the Gospel according to.....

I think we can all agree that the term "gospel" means the good news. What we disagree on is to where in the Bible we can find the good news that is directed to and pertains to our situation. One of the biggest lies you will ever hear in churches all over the world is that everyone in the old testament was looking forward to the cross as well as everyone in the new testament is looking back at the cross. Surely, someone forgot to tell Peter and the boys in Mathew 16 where Peter tried to prevent the cross from taking place.

Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Adam and Eve were recipients of good news were they not when God told them...

Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Let's take a quick look into the good news being delivered by Moses, Jesus, Peter and Paul...beginning with....

MOSES:

• Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
• Deuteronomy 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
• Deuteronomy 4:6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
• Deuteronomy 4:7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
• Deuteronomy 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
• Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Did you see the preaching of the cross there? If you did, you have much better eyes than I. What you see is the covenant position of Israel, the "if" and "then" relationship with God. You do this , then God will do such and such. Moses speaks to nothing else but this covenant relationship which entails the keeping of the law, the statutes, the promise of a land grant and the nation Israel. No cross, no death, burial or resurrection, no salvation by grace through faith, no gospel of the grace of God by which we are saved in this present dispensation of the grace of God,,,,period! Yet, most of the preacher boys that have attended cemetery school will slap you right back into these scriptures putting their people back under the weak and beggarly elements of the law ....and the people said amen. Somebody should be ashamed, and they are indeed shameful workman that neglect to rightly divide the word of truth as Christ instructed Paul to usward. Let's move on....

JESUS:

• Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
• Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
• Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
• Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
• Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
• Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
• Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
• Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
• Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
• Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
• Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
• Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Did you see the gospel of the grace of God? the gospel of Christ? the preaching of the cross? Be honest with yourself. You saw the gospel of the kingdom just as clear as the words on the page declare. This is the good news given to Israel that their prophesied kingdom is at hand. You see the function of water baptism for the nation Israel, the priest nation in their ceremonial washings. You can't miss the healing ministry that associates with the kingdom message because of Leviticus 21:17-22 which demands the priest be without blemish or disease. The kingdom message is always associated with signs and wonders because the target audience for the message is indeed Israel which according to 1st Corinthians 1:22, the Jews require a sign. We walk by faith, not by sight do we not? we have no need of signs and wonders, they have no function today as we operate by grace through faith in this dispensation. Starting to make sense yet? Still no cross, no death, burial or resurrection as the merit by which anyone is saved at this point. Moving on to....

PETER:

• 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?
• Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
• Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
• Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
• Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
• Acts 8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
• 1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
• 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Now we are getting somewhere, or are we? Was Peter preaching the cross? Seems to me, he is still preaching the kingdom message, which was spoken by all His holy prophets since the world began. No new information to speak of especially concerning the cross by Peter. You do see the emphasis once again on performance, the kingdom of Israel, Christ upon David's throne in Jerusalem. That is not the gospel of the grace of God, not grace by faith, no cross, death, burial or resurrection as a benefit to anyone. So who has the gospel that saves a never dying soul in this dispensation of the grace of God?

PAUL:

• Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
• Romans 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
• Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
• 2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
• 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
• Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
• Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
• 2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

What is this 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;
• 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.
• 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:

The order of events in a soul's salvation in this present dispensation of the grace of God does not involve repenting of your sins, asking Jesus into your heart, being dumped in a tank of water by some dude wearing rubber pants acting like a mediator of some sorts, not following Jesus, or making Jesus Lord, or any other goofy activity that you heard someone say you should do....follow what the Bible rightly divided says to do in....

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,

Christ sent Paul beginning in the 9Th chapter of the book of Acts, not with instructions on eating fruits in the garden, not with building plans for an Ark to avoid a flood, not with the good news of a nation in which all the nations will be blessed, not with the fulfillment of a kingdom promise being at hand.....but with an entirely new message. On the merits of the death, burial and resurrection of God manifest in the flesh, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, Jesus Christ, paying the sin debt for everyone, past present and future, salvation by grace through faith in this finished work alone. No admixture of works, the law, statutes, being a goody goody two shoes, going to church every time the doors open, paying a tithe, joining a group, getting wet, kissing the toes on a statue, hail Mary's and all that jazz. Ephesians 1:13 tells exactly the process in being saved. Read it backwards if that helps....You were sealed with the Holy Spirit after that you believed the gospel of your salvation in which you heard from the word of truth by trusting Christ. God made it so easy for us, He did all the work necessary to save our soul.

Paul tells us over and over the gospel which he preaches was given him by the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Paul even refers to this gospel as "my gospel" because it is uniquely given to Paul alone. Peter did not preach it, Moses did not preach it, even Jesus kept it secret until He gave it to Paul. Romans 16:25 declares it was kept secret since the world began. The sad workmanship of the church machinery today is keeping it a secret from the people by neglecting to rightly divide the word of truth so let's get busy in making all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery!!

