In this teaching, we discover that rightly understanding the Bible requires rightly dividing it, as commanded in 2 Timothy 2:15, recognizing God’s distinct programs for Israel and for the Body of Christ. Many biblical commands—such as Sabbath-keeping, tithing, and water baptism—were given to Israel and are not directed to the Church today, whose instructions come through Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. All Scripture is for our learning, but Paul’s epistles contain Christ’s explicit instructions for this dispensation, providing our doctrine, walk, and hope.

In this episode, we learn that believers in this dispensation of grace have a heavenly inheritance, distinct from Israel’s promised earthly kingdom. Israel’s hope—rooted in prophecy—is to inherit the earth, dwell in the Millennial Kingdom, and reign with Christ from Jerusalem, while the Body of Christ—revealed through the Apostle Paul’s mystery program—has a hope laid up in heaven. Paul teaches that our citizenship, blessings, and eternal dwelling are in the heavenlies, where we will be with Christ, which is “far better” than remaining on earth. Because we are Christ’s ambassadors, this world is not our home.

The Apostle Paul explains, in this lesson, that the question “What must I do to be saved?” has had different answers throughout Scripture because God’s requirements have changed across dispensations. In past ages under the law, salvation involved faith plus works, including sacrifices, circumcision, and water baptism. But after Israel’s fall, God revealed through Paul the gospel of grace, in which salvation today is by grace through faith alone, completely apart from works. The only response God requires now is to believe the gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

In the first of this two-part study of contrasts, we see that prophecy reveals God’s earthly program for Israel—centered on a coming earthly kingdom—where Christ reigns and Israel holds a place of supremacy. The mystery, initially revealed only to the Apostle Paul, describes God’s heavenly program for the Body of Christ, a spiritual organism of believers with Christ as its Head, and Jew and Gentile equal in one body. Under prophecy, Gentiles are blessed through Israel’s rise, but under the mystery they are blessed through Israel’s fall, as God turns directly to individuals in grace.

In this continued teaching, we learn that prophecy describes God’s earthly plan for Israel, which revolves around material blessing and a works‑based expression of faith. The mystery reveals God’s heavenly plan for the Body of Christ, which is blessed with all spiritual blessings and saved by grace through faith alone. Prophecy was foretold through many prophets and entrusted to the Twelve, while the mystery was unveiled only to the Apostle Paul. Unlike the prophets, who often didn’t fully comprehend their own messages, Paul fully understood the mystery and desired that all believers grasp it as well.

This teaching shows that the “Great Commission” passages form one unified commission given specifically to Israel, rooted in God’s prophetic, kingdom‑focused program. Jesus sent the eleven to begin at Jerusalem—teaching everything He commanded under the law, requiring water baptism for salvation, and also performing miraculous signs. This commission operated under Israel’s covenant program, not the present‑day dispensation of grace. Confusion arises when believers today follow this kingdom commission instead of the Apostle Paul’s grace commission for the Church, the Body of Christ.

In this message, the Apostle Paul explains that the Body of Christ has a distinct commission in this present dispensation—one centered on proclaiming the gospel of the grace of God and making known the revelation of the mystery. Unlike Israel’s Great Commission, which involved law‑keeping, water baptism, signs, and an earthly kingdom hope, the Church today is sent as ambassadors for Christ, offering reconciliation through faith alone in His finished work. Our twofold mission is to share the gospel of grace with the lost and to help believers understand God’s present‑day program revealed through Paul.