We present here eight Bible characters for a Dispensational study: We have a colored chart of the Bible – an outline from Genesis to Revelation – showing the facts of this study in picture.

ADAM

Adam, the first man, lived before the fall, in the Garden of Eden, in a state of innocency; and he also lived after the fall, outside of the Garden, in a state of sin. Adam lived and sinned about 4000 years before Christ Jesus, the Second Man, came into the world to save sinners. Read I Corinthians 15:45 to 47 and 22.

NOAH

Noah lived before the flood in the same dispensation, under the same covenant, with Adam the sinner. Noah also lived after the flood under an entirely new covenant, with new promises, in a new dispensation, under new conditions.

Noah was a preacher of righteousness. II Peter 2:5.

ABRAHAM

Abraham lived part of his life under the covenant that God made with Noah after the flood, and he lived the last hundred years of his one hundred and seventy-five years enjoying blessings guaranteed to him through Noah, but also under the new covenant which God made; that is, the Abrahamic covenant. Under this covenant he spent the first twenty-four years in uncircumcision and the last seventy-six years in circumcision. It could be truly said, “The Abrahamic covenant was added to the Noahic covenant.” God made His covenant with Abram 430 years before the Law was given.

MOSES

Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, spent eighty years of his life under the Abrahamic covenant of promise, and the last forty years of his life under Israel’s old covenant, that is, under the law. Moses’ life was divided into three periods of forty years each. He received from Jehovah the Law for Israel about 1492 B.C. It is a very simple matter to see that Moses spent his life under two different covenants, although the Noahic covenant and the Abrahamic covenant continued into the Mosaic covenant. The Law was added to the promise – Galatians 3:19. Read Exodus 7:7 and Deuteronomy 34:7.

DANIEL

Daniel lived in the same dispensation of Law that was given through Moses to Israel. But Daniel lived in the Land of the Jews before the Babylonian captivity, before the “Times of the Gentiles” began; and then he lived in Babylon after the “Times of the Gentiles” began about 600 B.C.

JOHN THE BAPTIST

John the Baptist lived as a contemporary of Jesus Christ for more than thirty years. As the forerunner of Israel’s Messiah, John proclaimed the Kingdom message, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He lived long enough to know that Israel would not receive the King and His Kingdom. Therefore John lived before and after the King was rejected.

SIMON PETER

Simon Peter was in company with Christ for more than three years before the death of Christ. During those three years both Christ and Peter were under the law. The Holy Spirit had not yet been given. John 7:39. Simon Peter lived after the death and resurrection of the Son of God. Therefore he lived in two entirely different dispensations; first under the old covenant, and then under the new covenant. Simon lived in the days of the Son of man – then in the Holy Spirit dispensation. Read John 1:41 and Luke 5:8 to 11.

SAUL—PAUL

Paul, the Apostle, was saved before Peter preached to the first Gentile household, that of Cornelius. Paul Lived during the “transition” period, that thirty-year period covered by the Book of Acts. Then he lived and ministered for some years after the transition period had ceased, after he reached Rome as Caesar’s prisoner, delivered to that Gentile government by the Jews of Jerusalem. There was a radical change after Acts 28:28. Saul’s conversion is recorded in Acts 9:2 to 15.

DIFFERENT MINISTRIES

All of these men had very definite dealings with the God of Heaven. The omnipotent, everlasting God revealed Himself to each of these eight men. God committed to each of these men a definite ministry and each was responsible to God to represent Him on earth in the particular age in which he lived. Circumstances and responsibilities differed with different dispensations and covenants.

PROGRESSIVE REVELATION

Noah knew by tradition concerning the dealings of God with Adam; but Adam died before God revealed Himself and His new plans to Noah both before and after the flood.

Abraham knew by tradition and revelation the story of Adam before he passed out of the dispensation of “Innocence” into the dispensation of “Conscience” as a fallen creature. In the same way Abraham knew of God’s dealings with Noah, the arkbuilder and preacher of righteousness, before the flood, and of the new covenant that God made with Noah after the flood, when the human race was placed by God under the dispensation of “Human Government” or “Authority.” But if you will search the Scriptures from the twelfth chapter of Genesis to the twenty-fourth chapter, you will learn that Abraham knew many things from God that neither Adam nor Noah knew. A new dispensation had been ushered in, “Promise”. During the twentyfour years before Abraham was circumcised he had many revelations from the Almighty God, and during the years that followed his circumcision he received new Divine truth from heaven. Revelation was progressive—new truths constantly being revealed.

