We are exhorted in Scripture to let God be true
and every man a liar (Romans 3:4); and that it is better to put our trust
in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118;8). When we receive
God's word with readiness of mind and search it out in scripture for ourselves (Acts
17:11), it is then that we can be persuaded in our own minds (Romans 14:5) and
by an act of our will chose what we will believe. It is only upon believing
the word of God that He is able to then "worketh effectually" in us (1
Thessalonians 2:13), building up our inner man (1 Corinthians 3:9). In time, as we are built
up and become stronger in the Lord we make have the power to make decisions
with the desire in mind to please our heavenly Father, no matter what the cost.
What matters in life is that He gets all the glory and honor due Him, now
and in the ages to come.
It was just such a desire that caused a dear
sister-in-Christ to boldly, but humbly, leave an activity she had been engaged
in for years--one that she came to realize did not honor God. Below is a
letter she graciously wrote upon departing from a large, organized bible
study. Maybe you've heard of it: Kay Arthur's Precepts.
This action was not received well, and she
suffered rejection. Even so, by it she showed the principalities and
powers in heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10), and
she will be rewarded for making known the fellowship of the mystery (Ephesians
3:9) in true servant fashion.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to
that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
________________________________________________________
Hello everyone,
I decided for two
reasons that I should write an explanation as to why I have made the difficult,
and very surprising, decision to leave Precepts. This is a decision that makes me very sad,
because I hate to no longer be a part of such a wonderful group of women whom I
am proud to call my friends and sisters in Christ. So you know there has to be something very
serious going on to cause me to do this.
The first reason that
I am writing this is because I have been a part of the class for so many years
and the Leader’s assistant for quite some time and there are bound to be
questions.
The other reason is
that I have learned valuable truths about the Bible that are just too important
to keep to myself, despite the fact that it may mean personal rejection and
even ridicule. But worse yet, I would be
ashamed at the judgment seat of Christ if I did not do my best to try to
explain what I now know about the key to studying the Bible and interpreting it
correctly.
That key has been
‘hiding’ in plain sight (or removed from your Bible if you are using something
other than the Authorized KJV). There
are two distinct and different programs in scripture and, therefore, we must
divide the Word correctly in order to understand what is written about and for
each program.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
God has also shown us how
to divide these two programs into three parts, with the Dispensation of Grace
filling a parenthetical gap in time that divides God’s program for Israel into
two separate time periods:
Ephesians 2:11-13, 7
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 covenants 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.
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in
his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Unfortunately, the
majority of believers in the Body of Christ have not been taught to clearly
distinguish between what was written to, for and about Israel and their
Prophetic, Kingdom Program (Time Past and Ages to Come) and the Body of
Christ’s Mystery, Heavenly Program (But Now).
We have not been taught that we are to follow Paul as he followed
Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:15-17
For though ye have ten
thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in
Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech
you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus,
who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into
remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in
every church.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Philippians 3:17
Brethren, be followers
together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample [from within the Body of Christ].
2 Timothy 2:2
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.
Have you ever wondered
why God even called out another apostle in the first place? Or why James, Peter and the others agreed at
the Jerusalem council (Gal. 2:9) that Paul
should go to the Gentiles and that they would stay in Jerusalem in direct violation of their ‘great
commission’?
Mark 16:15-16
And he said unto them, Go ye
into all the world, and preach the gospel [of the
Kingdom – that Jesus is the Christ; believe on his name; repent and be baptized
for the remission of sins] to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.
Not only did God begin
a new program with a new gospel and a new apostle, but the original 12 apostles
understood that. They understood that
there would be no national salvation for Israel at that time and that they
would not be able to be the light to the gentiles until there was.
Isaiah 49:6
And he said, It is a light
thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to
restore the preserved of Israel:
I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my
salvation unto the end of the earth . [This will be
fulfilled during the Millennial
Kingdom.]
They understood that Paul
and the Gospel of the Grace of God which was given to him by the risen and
ascended Lord would be that light.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go
thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Interesting. So what happened to Peter and the eleven? Could it be that the offer of the Kingdom was
withdrawn when Israel
had committed the ‘unpardonable sin’ so the 12 Apostles’ commission was moot?
Acts 13:46-47
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. For so hath the Lord
commanded us, saying, I have set thee [Paul]
to
be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto
the ends of the earth.
1 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.
Ephesians 3:2
If ye have heard of the dispensation
of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Colossians 1:25-26
Whereof I am made a minister,
according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to
fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages
and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
So the major theme of
the Bible is about how God is working out this two-fold plan and purpose (all
centered around Christ, of course) to regain the earth and the heavens from
Satan who is at this time the god of this world.
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this
world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of
the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
God is going to take
back the earth through the nation of Israel that will rule and reign
with Christ in the Kingdom; and He will take back the heavens through the Body
of Christ which will rule and reign in the heavenlies.
Romans 11:33
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!
1 Corinthians 2:7
But we speak the wisdom of
God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before
the world unto our glory:
As I said before,
God’s first plan is for the nation of Israel including the covenant that He
made with Abraham and his seed. This
plan and purpose is centered on the earth and has been revealed by all his holy prophets since the world began.
