We see a number of dissimilar wordings within God’s Word. Some have seen them as contradictions in the Bible. We prefer the term “contrasts.”
The main reason for these differences is that God is setting forth two separate programs (intimated even in Genesis 1:1). The first deals with the earth and Israel. The other concerns the heavens and Christ’s Body Church. It was given to the Apostle Paul to lay out these differences. He is God’s “apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13).
PROPHECY: God’s program set forth in the Gospels and early Acts concerned a kingdom prepared “from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). That plan was something “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21).
MYSTERY: But God’s program set forth by the Apostle Paul was a “mystery, which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25). This plan was a “mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Eph. 3:9). It presents a people chosen “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).
CHRIST CAME FOR ISRAEL: Before Jesus’ conception, Mary was told He would be given “the throne of His father David” and that “He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever” (Luke 1:32,33). During His earthly ministry Christ declared, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24). From Pentecost, Peter repeatedly reaffirmed this by preaching only to “Ye men of Israel,” to “all the house [people] of Israel” (Acts 2:22,36; 3:12; 4:10). Peter further declared that God exalted Christ “for to give repentance to Israel” (Acts 5:31). And Paul says, “that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision [Jews]” (Rom. 15:8).
CHRIST CAME FOR ALL: The Apostle Paul tells us, “there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him” (Rom. 10:12). “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing [charging] their trespasses [sins] unto them” (2 Cor. 5:19). Paul further declares that in Christ Jesus “there is neither Jew nor Greek” (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).
PETER’S AUTHORITY: While on earth, Christ gave to Peter “the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” Peter’s power included “whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19). In early Acts, Peter exercised this authority. Peter led in replacing Judas, explaining Pentecost, stating salvation, condemning deceivers, and receiving Gentiles (Acts 1:15ff; 2:14ff,37,38; 5:3ff; 15:7-11).
PAUL’S AUTHORITY: From heaven, the Lord later “appeared unto” Paul (Acts 26:15-19). Paul received his message “by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:11,12; Eph. 3:1-3). Paul often stressed his special authority. He magnified his office as “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13). Paul wrote that he “should not be ashamed” to “boast somewhat more of our authority” (2 Cor. 10:8). Believers are repeatedly commanded to follow Paul as he followed Christ (1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 4:9; et al.). Then we read that Paul “withstood” and “blamed” Peter (Gal. 2:11ff). Peter (Cephas) saw that Paul had authority “unto the heathen” and “wisdom…hard to be understood” (Gal. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:15-16).
JEWISH CHURCH: Israel under Moses was called “the church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:37,38). To “all ye the seed of Israel” the Lord says, “in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee” (Psa. 22:22,23). Hebrews quotes that Psalm “saying…in the midst of the church [congregation=church]” (Heb. 2:12). Christ and His apostles were not sent but unto “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:5,6; 15:24). His Jewish disciples are called a “church” in contrast to “an heathen” or Gentile (Matt. 18:17). At Pentecost, Peter spoke only to “the house of Israel” and “the Lord added to the church” which already existed (Acts 2:36,47). Peter said that “all the prophets…foretold of these days” (Acts 3:24).
BODY CHURCH: The Apostle Paul alone wrote of “the church, which is His [Christ’s] body” (Eph. 1:22,23). In God’s present church “there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek,” “there is neither Jew nor Greek…for ye are all one in Christ” (Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:28). This Body Church was “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations” (Col. 1:26 cf. Eph. 3:4-5).
CONDITIONAL BLESSINGS if you obey were formerly promised to God’s people. God has Moses “tell the children of Israel…if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people” (Ex. 19:3,5). Later Israel was told “if thou shalt…do all His commandments… all these blessings shall come on thee…if thou shalt hearken unto…the LORD thy God” (Deut. 28:1,2,13). “But…if thou wilt not hearken…to do all His commandments…that all these curses shall come upon thee” (Deut. 28:15). In the Sermon on the Mount, blessing also depends upon what people do (Matt. 5:1-9; 6:14,15).
