Right Division Important Questions Answered

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Some Questions About the Mid-Acts Position

We all need to ask questions as we ponder God's word. These are not to be construed as negative to your faith as are foolish and unlearned questions 2Tim. 2:23,  but on the contrary should simply be a part of the method of acquiring knowledge and understanding and therefore be faith building. The right questions should lead onto edification and strength and finally to perfection. It is with this spirit that I ask these questions and hope that the Father of lights will give a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (see Eph.1:17) to each and every one of us so that with enlightened eyes we may know!

Questions:

 Was the "gospel of God" that Paul preached equivalent to the Mystery hid from ages and generations? Paul says that he preached the gospel of God to the Corinthians freely 2Cor. 11:7, to the Thessallonians with much contention 1Th.2:2 and that he ministered the gospel of God to make the Gentiles acceptable to God Rom 15:16, indeed he was separated unto this gospel Rom. 1:1.
ANSWER: NO, it was based on the OT scriptures.
PROOF: ROM.1:1 ¶  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,). This is NO MYSTERY HID IN GOD -- QUITE THE REVERSE!
Was the hope Paul preached to the Gentiles in the Acts period something new and outside the prophets?
ANSWER: NO, The hope presented was declared by Isaiah
PROOF: Rom. 15:11  And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
12  And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
13 ¶  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
​Is the mystery of Rom.16:25 the same as that of Col. 1:26?
​ANSWER: NO
PROOF: Compare Col. 1:25-27 and Eph. 3:9 with Rom. 16:25-26
Col. 1:25  (AV) 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;
25  (TR) ης εγενομην εγω διακονος κατα την οικονομιαν του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι εις υμας πληρωσαι τον λογον του θεου

26  (AV) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
26  (TR) το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυνι δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου

27  (AV) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
27  (TR) οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τις ο πλουτος της δοξης του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ος εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις της δοξης

Eph. 3:9  (AV) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
9  (TR) και φωτισαι παντας τις η κοινωνια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι δια ιησου χριστου

Rom. 16:25 ¶  (AV) 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,
25  (TR) τω δε δυναμενω υμας στηριξαι κατα το ευαγγελιον μου και το κηρυγμα ιησου χριστου κατα αποκαλυψιν μυστηριου χρονοις αιωνιοις σεσιγημενου

26  (AV) 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:
26  (TR) φανερωθεντος δε νυν δια τε γραφων προφητικων κατ επιταγην του αιωνιου θεου εις υπακοην πιστεως εις παντα τα εθνη γνωρισθεντος

Note the following: Colossians and Ephesians are "prison epistles", Romans is NOT!

Did Paul preach the new covenant in the Acts period?

ANSWER: YES

PROOF: Read 2Cor. 3:6, Jer 31:31 and Heb 8
​ 2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2Co 3:6  (TR) ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτεινει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει

Is the new covenant the same as the mystery?

ANSWER: NO

PROOF: See Eph. 2:11,12 and Rom 9 This was given to Israel!!

12  (AV) 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:
12  (TR) οτι ητε εν τω καιρω εκεινω χωρις χριστου απηλλοτριωμενοι της πολιτειας του ισραηλ και ξενοι των διαθηκων της επαγγελιας ελπιδα μη εχοντες και αθεοι εν τω κοσμω

13  (AV) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
13  (TR) νυνι δε εν χριστω ιησου υμεις οι ποτε οντες μακραν εγγυς εγενηθητε εν τω αιματι του χριστου

When Paul says that he magnifies his office, was this an unqualified reference to his apostleship to the gentiles during the acts period?

ANSWER: NO!

PROOF: See Rom. 11:13,14

13  (AV) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
13  (TR) υμιν γαρ λεγω τοις εθνεσιν εφ οσον μεν ειμι εγω εθνων αποστολος την διακονιαν μου δοξαζω

14  (AV) If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
14  (TR) ει πως παραζηλωσω μου την σαρκα και σωσω τινας εξ αυτων

Did Paul baptize after mid-Acts and before Acts 28?

ANSWER: YES!

PROOF:
Ac 18:8  And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

​Did Paul remain faithful to the law and the prophets up to Acts 28?

​ANSWER: YES!

PROOF:
Acts 18:18 ¶  And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19  And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
20  When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21  But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

Acts 21:20  And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21  And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22  What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23  Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24  Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
25  As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
26  Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Ac 26:22  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

Paul preached to Festus (Acts 26) recounting what the Lord had done and the good news (gospel) that "Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" was this content contrary to the Prophets and Moses?

ANSWER: NO
​PROOF: Ac 26:22  Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
Was this gospel (the one above) the same as the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ that PAul discusses in Eph. 3:8

ANSWER: NO
PROOF:
Eph 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:8  (TR) εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων των αγιων εδοθη η χαρις αυτη εν τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι τον ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτον του χριστου
If signs and wonders are removed from the body mentioned in 1Cor. 12:12 -- would it (the body) survive?

ANSWER: NO! It would have no members!!!!

PROOF: 1Cor 12
1 ¶  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2  Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3  Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 ¶  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14  For the body is not one member, but many.




