Note these three interesting verses of Scripture:

“BUT JESUS SAID UNTO HER, LET THE CHILDREN FIRST BE FILLED: FOR IT IS NOT MEET TO TAKE THE CHILDREN’S BREAD, AND TO CAST IT UNTO THE DOGS.” Mark 7:27.

“BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM SHALL BE CAST OUT INTO OUTER DARKNESS; THERE SHALL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.” Matthew 8:12.

“I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT MANY SHALL COME FROM THE EAST AND WEST, AND SHALL SIT DOWN WITH ABRAHAM, AND ISAAC, AND JACOB, IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” Matthew 8:11.

The Jews, or Israelites, were called “the children of the kingdom.” Note how Peter addressed them in Acts 3.12, “Ye men of Israel”—And in Acts 3:25, “Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which Gad made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus; Whom ye delivered up, and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.” Acts 3:13.

But now the two statements, “LET THE CHILDREN FIRST BE FILLED”; and “THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM SHALL BE CAST OUT.” With the second statement let us read Romans 11:7, 11 and 15:

“What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”

“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.”

“For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”

Something happened to the children of the kingdom. The Lord Jesus, on earth, foretold God’s awful judgment upon Israel. Note Matthew 22:7 and Luke 21:20, 23 and 24.

“But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth; and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”

“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”

“But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days? for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

Several years before the terrible judgment fell upon Israel and Jerusalem the Apostle Paul pronounced God’s judgment of blindness upon Israel, in Acts 28:25 to 27, and then added “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and they will hear it.” Acts 28:28

Here we learn that the children of the kingdom were cast into the outer darkness of blindness; and we learn, in Romans 2:7 to 9, that a far worse judgment was the portion of the individual Jews who died without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

During the “Acts” period (from about 33 A.D. to 63 A.D.) the children were first being filled. This we learn in Acts 3:25 and 26, Acts 10:28, Acts 13:46, and Acts 18:5 and 6.

“Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 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.”

“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God SHOULD FIRST HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO YOU; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, LO, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES.” “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”

THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM

Note the words of the Lord Jesus and the response of the Jews. “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed, but ye seek to kill Me, because. My Word hath no place in you.” John 8:37

“They answered and said unto Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” John 8:39

The saved and the unsaved Jews were called “the children of the kingdom.” They were the children of Abraham.

Note these significant verses:

“And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” Luke 13:16

“And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9 and 10

Jesus Christ was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. Matthew 15:24. He was a minister of the circumcision. Romans 15:8. It was God’s decree that no uncircumcised man should have fellowship with God’s people. Genesis 17:8 to 14. Peter stated that this fellowship was unlawful. Acts 10:28

Jesus Christ, on earth, was the circumcised Son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1 and Luke 2:11 to 16. He took His place with the Jews as a worshipping Jew, with the God-given religious program. Luke 4:16 and John 4:22

Christ had kingdom blessings for the children of the kingdom, the sons and daughters of Abraham.

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we read of but one Gentile man who received a blessing from the Lord Jesus. Note why this one Gentile man received the blessing from Jesus Christ

1—Because he was of great faith. Luke 7:9

2—Because he was very humble. Luke 7:7

3—Because he asked the sons of Abraham to intercede for him. Luke 7:3

4—Because he loved the sons of Abraham and built them a synagogue. Luke 7:5

All of this is most significant. The story is told in Luke 7:1 to 10 and in Matthew 8:5 to 12. Read the two records.

Note why one Gentile woman received a blessing from Jesus Christ:

1—She was of great faith. Matthew 15:28 and Mark 7:26

2—She overcame every obstacle to reach Jesus. Matthew 15:23 and Mark 7:24

3—She took her place as a Gentile dog. Matthew 15:25 to 27 and Mark 7:28

This is the only record of any Gentile woman who received a blessing from the Lord while He was on earth. The woman at the well, in John 4:7, was not a Gentile. John 4:12—Matthew 10:5

So the two Gentiles who received blessings from Jesus of Nazareth give us one of the dispensational outlines of Acts. “Let the children first be filled” and “Let the children be cast into outer darkness.”

God’s order was, “to the Jews, and not to the Gentiles”, while Jesus Christ was on earth. Matthew 15:24—Matthew 10:5. God’s order was, “to the Jews and not to the Gentiles” during those first years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ covered by the first nine chapters of Acts. Acts 5:29 to 32. Acts 10:28. Acts 11:19. God’s order from the new commission to Paul in Acts 13:2 to the Divine judgment upon Israel in Acts 28:28 was, “to the Jew first and also unto the Gentile,” Romans 1:16. All through the Book of Acts the children were first being filled, then the children were cast out. From the close of Acts down to the present time God’s order has been, “to the Gentiles and also to the Jews.”

A blindness in part is happened unto the children of the kingdom until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Romans 11:25. Then the children of the kingdom will be brought back into Divine favor. Romans 11:26

In the meantime all saved Gentiles have been translated into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. Colossians 1:13. They have been adopted into the household of God, and are the children of God and joint-heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:5. Romans 11:13 to 17

“HE WAS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM, AND THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT. HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN, AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT. BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME.” John 1:10 to 12.

Here we have the statement that Christ’s own received Him not. His own refers to the Jews. But note these statements:

John 2:23; Many believed in His name.

John 4:39 to 41; Many more believed on Him.

John 7:31; Many of the people believed on Him.

John 8:30; Many believed.

John 10:42; Many believed on Him.

John 11:45; Many of the Jews believed on Him.

After reading these statements then read John 12:37 to 40:

“ But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”

Thus we have the statements that “many believed on Him” and “His own received Him not”. Note the question of the Pharisees: “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him?” John 7:48

Most of the rulers of Israel neither believed nor received Christ. We see then that the Lord Jesus, while on earth, was not only offering salvation to individual Jews, but was presenting Himself and His kingdom to the Nation Israel. “But His own received Him not.” They knew not the time of their visitation. Luke 19:44. They knew not the things that belonged to their peace. Luke 19:42.

Note Christ’s words concerning John the Baptist: “But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto Him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of Him.” Mark 9:13

“And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” Matthew 11:14. Then note Luke 13:34 and 35: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

In what sense was Israel’s house left desolate? On the day of Pentecost 3000 Israelites believed and were saved. Acts 2:41 to 43. Then note Acts 4:4—“Howbeit many of them which heard the Word believed; and the number of men was about five thousand.” These were all Israelites.

Then note Acts 5:14—“And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” All Jews. “And the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7. All Jews.

Then note Acts 11:19—“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word to none, but unto the Jews only.”

Many of Christ’s own did receive Him. What is meant then by the statement, “His own received Him not?”

HOW ABOUT GENTILES?

Now search the Scriptures diligently from Matthew 1:1 to Peter’s statement in Acts 10:28, about seven years after the death of Jesus Christ, and count the Gentiles to whom Christ or His twelve apostles preached.

When the Twelve met one Gentile what did they say? “And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.” Matthew 15:23. Why did they do this? “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: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 10:5 and 6.

Why did one Gentile man receive a blessing from Jesus Christ on earth? “For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.” Luke 7:5. “And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto Him the elders of the Jews, beseeching Him that He would come and heal his servant.” Luke 7:3

AS MANY AS RECEIVED CHRIST

“As many as received Christ.” Think of this in the light of Acts 10:28 and Romans 10:14

“Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”

“How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

If it was not lawful for the Jewish disciples of Christ to go to the Gentiles, how could they hear and receive Christ? If the Gentiles did not hear the gospel they could not believe and receive Christ.

How do we reconcile Matthew 15:24 with John 3:16. “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In the light of Matthew 15:24 and Acts 10:28 and Acts 11:19, we must conclude that there was no “whosoever” message for the Gentiles until the words of Peter, in Acts 10:34 and 43. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respector of persons.” “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”

The proselytes, of Acts 2:10, were Gentiles by nature, but Jews by religion. The Grecians, of Acts 6 and 11, were Greek-speaking Jews. Philip did not preach to Gentiles, in the city of Samaria. Acts 11:19.

In the light of Acts 10:28 and 11:19 we may be sure that the Ethiopian was a proselyte. Acts 8:27.

Several years after Philip preached to the Ethiopian, the other apostles condemned Peter for preaching to the household of Cornelius. Acts 11:1 to 5.

Note what happened after Peter told them of Christ’s instructions to preach to Cornelius. “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Acts 11:18.

Now compare

1—Go not into the way of the Gentiles. Matthew 10:5.

2—It is an unlawful thing for a Jew to go to a Gentile. Acts 10:28.

3—”And when James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.” Galatians 2:9.

Here we learn concerning the twelve apostles; from first to last their ministry was to and for Israel.

DOGS AND NO DIFFERENCE

WHILE JESUS CHRIST WAS ON EARTH

Now let us compare Matthew 15:24—26—27 with Romans 10:12 and 13.

“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

“It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs.”

“And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.”

ABOUT 25 YEARS LATER

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

There is a very great difference between a sheep and a dog. This was the difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, while Christ was on earth.

But twenty-five years later there was no difference. Something had happened.

ISRAEL REJECTED

Now let us compare the statement of Christ to the Jews, “your house is left unto you desolate”, with Paul’s statement to the Jews, in Acts 13:46: “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”

Why was it necessary that the Word of Christ should be preached to Israel first, some years after Christ had said “your house is left unto you desolate”?

The answer is, Luke 23:34—Acts 3:1718 and 3:26,

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

“And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.”

“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.”

Christ on the cross prayed for Israel. God gave Israel another chance. And for several years after the prayer of Christ, God’s order was “to the Jew but not to the Gentile.” And then for some years, God’s order was “to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16—Acts 13:46—Acts 18:6 and Acts 28:28.

Then what happened? Study, “as many as received Christ” and John 3:16, in the light of Romans 11:30 and Ephesians 3:1 and 2 and 3:6.

As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. “

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief.”

This was written years after Christ died.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.”

“That the Gentiles should be jointheirs, and of the JOINT-BODY, and jointsharers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. “

Israel’s blindness, unbelief, and rejection brought mercy and salvation and reconciliation for and to the Gentiles. Romans 11:11 and 11:15.

Most Christians seem to prefer a Red Lettered New Testament. In the Red Lettered New Testament the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, spoken while He was on earth, are printed in red ink.

It is true that Jesus of Nazareth spake as never man spake. John 7:46. “They wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth.” But Christians should ever remember that “all Scripture is God-breathed”, from Genesis to Revelation.

Some years after Jesus of Nazareth had closed His earthly ministry and gone back to heaven Paul wrote these words, in II Corinthians 13:3,—“since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me.” Then concerning the gospel which he preached, Paul said, “for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:12.

