Mid Acts Dispensationalism

The Grace Movement (By: Frederick E. Lewis – http://www.biblicaladvancedbasics.com)

The Grace Movement began in the 1930’s during the time of recovery of the fourth truth of
the distinctive message and ministry of the Apostle Paul via John C. O'Hair, Charles F. Baker,
Cornelius R. Stam, et al. Here is a tracing of the steps that led to this Movement.
In II Timothy 1:15 the Apostle Paul writes:

“This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned​
away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.”​

It was at that time that the distinctive message and ministry of the Apostle Paul began to
be lost. This plunged the Christian church into a downward spiral that resulted in the further
loss of:

the truth of the pre-tribulational rapture of the church the body of Christ; the difference
between Israel and the body of Christ; and the truth of justification by faith alone, in
Christ alone.

Over twenty years earlier Luke wrote in Acts 13:39 a quotation from a sermon by the
Apostle Paul concerning justification:

“And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things​
from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”​

Some historians have concluded that the loss of these truths contributed in a major way to
bringing in the historical period called the dark ages. It is suggested by the chart below that
these truths were lost in a particular order and that they were recovered in reverse order.

(Grace Bible College, TH 414 – (adapted excerpt from) Studies in Dispensational Theology,
T. F. Conklin, Course Prof., Spring 1994) -

- Pauline Truths Lost (Order of Loss):​

First: The Distinctive Message & Ministry of the Apostle Paul - II Timothy 1:15

Second: The Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ

Third: The Difference between Israel and the Church, the Body of Christ

Fourth: Justification by Faith Alone, in Christ Alone - Acts 13:39

Pauline Truths Recovered (Order of Recovery)​

First: Justification by Faith Alone, in Christ Alone Recovered via Protestant Reformation in the
16th Century via Luther, et al

Second: The Difference between Israel and the Church, the Body of Christ Recovered in the
1800's via John Nelson Darby, Ethelbert William Bullinger, Sir Robert Anderson, et al

Third: The Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ Recovered in the
19th Century via John Nelson Darby and included by C.I. Scofield in his Reference Bible,
published 1909

Fourth: The Distinctive Message & Ministry of the Apostle Paul Recovered from the middle
1900’s via John C. O'Hair, Charles F. Baker, Cornelius R. Stam, et al

During this entire process of loss and recovery of these truths, we saw the formation of most all
of the over 400 denominations that can be observed today. The total revelation, given to the
Apostle Paul by the Lord Jesus Christ, during Paul’s ministry of approximately thirty years, is
referred to as The Mystery.

A key point in understanding The Mystery is that God began a new program at that time to deal
with His creation. The former program, called the prophetic program or the kingdom, concerned
the Jews first, was prophesied by the prophets, had an earthly hope and calling, and involved the
Twelve Apostles.

This prophetic or kingdom program will be resumed after the current program has run its course
at the rapture of the Body of Christ. The current program, called The Mystery, concerns the Jews
and Gentiles alike, was not forecast in the prophetic Scriptures; it was hid in God, has a heavenly
hope and calling, and involves one Apostle, Paul.

Understanding The Mystery makes it possible to understand that there are no denominations in
the Bible and each current denomination is unique based upon which parts of the previous
program are combined with the current program. All of the differences of Bible interpretation can
be linked to this improper combining of two separate programs of God. A basic tool then would
be to divide the Bible into the two parts.

The chart below will identify which books of the Bible are written about which program.​
(Note, the books of Acts and Hebrews are transitional from one program to the other.)​

1698347760224.png

In II Timothy 2:15 we read:

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that​
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word Of Truth.”​

It is this principle of right division that makes it possible to understand the Bible, amid all the
denominational confusion. Remember what we read in I Corinthians 14:33:

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”​

If Satan wants to confuse the body of Christ (and you better believe he does) what better way
than to try to keep the members arguing over all the denominational differences that have
accumulated over the years.

I’ve heard it said that Romans 16:25: “...the preaching of Jesus Christ, According to
The Revelation of The Mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”
is
Satan’s worst nightmare and I believe this to be accurate.

There is a passage in I Corinthians that points out that the “princes of this world” (or
rulers, which would include physical as well as spiritual), would have done differently
had they known the significance of the Cross: I Corinthians 2:7,8:

“But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which​
God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this​
world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified The Lord Of Glory.”​

A summary of the major points contained within the beliefs of the Grace Movement
is as follows:

Mid-Acts Dispensational System of Bible Interpretation​
Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ​
Principle of Right Division (Dividing Prophecy from Mystery)​
Kingdom Gospel Differentiated from Gospel of the Grace of God​
Futurist Position for Understanding the Book of Revelation​
Premillennial View of the Future Earthly Kingdom​
Spiritual Baptism by the Holy Spirit of all Believers​
Observance of the Lord’s Supper “Till He Come”​
Eternal Security of Believers in the Body of Christ​

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Borrowed from Grace Movement PDF

Essentially, this is my own "statement of faith" - one minor Difference:

"Justification By Grace Through faith, in Christ, Alone."​

Amen.
 