 


 

The Others...

The Others - Part 1

The lesson on August 3, 2014 was on "The Others" and it was part one of a two part studyand identifies which groups of believers have which callings and inheritances in scripture.  The scripture reading was in Hebrews 11:9-16 KJV "9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

https://rightdivision.com/media-room/lessons/others-part-1

ONE NEW MAN...

In this article when using the term "One New Man" I will be referring to the Church or Body over which Christ is the Head as described in Paul's prison epistles. According to Eph. 2:15 God made or created the One New Man when He broke down the middle wall of partition and abolished the Law after the close of the Acts period. I am firmly convinced by the Scriptures that the One New Man is not the same Church or Body that Paul describes in his Acts epistles. If they were the same, their description would be identical. But by comparing them with one another, I see that they are totally different and things that are different are not the same.

The mistake that many people make today is assuming that whenever Paul mentions "The Body" in his Acts epistles and prison epistles, he is writing about the same Body. This is like the same mistake people make when they read the word "Church" in the Bible. They read about a church in Matthew and a church in Ephesians and they assume that they are the same church just because the word "Church" is used in both places. But even though the word "Church" is used in both places they are not the same church because their descriptions are totally different. In the same way, just because the word "Body" is used in Paul's Acts epistles and his prison epistles that doesn't mean that they are the same Body. It's my firm conviction that THEY ARE NOT THE SAME BODY, for what is said about one is not true of the other. And as far as I am concerned it is spiritual dishonesty to say they are the same, when it is so apparent that they are different.

The main purpose of this article is not only to show the difference between the One New Man and the Acts Body, but also to show how far greater and glorious this Body is to any previous Body or church in the Bible. God has given the One New Man blessings, an inheritance, a Hope, a position, and many other things that are FAR BETTER than what He gave to the Acts Body, or to any other Body of believers in the Bible. It is my prayer that you the reader will see the differences and rejoice in the many advantages given to a member of the Body that God calls "One New Man".

As you read this article please do the following 3 things.

(l.) Forget what "the preachers" say about the subject of this article, no matter how fundamental or dispensational they claim to be.

(2.) Compare every verse with your Bible and be willing to believe the verses mean what they say and say what they mean.

(3.) Don't try to "explain away" things that are obviously different. The following is a scriptural description of the One New Man.


(I.) THIS BODY IS CALLED A MAN, NOT A WOMAN

In Eph.2:15 Paul said "having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain ONE NEW MAN, so making peace."

The Body of the prison epistles is called ONE NEW MAN whereas, the Acts Body is called a "CHASTE VIRGIN ESPOUSED TO A HUSBAND"(IICor.11:2) The fact that one is called a MAN and the other a WOMAN should be enough in itself to convince a real Bible believer that they are not the same Body.

(II.) THIS BODY IS UNRELATED TO ABRAHAM AND ISRAEL

In Eph. 2:12 Paul said that the Body in the prison epistles were "Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel". An alien of Israel is unrelated to Israel and Abraham, whereas the Acts Body is made up of the children and seed of Abraham (see Gal. 3:29 and Rom. 4:9-16). This is why Paul said in Eph. 4:6 that the Body in the prison epistles has only ONE, God and FATHER. The Acts Body had TWO fathers, God and Abraham. I think it is also significant to note that Abraham's name appears 19 times in the Acts epistles, but not even ONCE in the prison epistles.

(III.) IT'S MOTHER IS NOT THE HEAVENLY CITY NEW JERUSALEM

In Gal. 4:26 the Acts Body called New Jerusalem it's mother because they were partakers of the New Covenant being the seed of Abraham (Heb.11:8-10). The Body over which Christ is the Head is unrelated to Abraham, strangers from the covenants of promise (Eph.2:12). Consequently, it has no hope in the Heavenly City New Jerusalem. It's hope is far better, for it is in Glory far above all Heavens and far above New Jerusalem (Col.3:4, ITim.3:6, Eph.2:6; Phil. 3:20).

(IV.) THIS BODY IS NOT GRAFTED INTO ISRAEL

In the Acts period, members of the Acts Body were grafted into Israel, the Good Olive Tree (Rom.11:17). But at the close of the Acts period Israel, the Good Olive Tree, was completely cut down, cast away, and became Lo-Ammi (see Hosea 1:9). Consequently when God created the One New Man after the close of the Acts period there was no Good Olive Tree left to be grafted into. Instead the One New Man was grafted into or made members of Christ's Body, Flesh and Bones-Eph.5:30.