Again Paul said:

“AND I THANK CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, WHO HATH ENABLED ME, FOR THAT HE COUNTED ME FAITHFUL, PUTTING ME INTO THE MINISTRY.” I Timothy 1:12.

Concerning his knowledge of Divine truth Paul said concerning himself: “How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” II Corinthians 12:4. Note several other statements from the pen of Paul.

“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” II Corinthians 4:5.

“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.” I Timothy 1:16.

“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.” Ephesians 3:4.

“That I should be the minister to the Gentiles.” Romans 15:16.

Note Hebrews 1:1 and 2: “God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds:”

Here we learn that from Moses, the human author of Genesis, to Malachi, the human author of the last inspired Book of the Old Testament, God spake in divers manners unto the fathers by the prophets. This covers the thirty-nine Books, from Genesis to Malachi.

Then follow Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the inspired writings, in which we find recorded the sayings and doings of the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the Son of God. God truly spake in His Son. The Lord Jesus made a wonderful statement to His apostles

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will shew you things to come.” John 16:12 to 14.

So after the death of the Son of God on the cross, God continued to speak in divers manners. The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, and controlled by the Holy Spirit, they spoke and wrote messages that were God-breathed. Then followed revelations from Christ, in heaven, to the Apostle Paul, and the great unveiling of Christ given to the Apostle John, on the Isle of Patmos. So God did not cease to speak to His people when He ceased to speak in His Son on earth. Christ spoke in and by the Apostle Paul. Christ, on earth, was the Minister to the Jews. Romans 15:8. Later on the same Christ in heaven put Paul in the ministry to Gentiles.

Obedient children of God, who are spiritual and intelligent students of the Scriptures, will obey the command of Paul, in I Corinthians 11:1. There Paul writes, “follow me as I follow Christ.” They will believe what Paul has written, in Colossians 1:25 and 26:

“Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil (complete) the Word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints.”

Believing this statement, they will know that the risen Christ gave to Paul a message, a ministry, and a spiritual program, that, in many respects, superseded the commands, the commissions, and the doctrines which He, as Jesus of Nazareth, on earth, gave His disciples for their obedience and practice.

Note Galatians 5:1—“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us, free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

It would be impossible for a member of the Body of Christ to obey this command, and at the same time attempt to obey some of the commands which Jesus of Nazareth gave while He was on earth. We see this the very moment we compare Galatians 5:1 with Matthew 23:1 and 2:

“Then spake Jesus, to the multitude, and to His disciples, Saying, the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.”

Now let us note Paul’s instructions, in II Timothy 2:2 and in I Corinthians 3:10

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

In I Timothy 1:16 we learned that Paul presented himself as a pattern. In I Corinthians 11:1 he said, “follow me as I follow Christ.” Now we read that Paul presents himself as a wise masterbuilder.

Paul was a pattern, an example, and a wise masterbuilder. Paul told Timothy to teach others what Paul had taught him.

Paul was not only a masterbuilder, but he was a master teacher, because he was the Master’s inspired teacher. Christ spoke in Paul to complete the Word of God. Let us compare several statements which speak of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the “Acts” ministry of the Twelve, with some of the commissions and revelations which He later gave to Paul.

“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” Romans 15:8. “But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Galatians 4:4.

“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: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:5 to 8.

“And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.” Luke 19:9.

“Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” Acts 3:25.

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:30 and 31.

“And he said unto them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:28.

“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the Word to none but unto the Jews only.” Acts 11:19.

Paul was the chosen vessel of Christ, sent to the Gentiles with a new message and ministry.

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.” Romans 11:13.

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” II Timothy 1:9 and 11.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward” Ephesians 3:1 and 2.

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:13.

“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 11:11.

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8.

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27.

“That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same (Joint) Body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.” Ephesians 3:6.

“Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” II Timothy 4:17.

Jesus Christ and His twelve apostles were ministers to the children of Abraham, the children of the covenant, and not to the Gentiles.

Have you carefully observed the contrast? Jesus Christ, on earth, was a Minister of the circumcision. Then note Galatians 2:8: “For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.” The twelve apostles were ministers of the circumcision and to the circumcision. Note one difference between the ministry of Peter and that of Paul. “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.” Galatians 2:7.

Jesus of Nazareth, on earth, was Israel’s Messiah and King. During the several years that He was on earth He preached in the land of the Jews. Acts 10:39. He was a Jew. He was under the law. He was a circumcised Minister to circumcised Jews. At the time Jesus of Nazareth was circumcised His mother, according to the law, brought for sacrifice, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:24.

Consider this prayerfully. And then remember, in Luke 22:15, about thirty-three years later, we learn that one of the last Israelitish ceremonies, observed by Jesus of Nazareth, was “the Passover”.

Here are three facts to get fixed in our minds and hearts to help us to go on to perfection, in obedience to Hebrews 6:1, rather than to heed the foolish slogan repeatedly heard in religious circles, “back to Jesus.” Now for the three facts

1—So far as the written Records are concerned, in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the only Gentile man to whom Christ ministered, while He was on earth, was a centurion who loved the Jews and built them a synagogue. Luke 7:1 to 6. Jesus called the one Gentile woman to whom He ministered, “a dog”. Matthew 15:22 to 27.

2—During the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, when He was under the law, a Minister of the circumcision, when He recognized those who sat in Moses’ seat, He did not tell the Jewish priests to discontinue the sacrifice of animals.

3—Any Gentile who might have been saved while Jesus Christ was on earth, sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, would have become an Old Testament Jew (proselyte), and he would not have been baptized into the Body of Christ by one Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:13.)

BACK TO JESUS

Some Christians cry, “back to Jesus”. Others cry, “back to Pentecost.” But they just think they go back. They cannot go back with Jesus in Palestine, under the law, to obey the Old Testament ritual, no matter how much they desire. You can neither go back to the earthly ministry of Jesus, nor back to Israel’s Pentecost, without access to Jerusalem and Israel’s temple.

THE CHRISTIAN’S POSITION IN CHRIST

“WHEREFORE HENCEFORTH KNOW WE NO MAN AFTER THE FLESH; YEA, THOUGH WE HAVE KNOWN CHRIST AFTER THE FLESH, YET NOW HENCEFORTH KNOW WE HIM NO MORE. THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE; OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.” II Corinthians 5:16 and 17.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 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.” Romans 6:3 and 4.

“For as we have many members in one Body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one Body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:4 and 5.

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1 and 2.

“And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:10.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14.

Just think of the ignorance and folly of any member of the Body of Christ who desires to go back under the law, the other side of the sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, when He called Gentiles, “dogs”, when he told His disciples, “go not in the way of the Gentiles.”

Of course man is incurably religious and he can get all mixed up in religion, if he can go back to Jesus. Just think! there are thousands of intellectual religious church leaders,some of whom are saved, who say, “give me the religious program of Jesus in preference to the grace program of Paul.”

All of the program of the Lord Jesus, which He intends for members of His Body, can be brought over to fit into “the dispensation of the grace of God”. Every member of the Body of Christ should take an uncompromising stand with Paul. Note what he said, “I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21.

And surely every sinner should rejoice to hear the wonderful news of Ephesians 2:8 to 10 and 2:13:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

But you may be sure that “the back to Jesus” preachers and “the back to Pentecost” preachers will see to it that sinners do not hear this “grace” message.

If we go back to Pentecost what do we find? We find twelve Jews standing up, the Lord’s preachers to devout Jews from every nation under heaven, giving a message to all the house of Israel. Acts 2:14— Acts 2:5 and Acts 2:36.

The scene is in the Jews’ city on a Jewish feast-day, and the message is for the children of the covenant. Acts 3:25. The message is, “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.” They were to sell their earthly possessions and bring the money to the twelve Jews.Then Peter preached, “repent, and God will send Jesus Christ back from heaven to take David’s throne and redeem Israel.” Pray tell, what has any of this to do with the “dispensation of the mystery” of Ephesians 3:9, or “the JointBody” of Ephesians 3:6? Nothing whatever. For God’s spiritual program for this age of grace, no spiritual and intelligent member of the Body of Christ will go back before there was a Body, before God opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27), before Paul said, “lo, we turn to the Gentiles”, before “the dispensation of grace” was given to the apostle to the Gentiles. They will not go back the other side of Paul’s conversion to say nothing of the other side of Calvary.

What Christian, who knows his position and possessions in the heavenlies, wants to come down out of the heavenlies, from under the guaranty and blessings of grace, to go to Jerusalem under the law, to strive to enter in, or to endure unto the end? Should we who have been risen with Christ go back to Matthew 10:5 to 8?

GO ON TO PERFECTION

“THEREFORE LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, LET US GO ON UNTO PERFECTION.” Hebrews 6:1.

Note the three verses just preceding:

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12 to 14.

With these verses let us read Ephesians 4:13 and 14—I Corinthians 3:1 to 3—I Corinthians 13:11 and 13.

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO A PERFECT MAN, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth BE NO MORE CHILDREN, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even AS UNTO BABES IN CHRIST. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

“WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” The Corinthian babes could speak with tongues, in fact those Corinthian carnal saints exercised all the sign gifts. But they could not receive the “meat”, the profound and blessed “Body” truth of Ephesians and Colossians. Compare the standing and gifts of those sanctified Corinthians with their carnal state or behavior.

STANDING AND GIFTS

I CORINTHIANS 12:8 to 10

“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.”

I CORINTHIANS 6:11

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

I CORINTHIANS 6:19 and 20

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with, a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

I CORINTHIANS 6:2

“Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?”

I 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.”

CARNAL STATE

I CORINTHIANS 3:3

“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

I CORINTHIANS 6:7 AND 8

“Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”

I CORINTHIANS 5:1

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you.”

I CORINTHIANS 8:10

“For if any man see thee which past knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple.”

I CORINTHIANS 11:30

“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

I CORINTHIANS 15:12

“How say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”

I CORINTHIANS 6:5

“I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you?”

Here we see that the Corinthians were saints, members of the Body of Christ, temples of the Holy Spirit, exercising all of the sign-gifts. But we also see what kind of saints they were. They certainly were not in the Body of Christ because of their sinless behavior. They did not have the gifts of the Spirit because they were spiritual. They were carnal and not able to take the “manhood” truth of Ephesians 4:13, the meat of Hebrews 5:12 to 14.

The Apostle Paul wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians, to the faithful in Christ Jesus. The majority of the saints in the Church of God, at Corinth, could not have understood the profound truths presented in Ephesians.

When we go out of Corinthians into Ephesians we say with Paul—“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” I Corinthians 13:11.