Grace and Peace!

Baptism according to......

What do you think of when you see or hear the word baptism? I'm not a betting man but if I were, I would wager most people think of a wet event in a church setting with someone being dunked in a tub of water either in the front or back of the church with a guy in waist high rubber boots performing the ceremony. Churches have split over the details of whether you should be dunked forward or backward, dunked once or three times, should it be in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, even whether it is immersion in water or just a little dab will do ya mentality pertaining to sprinkling. As a Mid Acts Pauline right divider of the authorized King James Bible I can say without any fear of contradiction that every church that practices water baptism in this present dispensation of the grace of God is wrong, sorely wrong, even to the point of making the cross of Christ of none effect. Let's take a brief look at what the four disseminators of doctrine have to say about "baptism" beginning with Moses.



MOSES:

• Exodus 40:12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.


• Leviticus 16:24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.


• Numbers 8:7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.


• Numbers 19:20 But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.

The use of water in an assembly did not begin when the first Baptist church opened it's doors. Water was an essential element in the priestly ministry from the beginning of the priestly ministry of Israel for purification, cleansing and also note as a separation. If one was not sprinkled with this holy water they would remain unclean. Sounds familiar doesn't it when you consider denominations that emphasize water baptism as an element of your salvation such as the Church of Christ. The amazing part is they are correct, they are just two thousand years behind the learning curve which demonstrates the error of their theology. Let's proceed with information given on baptism by our Lord Jesus Christ.

JESUS:

• Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:


• Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.


• Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.


• Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.


• John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.


• John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.


• John 3:24 For John was not yet cast into prison.


• John 3:25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

Mathew 3:11 demonstrates that baptism does not always refer to water or the use thereof. Note the baptism with the Holy Ghost, is the Holy Ghost water? and also with fire, that cannot be water either, in fact, the baptism with fire is not as the Pentecostals maintain as some sort of zeal or speaking in gibberish but rather it refers to Hell as set forth in verse 12 of the same chapter. The next time you hear someone declare they received the baptism with fire try not to laugh at their ignorance, instead, patiently show them the verses.

Mathew 20:22 , Jesus is speaking concerning His death as a baptism as He also did similarly in Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Ask your Christian friends how many times Jesus was baptized and then show them how Christ spoke of His death as a baptism. You have just taught them baptism does not mean water.

Mathew 16:16 demonstrates the absolute necessity for water baptism in order to be saved, no way around it, the Bible spin doctors are wrong making it something else, the verse says "and" which ties it directly as an essential element for Israel to become believing Israel in their Messiah.

Lastly, note what John was preaching in Mark 1:4....baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Is that the same as preaching the cross? wherein Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose the third day which constitutes the gospel of the grace of God? You know it isn't the same, in fact, while they were preaching this baptism ,none of the disciples had a clue Christ was going to die for any one's sins, especially us dirty no good Gentile dogs.

PETER:

• Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Does Acts 2:38 sound like Mark 1:4? It does, but with the addition of the receiving of the Holy Ghost. Now go back to the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost showed up, who do you think was receiving the Holy Ghost? It was the people who had already been water baptized previously and were now receiving the promise from Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Obviously, Peter is just getting the people he was speaking to up to speed from Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

PAUL:

• Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Did Jesus drown? Being baptized into His death means to be "immersed into His death" for the sake of identification with the death, burial and ressurection of Christ.

• Romans 6:4 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.

Notice the statement "by the glory of the Father". This signifies it is the operation of God and not some dude wearing waders in a Jacuzzi . If a pastor or preacher thinks that when they pull you up out of the water is a representation of the resurrection, as the night follows the day, the preacher thinks he is the Father in the scripture. Also note there is no mention of H2O, only Christ's death. Romans 6:3-4 concords with Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

• 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Is John the baptizer? Is Jesus the baptizer? No, the Holy Spirit is the baptizer. Does the Holy Spirit baptize us into water? Isn't it alot easier to understand as well as know the truth when you allow the scriptures to say what they so plainly say. The Holy spirit baptizes us into one body, the body of Christ. Just for fun, if this is a water baptism shouldn't we be drinking the water as the verse concludes? Yuck! Who knows what has been in that nasty pool.

• Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There it is again, baptized into Christ is not baptized with water for the remission of sins. The words are different with different meanings and different functions. If it is a water baptism, shouldn't you not dry off with a towel because you would be removing Christ? Silly to think about isn't it how the "ignorant brethren" who will deny what the scriptures so plainly declare in order to maintain a tradition or ritual handed down by former "ignorant brethren"?

• Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

In a former post concerning Baptisms, I demonstrated there are at least twelve different baptisms in the Bible. Paul says in Ephesians 4:5 there is but one. What Paul is saying there is but one that has a function in this dispensation of the grace of God wherein we reside. In fact, in another scripture, Paul declares the operation of a water baptism in this dispensing of the grace of God is counter productive even as much as making the cross of none effect.