We learn in the fifth Chapter of Genesis that Lamech, the ninth from Adam, was 56 years old when Adam died at the age of 930. Lamech was the father of Noah and died five years before the flood. Shem was 93 years old when his grandfather, Lamech, died. Shem was 98 years old at the time of the flood, which was in the year of man, 1656. Lamech was contemporary of Adam and Shem, the eleventh generation after Adam. According to the eleventh chapter of Genesis, Shem lived 502 years after the flood and died in 2158 A.H. (year of man). According to the same chapter Abraham was born in 2008 A.H. He died in 2183 A.H. Genesis 25:7. Notwithstanding the fact that Abraham was the ninth from Shem, Shem lived until Abraham was 150 years of age. See the connecting link from Adam to Abraham.

TWO GREAT QUESTIONS

We are presenting from God’s Word two questions. The first question suggests thought. The second suggests action. The first question is found in Matthew 22:42, and was asked by the man Christ Jesus concerning Himself

“WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?”

Since the day Christ asked that question of His own nation, countless millions of many nations in every generation have put the same question to their own hearts and consciences and to their fellow-men. In order to answer such a question intelligently concerning any man, it is necessary to get acquainted with him. There is a certain acquaintance with Christ which can be experienced only by those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. But there is available for any man a written record of the character and achievements of the One who asked the question. Had the question been asked by any other man concerning himself, it would have suggested the spirit of self-importance or egotism on the part of the questioner. But to any one who has made even a hasty superficial study of the written record, the question seems most proper and in order.

The most sensible decision that any sensible person can reach so far as this Man’s relation to the record is concerned, is that the historical Jesus is the “Bible Christ.” The record has existed for nearly nineteen hundred years. It has been discussed, criticized, hated and condemned by millions. It has been honored, cherished and defended, even unto martyrdom, by other millions, just as intelligent, courageous and true as those who have been its bitterest enemies. Never since this history was first written has this record been the object of such vicious and insidious assaults as at this present time, when all the forces of Satan are turned loose against it. But multitudes are still submitting the record to the test “if any man willeth to do my will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17.

No man has ever been wise enough to produce evidence to invalidate the Bible Record of Jesus Christ. Some have persuaded themselves that the Record is too unique to be true; and their verdict is, that the narratives were either written by enthusiastic religious men who were deceived, or else they discount it as a willful forgery. No one is more ignorant than the one who declares that the Scriptures are the imaginations or inventions of ignorant men. Moreover it must be admitted, that if the records concerning Christ be forgeries, they are the forgeries of very clever men.

If the writers were deceived, were they deceived by Christ? The Pharisees accused Him of deceiving the people. “Are ye also deceived?” John 7:47. Concerning Christ, “some said, He is a good man, others said, Nay; but He deceiveth the people.” 7:12. Christ did not prove His goodness by deception.

If the narratives be forgeries, then what is our conclusion concerning Christ? Was He a fictitious character? Is the Christ of orthodox Christianity unreal? Did such a man as Jesus Christ ever live on earth? If so, was He a good man or a deceiver? Without a trustworthy history to study, who knows? If the Bible narratives of Jesus Christ be the untrustworthy or untrue writings of deluded or dishonest men, to whom shall we turn for reliable information that will enable us to answer intelligently the question, “what think ye of Christ?”

Some say, “we do not know what to think.” Why not forget Him altogether and decide that the question was never asked and that the Christ, who was supposed to have asked the question, never existed? Impossible for any intelligent person to do this. Christ has so found His way into every avenue of Human experience that; any thinking person must acknowledge that He is an up-to-date living reality. If unreal, truly He Has more influenced human life and thought than all the real men of all ages combined. The Jews in His day said, “And destroy Jesus”. It was impossible then. It is impossible today. No one can blot Him out of human history. But without the Bible I cannot answer the question.”

Surely the people did their very best to get rid of Jesus Christ. They have tried to forget Him. They have tried to ignore Him. They have tried to explain Him away by every argument. And in spite of their determined efforts, behold today, every thinking rabbi, whether associated with an orthodox or a liberal congregation, is now declaring that Jesus of Nazareth was the best man who ever lived on this earth and that He has exercised more influence for good upon the human race than all other men combined. Are they deciding that He was good, because of His good influence, or because they have carefully examined His written biography? Why can they not see their utter inconsistency, in either bowing to the religious authority, or acknowledging the superiority of the most extraordinary Man who ever lived on this earth, while at the same time they are discrediting and condemning the only Record that can truly establish His right to their respect and admiration?

