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The Bible sets forth the fact that God is working out a two-fold plan and purpose for the salvation of those whom He sent His Son Jesus Christ unto the cross and to those whom He sent the prophets of old and His oracles in the Old Testament [The Law, Prophets, Writings].
Israel was that first salvation focus of God's plan and purpose for saving that nation. Today, the "new creature" is the other focus of God's plan and purpose: this plan centers around the new creature, and the one new man, and the church and its members of His body, known as "the Body of Christ", which God is now forming in this present dispensation of Gentile grace for the past 2,000 years.
The present dispensation of God's grace is greatly different from God's program with Israel, and God is not dealing with us today as He dealt with Israel. For example, God has not put us "under the law" in this dispensation. (Romans 6:14; I Timothy 1:3-10). Although God used the faith and obedience system with Israel, e.g., perform and practive perfectly the Law of Moses for salvation; this was God former program and dealings with Israel. He has now instituted a different system for us today. In this dispensation we are "under grace", God deals with us solely on the basis of who He has made us to be "in Christ" by the riches of His grace. This is not in accordance with being "under the law" in this dispensation. But this is in accordance by being treated by our Father to us as adult "sons", and not as "children". Presently, God is not using the "rudiments of the world" with us today. (Galatians 4:1-11; Colossians 2:8-23), but rather God is dealing with us as "sons" of God (Romans 8:14-15). Formerly, the "rudiments of the world" consisted of things like observing holydays, having dietary restrictions, along with submitting to ordinances of water baptism and the like - all these pertain to Israel's program in which God instituted. But now in this dispensation, God has made us "dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world." Therefore such rudiments have no place in God's program today with the believer-saint who is saved by grace.
This present program of God is called "the dispensation of the grace of God for us Gentiles." Furthermore, this present dispensation was revealed to and through the apostle Paul, not the 12 Apostles; and it was a "mystery" that God kept hid in Himself in ages and generations past. (Ephesians 3:1-12). This "mystery" was kept hid in God until God raised up the Apostle Paul as a brand new apostle, in transition within the time that God's program with Israel was still in effect. But now God has temporarily suspended His program and dealings with Israel and God has opened up the dispensation of Gentile grace, which is in effect today.
To fully grasp these things, it is essential to read the Bible in a manner know as rightly divide the word of truth (II Tim. 2:15), which enables us to properly handle and understand the Bible by sense and sequence and to recognize and make the proper divisions between Gods different programs for Israel and the Church. This needs to be done because it is God who planned and purposed this two-fold plan. It is God's who made this plan; it does not depend on man nor can man without God outline the glory of this two-fold plan and purpose.
Christ Jesus committed the Gospel of Grace to Paul in order to communicate this gospel of grace (Acts 20.24) today, it consists of the message that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. The question for every individual is, Will you believe it? Salvation is a choice and requires an act of will. Tragically, preachers, gospel tracts, and other well-intentioned witnesses often confuse the simple gospel. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead, period. Adding to the simple message of the gospel such statements as invite Christ into your heart, accept Jesus as your personal Savior, etc., creates confusion. The gospel message should be as simple as the Bible presents it.
The gospel that Christ Jesus committed to the Apostle Paul was distinct from the gospel of the kingdom (Galatians 1.6-12; 2.1-9). Pauls gospel was not a gospel of repentance, that Jesus was the King about to establish His kingdom on earth and fulfill Israels covenants. Pauls gospel was that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. He received his gospel, not from Peter or the Twelve, but by direct revelation from the risen Christ. The language Paul used to refer to his gospel revealed that he regarded it as his own. Thus, we read of the gospel which I preached to you (1 Corinthians 15.1-5), my gospel (Romans 2.16, 16.25, 2 Timothy 2.8), our gospel (2 Corinthians 4.3; 2 Thessalonians 2.14), that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles (Galatians 2.2), the gospel of the uncircumcision (Galatians 2.7), the gospel of Christ(Romans 15.19; 1 Corinthians 9.12; 2 Corinthians 2.12, 9.13, 10.14; Galatians 1.7; Philippians 1.27; 1 Thessalonians 3.2), the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), the gospel of your salvation (Ephesians 1.13), the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6.15), the gospel of his Son (Romans 1.9), the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4.4), the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 1.8), the glorious gospel (2 Timothy 1.8), and the gospel of God (Romans 1.1, 15.16; 2 Corinthians 11.7; 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 8, 9).
Christ Jesus committed Paul to write the following in Galatians,
Galatians 3:6: Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:7: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham
While faith has always been the means of salvation, the content of faith has changed through the ages. It should be obvious that since Christ had not gone to the cross and been raised from the dead, men and women prior to this event believed something different for salvation than what Paul declared as the gospelthe death and resurrection of Christ for our sins. The Gospels indicate clearly that the Twelve had no clue about the good news of Jesus death and resurrection. In Luke we read,
Luke 18:31: Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
Luke 18:32: For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
Luke 18:33: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
Luke 18:34: And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
Men and women are justified by faith in what God has revealed in their own time frame.