When we understand Ephesians 4:13, and live that glorious truth, and labour together with God in that program, we will know what is meant in Hebrews 5:14 and Ephesians 4:14.

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

Now let us carefully note Ephesians 4:13—“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a Perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

This is the ultimate of God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus. To enter into this wonderful truth is “to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God”, (Ephesians 3:18 and 19). This is indeed to go onto perfection.

Christ spoke in Paul to give His spiritual program for this present Divine economy which began after Saul became Paul.

Let us resolve by the grace of God, and yielding to the Holy Spirit as our infallible Guide and Teacher, that whatever may be the cost we shall line up with the Lord and work intelligently and diligently in the work He is doing, as set forth in Ephesians 4:12 and 13.

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a Perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

“THE BOOK OF THE GENERATION OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF DAVID, THE SON OF ABRAHAM.” Matthew 1:1.

“For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him THE SEED OF ABRAHAM. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.’; Hebrews 2:16 and 17.

“Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Which was made of THE SEED OF DAVID according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:3 and 4.

Jesus Christ was the Son of David, the son of Abraham. Notice the first question, in Matthew: “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” Matthew 2:2.

The Jews came from Abraham. God’s Jewish kings came from David. Note God’s promise concerning the Man to take David’s throne: “For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel.” “Thus saith the Lord; If My covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth, Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.” Jeremiah 33:17, 25 and 26.

Now read carefully Jeremiah 23:5 and 6 and Jeremiah 33:15 and 16. “‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

“In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.”

God’s covenant with David is recorded in II Samuel 7:13 to 16: “He shall build an house for My name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee; thy throne shall be established for ever.”

More than 800 years before God made this covenant with David, and concerning his Seed and kingdom, God made a covenant with Abraham.

“NEITHER SHALL THY NAME ANY MORE BE CALLED ABRAM, BUT THY NAME SHALL BE ABRAHAM; FOR A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE THEE. AND I WILL MAKE THEE EXCEEDING FRUITFUL, AND I WILL MAKE NATIONS OF THEE, AND KINGS SHALL COME OUT OF THEE. AND I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THEE AND THY SEED AFTER THEE IN THEIR GENERATIONS FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, TO BE A GOD UNTO THEE, AND TO THY SEED AFTER THEE AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE, AND TO THY SEED AFTER THEE, THE LAND WHEREIN THOU ART A STRANGER, ALL THE LAND OF CANAAN, FOR AN EVERLASTING POSSESSION; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD.” Genesis 17:5 to 8.

THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION

“And He gave THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION; and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.” Acts 7:8.

Note the covenant in Genesis 17:10, 14 and 24— Genesis 21:2 to 5.

“This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED.”

“And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.”

“And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.”

“Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.”

Then note God’s word to Jacob, who was Abraham’s grandson

“And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, BUT ISRAEL SHALL BE THY NAME: and HE CALLED HIS NAME ISRAEL. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.” Genesis 35:10 to 12.

JESUS CHRIST THE MINISTER OF THE CIRCUMCISION

In the Book of Matthew Jesus Christ the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, presents Himself as the promised Seed of Abraham, the promised King of the Jews.

Of course, as we compare Hebrews 2:16 and 17 and Hebrews 2:9 with Luke 1:29 to 33, we ask the question, “did Jesus Christ come to Israel the first time to be a living King on David’s throne, or did He come to be a dying Saviour on Calvary’s tree?” We have quoted Hebrews 2:16 and 17. We quote Hebrews 2:9: “But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

Read this statement with the words of Christ in Luke 24:45 to 47 “Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved’ Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Here we learn, as we learn in Acts 2:23, Acts 4:27, Acts 13:29, I Corinthians 15:3 and 4 and Hebrews 9:26 that Jesus Christ came to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and thus become the Saviour of the world.

But as we read the first chapter of Matthew, Mark and Luke, we learn that Jesus Christ was born in the house of David, in the city of David, of the seed of David, to take the throne of David and deliver Israel from Gentile subjugation.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His, father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:31 to 33.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; The oath which He sware to our father Abraham, That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear.” Luke 1:68 to 74.

After Christ had presented Himself to Israel as their promised King, Deliverer and Messiah, and they had rejected Him, He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Luke 13:34 and 35. Now note these significant words of Christ in Luke 19:41 to 44:

“AND WHEN HE WAS COME NEAR, HE BEHELD THE CITY, AND WEPT OVER IT, SAYING, IF THOU HADST KNOWN, EVEN THOU, AT LEAST IN THIS THY DAY, THE THINGS WHICH BELONG UNTO THY PEACE BUT NOW THEY ARE HID FROM THINE EYES. BECAUSE THOU KNEWEST NOT THE TIME OF THY VISITATION.”

Israel knew not. They knew not the time of their visitation. They knew not the things that belonged to their peace. When will Israel see their King and Messiah again? When they say, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

THE KING IS COMING AGAIN

“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7.

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon Me Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10.

“And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein; even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and My servant David shall be their prince for ever.” Ezekiel 37:25.

God has not abandoned His “kingdom” program guaranteed in the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. No; God has postponed the earthly kingdom promised to His earthly people. But let us believe II Peter 1:19: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”

Note Christ’s own words in Matthew 25:31 and Matthew 19:28: “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.”

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Surely we know that the Lord Jesus was not, in any way, referring to the Church, which He calls the Body of Christ, when He spoke of the throne of His glory.

Those who are in Christ’s Body also belong to Christ’s kingdom: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son; In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13 and 14.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17.

“And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort, unto me.” Colossians 4:11.

But here we have a different phase or department of the kingdom of God.

THE KINGDOM—THE BODY

Compare Matthew 10:5 to 8 and Matthew 10:23 with Titus 2:11 and 13.

“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. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give.”“But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another; for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

The kingdom of heaven at hand for Jews, a message and program by Christ’s apostles in the cities of Israel, is quite different from the “grace of God at hand for all men”. Strictly speaking, Christ is the Head of the Body rather than the King of the Body. The kingdom that was at hand in Matthew 10:7 is in abeyance. The Body of Christ is not that kingdom of heaven.

We will study Matthew in several other lessons, but we have learned that the Lord Jesus, in that Book, is fulfilling covenants which God made with Abraham and David for Israel.

THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

We shall study in another message Galatians 3:6 to 8 and Romans 4:3 to 11 and shall learn that Abram, the Gentile, was declared righteous in uncircumcision, just as uncircumcised Gentiles are now justified by faith without religion or good deeds. The Scripture foresaw this when God preached the gospel to Abram 430 years before the law was given. Galatians 3:8 and Galatians 3:16 and 17.

Therefore when we say that there has been an interruption of the Abrahamic covenant it is not concerning the justification of believing sinners but concerning God’s guarantees as to Israel’s land and kingdom.

Let us consider Peter’s confession in response to the question which the Lord Jesus put to His disciples, “Whom say ye that I am?”

“Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16.

Then note the Lord’s words to Simon Bar-jona:

“AND I SAY ALSO UNTO THEE, THAT THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.” Matthew 16:18 and 19.

Then after His resurrection the Lord Jesus said to His apostles:

“WHOSE SOEVER SINS YE REMIT, THEY ARE REMITTED UNTO THEM; AND WHOSE SOEVER SINS YE RETAIN, THEY ARE RETAINED.” John 20:23.

Many Christians have been perplexed and in much doubt as to what the Lord Jesus meant when He said;

a—“Upon this rock.”

b—“I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”

c—“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them.”

Did the Lord Jesus say, “I will build My Church on Peter”, or “I will build My Church on Peter’s confession”, or “I will build My Church on Myself the Rock?”

It is interesting to note that the Lord said “Thou art petros, and on this petra I will build My Church.” Petra is a rock larger than petros.

But let us note the words of Peter in I Peter 2:5, 6 and I Peter 5:1 to 3 and 5: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.”

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”

“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

Peter wrote, as an elder, that an elder should not shepherd a flock as a lord over God’s heritage. And Peter called believers, living stones.

Then let us note the words of Paul, in Ephesians 2:19 to 22:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone. In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Here again we see that believers are living stones in the spiritual temple. Then note Paul’s words, in I Corinthians 3:10 and 11:

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Before we search the Scriptures to see how the ministry of Peter fits into Divine truth concerning the Church which Paul calls “the Body of Christ”, let us see how Peter forgave sins:

“And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.” Acts 10:25 and 26. Peter would not permit a man to kneel before him in adoration or worship. Note how he forgave sin.

“TO HIM GIVE ALL THE PROPHETS WITNESS, THAT THROUGH HIS NAME WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS.” Acts 10:43.

Peter forgave sins just as any young or old Christian can forgive sin by preaching forgiveness of sins by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He did have apostolic authority, but it was never transferred by Peter to any successor.

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

What did Christ give to Peter? We will let the Scriptures speak for themselves:

“These Twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not in the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:5 to 8.

“Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matthew 19:27 and 28.

“Afterward He appeared unto the Eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen. And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues: 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.” Mark 16:14 to 18.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commended you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19 and 20.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

In John 21 Christ commanded Peter to feed His sheep and to tend His lambs. After we have carefully studied these commissions, let us again study them in the light of Galatians 2:7 to 9—Acts 10:28—Acts 8:1 and Acts 5:29 to 32.

“BUT CONTRARIWISE, WHEN THEY SAW THAT THE GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION WAS COMMITTED UNTO ME, AS THE GOSPEL OF THE CIRCUMCISION WAS UNTO PETER; (FOR HE THAT WROUGHT EFFECTUALLY IN PETER TO THE APOSTLESHIP OF THE CIRCUMCISION, THE SAME WAS MIGHTY IN ME TOWARD THE GENTILES:) AND WHEN JAMES, PETER, AND JOHN, WHO SEEMED TO BE PILLARS, PERCEIVED THE GRACE THAT WAS GIVEN UNTO ME, THEY GAVE TO ME AND BARNABAS THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP; THAT WE SHOULD GO UNTO THE HEATHEN, AND THEY UNTO THE CIRCUMCISION.”

“And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, EXCEPT THE APOSTLES.”

Do you suppose Roman Catholic priests ever read these verses? Then note what Peter said about seven years after Pentecost.

“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:28.

Note that instead of going to Rome to organize the Roman Church, Peter remained in Jerusalem.

How plain are these truths. Unto Peter was committed “the gospel of the circumcision” for the circumcision, and God worked in Him in that ministry.

Paul gave this testimony concerning Gentile salvation and the Body of Christ “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.” Colossians 1:29.

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8.

