the 9th chapter of Acts. What is this secret information?
Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
It never crossed anyone's mind, nor was it ever spoken by any of the holy prophets that salvation for anyone could be achieved other then through the institution of the nation Israel. But that is exactly what took place, and that is where we are today! So, when you go to your Bible for information pertaining to salvation today and the doctrines associated with your marching orders, it is not a choice you can make according to your likes and dislikes, it MUST be according to the information God has given to us pertaining to this present dispensation of the Grace of God from Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul for usward! You cannot go back to the OT books of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John because you like what is said or the promises given to Israel. God has moved past that, has set it aside and is now dealing with people according to the doctrines given to Paul.
Adam and Eve knew nothing about building and Ark.
Noah knew nothing about the 10 commandments.
Moses knew nothing about God writing the laws in Israel's mind and causing them to keep His statues.
Israel did not have clue of their fall and the result being salvation would come to the gentiles.
It is only through the information given to the Apostle Paul from the risen Lord Jesus Christ that a soul can be saved in this present dispensation of the Grace of God. Paul ALONE is the Apostle to the gentiles. Paul ALONE has our doctrines and marching orders, Paul ALONE tells us that when we die we are present with the Lord. Paul ALONE tells us we are not associated with the law, but under grace...and so on....
The Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which WE are saved
1 Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
That's what we need!!! The gospel that saves a never dying soul, what is this gospel????
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
That's it!!!! Christ died for your sins, was buried, and He rose the 3rd day.....the gospel of YOUR salvation!!!
Now what do I do? confess my sins?....ask Jesus into my heart?....make Jesus Lord?....get water baptized?....join a church?....no, no, no and no!!
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Step 1...you hear the word of truth, the gospel of YOUR salvation...(1 Cor. 15:1-4)
Step 2...you believe the Gospel...
Step 3...you trust by faith...
Step 4...you are saved!! and sealed!!
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Sounds easy doesn't it?....let me remind you, it wasn't a stroll in the park for Jesus Christ to hang on that ugly, nasty, cursed cross, for the penalty we so rightly deserve for our sins. Jesus did everything necessary to save your never dying soul, put your faith in what He has done ALONE!
If you still think it is too easy, then why can't you do it?
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
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