• 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

If Christ sent Paul NOT to baptize, and if Paul is our pattern, why in the world are folks so bent on clinging to this water ceremony which we as the body of Christ are warned against, are instructed to avoid, and have no association with? It is easy, they have neglected to heed to Paul's clear statement in 2nd Timothy 2:15 wherein we are told to "rightly divide the word of truth".

• 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We are surrounded by shameful workmanship in this present day, dumbing down the audience with dumbed down Bibles, teaching Israel's covenant doctrine as if it is in effect for us today, singing from the Psalms which are solely Israel's message, dancing like David danced in 2nd Samuel 6 which was never ordained by God just as moving the Ark of the covenant in a cart was, Asking Jesus in their hearts, confessing their sins, asking for forgiveness, and the list goes on with the confussion, and did I mention getting wet and thinking they are doing God's will? If it wasn't so serious it would be hoot worthy. Next post I will cover the topic of the "Gospel" and see the difference as the scriptures progress with the different audiences in view. Until then, Grace and Peace!

The Kingdom according to.......

Certainly, God intended from the beginning that there would be a kingdom established on this earth with Christ seated on His throne.

• Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
• Matthew 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
• Matthew 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
• Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Let's take a brief look into what is involved with this kingdom spoken of in Mathew 25 and determine whether it is the same kingdom spoken of by Moses, Jesus, Peter and Paul. Starting with Moses, we see the kingdom promise goes to a certain group of people, that being Israel.....

MOSES:

• Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
• Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Doesn't that sound like the same thing from Peter in 1st Peter 2:9?

• 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Continuing on with Moses' understanding of the kingdom, let's see a few more scriptures.

• Deuteronomy 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
• Deuteronomy 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
• Deuteronomy 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
• Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Let's add it up so far. We have a peculiar people, Israel, the issue of the law and statues, we have priests, Levites, all upon the earth. Pretty clear at this point it is a physical kingdom on the earth wouldn't you say? Let's move on and take a look at what Jesus had to say about the kingdom while He ministered to the nation Israel.

JESUS:

• Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
• Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
• Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
• Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
• Luke 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
• Luke 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
• Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
• Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
• Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

What can we determine from what the Lord Jesus had to say about the kingdom? Jesus was indeed preaching the gospel of the kingdom and not the gospel of the grace of God which are totally different messages. The gospel of the kingdom is always associated with physical healing, Israel, the twelve tribes, twelve thrones, being on the earth, and so on. It is the exact same message that was given to Moses, then being preached by the Lord Jesus Christ, and appointed to the twelve apostle of Israel to continue preaching. Also note there is the mention of "eat and drink" in this kingdom, you will see it mentioned again by the apostle Paul as we continue....

PETER:

• Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
• Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
• Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

The times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord speaks to Christ sitting on David's throne in the kingdom. No change in the message from Jesus concerning the kingdom, as a matter of fact, Peter goes on to quote Moses from Deuteronomy 18:18-20 in Acts 3:22-23 signifying it is the exact message all the way from Moses. Of course, the apostle Paul would have the same message about the kingdom wouldn't he? Let's investigate shall we.

PAUL:

• Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
• 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
• Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
• Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
• Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
• Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
• Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
• Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
• Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
• 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Amen! The difference in Paul's message concerning the kingdom is like night and day from what Moses, Jesus and Peter had to say. Paul speaks of a heavenly kingdom while Moses, Jesus and Peter speak concerning an earthly kingdom. What is missing from Paul's message about the kingdom speaks loudly to the fact that there is more than one kingdom in scripture. The absence of the law, Israel, statues, priests, Levites, the physical earthly attributes such as eat and drink from Luke 22 in comparison to Romans 14 is clear, this is new information given to only one apostle for this present dispensation of the grace of God and the new creature, the church, the body of Christ. You cannot mix the two programs, they are mutually exclusive one from another. We are to set our affections on things above while in Mathew, Israel is instructed to pray for the kingdom on the earth.
The next time you hear a preacher, read a blog or whatever, and the speaker mentions things like "living the kingdom life", "kingdom minded", this is a "kingdom church" or any other mention of the kingdom in which they are referencing from the Old Testament books of Mathew, Mark, Luke or John and at the same time attempt to place you in that audience, you know without a shadow of a doubt you are listening to an ignorant novice which should do himself and everybody within ear's reach a favor and sit down, shut up and study to shew himself approved unto God, rightly divide the word of truth, quit trying to usurp Israel's covenant position, get up to speed in what God is doing now instead of what God set aside over two thousand years ago and make a difference for Christ with the doctrine and message committed unto us through the apostle Paul in this present dispensation of the grace of God!! The days of following Jesus ended in Acts chapter 9 when Christ sent Paul with a new message named the Gospel of the Grace of God. That is different from the Gospel of the Kingdom, they are even spelled different!!