It was in this sense that Paul was a wise masterbuilder. “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” I Corinthians 3:10. The words, “But contrariwise”, in Galatians 2:7 quoted above, assure us that Peter had no jurisdiction over Paul. In Acts 22:17 to 21, we read that Christ told Paul to get out of Jerusalem and go to the Gentiles. In Acts 8:1, we learn that Christ instructed Peter to remain in Jerusalem and preach to Jews. Peter remained in the land of the Jews, according to the Book of Acts, and the only time he went out of Palestine, so far as the “Acts” record is concerned he got into trouble.

Note that trouble “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.” Galatians 2:11 to 13.

It has truly been said that if Peter was a Catholic, Paul was a Protestant. Peter was neither infallible nor the first. pope. But note Paul’s testimony concerning his gospel and his communications with Peter.

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught, it but by revelation of Jesus Christ:” Galatians 1:11 and 12.

“To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me; God accepteth no man’s person): for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me.” Galatians 2:5 and 6.

Paul did not receive the gospel from Peter. Peter did not know the gospel of the uncircumcision which Christ committed to Paul. Galatians 2:7. He heard this for the first time from Paul.

After Peter preached to the household of Cornelius, the Gentile, he and others of the Twelve agreed to go to the Jews. Galatians 2:9. Up to the time Peter preached to Cornelius, it was unlawful for him or any of the Twelve to preach to a Gentile. Acts 10:28. The other eleven condemned Peter when he did preach to Cornelius. Acts 11:1 to 5.

Note the difference between Peter’s message and Paul’s. Compare them. “Ye men of Israel.” Acts 3:12 to 15.

“Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 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 3:25 and 26.

“Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:30 and 31.

“Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.” Ephesians 3:1 and 2.

“Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, Which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:20 to 23.

You see there is a great difference. Now we note in Acts 2:14 that eleven other apostles stood up with Peter, on the day of Pentecost, and spoke to devout Jews from every nation under heaven concerning all the house of Israel. Acts 2:5— Acts 2:36. Twelve apostles to twelve tribes. One of the twelve was killed some years later. Acts 12:1 and 2.

With the death of James the Lord’s program changed. It was no longer twelve apostles to twelve tribes.

A NEW COMMISSION

“AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD, AND FASTED, THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, SEPARATE ME BARNABAS AND SAUL FOR THE WORK WHEREUNTO I HAVE CALLED THEM.” Acts 13:2.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, LO, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES.” Acts 13:46.

Up to the death of James, in Acts 12:1, Simon Peter is mentioned many times. From the death of James to the close of Acts, Peter is mentioned very few times, and where his name is mentioned., in the last sixteen chapters of Acts, it is in connection with Paul’s ministry. Paul is mentioned in those closing seventeen chapters more than 130 times. Peter passed out and Paul became the chief human actor.

Now let us compare other statements in Peter’s messages with some of Paul’s.

– PETER –

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” Acts 2:22.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38.

“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Acts 10:34 and 35.

– PAUL –

“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.” II Corinthians 5:16.

“ For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” Romans 11:15.

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4 and 5.

Peter used the keys of the kingdom with Israel and with the household of one Godfearing, devout, religious, Jew-loving Gentile who feared God and who worked righteousness. Acts 2:22 and Acts 10:35.

Paul preached the gospel of the uncircumcision, the gospel of the grace of God, the ministry of reconciliation, the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ to Gentiles.

In Philippians 1:10 the Word says, “test things that differ.” Peter and the Eleven never called the “Church of the Mystery” the “Body”. That was the Lord’s own special revelation to Paul.

The twelve apostles are to have a ministry with the twelve tribes of Israel after the Body has been taken to glory. Matthew 19:28 and Revelation 21:12 to 14.

From Acts 1:1 to Acts 12:1 we have something of the kingdom program that God will put into action after this age has ended. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead to take the throne of David, and the heavens will retain Him until the times of the restitution of all things. Acts 2:27 to 32. Acts 3:19 to 21.

Note again-Matthew 16:16 to 19:

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Now compare with Ephesians 3:1 and 2— Ephesians 3:5 and 6:

“FOR THIS CAUSE I PAUL, THE PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST FOR YOU GENTILES. IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN ME TO YOU-WARD.”

“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same Body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.”

So we are sure that the Joint-Body of Ephesians is the Lord’s Church of this age. It was not built on Peter’s confession. Ephesians 2:20 and I Corinthians 3:10.

The keys of the kingdom of heaven will not fit into the dispensation of the grace of God. “The dispensation of the grace of God” and “the dispensation of the mystery” did not begin with Peter and Pentecost.

In Acts 3:21 the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of Peter, revealed unto the people of God, a blessed Divine Truth

“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.”

Note what the speaker added in Acts 3:24:

“YEA, AND ALL THE PROPHETS FROM SAMUEL AND THOSE THAT FOLLOW AFTER, AS MANY AS HAVE SPOKEN, HAVE LIKEWISE FORETOLD OF THESE DAYS.”

“The restitution of all things.” “These days.” What days they will be! These days will make up years. Let us carefully, prayerfully, spiritually read and study this wonderful message of Peter in the third chapter of Acts. He begins “Ye men of Israel” Acts 3:12. The message concerning “the restitution of all things” mentioned by all the holy prophets since the world began concerned Israel primarily. But the kingdom blessings will extend to all the nations of the earth. We quote Acts 3:19 to 21:

“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: And He shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

Now note in Luke 1:70 the same language that is used in Acts 3:21:

“As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began.” Luke 1:70.

Note the context:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people.” “That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us: To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He sware to our father Abraham; That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear.” Luke 1:68 and 71 to 74.

What will that mean for the poor scattered persecuted Jews who are now the football for almost every Gentile ruler and government in Europe and other countries?

“The times of the restitution of all things” will mean for Israel deliverance from Gentile dictatorship and persecution and humiliation. Then note what is going to take place:

“And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.” Amos 9:14 and 15.

“And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one.” Zechariah 14:9.

Some time after Peter proclaimed the truth of Acts 3:12 to 26, he again addressed Israel and said:

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him.” Acts 5:30 to 32.

Christ was exalted to be Israel’s Prince and Saviour to give them repentance. When we read of the awful judgment which Christ pronounced upon Israel in Matthew 23:13 to 39, we should then ascertain why the Lord changed His attitude toward Israel and offered them forgiveness and the restitution of all things, if they would repent. Note some of the things Christ said to Israel in Matthew 23: “Ye fools and blind” (Matthew 23:17) “ye serpents, ye generation of vipers” (Matthew 23:33) “the children of murderers” (Matthew 23:31). Then note Matthew 23:38,

“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”

But now let us remember the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 10:23: “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye may not have gone over the cities, till the Son of man be come.” Then following the. death and resurrection of the Messiah the apostles asked Him a question, “wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6. They could have put this question in these words, “wilt Thou at this time bring about the restitution of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began” They meant, “are we going now into those days spoken by Samuel and the other prophets?” Acts 3:24.

Let us keep in mind that none of those twelve apostles knew one single thing concerning “the dispensation of the grace of God” of Ephesians 3:1 to 3; or “the dispensation of the secret” of Ephesians 3:9, or “the Joint-Body” of Ephesians 3:6. The risen Christ revealed to Paul these vital, new precious truths for Gentiles saved by grace. During this parenthetical period, while the King is absent from the earth and the Messianic kingdom is in abeyance, the dispensation of grace will continue. The Scriptures speak of these messages of grace for Gentiles as “the unsearchable (untraceable) riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8. These days of grace were not spoken by the mouth of Israel’s prophets since the world began. These days of grace in which we live are altogether different from “these days” mentioned in Acts 3:24.

Thus we see that before God ushered in this parenthetical “grace” period and began the Church of the Mystery (Colossians 1:24 to 26) He gave to Israel another opportunity to receive Jesus as Messiah and King. This is the message of Acts 3:12 to 26. Christ had prayed for His murderers on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34. This prayer brought to Israel this new opportunity to repent. Note Acts 3:14 and 15, 17 and 19

“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you: And killed the Prince of Life, Whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” “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 3:14, 15, 17 and 19.

Even after the Lord Jesus had called those wicked men, “the children of murderers,” “a generation of vipers,” “serpents,” after He had said, “your house is left unto you desolate,” God was willing to forgive all and send Christ back, if they would repent. God was willing to forgive and forget all of their wicked deeds on the grounds of ignorance, even their murder of His Son. But they imprisoned the apostles and killed Stephen and stoned Paul.

Note Paul’s words to them:

“Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.” Acts 13:40 and 41.

They blasphemed against the Holy Spirit again and again. Acts 18:5 and 6. Then the Divine judgment fell:

“(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.” “Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.” Romans 11:8 and 10.

The Messianic kingdom was postponed and another apostle then became the chief messenger of the Lord; the Apostle Paul. He wrote

“For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.” Ephesians 3:1.

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.” Romans 11:13.

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24.

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” I Corinthians 3:10.

This new apostle wrote of “the Church which is Christ’s Body,” “the Mystery unknown to Israel’s prophets,” “the unsearchable riches of Christ,” “the Mystery of God’s will.” He stated that members of the Church of the Mystery, were one with Christ, seated with Him in the heavenlies, and blessed with all spiritual blessings. He wrote concerning “One New Man.” All of this is in Paul’s Epistles, especially in Ephesians.

Members of Christ’s Body constitute “the household of God.” “In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21 and 22. Church members are spoken of as “the fulness (or the filling up) of Christ.” Ephesians 1:23.

Concerning their heavenly position and these heavenly possessions of members of Christ’s Body, Samuel and Israel’s other prophets said nothing, because they knew nothing. Colossians 1:24 to 26—Ephesians 3:5 to 11.

We do not rightly divide the Word of Truth when we confuse “the Church of the Mystery”, “the Joint-Body” of Ephesians 3:6, unknown to Israel’s prophets, with “the restitution of all things” spoken by all the prophets. These days of grace are different from the “these days” of the Messianic kingdom concerning which Samuel and all the prophets spoke and wrote.

The dispensation of the Mystery is identified with the Mystery among the Gentiles. Colossians 1:27. During the first nine chapters of Acts it was not even lawful for an apostle of Jesus Christ to preach to a Gentile. Acts 10:28. Therefore it is a great blunder to begin “the dispensation of the grace of God for Gentiles” or “the dispensation of the Mystery” on the day of Pentecost. This dispensation is mentioned in connection with “the unsearchable riches of Christ among the Gentiles;” that is, the spiritual blessings for Gentile believers not prophesied in Israel’s Scriptures.