Israel was that first salvation focus of God's plan and purpose for saving that nation. Today, the "new creature" is the other focus of God's plan and purpose: this plan centers around the new creature, and the one new man, and the church and its members of His body, known as "the Body of Christ", which God is now forming in this present dispensation of Gentile grace for the past 2,000 years.
The present dispensation of God's grace is greatly different from God's program with Israel, and God is not dealing with us today as He dealt with Israel. For example, God has not put us "under the law" in this dispensation. (Romans 6:14; I Timothy 1:3-10). Although God used the faith and obedience system with Israel, e.g., perform and practive perfectly the Law of Moses for salvation; this was God former program and dealings with Israel. He has now instituted a different system for us today. In this dispensation we are "under grace", God deals with us solely on the basis of who He has made us to be "in Christ" by the riches of His grace. This is not in accordance with being "under the law" in this dispensation. But this is in accordance by being treated by our Father to us as adult "sons", and not as "children". Presently, God is not using the "rudiments of the world" with us today. (Galatians 4:1-11; Colossians 2:8-23), but rather God is dealing with us as "sons" of God (Romans 8:14-15). Formerly, the "rudiments of the world" consisted of things like observing holydays, having dietary restrictions, along with submitting to ordinances of water baptism and the like - all these pertain to Israel's program in which God instituted. But now in this dispensation, God has made us "dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world." Therefore such rudiments have no place in God's program today with the believer-saint who is saved by grace.
This present program of God is called "the dispensation of the grace of God for us Gentiles." Furthermore, this present dispensation was revealed to and through the apostle Paul, not the 12 Apostles; and it was a "mystery" that God kept hid in Himself in ages and generations past. (Ephesians 3:1-12). This "mystery" was kept hid in God until God raised up the Apostle Paul as a brand new apostle, in transition within the time that God's program with Israel was still in effect. But now God has temporarily suspended His program and dealings with Israel and God has opened up the dispensation of Gentile grace, which is in effect today.
To fully grasp these things, it is essential to read the Bible in a manner know as rightly divide the word of truth (II Tim. 2:15), which enables us to properly handle and understand the Bible by sense and sequence and to recognize and make the proper divisions between Gods different programs for Israel and the Church. This needs to be done because it is God who planned and purposed this two-fold plan. It is God's who made this plan; it does not depend on man nor can man without God outline the glory of this two-fold plan and purpose.
Christ Jesus committed the Gospel of Grace to Paul in order to communicate this gospel of grace (Acts 20.24) today, it consists of the message that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. The question for every individual is, Will you believe it? Salvation is a choice and requires an act of will. Tragically, preachers, gospel tracts, and other well-intentioned witnesses often confuse the simple gospel. The gospel is that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead, period. Adding to the simple message of the gospel such statements as invite Christ into your heart, accept Jesus as your personal Savior, etc., creates confusion. The gospel message should be as simple as the Bible presents it.
The gospel that Christ Jesus committed to the Apostle Paul was distinct from the gospel of the kingdom (Galatians 1.6-12; 2.1-9). Pauls gospel was not a gospel of repentance, that Jesus was the King about to establish His kingdom on earth and fulfill Israels covenants. Pauls gospel was that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. He received his gospel, not from Peter or the Twelve, but by direct revelation from the risen Christ. The language Paul used to refer to his gospel revealed that he regarded it as his own. Thus, we read of the gospel which I preached to you (1 Corinthians 15.1-5), my gospel (Romans 2.16, 16.25, 2 Timothy 2.8), our gospel (2 Corinthians 4.3; 2 Thessalonians 2.14), that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles (Galatians 2.2), the gospel of the uncircumcision (Galatians 2.7), the gospel of Christ(Romans 15.19; 1 Corinthians 9.12; 2 Corinthians 2.12, 9.13, 10.14; Galatians 1.7; Philippians 1.27; 1 Thessalonians 3.2), the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), the gospel of your salvation (Ephesians 1.13), the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6.15), the gospel of his Son (Romans 1.9), the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4.4), the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Thessalonians 1.8), the glorious gospel (2 Timothy 1.8), and the gospel of God (Romans 1.1, 15.16; 2 Corinthians 11.7; 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 8, 9).
Christ Jesus committed Paul to write the following in Galatians,
Galatians 3:6: Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:7: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham
While faith has always been the means of salvation, the content of faith has changed through the ages. It should be obvious that since Christ had not gone to the cross and been raised from the dead, men and women prior to this event believed something different for salvation than what Paul declared as the gospelthe death and resurrection of Christ for our sins. The Gospels indicate clearly that the Twelve had no clue about the good news of Jesus death and resurrection. In Luke we read,
Luke 18:31: Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
Luke 18:32: For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
Luke 18:33: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
Luke 18:34: And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
Men and women are justified by faith in what God has revealed in their own time frame.