UNCONDITIONAL BLESSINGS belong to all true Christians today. The Apostle Paul declares that “God…hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Even unspiritual believers are told “all things are yours” (1 Cor. 3:1,21,22). Now believers “are the children of God: And… heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16,17). “And ye are complete in Him” (Col. 2:10).
“A RANSOM FOR MANY”: This is what Jesus Christ said about the purpose of His coming and shedding His blood (Matt. 20:28; 26:28; Mark 10:45). That was what was prophesied in the Old Testament, that He would “bare the sin of many” (Isa. 53:12). Then the Book of Hebrews (to the Jewish people) says that Christ died “to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:28). While on earth Christ was “not sent but unto…Israel” (Matt. 15:24).
“A RANSOM FOR ALL”: The Apostle Paul tells us that “Christ Jesus…gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). This was only “testified in due time” through the ministry of Paul, “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13). Today God’s grace is extended directly “to all men” (Titus 2:11).
A GOSPEL WITHOUT CHRIST’S DEATH was preached during Christ’s earthly ministry. Jesus Christ and the Twelve “went throughout every city and village” of Israel “preaching the gospel” of the kingdom of God (Luke 8:1; 9:2,6). After over two more years of gospel preaching, Christ told those same Twelve that He would soon be delivered to those who would torture “and put Him to death: and the third day He shall rise again.” Yet “they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken” (Luke 9:43-45; 18:31-34).
THE GOSPEL IS CHRIST’S DEATH plus His burial and resurrection according to the Apostle Paul. He declares “the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved.” The gospel Paul received and delivered is “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
SAVED WITH WORKS: When asked what one must do to escape God’s coming wrath, John the Baptist told people to share, be honest, kind, and content with one’s wages (Luke 3:6-14). When asked what one must “do to inherit eternal life,” Christ on earth told the young ruler that he must keep the commandments and “sell all…and distribute unto the poor” (Luke 18:18-24).
SAVED BY FAITH ALONE: What did the Apostle Paul reply when asked by the jailer at Philippi, “what must I do to be saved?” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:30,31). In salvation, grace and works don’t mix (Rom. 11:6). Salvation is by grace through faith, “the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9).
WATER BAPTISM for salvation was practiced in the Gospels and early Acts. John the Baptist came “preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Luke 3:3). The resurrected Lord Jesus reaffirmed the necessity of water baptism to salvation when He commissioned the apostles saying, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Spirit-filled Peter at Pentecost repeated the same requirement to “all the house of Israel.” “Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:36,38).
SPIRIT BAPTISM alone puts the believer in Christ for salvation today. Does not God’s Word through Paul’s pen clearly say that “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body”—the Body or Church of Christ? (1 Cor. 12:13). And in a passage where everything is spiritual are we not told that there remains only “one baptism” for today? (Eph. 4:3-6). That one is clearly Spirit baptism.
FORGIVE FIRST was the requirement for forgiveness in the Gospels. After the Lord’s Prayer, Christ explained, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not…neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:12-15). When Peter asked how often to forgive, the Lord told of someone who did not, and incurred wrath and torment. Christ said this would likewise happen to all who did not forgive from the heart (Matt. 18:21-35). God’s people were to forgive others in order to be forgiven by God.
FORGIVE AFTER being forgiven is the rule given by the Apostle Paul. Believers are commanded to be “forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32). God already has “forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:13). Therefore, Christians are to be “forgiving one another…even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Col. 3:13). Believers today are to forgive others just as God has already forgiven them.