Everything which Peter and the Eleven preached in Acts was in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Paul began his ministry by first preaching truth in fulfillment of these same prophecies. But it behooves us to learn at what time in the ministry of Paul he began to preach the “unsearchable” riches of Christ; the unprophesied ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

After God has accomplished His eternal purpose during this present reign of grace, after the Church has been taken to glory, God will set His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people Isaiah 11:11. That will be the restitution of all things. Until then the heavens will retain Jesus Christ.

Even unsaved religious sinners and carnal Christians are joining with the spiritual children of God in this time of wars, and rumors of wars, in asking or wondering if the end is at hand. The end of what? Well, that is what we want to consider. A friend said to me this week, “I overheard a group of Catholic girls talking about the latest developments of the European war and one said to the other. “I believe the end of the world is near at hand.” My friend said, “that is rather unusual for Catholics, isn’t it ?”

The Bible has much to say about the last days, the end time, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign as a King on this earth. The Bible tells of the beast and the antichrist, who shall rule over men and nations with the power and cunning of Satan. The Bible informs us that the Jews are to be saved, by the coming of their Messiah, out of a time called “the great tribulation.”

All of these events are clearly set forth in the Bible and now even skeptics admit that there seems to be evidences on earth that we are hastening to the realization of all that is predicted in the Bible. The spiritual Christians know that II Peter 1:19 to 21 is true: “We have also a more sure Word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

But all spiritual Christians do not know how to interpret and apply prophecy in this particular Divine economy. “Economy” is in the Greek “oikonomia” and is translated “dispensation” in I Corinthians 9:17—Colossians 1:25—and Ephesians 3:2. It is translated “fellowship” in Ephesians 3:9. In the interpretation and application of all Scripture the students must always recognize that there are different economies, or dispensations. We know that for about 1500 years, from Moses to the Apostle Paul, there was an economy of law, and that the end of that economy came with the first advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we should all know that another end is coming with the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. But again we ask, “the end of what?” Will it be the end of this present dispensation, or the end of the time of Israel’s tribulation? If the present dispensation and the time of Israel’s trouble are to end at the same time, then, of course, that means that the living members of the Body of Christ are going through, or into, the great tribulation.

Some of our leading spiritual Premillenarians are trying to comfort and calm Christians by saying that there are two aspects of the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ: that He is first coming for His Church and subsequently coming with His Church, and that the great tribulation will fall in between the “coming for” and the “coming with.” Most of these men not only offer no Scriptural proof of their comforting doctrine, but in their very next message they repudiate and contradict it by teaching that the doings of the blood-thirsty tyrants in Europe, in fulfillment of the predictions of Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah and other of Israel’s prophets, are signs that the Lord’s coming for His Church is at hand, that is, the rapture of the Church.

Now a few questions, for which all should demand, or at least desire, a true Scriptural answer. Are we living in the end time described by Christ in answer to the question of Matthew 24:3: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Will the Church be saved from the great tribulation? Will the Lord Jesus rapture His Church before the great tribulation? Are the beast and the antichrist now alive? Are the activities of Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin Divine signs to teach members of the Body of Christ that Christ will come at any moment FOR His Church?

We might offer as Scriptural proof that the Church will be saved from the great tribulation, Luke 18:8 and II Thessalonians 1:7 to 10. In Luke 18:8 we learn that the Son of man is coming to earth, and when He does, He will not find faith on the earth; therefore He will not find His Church. Inasmuch as they shall have been taken to glory, He will not expect to find them here.

In II Thessalonians 1:10 the words “when He shall come,” should be translated “when He shall have come.” The Greek word is “elthe.”

But many other Scriptures which are being quoted by Christian preachers to prove that the coming of Christ is at hand prove that the Church will be in the great tribulation when He comes. One chapter frequently used is Luke 21:24 to 31. And another chapter that is being overworked is Ezekiel 38, concerning “Gog,” “Magog,” “Meshech,” “Tubal” and “Gomer.”

And, of course, now that Mussolini has joined with Hitler, great emphasis is given to the image of Daniel Two and the animals of Daniel Seven. “Rome” and “Gomer” in an alliance must surely mean the end time. Again, the end time of what?

Ezekiel and Daniel did not know one thing about the “beginning time” or the “end time” of this present Divine economy. They did prophesy concerning the end time and their prophecies will be fulfilled. But not during this present dispensation. The end of this present dispensation will come, not because of the doings of Hitler and Mussolini, and when they fail or succeed, but when God completes His present building. God is a great Builder. He is building a great House. That House is called in Ephesians 3:6, the “Joint-Body” (in the Greek). In Ephesians 1:20 to 23 it is called the Body of Christ, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. In Ephesians 2:21 and 22, it is thus described: “In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” As members of that Body we are given important instructions in I Corinthians 3:10: “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. “

It is important, yea, imperative, that we recognize this masterbuilder (Paul) if we are to build together acceptable to God. If we obey I Corinthians 3:10 and Ephesians 3:1 to 11 we will know how to answer questions concerning the end time.

The course and culmination of this dispensation is set forth in Ephesians 4:12 and 13:

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” And don’t fail to read verse Ephesians 4:14: “That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

Unless we know Pauline Ephesian Truth we will be numbered with those who are tossed to and fro by the undispensational prophets of the hour. We too shall be “gone with the wind”

THE JOINT BODY — THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

During this present dispensation God is engaged in completing the one Body of Ephesians 4:4 and 12. This Body is “the Church of the Mystery,” “the Church of the Secret.” Members of this one Body are to obey Ephesians 3:9 and 4:3:

“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.” “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

What does it mean to see “the dispensation of the Secret”? Whatever it means, all Christians should see it. All Christians should diligently and prayerfully and spiritually learn from Paul’s Prison Epistles what the dispensation of the Secret is. They should also diligently, prayerfully and spiritually read the prophecy of Daniel and understand the secret which the Lord of heaven revealed to Daniel concerning political rulers and empires, kings and nations, “the times of the Gentiles,” which will be suddenly brought to an end by the coming of the King from heaven.

Paul knew Daniel’s secret. But Daniel did not know Paul’s Secret. David died before Daniel was born and therefore he did not know either one of them. Neither did Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, John the Baptist, and other prophets, who died before the “dispensation of the mystery” was revealed to Paul, know Paul’s Secret.

Note Paul’s testimony in Ephesians 3:1 to 6.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same Body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.”

And Colossians 1:24 to 26: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake, which is the Church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, and now is made manifest to His saints.”

How interesting! If the Holy Spirit, in Romans 11:25, would not have Christians ignorant as to the why and when of Israel’s blindness and temporary Divine disfavor, most assuredly the Holy Spirit wants no member of the Body of Christ ignorant of the “Secret” of Ephesians 3 and Colossians 1. Certainly where there is such ignorance the Body members cannot say, “where ignorance is bliss ‘tis folly to be wise.” The bliss of ignorance in this case cannot be compared with the bliss of knowing what is meant by Ephesians 1:9 and 11:

“Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.” “In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” And Ephesians 3:11: “According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s Secret was revealed to Paul by Christ. It is also called “the Secret of Christ,” “the Secret which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.” “The Mystery of God’s will” has been told. This was God’s “predestinated” will, His eternal purpose. It was purposed in Christ for members of Christ’s Body before the world began. II ‘Timothy 1:9. Note what Paul adds in verse 11: “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

This Divine Secret is the capstone of Divine Truth. It was given to Paul to complete the Word of God. Paul was the prisoner of Jesus Christ, in jail for making known this Secret. Ephesians 6:19 and 20. Colossians 4:3 and 4. II Timothy 2:8 and 9.

When the Lord Jesus was on earth He announced “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” in fulfillment of the law and the prophets. He was a minister of the circumcision, confirming prophecies and promises. Romans 15:8. He did not reveal to any of His twelve apostles the Secret to complete the Word of God while He was on earth. He did not reveal this until after Saul’s name was changed to Paul, until after Israel had been set aside. Certainly Acts 5:29 to 31 proves that Israel had not been set aside when Peter preached that message to them. Israel had not been set aside when Paul preached Acts 13:40 and 41 to them. Note Paul’s words in Acts 13:46. Jesus Christ in the flesh came to fulfill the law and the prophets. Matthew 5:17. He did not come to fulfill the Word of God with the Mystery. That was Paul’s Christ given ministry.

The prophesied kingdom of heaven and the unprophesied Church of the Mystery are different. Unless we recognize this difference and interpret, appropriate and apply the Scriptures accordingly, we shall be workmen who need to be ashamed. By diligently searching the Scriptures we shall learn that the kingdom of heaven yet to be established on earth was prophesied by all of God’s holy prophets since the world began but not predestinated before the foundation of the world. The Body of Christ was predestinated but not prophesied.

The end of the times of the Gentiles will be when the Son of man comes in the time of Jacob’s trouble. The Son of man will destroy the antichrist with the brightness of His coming. The beast and the antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire. For Israel, the kingdom of God will be at hand. Israel will be restored to Divine favor to enjoy the kingdom blessings on earth promised Israel by Israel’s prophets. The prophesied kingdom will be established on earth.

This end time will not come during this present reign of grace Prophecy concerning the end time is in connection with Israel’s tribulation period, and the kingdom age will come after. the Body of Christ has been completed and taken from the earth to appear with Christ in glory.

The end of this present dispensation of grace is the end of an unprophesied parenthetical period. The prophecies of Daniel and Ezekiel, concerning Gentile kings and Gentile nations, do not fit into this unprophesied, parenthetical period. Our duty, as Christians, is to tell other Christians this Truth, in obeying Ephesians 3:9: “And to make all men see what is the dispensation of the Secret, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ,” so they will no longer by children tossed to and fro.

This is to continue to be God’s program until the Body of Christ is full: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:13.

Members of Christ’s Body walk by faith and not by sight. The dispensation of the grace of God is not the sign age.

Let us be careful to clarify our question dispensationally, when we ask, “is this the end time?”

Note this statement in Romans 11:28:

“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes”

Then note what follows:

“ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”

As we develop the truth concerning “the salvation of Gentiles”, because of Israel’s unbelief, and the coming salvation of Israel “for the fathers’ sake,” we too shall cry out: “ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”

First let us see God’s description of the unsaved Gentiles at the time the risen Christ sent Paul to them.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind. “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Ephesians 4:17 and 18.

“Because that, when they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” Romans 1:21 and 28.

What hope could there be for such people? They were “by nature the children of wrath:” Ephesians 2:3. They were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, in the world having no hope. Ephesians 2:12. In Romans 10:19 they were called “a foolish nation;” “no people.” Christ on earth said to a Gentile, “it is not meet to give the children’s bread to dogs.” Matthew 15:25 to 27. Think of them; “no people;” “dogs.”

Now let us see what God did to Israel because Israel would not receive Paul’s message to them.