Luke 1:70
As he spake by the mouth of
his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
Acts 3:21
Whom the heaven must receive
until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
And the second plan is
for God’s “new creature”, the ‘one new man,” the church the “body of Christ”
which is being formed now in this present Dispensation of Grace and which had been
kept secret since the world began. (2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:15; Rom. 12:5, 1
Cor. 12:27, Eph. 4:12)
Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to
stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret
since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the
scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Our Apostle Paul was uniquely
given mercy by God after blaspheming the Holy Spirit by rejected His word
through Stephen (Acts 7). God’s nature
has not changed, but his ministry to man has changed. God’s present, unique and
previously-unknown ministry to man through Christ was first revealed in its
fullness to our Apostle Paul who was to be a pattern for everyone after him.
1 Timothy 1:15-16
This is a faithful saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners; of whom I am chief [the head of the line]. 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.
This is at the heart
of the failure to recognize what is distinctly for and about Israel vs. what is distinctly for
and about the Body of Christ. Paul was
the first member of the Body of Christ saved by grace through faith alone apart
from the Law.
This statement may
shock you, but hang in there with me.
Our doctrine and instructions for the Body of Christ in this
dispensation are found only in the epistles of Paul (Romans through
Philemon). However it is also true that,
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:
All scripture is for
our learning and understanding and should be studied thoroughly. But the rest of Scripture beginning with the
Abrahamic Covenant is written directly to, about and for the nation of Israel which
was prophesied to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Exodus 19:6
And ye shall be unto me a
kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou
shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
1 Peter 2:9
But ye [the Little Flock, the believing remnant of Israel] are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that
ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness
into his marvellous light;
The ministries of John
the Baptist, Christ and his disciples/apostles, including Peter’s ministry in
the early chapters of Acts, are to and for Israel, primarily the Little Flock
of believers (Luke 12:32) that was being prepared to enter the earthly Kingdom
that was at hand (Matt. 3:2; 4:17;
10:7; Mark 1:15; Luke 21:31). They also contain the instructions for enduring
through the Time of Jacob’s trouble to the end.
Hebrews through
Revelation are written with the same purpose and will be direct instructions to
the Little Flock that will come to faith after the Dispensation of Grace has
ended. Yes, that is diametrically
opposed to everything that we have been taught, but the majority is usually
wrong so the number who believe this is not the issue.
I realize you have
probably never heard any of this before and you’re asking yourself how it could
possibly be true. But I am confident
that if you keep these things in mind as you study the Word, you will begin to
see for yourself that there really is a difference between Paul’s epistles and
the rest of Scripture that simply can’t be ignored. The so-called contradictions disappear when
we understand that the other books of the Bible are not written directly to and
about the Body of Christ. Here is a
perfect example:
James 2:26
For as the body without the
spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Our faith does not
depend upon works in any way, so it is possible to believe and be saved without
having any following works to show for it.
Hopefully that will not be the case for many, but it is possible.
1 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?
1 Corinthians 3:15
If any man's work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as
by fire.
And have you ever wondered
why, if the church the Body of Christ began on Pentecost, Peter instructed ye men of Israel (Acts 2:22) to repent
and baptized for salvation (just as John the Baptist and Christ in his earthly
ministry did)?...
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
…when we know
perfectly well that we need only to believe the Gospel of the Grace of God
(Acts 20:24) and we will be immediately sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise
until the day of redemption.
1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4
Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which
also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;…For I delivered unto you first
of all that which I also received, how 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:
Ephesians 2:8-9
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.
Ephesians 1:13-14
In whom ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in
whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy
Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Why do so few know about
and accept Mid-Acts, Pauline, Dispensational Right Division?
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Our enemy hates the
Revelation of the Mystery (and the Body of Christ – a term used only by Paul by
the way) and he will do anything to keep it a secret because he knows that by
believing and understanding the body of doctrine given to us by Paul we are
being prepared to rule and reign in place of him and his fallen angels.
Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 3:10
To the intent that now unto
the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church
the manifold wisdom of God,
1 Corinthians 6:3
Know ye not that we shall
judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Believe it or not,
this is just scratching the surface. I
can’t encourage you enough to check these things out for yourself to see if
they are true.
Acts 17:11
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.
Please don’t be
discouraged by the fact that so many reject Paul and his doctrine and twist his
words (2 Pet. 3:16). After all, this
began while he was still alive.
2 Timothy 1:15
This thou knowest, that all
they which are in Asia be turned away from
me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
Satan distracted Pauline
Grace believers with legalism then and there
is no new thing under the sun. He
has twisted and changed God’s Word from the very beginning and uses even our
most beloved, trusted, sincere and devoted teachers and pastors to deceive
because they have not been taught the truth themselves.
Romans 3:4
…yea, let God be true, but
every man a liar;
I have included a list
of some of my favorite websites that will aide you greatly in your search for
the truth rightly divided. Never
hesitate to call or email if you have a question, or to just want to keep in
touch.
2 Corinthians 1:24
Not for that we have dominion
over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
I will miss you!
In Christ’s Love,
Richard Jordan
This
concordance will quickly show each verse in which words are used in Paul’s
epistles.
Doug Dodd
Dictionary of the Gospel on-line book
Joel Finck articles – Gems of Grace
John Versteegen – one of the best
Ron Knight messages on YouTube
Ron Knight’s Q&A blog – Terrific!