MANY BAPTISMS were practiced through most of the Bible. The Old Testament religious system required “divers washings [various baptisms, in the original Greek language]” (Heb. 9:1,10). The Jewish religion of Christ’s time held to the “washing [Gr., baptismos]” of many things (Mark 7:4,8). When John the Baptist came to “baptize…with water,” he also spoke of the Holy Ghost and fire baptisms (Matt. 3:11). Both Jesus and Peter at Pentecost taught water baptism as necessary to “be saved”—“for the remission of sins” (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). Later Peter water baptized Cornelius obviously after his salvation (Acts 10:43-48). Death and risking martyrdom are also called baptisms (Luke 12:50; 1 Cor. 15:29). Christendom today practices many different baptisms.
“ONE BAPTISM” alone is now God’s rule (Eph. 4:5). That one baptism is a spiritual one “for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). The Apostle Paul also calls this baptism “the operation of God” (Col. 2:12). This one baptism happens the moment a person trusts Christ after hearing the gospel of salvation (Eph. 1:12,13).
BLESSING THROUGH ISRAEL’S RISE is promised the Gentiles in the Old Testament through early Acts. Isaiah prophesied that Israel will be given supremacy over the nations (Isa. 60:10-12; 61:6). From that position of priority Israel shall be a blessing to “all the nations of the earth” (Gen. 22:17,18; Zech. 8:13; Acts 3:25,26). The prophet further states that “the Lord shall arise upon thee [Israel].” Then “the Gentiles shall come to thy [Israel’s] light, and…rising” (Isa. 60:1-3). Jerusalem and the Jews will be the route whereby the nations come to God (Zech. 8:22,23). The Gospels confirm these prophecies (Mark 7:27; 11:17; etc.).
BLESSING THROUGH ISRAEL’S FALL, apart from Israel, is presently God’s program. Now “there is no difference between” Jew and Gentile before God (Rom. 10:12). The Jews rejected the Word of God Paul preached so “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles” (Acts 13:45-47; 18:6; 28:25-28). It is through Israel’s “unbelief,” “blindness,” “casting away”; “through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:11-15,25,30).
ANSWERED PRAYER was guaranteed by Jesus Christ in the Gospels. To His disciples He promised “every one that asketh receiveth” (Matt. 7:8). “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matt. 21:22). “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do….If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13,14).
UNANSWERED PRAYER is seen in the Apostle Paul’s life. Concerning his “thorn in the flesh” Paul wrote, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee…” (1 Cor. 12:8,9). God’s Word further tells us that “we know not what we should pray for as we ought” (Rom. 8:26). And that God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Would you rather have whatsoever you ask, or exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or even think?
GOD’S SPIRIT COULD LEAVE believers in other ages. “The Spirit of God came upon” men for specific tasks. So it was with careless Samson and King Saul (Judges 14:6,19; 1 Sam. 11:6). God’s Spirit also came upon godly men such as Moses and King David for their appointed work (Num. 11:17,29; 1 Sam. 16:13). The Spirit came upon Jesus Christ when He began His earthly ministry (Mark 1:10). But “the Spirit of the LORD departed from” such as Samson and Saul (Judges 16:20; 1 Sam. 16:14). Even David begged God, “take not Thy Holy Spirit from me” (Psa. 51:11).
GOD’S SPIRIT STAYS in believers today from salvation onward. When someone trusts Christ as Savior, he is “sealed with that Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13). Everyone who is truly saved possesses the Holy Spirit, for God’s Word declares, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Rom. 8:9). By “the Holy Spirit of God…ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).
ALL HEALED: While on earth Jesus Christ healed all who came to Him and sent His disciples to do likewise (Matt. 10:8; 15:30,31). After His resurrection, He said His followers were to “lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18). After Pentecost all the sick who came to the apostles “were healed every one” even by Peter’s shadow (Acts 5:15,16). Later “God wrought special miracles” through the Apostle Paul, even healing at a distance by handkerchiefs (Acts 19:11,12).
MANY UNHEALED: But later Paul himself remains unhealed though he prayed to be healed (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Paul tells Timothy to take a little wine as medicine for his stomach because he’s often ill (1 Tim. 5:23). Another co-worker is left behind sick by Paul (2 Tim. 4:20). Paul clearly states that the whole creation now has continuing pain, including even believers who “have the firstfruits of the Spirit”—all together who wait for the future redemption of the physical body (Rom. 8:22,23).
