All the apostles except Paul were apostles to the Jews. They were concerned with the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel. It was a promise of land and an earthly kingdom where a son of David (Jesus Christ) would rule as king. The Apostle Paul was the apostle assigned to the Gentiles. He preached the gospel of grace. His citizenship, like ours, is in heaven. His destiny is the same as ours – it’s in heaven. So, when he spoke to Gentiles concerning the kingdom of God, he was speaking of the heavenly kingdom. Paul expanded his ministry in hopes of saving some of his fellow Jews, whom he loved dearly. When he spoke to them of the kingdom of God he was speaking of the earthly kingdom which was to be their destiny.

Some say that we dispensation of grace believers will rule with Jesus over His earthly kingdom. However, according to The Revelation of John, it will be those new covenant elect of the tribulation period who will rule as kings and priests of the earthly kingdom of God. During the time of The Revelation, that is the tribulation period, the church – the Body of Christ is no longer on earth; only new covenant believers remain. Jesus speaks of these tribulation period believers as follows:

Rev. 1:
6 and He has made us (John and the seven churches of Asia) to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father-to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev. 5:
10 "You have made them (from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues) to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."


The King James Version may be a better translation of the same verses by making them more clear.

Rev. 1:
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev. 5:
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.


The kings and lords that Jesus will be king and lord over will be those New Covenant believers who come out of the tribulation period and serve as kings, lords and priests of the earthly kingdom of God.

Rev. 19:
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.


The mystery dispensation of grace which was hidden from all past ages and generations was revealed to the Apostle Paul as follows:

Rom. 16:
25 ¶ Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

1Cor. 2:
7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

Col. 1:
25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship (KJV: DISPENSATION) from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

Col. 1:
26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Gal. 1:
11 ¶ For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Eph. 3:
1 ¶ For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-
2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship (KJV:DISPENSATION) of God's grace which was given to me for you;
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.


Nothing can be transferred from the dispensation of law into the dispensation of grace and made to be part of Body of Christ doctrine much less its grace plan for salvation. According to the Pauline epistles, Body of Christ doctrine is considered “mystery doctrine.” It was called “mystery doctrine” because it was completely unrevealed during the dispensation of law or for that matter during any other time of recorded human history until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul. Rightly dividing the word of God by separating the Apostle Paul’s writings from the other books of the Bible and correctly identifying Paul’s epistles as the only scriptures containing mystery doctrine for the dispensation of grace does not devalue the other books of the Bible.

2Tim. 3:
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

The gospel of the kingdom as proclaimed by John the Baptist:
Note: “Gospel” means good news and pertains to specific information pertinent to salvation. The gospel of the kingdom had many requirements for eternal life and contained no assurance of salvation.

Water baptism, repentance and confession of sin:

Matt. 3:
1 ¶ Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,
"THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
`MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"

Matt. 3:
6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

Mark 1:
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Notice that both water baptism and confession of sin were doctrines of the kingdom. Both had the context of forgiveness and cleansing. The New Covenant doctrine of water baptism is reaffirmed in Acts 2; the only difference being that Peter baptized in the name of Jesus.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This New Covenant doctrine of confession is re-affirmed in 1 John.

1John 1:
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In none of his epistles does the apostle Paul teach water baptism or confession for cleansing or forgiveness of sin. Both are works and neither have a place in the dispensation of grace.

Matt. 3:
11 ¶ "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.


The baptism with the Holy Spirit is recorded in Acts.

Acts 2:
1 ¶ When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

The baptism of fire will take place at the second advent of Christ. Just as God used the flood in Noah’s day to remove unbelievers from the earth at the beginning of the “dispensation of promise,” Jesus will use fire to remove the unbelievers at His second advent at the beginning of the “dispensation of the kingdom” where He will rule the world as king.

2Th. 1:
6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed-for our testimony to you was believed.

Luke 17:
24 "For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.
25 "But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 "It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;
29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 "It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

The gospel of the kingdom (the salvation message) as proclaimed by Jesus Christ:

The kingdom message was only for Israel:

Matt. 10:
5 ¶ These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;
6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matt. 15:
24 But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Luke 1:
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

Redemption was for the Jews.