There is only one other group of men more inconsistent than the inconsistent Jews: the so-called “Modernist” Christians. They believe virtually what the Jews believe, but they go a step further and bear the name of Christ and claim to be His disciples. They bow in His name to worship the true Deity; call Jesus Christ the fairest flower of humanity; exalt and praise Him as the highest expression of the one and only God; even claim that they believe in the Son’s revelation of the Father; and at the same time they declare that the Record containing that revelation is either the work of frauds or ignorant men, writings which no intelligent an of this enlightened age can accept to be worth more than fiction. If they have learned that Jesus Christ is the noblest, truest purest expression of the mind and heart of the true and living God, they have learned that great fact by reading narratives which they claim are false, if not fraudulent, and if their learning and thinking have been based upon that which is false, their opinions are worthless and they know not what they think they know.

Any intelligent and satisfactory answer to the question must be based upon the Scriptural Record of Christ. If on that basis, Christ is worthy of admiration. He is likewise worthy of adoration. He should be both respected and worshipped or neither respected nor worshipped. The Modernists accuse our Lord of the crime of the Antichrist who, is to sit in the temple of God and show himself as God. He is to be destroyed for this crime. Jesus Christ made this claim. If not God. He was guilty of blasphemy and worthy of death.

Christ is mentioned by noun and pronoun about seven thousand times in the New Testament Scriptures. The same supernatural story is woven into every part of those Scriptures. After studying these twenty-seven records, we should decide that the Jews of the first century who took up stones to stone Him, “because thou being a man makest thyself God,” were far more consistent than are the Modernist Jews and so-called Modernist Christians of the twentieth century who join with Judas to betray Christ with a kiss. John 10:30 to 38. Read about them in Jude 4 and II Peter 2:1—III John 7.

Without the Scriptures I know not what I think. By the Scriptures I think that Christ was, and is, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, everlasting Father; that He was in the form of God and took upon Himself the form of a servant; that He was with God; that He was God. I think that all things were created by Him; that He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. I think that in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; that in Him are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; that in all things He should have the pre-eminence; that when the Father brought Him into the world, He said, “let all the angels of God worship Him,” and the Father said to the Son, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.” My thinking is based upon the following Scriptures Isaiah 9:6 . . . Philippians 2:5 to 9 . . . John 1:1 to 10 . . . Ephesians 3:9 . . . Colossians 1:15 to 19 . . . Colossians 2:3 to 9 . . . Hebrews 1:1 to 8 . . . . Because Christ had glory with the Father before the world was, He could truly say, “I and Father are one,” “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”

Every one should either bow before Christ, with Thomas, and: say, “My Lord and My God,” and sing with men and angels, “worthy is the Lamb that Was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory and blessing,” or else discredit and reject the only written story of Jesus Christ as a fable or a forgery, and confess that there is no authentic document that can be examined for an intelligent answer to the question. John 17:5 . . . John 10:30 . . . John 14:9 . . . John 20:28 . . . Revelation 5:12.

It certainly would not be the mark of intelligence to hand the New Testament Scriptures over to the religious modern scholars of this age and tell them to separate truth from fiction; for we would find the Christ of their creation more impossible than the Christ they reject. You have only to read “The Man Nobody Knows” to be convinced of this fact.

The Christ of orthodox Christianity is truly the Christ of the Scriptures, the only true Christ, the only Christ who could communicate saving grace to the sinner. He had power to lay down His life and take it up again. Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to answer the first question aright. Only the Christ of the Bible could bring sinners to God by His shed blood. And it is by His precious blood that believing sinners are saved. Ephesians 2:13; I Peter 1:18 to 21.

Despising the grace of God, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:28 to 33.

Now for the second question:

“WHAT SHALL I DO THEN WITH JESUS WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST?” MATTHEW 7:22.

“Christ died for our sins.” He was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification.” “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Before His death, the Saviour said, “the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” The Son of man came to give His life a ransom for many. “Neither is there salvation in any other.” . . . I Corinthians 15:3 . . . Romans 4:24 . . . Isaiah 53:6 . . . John 10:11 . . . Mark 10:45 . . . Acts 4:12.

“God commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” Romans 5:8.

Are you not moved to action because of this sacrifice of love?