(V.) THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF ISRAEL'S SPIRITUAL THINGS

The Acts Body was blessed with the "Blessings of Abraham" and Israel's "spiritual things" (Rom.15:27, Gal. 3:14). But the Body in the prison epistles is said to be BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST (Eph.1:3). These blessings are found exclusively in the prison epistles of Paul, especially the Book of Ephesians.
(VI.) THIS BODY DOES NOT PARTAKE OF THE NEW COVENANT, BUT OF THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE

The New Covenant was made with the House of Israel according to Heb. 8:8. Only those related and allied with Israel partook of the New Covenant and it's blessings and hope, such as the Acts Body in IICor. 3:6. But the 'Body' of the prison epistles is unrelated to Israel being "Aliens from the commonwealth" (Eph. 2:12) and does not partake of the New Covenant being "STRANGERS from the covenants of promise"(Eph. 2:12). Instead, God has given this Body something much better than the New Covenant. He gave the "One New Man "the Dispensation of Grace (Eph.3:l-2). Just as the New Covenant is far better than the Old Covenant (Heb. 8:6-10), the Dispensation of Grace is far better than both the New and Old Covenants.


(VII.) THIS BODY HAS AN INHERITANCE IN A HEAVENLY KINGDOM, NOT AN EARTHLY ONE

The "Acts Body" had an inheritance in the Kingdom of God (IIThess.1:4-5, ICor.15:50, Acts 14:21-22) which was an earthly kingdom promised and offered to Israel and those allied with Israel (Dan.2:44, Lk.8:1, Acts 1:3-6). But the "One New Man" of the prison epistles is given a better inheritance in a better kingdom. His inheritance is in the "KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON" according to Col.1:12-13. This Kingdom is located in Heavenly places where Christ sits at the right hand of God (CoI. 3:1-3, IITim.4:18, Phil.3:20). The One New Man has already been translated into this Kingdom according to Col.1:13, and now sits together with Christ as citizens of this kingdom according to Eph. 2:6.

(VIII.) ITS HOPE IS NOT ISRAEL'S HOPE, BUT THE BLESSED HOPE

Throughout the Acts period members of the Acts Body were grafted into Israel the Good Olive Tree and became partakers of her spiritual things including her Hope of resurrection (Acts28:20). Her Hope was the Second Coming of Christ at the Last Trump immediately after the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:29-31, I Thess. 4:14-18, I Cor. 15: 50-54). Paul preached this Hope, wrote about it, and was imprisoned for it according to Acts 28:20. But after the close of the Acts period a radical change took place. Israel the Good Olive Tree was cut down and became Lo-Ammi.

The Law was abolished and the Dispensation of Grace began. At the same time the creation of the One New Man took place and a BETTER HOPE dispensed to its members. it's Hope is Christ's APPEARING IN GLORY far above all Heavens, not His COMING IN THE AIR to the Earth (Col.3:1-4, Phil. 3:20, ITim. 3:16). This Hope is far better than any hope previously offered to'' anyone in times past, that's why it's called the "Blessed Hope" in Titus 2:13. (I think it's significant to note that the word "COMING" referring to, Christ's Second Coming, DOES NOT appear one time in the prison epistles, whereas, the word "APPEARING" referring to Christ's Appearing in Glory DOES NOT appear one time in the Acts epistles.)

(IX.) IT'S SALVATION DOES NOT PROVOKE ISRAEL TO JEALOUSY

Throughout the Acts period the salvation of the Gentiles in the "Acts Body" provoked Israel to jealousy according to Rom.11:11. Paul also used his office as the Apostle of the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy and salvation according to Rom.11:13-14. This of course was consistent with his heart's desire in Rom.10:1 - that Israel might be saved.

But the salvation of the One New Man has no effect or bearing whatsoever upon Israel in anyway. God saved the One New Man by His Grace, not to provoke Israel to jealousy, "But that in the Ages to Come He might shew the exceeding riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. - Eph.2:5,-7.

(X.) IN THIS BODY NO MEMBER HAS ANY ADVANTAGE OVER THE OTHER

In the Acts Body Jews and Abraham's seed clearly had the advantage over the Gentiles (Rom.1). But in the "One New Man" all advantages are erased and all members are placed on an equal footing and standing before God. Paul said in Eph. 2:14 "For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." With the breaking down of the "middle wall of partition" Israel lost all of her advantages and the preeminence she once had over the Gentiles in times past including the Acts period. The One New Man is FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER and SITS TOGETHER in heavenly aces in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6, 22).

(XI.) GENTILES IN THE ONE NEW MAN ARE NOT ACCOUNTED AS JEWS OR ABRAHAM'S SEED

Throughout the Acts period Gentiles in the Acts Body were accounted as Jews and Abraham's seed (Rom.2:26-29, Rom.4:11,Gal.3:29). The previous verses clearly show the advantage that Abraham's seed had in the Acts Body. But in the One New Man both Jews and Gentiles alike lose their identity and take Christ's identity in its place. In Col. 3:11 Paul said that in the New Man there is neither Greek, nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Sythian, bond nor free: BUT CHRIST IS ALL, AND IN ALL. In the One New Man CHRIST IS ALL, in other words, Christ's identity is the ONE AND ONLY identity that believers have whereas the Acts Body had both Christ's and Abraham's (Gal. 3:28-29).

(XII.) THE ONE NEW MAN IS NOT OBLIGATED TO AID OR ASSIST ISRAEL

The Acts Body had an obligation and a duty to minister unto Israel in "carnal things" according to Rom.15:27. Paul commanded the Acts Body to take up offerings for Israel in ICor.16:1-3.