Matt. 27:
37 And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Jesus was not and still is not king of the Gentiles.

John 4:
22 "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Salvation is from the Jews.


Belief in His name – the Christ, the son of the living God, the Messiah, King of the Jews:

John 3:
16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

In this passage there is no salvation gospel message for dispensation of grace, church believers. It speaks only of the birth of Jesus, certainly not His death since at this juncture in scripture it has not taken place. Notice it speaks of sending into the world God’s only born Son, not a savior to the cross. At this point in scripture the “whoever” is limited to any Jew.

John 3:
36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Notice the mixture; belief and obedience – faith plus works.

John 3:
17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

There is no faith in Jesus for salvation in this passage. What is required for Israel or the elect Jews is to believe in His name, i.e., Messiah. This is a kingdom message that demands faith that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed Messiah, king of Israel.

John 5:
24 ¶ "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

No expression of faith in Jesus for salvation is found here.


Repentance for salvation:

Matt. 4:
17 ¶ From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."


Good deeds for salvation:

John 5:
28 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.


Self denial for salvation:

John 12:
25 "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.


Keeping the Law of Moses for salvation:

Luke 18:
18 ¶ A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
20 "You know the commandments, `DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'"
21 And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."
22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
23 But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
24 And Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!

John 14:
15 ¶ "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.


During the dispensation of grace we are not mandated to keep the law (the commandments).

Rom. 3:
28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Gal. 2:
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Gal. 3:
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

Phil. 3:
9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,


Confession of Christ for salvation:

Matt. 10:
32 ¶ "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Luke 12:
8 ¶ "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;
9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.


Faith plus baptism for salvation:

Mark 16:
16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.


Spoken words can cause condemnation:

Matt. 12:
36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."


Signs and wonders accompany those who are saved:

Mark 16:
17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

In other words, anyone who can’t perform these signs and wonders has not believed, thus is not saved.


Forgiveness was established by forgiving others:

Matt. 6:
14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matt. 18:
35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

Mark 11:
25 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.
26 ["But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."]

Christ’s church of the New Covenant:

Jesus Christ prophesies the beginning of His church of the New Covenant in Matthew 16:18-19. Historically, the Jewish church of the New Covenant began on the day of Pentecost.

Matt. 16:
18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church (the verb will build is future tense. Historically, it took place on the day of Pentecost.); and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
19 "I will give you (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

Acts 2:
1 ¶ When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

Acts 2:
10 ". . . both Jews and proselytes, . ."

Be sure to understand that this New Covenant church (the Way) was for Jews and proselytes (gentiles that were circumcised and practiced Judaism) and is not to be confused with the Body of Christ.

Acts 2:
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

It was to this church of the New Covenant which Christ initiated with the twelve apostles that had its historical beginning on the day of Pentecost to which souls were added to in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Notice how this New Covenant church had all things in common: They were all Jews or proselytes. They all believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of the living God. They were all citizens of the kingdom of God. They were all waiting for their king to return and establish His kingdom. They had sold their property and possessions and shared everything with one another. They ate together and probably lived and slept together. Their meeting place was in the temple. It sounds a lot like a 1960’s hippy commune doesn’t it. But it surely doesn’t resemble the modern day church. That’s because it’s not.

Acts 19:
1 ¶ It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.
2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism."
4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.

Over a period of time, the Disciples of Christ who had received the baptism of John were re-baptized in the name of Jesus and were added to this New Covenant church.


Throughout the book of Acts this New Covenant church is referred to as the “Way.”

Acts 9:
2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Acts 19:
9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

Acts 19:
23 ¶ About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.

Acts 22:
4 "I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,

Acts 24:
14 "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;

Acts 24:
22 ¶ But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case."