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

Surely this should move you to act quickly. You should act, for two reasons; first, because of God’s great love. He has done something with Christ, for your sake and mine. Christ suffered an awful penalty, obediently and willingly, for us. That love is enough to constrain us to action. But secondly, we should act immediately, because of the awful penalty, the terrific judgment awaiting all who refuse to act. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. “He that believeth on the Son is not condemned; but he that believeth not condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18.

I must act favorably, or be lost and condemned forever. I have acted. I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour. Have you? If not, why not? If not up to now, why not now?

During the forty days when the Son of God was showing Himself alive by many infallible proofs, He journeyed with two of His disciples and conversed with them. In the course of the conversation He asked of them a question in these words:

“O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have written. Ought not Christ to have suffered and entered into His glory?” “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” – Luke 24:27.

So He began with Genesis and closed with Malachi to show that He was the heart and center, the theme and subject of the Old Testament writers in prophecy, figure, type and shadow. Adam was a figure of Him which was to come. – Romans 5:14.

The coats of skin with which God covered the first two sinners, provided by sacrifice, was a type of the righteousness of God with which the sinner is clothed because he accepts by faith the great sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son on the cross. – II Corinthians 5:21.

Enoch’s testimony and translation spoke of the coming of Christ with His saints. – Jude 14.

Noah’s ark, pitched within and without, constructed according to God’s pattern, was judgment-proof and the only place of safety and security when His wrath was poured out in judgment upon an ungodly world; and it was, therefore, a type of Jesus Christ, the one and only ark of safety, the only way to escape from the condemnation of God. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1. “In Christ Jesus.” “He that believeth not is condemned already.” – John 3:18.

Certainly Isaac, the well-beloved son of Abraham, was a type of Christ when He was offered on the altar by his father; and in other events in his life Joseph with his coat of many colors, envied, betrayed and sold by His brethren to the Gentiles, was a type of the true Joseph who came unto His own, who rejected Him, delivered Him to Pilate because of envy; sold Him for thirty pieces of silver, spat upon Him and demanded His death. On the throne of Pharaoh the saviour of the world, Joseph who told his brethren that God had used their conspiracy and rejection to His own glory was a type of the One who shall yet sit on His glorious earthly throne and bring the whole world in subjection to God. Genesis 45:8. When the Jews with wicked hands slew Him, it was because He was delivered according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. – Acts 2:23.

Moses said, “A prophet like unto me shall the Lord raise up.” Deuteronomy 18:15. So Moses, the mediator of the Sinai covenant, was a type of Christ.

The passover lamb by which the children of Israel were delivered from death was a type of Christ our passover Who is sacrificed for us. – I Corinthians 5:7.

Aaron the High Priest, the offerer, was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, as were his offerings.

The feast of Jehovah were all typical of the work of redemption and blessing centered in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The tabernacle with its sanctuary was a type of that Holy thing which was conceived by God; the Word made flesh which tabernacled in our midst. The furniture, the color schemes, the materials, spoke of the character and work of the Holy Son of God.

Joshua, the leader and deliverer, is the Hebrew for Jesus. Samuel, prophet, priest and judge, a type of Jesus Christ, Prophet, Priest and King. Boaz, the redeemer kinsman, a type of the true Redeemer Kinsman. Job spoke of a daysman who could be the representative of both God and man. Christ alone, the one mediator between God and men, can do this acceptably. – Job 9:33.

Daniel spoke of the coming Christ as the smiting Stone in the second chapter and as the cut-off Messiah in the ninth chapter. The true King David can be none other than one who was nailed to Calvary’s tree. Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Child, the Son, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Christ alone could answer such a description;” “Immanuel.” – Isaiah 9:6-7:14.

The Fifty-third of Isaiah speaks of the suffering of Christ. Philip, from this Scripture, preached unto the eunuch, Christ. – Acts 8:35.

Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Malachi, and all of the Jewish prophets told of the coming of Christ. Paul reasoned from these Old Testament prophets that Jesus was the Christ. – Acts 18:22; Acts 13:27 to 30.

Beginning with the promise of the “Seed of the woman” in the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis 3:15, and closing with the statement that the “Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly appear in His holy temple,” in the last book of the Old Testament Scriptures, Malachi 3:21, there is the promise of the coming One Who fulfilled these Scriptures in His birth, life, ministry and suffering, death and resurrection. “When they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a sepulchre—But God raised Him from the dead.” – Acts 13:29 and 30.