But the One New Man does not partake of Israel's "Spiritual things" and has no duty or obligation to minister unto her in "carnal things" or to take up collections for her on the first day of the week. Instead the One New Man "works and labors with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Eph.4:28) and supports those who follow the ministry of Paul as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for us Gentiles (IITim.1:8, Phil.3:1,3).

(XIII.) THE ONE NEW MAN'S DESIRE IS NOT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL

Throughout the Acts period Paul's heart's desire was the salvation of Israel (Rom.10:1) and the Acts Body was commanded to have this same desire in ICor.11:1. But the One New Man's desire is totally different. His desire is "To preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God (Eph.3:8-9).

God Is Working Today And You Need To Hear About It

Mark Phillips

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Your destiny is in Him Alone...

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Mid Acts Just Not Getting Right Division Yet

Formerly Mid Acts - NOW ACTS 28
"You cannot find the answer to a question you're not asking." (Mid Acts Brother Scott Mitchell of Grace Family Bible Online) I owe to him the raising of the question for which I then tried to find the answer, which is, "Why does Paul insist his gospel can be found in the Old Testament prophets?"
Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Is the creation of 2Cor.5:17 and the new creature of Gals.6, the creation of the one new man found in Ephesians 2?

Is the creation of 2Cor.5:17 and the new creature of Gals.6, the creation of the one new man found in Ephesians 2?

Brian Kelson answers:

Mid-Acts and Acts 28ers agree, there are many wonderful truths in Paul, but here is where we differ, not all of those truths are about us today.
Certainly the Jew and Gentile believers of Galatians were justified without the works of the Law for example. They were made righteous by grace through faith but those believers were not members of the church which is His Body, they were the seed of Abraham and to be blessed with faithful Abraham in the Promised Land as Gals.3 clearly says.
Having failed to test the things differing in Paul (Phils:1:9-10), Mid-Acts believe everything Paul wrote contains within it some unveiling of the mystery of Ephesians. They believe the Acts period was a transition; Paul had some progressive revelation which was finalized, or reached its ultimate revelations in Ephesians and Colossians. This we continue to find from Paul’s writings is indeed scripturally groundless on both points. The very subject matter of Paul’s letters negates this misplaced viewpoint and divides his letters into two distinct dispensational groups.
During the Acts period Paul was witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. He held embraced the hope of Israel, worshipped the God of Israel’s fathers, and had not offended the Jews in anything, Acts 24:14, 25:8, 26:6-7, 22, & 28:20. I’m certain if Paul had preached during Acts, the truth of Ephesians that the Jews
no longer held any dispensational advantage, he would have offended many.
Where Mid-Acts fail (and most other Christians for that matter), is in their inability to distinguish between redemptive truths common to all dispensations and dispensational truths unique to each one. Redemption through our Lord’s shed blood, faith and righteousness reckoned are not unique to our present calling, they can be found in type, shadow and prophesy from page one of the sacred Word. Certainly, some of these precious redemptive doctrines are highlighted and expounded in Paul’s Acts period letters but this fact does not demand or prove in any way that the nation of Israel had been set aside and/or our new calling was introduced or being unfolded.
Because of this failure to rightly divide continuing and discontinuing truths, many Mid-Acts (MAs) doctrines are supported with an eisogetical understanding of certain Scriptures. With their viewpoint firmly entrenched, they read into Paul’s Acts letters the later truths of Ephesians not actually there.
2Cor.5:17 is a case in point. Here the words “if any man” be IN CHRIST, he, that ONE, is a new creation. Without a thought to the context, many Mid-Acts brethren will unite this passage with Eph.2 which speaks of a new creation where God has made of Jew and Gentile one new man. In their minds, they believe this proves the Mystery was in Paul during Acts. They claim this creation of 2cor.5 is the new creation of Ephesians 2 but the context of Corinthians will not allow
this. Rather than note carefully the context, they are dragging back into Corinthians, truths which are impossible to fit there.
Ephs.2:11-17 says clearly that “in Christ” God has created of the both, (Jew and Gentile) one new man. This is not any man being a new creation in Christ; this
is two groups of believers being created one new group in Christ; the great church which is His Body. Corinthians is about an individual being a new creation in Christ which is not the Ephesians creation. This error of Mid-Acts has resulted from not dividing the things differing.
Now let us examine the context of Corinthians which forbids this Mid-Acts joining of things differing. In the very next chapter 2Cor.6:2, Paul encourages the Corinthians that they receive not the grace of God in vain and this is not the dispensation of the grace of God for he immediately quotes Is.49:8 thus;
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.[Is.49:8]) 2Co 6:1-2
Here is Isaiah 49:
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; Isa 49:8
Isn’t the Word of Truth amazing? 2Cor.6 is an inheritance on the earth as per the very OT passage Paul uses. This has already been confirmed with 1Cor.15 which we shall see shortly.
Is.49 is the very chapter in which the command to turn to the Gentiles is the one given Paul in Acts 13:
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 to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth (Is.49:6). Act 13:46-47
Paul turned to the Gentiles according to a command of prophesy from Is.49 in Acts 13. Paul did not turn to the Gentiles because any revelation of the new creation of Ephesians 2 had been given him. It is Is.49 in Acts 13 and the encouragement for the Corinthians in 2Cor.6 is from Is.49, no change, nor progression, still none other things than the prophets and Moses did say should come. Despite these contextual restraints, MAs insist the creation of 2Cor.5 is that of Ephesians 2. Nope, not a right division chance of that.
2Cor.6 is the OT. The Gentiles saved in Acts 13 are included according to the same OT prophesies which are about the Israel and the Promised Land, not heavenly places. Is.49:7, 10, 13. Is.42:1, 6 are interesting and should be read here with Acts13:47, 26:23.
How can 2Cor.6 be the mystery of Ephesians? It can’t be. How can the creation of 2Cor.5 be the new creation of Jew and Gentile out of Eph.2? It can’t be, the context will not allow such a Mid-Acts convenience. Also of interest in 2Cor.6 is the fact that Paul uses the OT to establish the relationship between the Corinthians and God the Father
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living
God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (Lev.26:12). Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (Numbs.16). 2Co 6:14-18
Those Acts period Corinthian believers had separated themselves from unrepentant Israel (Acts2:40), and were typified in those who had done the same back in Israel’s picture salvation. Unrepentant Israel was destined to experience God’s wrath which does not mean dispersion in the world and a new dispensation introduced.
God was their father, they were His sons and daughters and all based upon Lev.26:12 and Numbs.16. That is not the church which is His Body in 2Cor.6 and it is not the new creation of Ephesians in 2Cor.5.
These OT passages of Paul are the basis of hope for the Corinthians during Acts;
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved..... 2Co 7:1
What promises? The promises found in the very OT passages Paul had been using, not the promises given in a dispensation hidden away from previous ages and generations and hid in God.
Now here is another fascinating thing about 2Cor6 and verse 2. In it Paul uses “today” found in Is.49, and this same prophetic appeal is found in Hebrews albeit from another prophet. Notice in this Hebrew appeal Moses is in the house, but the Lord over the same house, which house the Hebrew and Corinthian believers constituted. This is not the church which is his Body since Moses was never a servant in our calling;
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Heb 3:5-9
Here is the Old Testament “today” warning of Hebrews 3:5-9;
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. Psa 95:7-11
This is a quote from Ps.95 as you can see, which Psalm speaks of the Lord as a great King in whose hands are the deep places of the earth and the strength of the hills. This is Hebrews, hardly heavenly places. Here is the hope given in Hebrews;
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) But ye are come unto
mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb 12:18-23
In Hebrews the believers had come to Mt Zion, the church of the first born and an innumerable company of angels, where the Trumpet of the OT is featured along with the New Covenant, Hebs.12:18-24. Hebrews knows nothing of the present dispensation of the mystery where Zion, Angels, the New Covenant and the church of the firstborn have no place.
The Hebrews were warned with a look back to Israel’s typical salvation accompanied with the emphasis on “TODAY” and the things held in hope were the fulfillment of Israel’s greater salvation. But these things are also featured in Corinthians.
This "today" warning in Hebrews harmonizes with the today emphasis of Is.49 in 2Cor.6.
In 1Cor.10, Paul warns the Corinthians from the failures in the wilderness, just like Hebrews;
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 1Co 10:1-10
The today warning in Corinthians is for those who were partakers of the earthly calling just as the today warning was for the Hebrews who would partake of that same earthly calling. The Corinthians were also waiting for the Trumpet and the resurrection to the earth. This is proven in 1Cor.15 which resurrection is Is.25 as follows;