“(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.” “Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.” Romans 11:8 and 10.

Now some interesting facts:

Way back, about 1900 BC, when the Gentiles were blinded and God gave them up, He called a man by the name of Abram, to leave his country, family and home. Genesis 12:1 to 5. Note God’s Word: “I will make of thee a great nation.” Abram’s wife was Sarah. Note Hebrews 11:11 and 12.

“Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful Who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.” The child of Abraham and Sarah was Isaac. From this promised son came Jacob and the nation Israel.

Now note God’s declaration concerning Israel:”

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” “For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: For I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:1 and 3 to 7.

“Thus saith the Lord, If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:37.

“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for MINE HOLY NAME’S SAKE, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.” “Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.” Ezekiel 36:22 and 32.

Israel is going to be preserved for God’s holy name’s sake. They are beloved for the fathers’ sake. The fathers were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Note in Ezekiel 36:22 to 32 what God is going to do for and with Israel for His own holy name’s sake

“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:24 to 26.

We might read more than 500 verses from the pens of Israel’s prophets as to Israel’s glorious future.

THE FATHER’S SAKE AND THE FATHERS’ SAKE

God made a covenant with Abraham concerning Israel and Canaan. Genesis 17:8. God confirmed that covenant with His oath when Abraham had placed Isaac on the altar. Genesis 22:16 to 19. The gifts and the calling of God are without repentance. Romans 11:29, Therefore for the fathers’ sake Israel shall be saved after God’s present reign of grace for Gentiles. And they are going to be saved for the Father’s sake. Ezekiel 36:22.

In this connection note Romans 11:11, 15, and 30:

“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.” “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief.” Romans 11:11, 15 and 30.

So once again, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33.

Let us go back to the statement concerning Israel in John 12:37 to 41:

“But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart: that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” John 12:37 to 41.

“O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

When the Gentiles were blinded and in universal idolatry and adultery, alienated from the life of God, the Lord chose Abraham and created Israel for His own glory. God began a new movement on the earth with the nation Israel. By the covenant of circumcision God cut off the rest of the human race. Genesis 17:12 to 16. Acts 7:6 to 12. Israel was selected to reveal God to the heathen.

They miserably failed. God finally set Israel aside. But they will be saved.

“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.” Ezekiel 37:21 and 22.

In Ezekiel 36, God tells how Israel profaned His name among the heathen. In other Scriptures He tells how Israel rejected and killed God’s prophets.

“But last of all He sent unto them His Son, saying, They will reverence My Son.” “And they caught Him and cast Him out of the vineyard, and slew Him.” Matthew 21:37 and 39.

That Son was their Messiah and King. What did that Son say to them?

“Ye fools and blind.” “Ye blind guides which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, ye shall not see Me henceforth till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Matthew 23:17, 24, 33, 38 and 39.

They were truly blind. They rejected their Messiah. He was delivered according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Acts 2:22 and 23.

“And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” Acts 3:17.

Then note Acts 3:25 and 26:

“Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 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 3:25 and 26.

The rest of the story is told in I Thessalonians 2:14 and 16:

“For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.” “Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost”

God again sent blindness upon Israel. Romans 11:8. They have been spiritually blind since then, scattered all over the earth. Then note God’s revealed secret

“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. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Romans 11:25 and 26.

Israel’s blindness and unbelief meant reconciliation, salvation, grace and mercy for Gentiles. Romans 11:15, 11 and 30.

We have learned that when the Gentiles were blinded and God gave them up, Israel was given the place of honor and privilege. And then when Israel was blinded and set aside (temporarily) God’s reign of grace for Gentiles was inaugurated. For about 1900 years we have been receiving Divine mercy. In the first chapter of Romans we learn of the rejection of the Gentiles. In the eleventh chapter we learn of the rejection of Israel.

FOR OUR SAKES AND FOR CHRIST’S SAKE

Note Ephesians 4:32:

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God FOR CHRIST’S SAKE hath forgiven you.”

Why are Gentiles forgiven all their sins? FOR CHRIST’S SAKE. Why will Israel yet be forgiven, saved and blessed? For Jehovah’s sake. Ezekiel 36:22 and 32. And also for the fathers’ sake. Romans 11:28. Why were the. rulers of Israel enemies of the gospel when Paul preached to them? For the Gentiles’ sake. Romans 11:28.

The disobedience, unbelief, and blindness of Israel is told in the story of Barjesus, Paulus, and Barnabas in Acts 13:6 to 12: Let us read this interesting story

“And when they had gone through the isle into Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the Word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul), filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.” Acts 13:6 to 12.

Barjesus means “the child of Jehovah the Saviour.” Israel was God’s “Barjesus.” Barjesus sought to turn the Gentile away from faith in Israel’s Messiah. Israel was chosen to turn Gentiles to Israel’s Messiah. For Barjesus’ disobedience God’s judgment fell upon him, “blindness for a season.” This Divine judgment caused Paulus to believe and be saved. “Saul” became .”Paul” to declare the truth of Romans 11:25 and 26. A blindness in part to Israel until God ends His dealings with the Gentiles.

The Jews are scattered among all the nations of the earth in spiritual blindness “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Luke 21:24.

The times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled. The fulness of the Gentiles will come in. And let all Gentiles remember Romans 11:21.

Many, many so-called Christian preachers today are as blind as Israel. Even the great majority of the saved ones are not only ignorant of Romans 11:25 and 26 but wholly ignorant of God’s eternal purpose, under the dispensation of grace, during this parenthetical period while the Messianic kingdom is in abeyance. Ephesians 3:1 to 11.

Then think of the modernists in evangelical denominations who are given the right hand of fellowship by modernist rabbis who say; “now that you believe that Jesus was only a good man and a religious reformer, but not conceived by the Holy Spirit, we can enjoy fellowship with you. “

As Barjesus sought to turn the Gentiles away from the faith so many of the leaders in the so-called Christian churches are turning Jewish leaders away from the faith and all of them together are headed for the same ditch

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14.

Dr. Scofield versus Dr. Bullinger.

Dr. C. I. Scofield, of the United States, was the editor of the Scofield Reference Bible. Dr. E. W. Bullinger, of England, was the editor of the Companion Bible. Both of these men were positive and aggressive evangelical and evangelistic Christians. They both believed in, and dogmatically taught, the plenary inspiration of the Bible. They believed, as all saved individuals believe, that Jesus Christ was God, manifested in man; that man’s deliverance from the wrath of God and his only hope of heaven and eternal life, is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, His oncefor- all sacrifice on the cross and His triumphant resurrection from the dead. Both of these men were Premillenarians. They were both pre-tribulation Premillenarians; that is, they believed that the Lord Jesus Christ will rapture His Church before He comes, as the Son of man, to save Israel from the great tribulation. They both repeatedly emphasized the importance of knowing the difference between God’s reign of law and God’s reign of grace, and the equally important distinction between Israel and the Body of Christ. They both taught clearly that God’s reign of grace, or dispensation of grace, did not begin while Jesus Christ was on earth, proclaiming to Israel truth concerning the kingdom of heaven. They emphasized the truth declared in Romans 15:8 and Matthew 15:24: “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” “But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Both of these brethren taught that the sermon on the mount, recorded in Matthew, chapters five to eight, is primarily truth concerning the Messianic kingdom of Christ and therefore that much of that message does not fit into this present dispensation of grace, mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 3:1 to 3: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words.”

Both Dr. Scofield and Dr. Bullinger taught that the Body of Christ did not begin, historically, until after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. They both taught that the Body of Christ is a Divine organism rather than man’s organization. They both taught that the Body of Christ was not a prophetic subject, because Israel’s prophets were wholly ignorant and silent concerning the Church of the Mystery; that is, the Body of Christ was God’s peculiar secret until the Lord Jesus Christ revealed it to the Apostle Paul. These two brethren most heartily agreed with all intelligent, spiritual, diligent students of the Scriptures, that during this present Divine spiritual economy of grace, God has one chief purpose, and that is, to build up the one, and only one, Bible Church, the Body of Christ. Both of these brethren agreed with all other true grace preachers that the very moment a believing sinner is saved by grace on the grounds of the shed blood and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, he becomes a member of the true Bible Church, whether or not he joins some organization; that the moment the believing sinner is saved by grace, he becomes a saint, he receives the Holy Spirit, he becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus, and at that very moment he is baptized into the death of Christ, is buried with Him by baptism, is raised to walk in newness of life, he is seated with Christ in the heavenlies, and is blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. They both taught that if one such redeemed sinner should afterward be received into a Presbyterian organization by sprinkling, and another into a Baptist Church by immersion, the salvation and standing of neither person is in any way improved or changed. But both of these men of God agreed with every intelligent person who is truly saved by God’s infinite grace, that every redeemed person should constantly desire and endeavor to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ; should earnestly strive to be a consistent, spiritual, separated child of God.

They believed in aggressive evangelism for every member of the Body of Christ. Both of these Bible teachers believed in the eternal security of the believer.

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE “WORD”

Both Dr. Scofield and Dr. Bullinger laid much stress on the Holy Spirit’s instruction in II Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” Dr. Scofield’s pamphlet, entitled “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth,” has brought blessing and satisfaction to many confused religious Church-members and has helped them to better understand the Bible. Dr. Scofield was decidedly a dispensational Bible teacher. The word “dispensation” is found in I Corinthians 9:17, Colossians 1:25, Ephesians 3:2 and 9 and in Ephesians 1:10,

The word “dispensation” is literally “economy.” Dr. Scofield believed that the Bible is divided into different economies. So does every intelligent student of the Bible., whether he calls himself a Premillenarian or a Postmillenarian, a dispensationalist, or an anti-dispensationalist, for every intelligent Christian recognizes at least two economies, the Old Testament and the New Testament, the reign of law and the reign of grace. But just twenty minutes spent in the study of Romans 5:13, 14 and 20, and Galatians 3:19, will convince any student of the Scripture that there was at least one economy before God entered into the Covenant (Old) with Israel at Sinai 2500 years after Adam sinned. Moreover, a little more than twenty minutes devoted to the study of Colossians 1:24 to 27—Colossians 4:3 and 4—Ephesians 3:1 to 11—Ephesians 6:1 and 20, should convince any intelligent student of the Scriptures, that “the dispensation of the Mystery” (the economy of God’s Secret) is a fourth dispensation: “And to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Then the same study of Matthew 10:5 to 8 and Acts 3:19 to 21, should convince such a student that the kingdom of heaven, to be established when the king comes, is different from any of the other Divine economies.