Christ is mentioned by noun and pronoun about 6990 times in the New Testament Scripture.

We have listed hereunder some of the several hundred titles of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Man of the Book:

Genesis:
“The Seed of the Woman” 3:15
“Abraham’s Seed” 22:18
“Isaac’s Seed” 26:4
“Melchisedec” 14:18
“Shiloh” 49:10

Deuteronomy
“A Prophet like unto Moses” 18:15

Psalms
“His Anointed” 2:2
“The King of Glory” 24:10

Song of Solomon
“The Lily of the Valleys” 2:1
“The Rose of Sharon” 2:1
“Chiefest Among Ten Thousand” 5:10
“One Altogether Lovely” 5:16

Isaiah:
“Immanuel” 7:14
“Wonderful” 9:6
“Counsellor” 9:6
“Mighty God” 9:6
“Everlasting Father” 9:6
“Prince of Peace” 9:6
“A Root of Jesse” 11:10
“Man of Sorrows” 53:3
“A Root out of dry Ground” 53:2
“A Tender Plant” 53:2

Ezekiel:
“Plant of Renown” 34:29

Jeremiah:
“A Righteous Branch” 23:5
“The Lord our Righteousness” 23:6

Zechariah:
“My Servant the Branch” 3:8
“The Man whose name is the Branch” 6:12

Malachi:
“The Lord Whom Ye Seek” 3:1
“Sun of Righteousness” 4:2

Matthew:
“Jesus Christ the Son of David” 1:1
“The Son of Abraham” 1:1
“Jesus who is called Christ” 1:16
“Jesus Christ” 1:18
“Jesus” 1:21
“Emmanuel, God with us” 1:23
“King of the Jews” 2:2
“Christ” 2:4
“Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” 2:6
“The Young Child” 2:11
“My Son” 2:15
“A Nazarene” 2:23
“The Lord” 3:3
“My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” 3:17
“The Son of God” 4:3
“Master” 8:19
“The Son of Man” 8:20
“The Bridegroom” 9:15
“Thou Son of David” 9:27
“He that should come” 11:3
“A Friend of Publicans and Sinners” 11:10
“One greater than the Temple” 12:6
“The Lord of the Sabbath day” 12:8
“My Servant whom I have chosen” 12:18
“My Beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased” 12:18
“A greater than Jonas” 12:41
“A greater than Solomon” 12:42 .
“This Man” 13:56
“The Christ, the Son of the living God” 16:16
“Good Master” 19:16
“Thy King” 21:5
“This Jesus, the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” 21:11
“The Stone which the builders rejected” 21:42
“The Head of the Corner” 21:42
“The King” 25:34
“The Shepherd” 26:31
“King of Israel” 27:42

Mark:
“One that hath authority” 1:22
“Jesus of Nazareth” 1:24
“The Holy One of God” 1:24
“Son of the Most High God” 5:7
“The Carpenter” 6:3
“Son of Mary” 6:3
“A Prophet” 6:4
“Christ, the son of the Blessed” 14:61

Luke:
“Son of the Highest” 1:32
“The Lord’s Christ” 2:26
“A Great Prophet” 7:16
“The Christ of God” 9:20
“He that cometh in the Name of the Lord” 19:18
“Christ, the chosen of God” 23:35

John:
“The Word” 1:1
“That Light” 1:8
“The True Light” 1:9
“The only begotten of the Father” 1:14
“The Lamb of God” 1:29
“The Messias” 1:41
“Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write” 1:45
“He that cometh from Heaven” 3:31
“Thou art a Prophet” 4:19
“The Christ, the Saviour of the World” 4:42
“The Son” 5:23
“The Bread of Life” 6:35
“The Bread which came down from Heaven” 6:41
“A Good Man” 7:12
“The Light of the World” 8:12
“That I AM” 8:24
“The Door of the Sheep” 10:7
“The Good Shepherd” 10:11
“The Resurrection’’ 11:25
“Master and Lord” 13:13
“The Way” 14:6
“The Truth” 14:6
“The Life” 14:6
“The True Vine” 15:1
“The Man” 19:5

Acts:
“A Man. approved of God” 2:22
“Thine Holy One” 2:27
“Both Lord and Christ” 2:36
“Jesus Christ of Nazareth” 3:6
“The Holy One and the Just.” 3:14
“The Prince of Life” 3:15
“His Christ” 4:26
“A Prince and a Saviour” 5:31
“Thy Holy Child Jesus” 4:30
“The Just One” 7:52
“Son of Man” 7:56
“Unto Israel a Saviour Jesus” 13:23
“Another King Jesus” 17:7