And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. Isa 25:6-10
Which mountain is it in Isaiah 25? The prophet has already written about it in an earlier chapter;
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up
to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. Isa 2:1-5
The Trumpet resurrection of Is.25 in 1Cor.15 is to Mt Zion. The Hebrews had come to Mount Zion and a Trumpet. Will we yet embrace the falsehood that the creation of 2Cor.5 is some isolated part of the mystery of Ephesians found among such an earthly setting? Impossible, the creation of 2Cor.5 must harmonize with the earthly calling in view.
2Cor.5 is about the new creation of an individual who is looking for that very resurrection to the earth. The ones who had believed into Christ at Corinth, were warned about “today”, and had been warned by a reference back to those who were without faith in the Exodus just as the Hebrews were warned.
Mid-Acts leave Hebrews out of Paul which is a convenient position for them. It would be so inconvenient if MAs included Hebrews in Paul because then they would need to acknowledge the dispensational harmony of Hebrews and Corinthians. Acts 28 recognizes that Hebrews and Corinthians were both written in the Acts period before the revelation of The Mystery of Ephesians.
Here are other dispensational features of the Acts period common to Corinthians and Hebrews.
In Corinthians, Paul declared those believers had been confirmed with supernatural gifts unto the Trumpet coming of the Lord which was near for not all of them would die;
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Co 1:4-8
But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 1Co 7:29
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (age) are come. 1Co 10:11
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1Co 15:51-52
Here are the same supernatural gifts, the ends of the ages and near return of the Lord as found in Hebrews where we have already seen the Trumpet and the assembling of the believers on Mt Zion;
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Heb 6:4-5
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Heb 9:26
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Heb 10:37
Can we see these clear and consistent dispensational things in both Hebrews and Corinthians? Notwithstanding the creation of 2Cor.5 is not the one of Ephesians, but suppose we imagined it to be so, could we force it into Hebrews? Absolutely not! Can we force it into Corinthians? Absolutely not!
Paul also refers to a new creature in Galatians 6, another letter written during the Acts period. Could this creature or creation, be that of Ephesians? Mid-Acts certainly think so but does the context allow this? Here is the passage;
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Gal 6:14-16
This context is equally contrary to the Mid-Acts view that this creation is that of Ephesians 2. Israel, nor the Israel of God have no place in our present dispensation of grace having been put aside at Acts 28. So what is this new creature? Paul had already written about the impotence of circumcision or not back in chapter 5 where faith is the key;
Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do all the Law, you who are justified by Law are deprived of all effect from Christ; you fell from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you that you do not obey the truth? Gal 5:2-7
Those who returned to seeking righteousness by works had fallen from grace, the grace faith brings. Paul has already expounded the righteousness apart from the law obtained by grace through faith, and faith is the key to this new creature. Faith brought sonship, the blessings of Abraham and an earthly inheritance;
Then He supplying the Spirit to you and working powerful works in you, is it by works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Therefore know that those of faith, these are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations through faith, preached the gospel before to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all nations be blessed." So then those of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Gal 3:5-9
Abraham believed God, faith in Abraham was reckoned to him for righteousness and these Jews and Gentiles of the Acts period were the sons (heirs) of Abraham. In this regard Isaac, the heir given Abraham so long ago, typified these Acts period believers, Gals.4:29. The same faith which made them righteous, made them the seed of Abraham;
But before faith came, we were kept under Law, having been shut up to the faith about to be revealed. So that the Law has become a trainer of us until Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But faith coming, we are no longer under a trainer. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:23-29
Since Paul had already declared these justified Jewish and Gentile believers as the seed of Abraham by faith, it is contextually impossible for the new creature of the last chapter to be the new creation of Ephesians 2. The one new man is
not the seed of Abraham. Galatians knows nothing of the church which is His Body.
While in Galatians it is noteworthy to find the very same dispensational elements already found in Corinthians and Hebrews.
The Galatians were to enjoy the inheritance in the Promised Land, Gals.3:18, 29. They were endowed with supernatural gifts, Gals.3:1-5, 1Cor.1:4-8, Hebs6. The Galatians were anticipating the New Jerusalem referred to as their mother, Hebs.12. In Galatians, the New Jerusalem is inseparable from the prophet Isaiah;
But the Jerusalem from above is free, who is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Rejoice, barren one not bearing; break forth and shout, you not travailing; for more are the children of the desolate than she having the husband." (Is.54: But brothers, we, like Isaac, are children of promise. Gal 4:26-28
If our Apostle in Galatians 4, is inspired to turn to Isaiah 54 it would seem reasonable in our exegesis to do the same;
Rejoice, O unfruitful one that never bore; break out a song and shout, you who never travailed. For more are the sons of the desolate than the sons of the married woman, says Jehovah. Make the place of your tent larger, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Do not spare, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes; for you shall break out on the right hand and on the left. And your seed shall inherit the nations, and people will inhabit ruined cities. Do not fear; for you shall not be ashamed, nor shall you blush; for you shall not be put to shame; for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. For your Maker is your husband; Jehovah of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called. For Jehovah has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were rejected, says your God. Isa 54:1-6
I love the way the Lord is so emphatic at the close of the chapter;
.....This is the inheritance of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness is from Me, says Jehovah. Isa 54:17
The prophet speaks of a wife, an inheritance of the nations and ruined cities and righteousness that is FROM Jehovah. This righteousness had already been proclaimed in Is.45:15-15 and chapter 52. This is so consistent with Paul’s Acts period redemptive and dispensational preaching. Paul preached about righteousness by faith through grace but directed every saint to the promises made to the fathers as their hope. Abraham was heir of the world in Roms.4 and the righteousness of the faithful was directly from the Lord. But I digress. In Galatians 4, Paul had linked the New Jerusalem with Isaiah and maybe the word wife is the key. The New Jerusalem is called the Bride, the Lamb’s wife in Rev.21:9 where the Lord makes all things new.
Those who love to rightly divide the Scriptures and compare spiritual with spiritual, will reject out of hand any imaginations that the creature of Gals.6 and the new creation of 2Cor.5 are the one new man of Ephesians 2. The dispensational contexts of Corinthians, Galatians and Hebrews are on the same page; they will not allow such a terrible eisogesis. Written during the Acts period, they know nothing of the present dispensation of the grace of God given by revelation to Paul after Israel was put to one side at Acts 28.
These consistent links in the Acts period letters soundly affirm that the dispensation in view is a continuation of that of Isaiah, Malachi and Matthew and Corinthians and Galatians are not speaking of the creation of Ephesians 2.
Deborah Collins at 5:18 PM
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Just when Did The Church Age For Today Begin?