TONGUES A SIGN: Isaiah prophesied that God would speak to His people Israel with “another tongue” (Isa. 28:11,12). At Pentecost, “Jews…out of every nation under heaven” heard the disciples “speak with other tongues” (Acts 2:4-6). “Jews and proselytes…” heard “them speak in our tongues,” that is, native languages (Acts 2:8-11). The Apostle Paul wrote that “the Jews require a sign” (1 Cor. 1:22). He urged mature understanding and then quoted what Isaiah wrote. He concluded that speaking with other “tongues are for a sign” to unbelieving Jewish people (1 Cor. 14:20-22).
TONGUES TO STOP: Paul regarded tongues as the least of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:28-31; 14:19). Tongues were prominent in the most unspiritual New Testament church (1 Cor. 3:1-4). Thus, it is not surprising to read Paul’s statement: “whether there be tongues, they shall cease” (1 Cor. 13:8). Instead, for the present time “now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three” (1 Cor. 13:13). God has presently cast away Israel, the sign people, in blindness (Rom. 11:15,25). Thus, the very purpose for tongues has ceased.
UNDER MOSES’ LAW: The Lord gave “the law which Moses set before the children of Israel” to “keep and do” (Deut. 4:44; 5:1-3). If the “house of Jacob” obeyed, they would “be a peculiar treasure… above all people” (Ex. 19:3-5). God promised Israel “life and death, blessing and cursing” in accord with their obedience to the law’s commands (Deut. 30:10-20). Christ on earth was “made under the law” (Gal. 4:4). He did not “come to destroy the law…but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). Under the “new covenant with…Israel,” God will put His “law in their…hearts,” and they will “do them” (Jer. 31:31-33; Ezek. 36:26,27).
NOT UNDER THE LAW: Gentiles never were under the law of Moses and were exempted when the issue arose (Acts 15:5,19-24; 21:24,25). The Apostle Paul declares that God’s people today “are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14,15). “My brethren, ye also are become dead to the law” (Rom. 7:4). That old covenant has been “done away,” “abolished” (2 Cor. 3:6-14). “Christ is the end of the law…to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4).
TITHING ORDERED: Abraham and Jacob gave to God “tithes” or “a tenth part of all” (Gen. 14:20; 28:22; Heb. 7:2). “The Lord commanded Moses for…Israel” that the tenth shall be “holy unto the LORD” (Lev. 27:30-34). The priests had “a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law” (Heb. 7:5 cf. Num. 18:21). A second and third tithe was paid for festivals and the poor (Deut. 14:22-29). The “sons of Jacob” robbed God when they withheld “tithes and offerings” and were cursed or blessed according to their tithing (Mal. 3:6-10).
TITHING OMITTED: About giving, the Apostle Paul speaks “not by commandment” (2 Cor. 8:8), for “the law of commandments” is today “abolished” (Eph. 2:15). The believer now is to give “as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2). “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” The amount is up to the giver, but God promises to bless accordingly as one gives (2 Cor. 9:6-8).
COMING TO EARTH: Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people looked for the Lord to come and “stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25; Zech. 14:4). In the Gospels and early Acts this same hope was in view—that Jesus Christ would come back to earth and set all in order (Matt. 24; 25; Luke 18:8; Acts 1:11; 3:20). And the hope after the future horrors of the Book of Revelation is the Lord’s return to smite and rule the nations of the earth (Rev. 19:11-16).
COMING IN THE AIR: But the Apostle Paul’s letters present the Body of Christ with a heavenly hope. All believers during this present age “shall be caught up [raptured] together…to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:17). Moreover believers today are told they have a heavenly citizenship (Phil. 3:20; Eph. 2:6). They are blessed “with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).