Now in all that we have set forth Dr. Scofield and Dr. Bullinger agreed. All that we have set forth is accepted as Divine Truth (and is the intelligent way of studying the Bible) by the great majority of grace preachers identified with Christians who are called Fundamentalists.

In the teaching thus far presented, not only were Dr. Scofield and Dr. Bullinger agreed, but to their agreed teaching thus far presented, the majority of grace Fundamentalists give their hearty endorsement.

Dr. Scofield and Dr. Bullinger believed that a crisis, or radical change, took place with the close of the Book of Acts, after the words recorded in Acts 28:25 to 28; “And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”

Dr. Bullinger taught that a new and different Church, that is, the Church of the Mystery, the Body of Ephesians and Colossians, began after the close of Acts. Dr. Scofield believed that the Church, or the Body, of the Post-Acts period, was the same Church as the Church or Body mentioned in I Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. But Dr. Scofield believed in the change of God’s spiritual program stated in these words

“There is no foundation in the Word of God for the prevailing popular doctrine of `Divine Healing.”

“A careful study of the Epistles, especially of the latest Epistles of Paul, which give the normal course of the Church during the present dispensation, would dismount all from their hobbies, eliminate the last vestige of Judaism from their lives.”

“After repeated study of the Epistles written after Paul’s arrival at Rome, I am convinced that in them is found a curative teaching for all of the present day delusions and fanaticisms found among many of the most sincere saints in the Church.”

“The sign gifts of I Corinthians 12 were operative only during the Book of Acts period.”

Up to this Post-Acts difference, personally I heartily agree with both Dr. Scofield and Dr. Bullinger. But in this difference I take my stand with Dr. Scofield, and feel sure that Dr. Bullinger taught error concerning the new Body.

Those who follow the teaching of Dr. E. W. Bullinger as to the Post-Acts different Church, or Body, are called extreme dispensationalists, ultradispensationalists or hyperdispensationalists.

In recent years many Fundamentalists who do not seem to know the difference between carnal weapons and spiritual weapons have maliciously misrepresented other Fundamentalists who do not agree with their faulty dispensationalism. The cry has been “Bullingerism.” “He is a Bullingerite.” Twenty-five per cent of these false accusers do not know what they mean by “Bullingerism.” They are just sheep and parrots, and prejudiced, ungracious, uninformed Christians, who prefer to exaggerate, misrepresent, and malign, rather than devote a little time in intelligent study. They should study the teachings of Dr. Bullinger and read such testimonies of him as that of Dr. James M. Gray

“Bullinger would be called a fundamentalist were he now on earth, for he was an able defender of the inspiration of the Bible, the deity and virgin birth of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, the premillennial coming and all that. But he was an extremist, some would call him a faddist, on dispensational truth, and he was unscriptural, as we believe, on future retribution. Because of these last named errors, the Monthly has not felt free to advertise Bullinger’s books, certainly not all of them, and yet the writer of these lines owes one of his richest spiritual blessings to that great teacher, for a truly great teacher he was. No one ever set before us from the Word of God so clearly as did Bullinger, the profound mystery of the Body of Christ, and we always shall be indebted to him.”

Dr. Bullinger was misrepresented in the matter of the future state. But in some points he disagreed with the teaching of Dr. Gray and Dr. Scofield. Dr. Gray and Dr. Scofield taught that the Church of the Mystery is both the Body and Bride of Christ. Dr. Bullinger taught that the Church of the Mystery is the Body, of Christ but that a company of Israelites will be the Bride of Christ. Therefore, Dr. Bullinger taught that the seven Churches of Revelation could not refer to the Body of Christ, and give the spiritual program of the Church of the Mystery.

Dr. Bullinger also taught the unconscious state of the believer between death and the resurrection of the body.

Dr. Bullinger believed that with the close of the “Acts” period a signless dispensation was ushered in; that the signs of Mark 16:16 to 18, and the sign-gifts of I Corinthians 12:8 to 11 ceased. He believed that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper of the “Acts” Church ceased with the sign period, after the pronouncement of Acts 28:25 to 28, and that neither has any Scriptural place in the Body of Christ described in Ephesians and Colossians. As to water baptism I believe Dr. Bullinger was right, but not as to the Lord’s Supper.

Hereafter, when you feel led by the Holy Spirit to criticize the teaching of Dr. Bullinger, do it honestly and intelligently and be sure that you do not call some brother in the. Lord a” Bullingerite” who does not agree with the extreme teaching of Dr. Bullinger.

While you are thinking this over, ask yourself this question: “why is it that the most spiritual, faithful grace preachers among Fundamentalists, make no attempt to exercise any of the sign gifts of I Corinthians 12:8 to 11, whereas they were exercised by the carnal saints in Corinth, the babes in Christ, who could only take the milk that belongs” to infants? Dr. Scofield’s explanation is the one and only answer.

Sit down for a quiet, spiritual, diligent study of Ephesians 2:11 to 17 and Ephesians 3:5 to 9: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain One New Man, so making peace: And that He might reconcile both unto God in one Body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” Ephesians 2:11 to 17. “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be joint-heirs and of the Joint-Body, and joint-sharers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power. Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the UNSEARCHABLE riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the. mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:5 to 9.

When did God begin to join those who were nigh (non-covenant Gentiles) and those who were afar off (covenant Israelites) in one Body, and make them a Joint-Body?

Before you answer this question read Acts 10:28: “And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Some seven years after Pentecost it was unlawful for the twelve apostles to preach to Gentiles. In Acts 5:29 to 32, Peter declared that God’s purpose was to give repentance and forgiveness to Israel. Then Stephen saw Jesus, as the Son of man, standing in heaven. Note Matthew 10:23 and 19:28. Where did the Gentiles come in? They didn’t come in.

They came in later, when Saul had become Paul, and he declared the truth of Acts 14:27: “And when they were come and had gathered the Church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” And Romans 11:15: “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” Then Paul received his new commission: “And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, That God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:18 and 19. Paul preached reconciliation to Gentiles when, and because., Israel was set aside. Israel had not been set aside when Stephen preached to Israel, or when Peter preached to Cornelius.

What did Peter preach? “But contrariwise, when they saw that the. gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.”

What had Peter preached to Israel in the first nine chapters of Acts? That which Joel, David, Moses, Samuel, and all the Israelitish prophets had foretold “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.” Acts 3:24. Not one of these prophets said one thing, or knew one thing, about the Joint- Body of Ephesians 3:6, the Church of the Mystery.

WHAT BIBLE TEACHERS TEACH

Note what Dr. C. I. Scofield wrote in his Reference Bible (his footnote), concerning the Joint-Body of Ephesians 3:6:

“That the Gentiles were to be saved was no mystery (Romans 9:24 to 33; Romans 10:19 to 21). The mystery “hid in God” was the divine purpose to make of Jew and Gentile a wholly new thing—“the church, which is His (Christ’s) Body,” formed by the baptism with the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:12, 13) and in which the earthly distinction of Jew and Gentile disappears (Ephesians 2:14, 15; Colossians 3:10, 11). The revelation of this mystery, which was foretold, but not explained by Christ (Matthew 16:18), was committed to Paul. In his writings alone we find the doctrine, position, walk, and destiny of the Church.”

Note what Mr. Wm. R. Newell has written in his book on Romans

“And again it pleased Him to choose Paul to be the great proclaimer and revealer of just what the gospel is for this dispensation. You can judge any man’s preaching or teaching by this rule-Is he Pauline? Does his doctrine start and end according to those statements of Christian doctrine uttered by the Apostle Paul? No matter how wonderful a man may seem to be in his gifts and apparent consecration, if his gospel is not Pauline, it is not the gospel, and we might as well get our minds settled at once on that point.” Page 339.

“Paul calls down the anathema, that is the curse of God Himself upon any one who preaches any other gospel than that which he declared. Galatians 1.

“For instance, if you were to take Paul’s Epistles out of the Bible, you cannot find anything about the Church, the Body of Christ, for no other apostle mentions the Body of Christ.” Page 340.

“But unto none of these twelve apostles did God reveal the great body of doctrine for this age

“Finally, Paul is the unfolder of that great company of God’s elect, called the Church, the Body of Christ, which is also the Bride, the individuals of which, are called members of the Body of Christ-members of Christ Himself.” Page 338.

“Would that we had grace to defend just as vigorously this great message today, for it has many enemies and even real friends who do not yet see it clearly; and there are others, who like Peter (Galatians 2), through fear of others, are ready to compromise and tone down the gospel of God.” Page 344.

Note what Dr. H. A. Ironside has written concerning the Church of the Mystery

“The mystery of the Church as the Body of Christ was never made known in Old Testament times, nor yet in the days when our Lord was on the earth. We are told distinctly it had been “hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifested to the saints.” The Divine method of making it known was by a special revelation to the apostle Paul, as he tells us in Ephesians 3. But this revelation was not for him only. It was a ministry committed to him to pass on to the saints.”

“But this doctrine of the one body is never referred to by any other apostle than Paul. He calls it “the dispensation of the mystery” which he has especially been entrusted with.”

“It was the secret purpose of His heart only to be revealed after the rejection of His Son.” “To the Epistles of Paul alone do we turn for the revelation of this mystery. He was the special vessel chosen to make known the heavenly calling.”

“The mystery formed no part of the revelation of the previous dispensations. Had it been otherwise, Paul could not rightly have written that it was “kept secret since the world began.”

“The mystery was not something of difficult, mysterious character, but a sacred secret never known to mankind until in due time opened up by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul.”

“It was a special revelation given, not to the twelve, but to him as the apostle of the new dispensation.”

“That a doctrine so clearly revealed in the Scriptures could have become so utterly lost is only to be accounted for by the Judaizing of the Church, and the consequent minding of earthly things that beclouded the heavenly ones.”

“Now if the mystery be for those who have faith to obey, it is certainly of vast importance that every child of God be instructed as to its true character.” (The above quotations copied from Dr. Ironside’s writings.)

This is what I believe and teach concerning the Church of the Mystery, the Body of Christ. But the Church to which Peter belonged on the day of Pentecost was not the Church of the Mystery, for the Divine movement which Peter presented in connection with the gospel of the circumcision, unlike the. Joint-Body of Ephesians 3:6, was prophesied.

We learn in II Peter 3:15 and 16 that Peter acknowledged that some things in all of Paul’s Epistles were hard to be understood. It was not hard for Peter to understand Acts 15:13 to 18: “And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up, That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, Who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.”