Mark Phillips added 3 new photos.

3 mins ·

When did the Church begin?
There are three main views as to when the Church which Christ is head
Began. Probably over 95 percent of believers are confused on this issue, and fail to rightly divide the Scripture to determine what things belong to Israel and what things belong to the Church in our age. That 95 percent fails to see that Acts 2 did not begin the Church today, but was prophecy taking place for the Jewish believers
called the Church of a God in the book of Acts.

The second group of believers try to see the difference in Paul's messages to the Kingdom Church of a God and the Church today. Most of these believers believe the Church today started around Acts 9-13. They believe that through out the book of Acts, Paul moved gradually away from the Gospel for the earthly Kingdom Church of a God and finally preached only to the Gentiles. The following is a general article that outlines their belief as to when the Church for our age began. Unfortunately, they fail to see that all through the entire book of Acts, Paul's hope was entirely in line with the earthly hope of the Jewish kingdom Church. One can read in Acts many times through out Acts, in Paul's very own words, stating how his hope was of his father Abraham. It was not until Paul's last effort to get through to the Jewish leaders to accept their Messiah, that they refused to believe and God cut them off calling them "not my people " in Acts 28:28.
http://www.gracetruth.co.uk/Backnumbers/Vol%2045%20No%201.pdf
It was not until after Israel was cut off from God for the time being, in Acts 28:28, that God revealed to Paul in Prison about a new Creation, the Church which Jesus is the head. Finally One New Man, where both Gentile and Jewish believers are equal in stature. We finally read about this mystery that was finally revealed to Paul for the first time in history. It was a secret hid in the mind of a God and not revealed in the Old Testament or in prophecy about God's church for our age. Our Church age did not begin until after Acts 28:28.

When Did the Church of the One Body Begin?

We believe the passage in Acts 28:28-31 is when the Apostle Paul declares to the Jewish leadership that the final opportunity for their acceptance of Jesus as Christ is over. From that point on the message for the plan of salvation is now authorized to be sent from the Gentiles, apart from Israel. Prior to this point in scripture, salvation was always either through or with the Jew. At this point the nation of Israel has been put on hold but will be still receive the promises and blessings made to them through Abraham in the future (when Elijah restores the revealed plan of God). However, for the first time in scripture, Paul declares that whosoever will accept Christ, they become a member of the body of Christ where Christ is the head. This is now the beginning of the church which is of His body which has its own calling, blessings, and inheritance separate from Israel. To explain this “hidden plan”, Paul then begins to write the final 7 books in scripture, chronologically (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus, Philemon, 1 and 2 Timothy.) The reason we describe this calling as the hidden purpose is that it was hidden in God, before the foundation of the world and not revealed until Paul was told to do so in Ephesians 3:9. The primary name given to us by the Apostle Paul for the special body of truth during this timeframe is called “The Mystery” (Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:25-26) and it is our calling for today. There are several positions in Christendom on when the Church of the One Body began. Those would be in Acts 2, Acts 9, Acts 13, and Acts 28. We obviously claim it was after the announcement Paul made in Act 28:28.

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The Mystery To Accept Or Reject

"THE MYSTERY"- God's Sacred Secret To Complete the Word of God (Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:25,26)
"THE MYSTERY"- God's Sacred Secret To Complete the Word of God (Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:25,26)  vs.25 "...I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God; vs. 26..The mystery which hath been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:" (Col. 1:25- 26).  Translators in the main have selected the English word, "fulfill" or its equivalent, rather than the English word, "complete" (vs. 25). According to "Webster's New World Dictionary," (1968), the English word, "fulfill," means to carry out something promised, desired, expected, predicted, etc. To say the least, The Mystery was never promised, expected, etc. Consequently, to use the English, "fulfill," is like the blind leading the blind. It is said, "translators follow translators," a form of brainwashing. A case in point: The Douay Version of the Holy Bible, (which is an English translation of the Vulgate used by Roman Catholics) uses the word, "fulfill" (1578). The King James' Version, a Protestant version (1611), also uses "fulfill" -- you be the judge!{C}
In any case, believers are instructed to "make all (saints) see (discern) what (is) the dispensation (stewardship, fellowship) of the mystery which hath been hidden from the ages in God..." (Eph. 3:9). A Christian gentleman, Mr. Moore, who was a Bible teacher from Canada, recently remarked, "the average Christian has not rejected The Dispensation of the Mystery - - he has never even heard of it!" Whether or not one agrees or disagrees with his assessment about rejection concerning the dispensation of the mystery is of small consequence, when compared with his latter comment, "never even heard of it." Regardless, Mr. Moore gave his opinion and personally, I find him not to be far afield. In fact, the gross ignorance of the mystery is very widespread - - it even affects the clergy itself. You are challenged to make your own inquiry and discover for yourself.