Romans:
“Jesus Christ our Lord, of the Seed of David” 1:3
“Our Lord Jesus Christ” 5:11
“God blessed forever” 9:5
“The End of the Law for Righteousness” 10:4
“A Minister of . the Circumcision” 15:8
“A Root of Jesse” 15:12

I Corinthians:
“Righteousness” 1:30
“Sanctification” 1:30
“Redemption” 1:30
“The Lord of Glory” 2:8
“Foundation” 3:11
“Christ Our Passover” 5:7
“The Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things” 8:6
“That Rock, Christ” 10:4
“Jesus is the Lord” 12:3
“The Last Adam” 15:45
“The Second Man, the Lord from Heaven” 15:47

II Corinthians:
“Thee Lord, the Spirit” 3:17
“Christ, the Image of God” 4:4
“God in Christ” 5:19

Ephesians:
“The Head over all Things” 1:22
“Our Peace” 2:14
“The One of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named” 3:15
“Christ, the Head of the Church” 5:23
“Master in Heaven” 6:9

Philippians:
“The One in the Form of God” 2:6 and 7
“The One in the Form of a Servant, the Likeness of Men” 2:7
“Jesus Christ, my Lord” 3:8
“The Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” 3:20

Colossians:
“His Dear Son or the Son of His Love” 1:13
“The Image of the Invisible God” 1:15
“The First-born of every Creature” 1:15
“The One by whom all. things consist” 1:17
“The First-born from the dead” 1:18
“The One in whom all fulness dwells” 1:19
“The One in whom are hid treasures of wisdom and knowledge” 2:3
“The One in whom dwelleth all fullness of the Godhead bodily” 2:9
“Christ, who is our Life” 3:4

I Timothy
“The King eternal” 1:17
“God manifest in the flesh” 3:16
“Potentate” 6:15
“King of Kings, Lord of Lords” 6:15

II Timothy:
“Our Saviour, Jesus Christ” 1:10
“The effulgence of His Glory” 1:3

Hebrews:
“Express Image of His Person” 1:3
“Captain of our Salvation” 2:10
“Merciful and faithful High Priest” 2:17
“Apostle and High Priest of our Profession” 3:1
“Builder of the House” 3:3
“A Priest after order of Melchisedec” 5:6
“Author of eternal Salvation” 5:9
“Forerunner, Jesus” 6:20
“An High Priest over the House of God” 10:21
“He that shall come” 10:37
“Author and Finisher of our Faith” 12:2
“Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant” 12:24
“The Lord, my Helper” 13:6
“Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever” 13:8

James
“The Lord of Glory” 2:1
“The Husbandman” 5:7

I Peter
“A Lamb without Blemish and Spot” 1:19
“A stone of Stumbling” 2:8
“Rock of Offense” 2:8
“Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls” 2:25
“Chief Shepherd” 5:4

II Peter:
“The Day Star” 1:19
“Lord that bought us” 2:1

I John
“An Advocate” 2:1
“Our Propitiation” 2:2
“The Holy One” 2:20

II John:
“The Son of the Father” 1:3

Jude:
“Only Lord God” 1:4

Revelation:
“Jesus Christ, a faithful Witness” 1:5
“The first Begotten of the Dead” 1:5
“Prince of the Kings of the Earth” 1:5
“Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending” 1:8
“The First and the Last” 1:17
“He which searcheth the reins and hearts” 2:28
“The Morning Star” 2:28
“He that is holy. He that is true” 3:7
“Amen, the faithful and true Witness” 3:14
“Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” 4:8
“Lion of the Tribe of Juda” 5:5
“Root of David” 5:5
“He that liveth forever and ever” 5:14
“The Lamb in the midst of the Throne” 7:17
“Lamb slain from the foundation of the World” 13:8
“King of Saints” 15:3
“Lord of Lords, and King of Kings 17:4
“Faithful and True” 19:11
“The Word of God” 19:13
“The Root and Offspring of David” 22:16

WHAT WE BELIEVE AND WHY WE BELIEVE IT

In this printed message we are setting forth something of what we believe concerning the Bible and concerning the faith once-for-all delivered unto the saints. Our first message after this introduction will be the Bible. We believe in the God of the Bible, the Christ of the Bible and the Holy Spirit of the Bible. Therefore we believe in the eternal Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the ruin of the human race in Adam and that man’s only hope of redemption or recovery, is in Christ. The redeemed sinner is “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good words.” Ephesians 2:10. “If any man be in Christ there is a new creation.” II Corinthians 5:17. We believe that the sinner is saved by the grace of God; by faith in the Lord Jesus; redeemed by the shed blood of Christ, the lamb of God, without spot or blemish.