Peter and the Eleven understood this program of God, for it was a prophesied program. But they had to learn from Paul concerning the gospel of the uncircumcision. Galatians 2:2 to 9. Paul had to explain to them the truth of Ephesians 3:6 to 11, God’s eternal purpose, the unsearchable (unprophesied) riches of Christ for Gentiles, the dispensation of the mystery, the Joint-Body unknown to Israel’s prophets. Peter preached a prophesied message and presented a prophesied spiritual program. Paul, in addition to a prophesied message, proclaimed unprophesied truth concerning the One New Man of Ephesians 2:15, the Perfect Man of Ephesians 4:13.

GOD’S PROGRAM IN ACTS 15

Now let us compare Acts 15:13 and 14 with Galatians 2:9 and Ephesians 2:16: “And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.” Acts 15:13 and 14. “And when James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.” Galatians 2:9. “And that He might reconcile both unto God in one Body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” Ephesians 2:16.

From these verses we learn the folly of teaching that God’s purpose during this age of grace is to visit the Gentiles, to take, out of them a people for His name, in fulfillment of Amos 9:11 to 15. If Peter and James knew that to be God’s purpose and will for this age, and then agreed to confine their testimony to the Jews (Galatians 2:9), then obviously their decision was contrary to God’s will. Again, if God’s purpose is to visit the Gentiles, how do the Jews get in? God’s prophesied kingdom program is presented in Acts 15:13 to 18, and that program was God’s program from Acts 2:1 until one of the Twelve (James) died. Acts 12:2. That prophesied program was postponed after Saul became Paul. Then God changed His program. God began to reconcile Gentiles when Israel was set aside by God. Then began the Joint-Body. To understand this truth read Acts 13:46— Acts 14:27—Ephesians 2:11 to 17—Romans 11:30— and Romans 11:15.

There is surely a great difference between reconciling both Jews and Gentiles, baptizing them into one Body, making of them One New Man, the Joint-Body of Ephesians 3:6, concerning which all prophets were ignorant and silent, and taking out from among the Gentiles a people for His name, in fulfillment of promises known to and made known by Israel’s prophets.

Right here we would emphasize the truth of I Corinthians 3:10: “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

Peter was not the wise masterbuilder who laid the foundation for truth concerning the Church of the Mystery; that truth in all of Paul’s Epistles hard to be understood.

Let us not follow those who have exceedingly erred in beginning the dispensation of grace, the dispensation of the mystery, and the Joint-Body, the unsearchable riches of Christ, God’s eternal purpose, on Pentecost a Jewish feast day. Such faulty dispensationalism leads to confusion and many contradictions in the New Testament Scriptures.

Neither let us be as extreme as Pastor George Douglas in his teaching as presented in the Moody Monthly, of July, 1936. You will note, in this article, he designates the period during the “Acts” period “the Pentecostal dispensation,” and from the close of Acts down to the present “the Christian dispensation.”

“It is a common error to assume that the rejection and crucifixion of Christ was the historical crisis at which Israel was set aside.”

“When we come into the Acts we at once discover that a place of repentance was granted to Israel, and a ‘blotting out of sins’ was preached to them through the Messiah whom they had rejected and crucified.” Acts 2:14, 22 and 36. Doubtless repentance would have brought them ‘times of refreshing’ and ‘the times of restitution of all things’ spoken of by all the prophets since the world began. Acts 3:19 to 21. That was the Pentecost proclamation of the Divine amnesty for the guilty people of Jerusalem, and their answer to it was the stoning of Stephen. Acts 7.

“But that crowning sin of Jerusalem was not laid upon the Jews of the dispersion and so the disciples who were scattered abroad by the persecution which followed, carried the Pentecostal gospel to them, for in the first period of the Pentecostal dispensation the preaching was, ‘to the Jews only.’ And in the second part of the Pentecostal period or dispensation, they still enjoyed a distinctive priority for now it was ‘to the Jew first.’ But in this Christian dispensation, ‘there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles.’

“The simple answer is that in this Book (Acts), we have the Divine Record of the Pentecostal dispensation, and that transition period was now ended.”

This is indeed “ultradispensationalism.” While we cannot agree with the “dispensationalists” who teach that the dispensation of the mystery began on the day of Pentecost we do most heartily endorse the statement of Dr. Wm. L. Pettingill who is a true “grace” preacher.

“There is much preaching of Jesus Christ which does not stablish God’s people, because it is not according to Paul’s gospel, nor according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but was made manifest by revelation to the Apostle Paul.”

It is for this reason that Dr. Pettingill, Dr. James M. Gray, Mr. John Darby and others have not believed that the so-called great commission is for this age of grace.

Abraham Was Declared Righteous In Uncircumcision

“WE SAY THAT FAITH WAS RECKONED TO ABRAHAM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” ROMANS 4:9.

“HOW WAS IT THEN RECKONED? WHEN HE WAS IN CIRCUMCISION, OR IN UNCIRCUMCISION? NOT IN CIRCUMCISION, BUT IN UNCIRCUMCISION. AND HE RECEIVED THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION, A SEAL OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE FAITH WHICH HE HAD YET BEING UNCIRCUMCISED; THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FATHER OF ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE, THOUGH THEY BE NOT CIRCUMCISED; THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS MIGHT BE IMPUTED UNTO THEM ALSO.” ROMANS 4:10 AND 11.

These are important truths to enable us to understand other important truths. Comparatively few Christians have understood Paul’s words in Galatians 2:7:

“But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.”

Just what was the difference between Peter’s gospel of the circumcision and Paul’s gospel of the uncircumcision? This is for a later lesson. But this study will prepare us for that lesson.

Now let us read Acts 7:8 and Genesis 17:10, 24, 14 and Genesis 17:5.

“And He gave him (Abraham) the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.”

“This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.”

“And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.”

“And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.”

“Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.”

God gave the covenant of circumcision when He changed Abram’s name to “Abraham” when Abraham was 99 years old. Isaac was born one year after uncircumcised Abram became circumcised Abraham. Genesis 21:5. Isaac, the promised son, was the child of circumcised Abraham. Then note that Isaac and Jesus of Nazareth were both circumcised when eight days old. Genesis 21:4 and Luke 2:21. Isaac, the promised son, was a type of Jesus Christ, the promised Son.

From circumcised Isaac came Jacob (Israel), his twelve sons, Israel and the Jews, called “the circumcision”. Romans 15:8. “Jesus Christ was a minister to the circumcision.” Romans 15:8. While on earth He did not minister unto the Gentiles. (One Greek woman and one Roman man. Matthew 8:1 to 12 and Matthew 15:21 to 24.)

Peter and the Eleven were sent to Israel in the cities of Israel. Matthew 10:5 and 23. Peter and the Eleven are to minister to Israel in the coming kingdom age. Matthew 19:28. Peter and the Eleven remained in Jerusalem during the period covered by the Book of Acts. Acts 8:1.

On the day of Pentecost Peter and the Eleven spoke to Jews from every nation under heaven. Acts 2:14 and 5. About fifteen years later they were still messengers to the circumcision. Galatians 2:9.

From Genesis 17:14 (about 1900 B.C.) to Acts 10:47 (about 40 A.D.) the circumcision of men was a Divine requirement for fellowship with God’s people. To Peter was committed “the gospel of the circumcision”. Galatians 2:7.

No one was ever saved except by the once-for-all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross; but the word “gospel” covers much more than the salvation of the individual sinner.

THE GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION

Abraham was circumcised. But Abraham was not a Jew. Abraham descended from Noah, Shem and Eber. Abraham was an Eberite. Abraham became the father of one branch of the Semitic race. Abraham’s father was Terah. Terah lived in Chaldea and was an idolater. The word “Jew” in the Bible has a double meaning. Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (Israel), had twelve sons. The fourth son was Judah. Speaking of the Jews, as a race they were Judahites. But when Jesus Christ said, “salvation is of the Jews”, He was not thinking of just one of the twelve tribes. The Israelites were all Jews by religion. Galatians 1:14. Jesus Christ was a Jew by race and by religion.. He is called the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” Revelation 5:5.

NOTE THE 430 YEARS

But note Galatians 3:8 and 3:17:

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

“And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.”

Here we understand what Paul meant when he said the gospel of the uncircumcision “was committed unto me.”

Four hundred and thirty years before Moses was on Sinai, receiving the law and the Jews’ religion, uncircumcised Abram did something. What he did was to believe. “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness:” Galatians 3:6. The doing was God’s part. The believing was Abram’s part. God declared uncircumcised Abram righteous.

Note Genesis 12:4 and 15:6—“So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.”

“And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness.” When was Abram circumcised to become Abraham? When he was 99 years old. When was Abram called? Twenty-four years before he was circumcised. His circumcision was the seal of the righteousness which he received in uncircumcision. Romans 4:9 to 11. So Abram’s circumcision did not contribute to his righteousness or improve it. He had God’s righteousness. God’s righteousness is perfect and cannot be improved. The one thing Abram did to receive God’s righteousness was to believe God.

THE SCRIPTURES FORESAW

Note again Galatians 3:8

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”

What people were seen when the gospel was preached to Abram 24 years before he was circumcised, and 430 years before the law was added to the gospel (Galatians 3:19)? The heathen (Gentiles) of Paul’s day. What was seen? That the uncircumcised heathen would be declared righteous without circumcision, without the law, without any religious observances. Just as Abraham was, by faith without works.

“For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:3 and 5.

Christ in heaven revealed to the Apostle Paul that the covenant of circumcision was not binding on the Gentiles.

For some years after Paul received his Divine commission to preach, God permitted the Christian Jews to continue the practice of circumcision. (Acts 16:3 and 21:25). But later on a new interpretation of circumcision was given.

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” “In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead.” Philippians 3:3 and Colossians 2:11 and 12.

God’s message is Galatians 6:15 and 5:3

“IN CHRIST JESUS NEITHER CIRCUMCISION AVAILETH ANY THING, NOR UNCIRCUMCISION, BUT A NEW CREATURE.”

“For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”

Every member of the Body of Christ has been circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands. Colossians 2:11. Jesus Christ was circumcised in the flesh when He was eight days old. Luke 2:18 to 21. Some Christians speak of following Jesus Christ in baptism, but they say nothing about following Him in His circumcision or about following His example in the matter of going to the Jewish synagogue on the Jewish sabbath. Luke 4:16. Christ’s death baptism took place on the cross. Luke 12:48 to 52. Members of His Body, who have been circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands, have also been baptized into the baptism (death) of Christ with a Divine baptism not made with hands, the operation of God. Colossians 2:12. For the believer there is one circumcision and one baptism.

Thus we learn that as uncircumcised Abram was justified by faith before God gave to Israel the ten commandments and their religious program, so any uncircumcised heathen in the United States or in the heart of Africa can be justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished redemptive work. God’s message of grace is, “being declared righteous without a cause by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24.