An old cliche states, "the more things change, the more things remain the same." Let's put it into our context: as it was in the days of our Lord's flesh, so it is now, - - " making the word of God of none effect through your traditions" (Mark 7:13) Tradition, when spiced with a little slander here and there, is and always has been the weapon of the Evil One (Gen. 3:1-6). Needless to say, he has not changed. In a word, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

The best place to start with any difficulty is the source, e.g.., the Apostle Paul's last letter that he penned: "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me..." [They turned from Paul's teachings of The Mystery, but not from Christ. Ed.] (II Tim. 1:15) Please bear in mind that the heart of Paul's ministry proceeded through Asia. [The Philippians were not included in this group, as Philipi is in Macedonia. Ed.]

Just as the Colossian epistle states (1:25), this Post-Acts dispensation of the mystery was given, among other things, to complete (not fulfil - - see Webster's Dictionary) the word of God. THINK OF THAT! [There were no more revelations or word of God after "The Mystery" books were completed. Ed.]

Without controversy, the crisis of reality as opposed to historical tradition requires an answer. One either accepts the content of The Mystery written by an inspired apostle of God (II Tim. 3:16) or the findings of the uninspired church council's meeting some centuries later. That is, unless you count the inspiration of Satan himself (II Cor. 11:13-15) as the same as the inspiration of God.

When you consider all the circumstances of Paul's last letter, "...turned away from me" (II Tim. 1:15), you sense a prophetic forecast concerning the outcome of coming attractions, i.e., the church councils to come and the disastrous traditions to follow. [It appears those of whom he wrote had left The Mystery teachings and returned to following the traditional path. Ed.]

"History" - in Brief

ACTS PERIOD

From the conversion of Paul unto the close of Acts 28:28, the Jewish-Christian hierarchy in the visible church did not reject Paul, but they consistently resisted what Paul called, "My Gospel" (Acts Chapters 15 and 21, Rom. 16:25, 26; Gal. 1:11, 12; 2:2; etc.) This they did even though he affirmed their dispensational advantage (Rom. 3:1, 2; 9:4, etc.) Even so, at Acts 28:28, Israel, nationally, was placed in abeyance. They became "Lo Ammi," a Hebrew word meaning, "not my people" (Hosea 1:9; 3:4).

POST-ACTS PERIOD

Paul arrived in Rome in the Spring of 60 A.D.(?) He wrote his first three letters (Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon ), and sent them under the care of Tychicus [his fellow laborer in the Lord - Ed.], in 61 or 62 A.D.(?). His fourth epistle, Philippians, was written either in 62 or 63 A.D.(?)

According to the best accounts, Paul was then released from prison 63 A.D. - 64 A.D.(?) It was probably from Greece that he wrote I Timothy and Titus, desiring to winter at Nicapolis in 64 A.D.(?). He supposedly was rearrested and sent back to Rome in 65 - 66 A.D.(?) In Rome, he wrote his last letter to Timothy (II Timothy) 66 A.D.(?) He was executed in the Spring, 67 A.D.(?).

In any case, if these time frames are correct, the Mystery, which completes the whole canon of scripture, demonstrates the fallacy of so-called tradition relating to the times the books of the New Testament were written. Shortly after Paul's death, Jerusalem was destroyed - - 69-70 A.D.(?).

From 70 A.D. until after the turn of the First Century, church history is a blank. (Eusebius, "The History of the Church.")

It is here that the first of the Ante-Nicean fathers began to write. The writings of these Ante-Nicean fathers, Eusebius' history, testify to the reality of rejection (II Tim. 1:15) in their silence concerning Paul and The Mystery. Any and all light would be "Petrine (of theApostle Peter) Theology," [which were addressed to "The Circumcision," i.e.,Israel and any Gentile proselytes during the Acts period, and concerned the hope of Israel - Ed.] along with the influence of St. James' Court (Acts 21:20). In fact, the best-seller books of the period (Ante-Nicean fathers unto the beginnings of the early church councils - 300-325 A.D.) should have a title, "How to Become a Successful Martyr." Any mention of Paul is manipulated and homogenized into former teachings; particularly so concerning the New Covenant and water baptism, etc.

Historical traditions and teachings which flow from the findings of the several church councils (300 A.D.to 325 A.D.(?) are:

Clergy rule, priestcraft, rituals, ordinances, with many grave clothes of Judaism retained and practiced today.
Established chronology (false), (particularly the writings of John, 85-100 A.D.)
Established holy days (false).
Plato's "Immortality of the Soul," along with other Greek philosophical thinking. [These false conclusions are the basis of cultic societies (I Tim. 6:16). Ed.]
Pagan superstitions concerning the unseen world, angels, etc.
Eastern and Western churches, the guidelines and authorities.
Self-sacrifice, a way for obedience to gain. Illustration: The practice of things, counted for gain. In the Acts Period, Paul personally lived as a Jew, religious-wise. To him at that time, it was counted as gain. Post-Acts things, prior to the Mystery, were counted as gain, NOW, those things are counted as loss, and as dung (Phil 3:4-8, 13).
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Col. 2:8.)

C. E. McLain 10/26/87.

https://rightdivision.com/articles/mystery-gods-sacred-secret-complete-word-god-eph-39-col-12526