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summary of the major points contained within the beliefs of the Grace Movement
is as follows:

Mid-Acts Dispensational System of Bible Interpretation Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ Principle of Right Division (Dividing Prophecy from Mystery)Kingdom Gospel Differentiated from Gospel of the Grace of God Futurist Position for Understanding the Book of Revelation Premillennial View of the Future Earthly Kingdom Spiritual Baptism by the Holy Spirit of all Believers Observance of the Lord’s Supper “Till He Come”Eternal Security of Believers in the Body of Christ
------------------
Borrowed from Grace Movement PDF
Precious friends, just one more thought as I was studying God's Wonderful Word today, and found:

"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that​
God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak The Mystery of Christ, for which I am
also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." (Colossians 4:2-4 AV)​

Question: If, as some say "The Mystery is only found in the 'prison' (in bonds?) epistles" of Paul,
then why was he 'imprisoned' for preaching The Mystery Christ before being imprisoned, and which,
as we have shown elsewhere, that parts of it are definitely 'found' in his other Love Letters from God.

Praise The Wonderful Lord Jesus, and thanks be unto Him for His "Wholesome Words Of
Truth" (1 Timothy 6:3 AV), that we, with Paul, also "ought to speak", eh?!

Amen.

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What Peter Taught, What Paul Taught,
To Whom... & Why it Matters!
16 Ministry Comparisons


There's a common theme throughout the Bible. Are we really obeying God through whom God has sent to us, specifically?

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." John 13:20

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Timothy 3:16

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6-7

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." Psalm 138:2


1a) Ministry - Israel:

"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 10:5-6

1b) Ministry - Gentiles:

"But the Lord said unto him [Ananias], Go thy way: for he [Saul of Tarsus "aka" Paul] is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" Acts 9:15

"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:" Romans 11:13

2a) Salvation - Works:

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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." Acts 2:36-38

2b) Salvation - Grace:

"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 2:8-9

"And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Romans 11:6

3a) Commission - Water Baptize:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew 28:19

3b) Commission - Not Baptize, But Preach:

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." 1 Corinthians 1:17

4a) Atonement - Waiting:

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" Acts 3:19

4b) Atonement - Now:

"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." Romans 5:11

5a) Gospel - Kingdom Circumcision:

"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." Matthew 4:23

5b) Gospel - Christ Uncircumcision, Grace of God:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:25

6a) Inheritance - Earth:

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5

6b) Inheritance - Heaven:

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" Ephesians 2:6

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" Philemon 3:20

7a) Resurrection Purpose - David's Throne:

"Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;" Acts 2:30

7b) Resurrection Purpose - Right Hand of God:

"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places," Ephesians 1:20

8a) Chosen People - Israel:

"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." Exodus 19:6

"But ye 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:" 1 Peter 2:9

8b) Chosen People - The Body of Christ:

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." 1 Corinthians 12:27

9a) Under - The Law:

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4-5

9b) Under - Grace:

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:14

10a) Justification - Works:

"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." James 2:24

10b) Justification - Blood/Faith/Christ's Work:

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Romans 5:9

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Galatians 2:16

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" Titus 3:5

11a) Forgiveness - Conditional:

"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:25-26

11b) Forgiveness - Unconditional:

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

12a) Eternal Security - Not Secure:

"Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me." Psalm 51:11

"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, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." Hebrews 6:4-6

12b) Eternal Security - Secure:

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." Ephesians 1:13-14

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30

13a) Unforgivable Sin - Blaspheme:

"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." Matthew 12:31-32

13b) Forgiven ALL:

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." 1 Timothy 1:12-13

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" Colossians 2:13

14a) Commandments - Keep:

"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:16-17

14b) Commandments - Abolished:

"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;" Ephesians 2:15

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Colossians 2:14

15a) Signs - Required:

"Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." John 4:48

15b) Signs - Not Required:

"For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:" 1 Corinthians 1:22

16a) Prophecy - Israel:

"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." Acts 3:21

16b) Mystery - The Body of Christ:

"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," Romans 16:25

"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:" Ephesians 3:9
 
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...Mystery - The Body of Christ:

"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," Romans 16:25

"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:" Ephesians 3:9
Precious @Victoria, Excellent post! :love::love::love:
 
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