“To us there is but one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him.” I Corinthians 8:6.

As there is but one God and one Lord Jesus Christ, there is one and only one way to God, and that is called, in Hebrews 10:19 and 20, “the new and living way”, “by the blood of Jesus.”

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10. “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14.

“For in that he died, He died unto sin ONCE; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.” Romans 6:10.

“Christ appeared ONCE in the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:26.

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in ONCE into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12.

“Christ also hath ONCE suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,” I Peter 3:18.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now at the right hand of God, as the glorified Man, seated in the heavenlies, far above all heavens. Ephesians 1:19 to 22 and Ephesians 4:10.

There He is the Head of the Church which is His Body. Members of this Body of Christ are identified with Him in death, burial and resurrection; are seated with Him in the heavenlies and there blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him. Ephesians 1:3 and 4 and Ephesians 2:6. These members are the children of God by faith in the glorified Christ. they constitute the “Household of God,” and are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:17 to 22. Only regenerated sinners. partakers of the Divine nature, God’s new creation, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

We believe that God has the walk of the believer, in accordance with Ephesians 2:10, and they that walk should be in the Spirit, fulfilling the righteousness of the law: circumspectly, in love worthy of the vocation wherewith he is called. Ephesians 4:1.

THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT

“Endeavoring to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ONE body—and ONE Spirit—even as ye are called in ONE Hope of your calling—ONE Lord—ONE Faith— ONE Baptism—ONE God and Father.” Ephesians 4:3 to 6.

Here we are told, specifically and clearly, that, in this Divine age, there is ONE and only ONE Church, which is a Divine organism. We believe that obedience to Ephesians 4:3 is altogether impossible unless we acknowledge and act upon the Truth of God as to the ONE Church; and that no group of men have the Scriptural right to claim to be the Bible Church and demand obedience to a denominational church creed which differs from the sevenfold unity of Ephesians 4:3 to 6.

Inasmuch as there is more than one Church, one gospel and one hope in the Bible, but only ONE Church, ONE gospel and ONE hope in this particular Dispensation, we insist that all intelligent Bible study must be Dispensational Bible study. And that every true servant of Christ is under obligation, “to make all men see what is the fellowship (dispensation) of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God. Ephesians 3:9

After several chapters of some fundamental Bible doctrines, we shall present a Dispensational Study of the Bible.

CONCERNING THE BIBLE

The learned Prince of Granada, heir to the Spanish throne, imprisoned by order of the crown, for fear he should aspire to the throne, was kept in solitary confinement in the old prison at the place of Skulls, Madrid. After thirty-three years in this living tomb death came to his release, and the following remarkable researches taken from the Bible, and marked with an old nail on the rough walls of his cell, told how the brain sought employment through the weary years.

In the Bible the word Lord is found 1853 times. The word Jehovah, 6855 times, and the word reverend but once, and that is in the 9th verse of the 111 psalm. Psalm 117:8 is the middle verse of the Bible. Esther 8:9 is the longest verse, and St. John 11:35 the shortest verse in the Bible. In the 107th Psalm four verses are alike, the 8, 15, 21 and 31. Each verse of the 136 Psalm ends alike. No name or word with more than six syllables are found in the Bible. The 37th chapter of Isaiah and the 19th chapter of II Kings are alike. The word girl occurs only twice in the Bible, in Zechariah 8:5 and Joel 3:3. There are found in both books of the Bible, 3,586,483 letters, 773,693 words 31,373 verses, 1189 chapters and 66 books. The 26th chapter of Acts is the finest chapter to read, the most beautiful chapter the 23rd Psalm. The four most inspiring promises are John 14:2, John 6:37, St. Matthew 11:28 and Psalm 37:4. Isaiah 60:1 is the one for the new convert. All who flatter themselves with vain boasting of their perfection should learn Matthew 6.

The Bible is God’s Word. The Bible not only contains the Word of God, but it is the very Word of God.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17.

“By Inspiration”—The Greek word is “Theopneustos”, and is never used to describe any other writings or writers.

“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 Ghost.” II Peter 1:19 to 21.

“Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89. “The Word of the Lord endureth forever.” I Peter 1:25.

The Psalmist who said: “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven,” likewise said in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

It is a blessed thing to know both facts. Though settled in heaven, it will not profit the individual unless hidden and settled in the heart.

In this 119th Psalm read the following verses concerning God’s holy infallible Words: 9, 11, 16, 17, 25, 28, 38, 41, 42, 43, 49, 50, 57, 58, 65, 67, 74, 76, 81, 82, 89, 101, 103, 105, 107, 114, 116, 123, 130, 133, 139, 140, 147, 148, 154, 158, 160, 161, 162, 169, 170, 172. Also read verses concerning precepts, commandments, etc.

Men may have changed in their attitude toward the word of God; but His Word never changeth. As the Psalmist said: “Thy Word is very pure; therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalm 119:140

“Thy Word is true from the beginning; and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.”—Psalm 119:160.

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste; yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”—Psalm 119:103

Commit to memory these words found in Jeremiah 15:16;

“Thy words were found, and I was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”

Think of the poisonous food which is going into the souls of men by way of the literature of the worldly and ungodly agents of Satan.

“I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary”—Job 23:12.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”—119:105.

The world is a dark place because sin. It is a blessed thing to have a lamp and a light in such a dark place. “Is not my Word like as a fire? the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29.

“He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”—Psalm 107:20.

“But he said, Yea rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it.”—Luke 11:28.

“The seed is the Word of God.”—Luke 8:11.

The sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.”—Ephesians 6:17.

“For the Word of God is quick (life-giving) and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”—Hebrews 4:12.

The expression, “The Word of the Lord,” is used forty-nine times in the prophecy of Ezekiel alone—many, many times in the Bible.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”— Isaiah 55:11.

God’s instruction to His servant is: “Preach the Word.”—II Timothy 4:2.

Also read Acts 4:4, Acts 4:29, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:2, Acts 6:4, Acts 6:7.

“Went everywhere preaching the Word.”—Acts 8:4.

Acts 8:14, Acts 8:25, Acts 10:44, Acts 11:11, Acts 11:19, Acts 12:24.

“They preached the Word of God.”—Acts 13:5. Acts 13:7, Acts 13:26, Acts 13:44, Acts 13:46. “And glorified the Word of the Lord.’’—Acts 13:48, Acts 13:49, Acts 14:3, Acts 14:25, Acts 15:7, Acts 15:35 and 36, Acts 16:32.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”—Acts 17:11, Acts 17:13, Acts 18:11, Acts 19:10.

“So mightily grew the Word of God.”—Acts 19:20.

“I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all of them which are sanctified.”— Acts 20:32.

So the Christian is built up by the Word of God, after he becomes a Christian by hearing the Word of God and being born again by that incorruptible seed. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”—Romans 10:17.

“Chosen to salvation through belief in the truth.”—II Thessalonica 2:13.

“Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth.”—James 1:18.

“Receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.”—James 1:21.

“Being born again by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever.”—I Peter 1:23.

“As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.”—I Peter 2:2.

“Now ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you.”—John 15:3; also Psalm 119:9.

“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy Word is truth.”—John 17:17.

As the Word of God is the seed which falls into good and honest hearts which gives life and as faith cometh through hearing this Word, it is the only seed which has in it the germ of eternal life.

The sinner becomes a saint by hearing the Word of God.

The saint grows by that same Word, is built up, sanctified, cleansed and equipped for service by it. It is part of his armour to stand against the wiles of the devil. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Our offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit wielded in the power of the Spirit. Christ used this weapon against Satan in the temptation—“It is written.”—Luke 4:4, Luke 4:8, Luke 4:10.

But Jesus said, “yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”— Luke 11:29.

“These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.”—John 20:31.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon sand: And the rain descended, and floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”—Matthew 7:24 to 27.

The Bible is the revelation of the one true God.

LUKE 24:44 TO 48:

“AND HE (CHRIST) SAID UNTO THEM, THESE ARE THE WORDS WHICH I SPAKE UNTO YOU, WHILE I WAS YET WITH YOU, THAT ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED, WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES, AND IN THE PROPHETS, AND IN THE PSALMS CONCERNING ME.

THEN OPENED HE THEIR UNDERSTANDING, THAT THEY MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES AND SAID UNTO THEM. THUS IT IS WRITTEN, AND THUS IT BEHOOVED 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. AND YE ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS.”