Gal. 2:
9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

The above scripture details an agreement between Peter, James, John and Paul. If we had no evidence other than this agreement, it should still be obvious that Peter, James and John’s commission was only to Jews; while Paul’s commission was only with Gentiles. Consequently, the epistles of Peter, James and John were only written to Jews and only contain Jewish doctrine; while the epistles of Paul were only written to Gentiles and contain the doctrine of Grace. Because of his great love and concern for his fellow Jews, Paul did expand his ministry to include speaking in local synagogues as he traveled from place to place. In his writings there are times when Paul speaks of his fellow Israelites, their failure, and his desires for their salvation, but one can always determine whom Paul is addressing through the context of his message. In his writings Paul states that he had never built on another man’s foundation, so it stands to reason that he did not attempt to infringe into the territory of the other Apostles. There is one account of Peter going outside of Jerusalem to Antioch, which resulted in a confrontation between himself and Paul. Other than that, there is no record in the scriptures that Peter, James or John expanded their ministry to Gentiles, nor is there record of any missionary journeys such as Paul undertook.


The gospel of the kingdom as proclaimed by Peter:

Acts 2:
38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

New Covenant baptism is in water and identifies the believer with the king and the kingdom. It is a part of the gospel of the kingdom. Dispensation of grace baptism is the baptism of God the Holy Spirit and takes place at the point of faith. It identifies the believer with Jesus Christ as his savior. The believer is baptized by God the Holy Spirit, not by a man. The believer is baptized into the Body of Christ, not water. This is a dry baptism. And the believer is baptized into His death, burial and resurrection, not a drowning or a watery grave. His death was dry. His burial was dry. Jesus’ baptism of the cross identified Him with our sins and it was dry also.

Luke 12:
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

The following scriptures will reveal the contrast between kingdom baptism and dispensation of grace baptism:

Rom. 6:
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

During the dispensation of grace we are baptized into the Body of Christ Jesus, not into water.

Rom. 6:
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

We have been (at the point of faith) buried with Him though baptism unto death. Note that He was not buried in a watery grave. Neither are we.

1Cor. 1:
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.
16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

The Apostle Paul received the new mystery doctrine of the dispensation of grace directly from Jesus Christ, as Isaiah says it in 28:10 `. . A little here, a little there' so it was for Paul. He received the doctrine and refinements of the doctrine over an extended period of time through many educational encounters with the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s why the book of Acts is a book of transition. In ignorance Paul baptized a few people (mentioned in the scripture above). Over time Paul had learned that water baptism was inappropriate for our dispensation. He states that he thanks God that he only baptized a few, and confirms that unlike kingdom doctrine, baptism during the dispensation of grace is not a part of the gospel, i.e., not a part of the plan of salvation.

1Cor. 12:
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Again the scripture says that we Body of Christ believers are baptized into one body. That one body is the body of Christ, not a body of water. Furthermore, it says we are baptized by the Spirit, not by man.

Gal. 3:
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Note that we are sons through faith, not through water baptism.

Again the baptism mentioned here is into Christ, not into water.

Eph. 4:
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

That one baptism is not water baptism. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It takes place at the moment of salvation, at the point of faith in Christ as our savior. It identifies us with Christ. It places us eternally in union with Him.

Col. 2:
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

We Gentiles have been circumcised with a circumcision made without hands and we are buried with Him in baptism and that baptism is also made without hands. We were also raised up with Him through faith by the grace and power of God. Our citizenship is of Heaven and positionally we are presently seated with Him in those Heavenly places at the moment of salvation.

Phil. 3:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

Acts 10:
34 ¶ Opening his mouth, Peter said:
¶ "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,
35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.

These words were spoken to Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Cornelius was a Gentile proselyte. Peter was sent by God to this devout Gentile to bring him and others like him into the little church of the New Covenant. Cornelius is told that all who fear God and do rightly are accepted. This is definitely not the message of the gospel of grace.

Furthermore, Peter tells him:

Acts 10:
43 "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

Believing in the name of Jesus is a kingdom message. In effect it is acknowledging that Jesus is the Christ; the Messiah. There is no dispensation of grace message here pertaining to trusting in His finished work on the cross for salvation, i.e., how He died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried and was raised again because of our justification.

Also, we know that this is not the grace message because all the prophets taught this message. The grace message was not taught before Paul taught it.

Col. 1:
25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


Acts 10:
44 ¶ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.
45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,
47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"

Water baptism is an aspect of the gospel of the kingdom; whereas, dispensation of grace baptism is dry.

Acts 10:
48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

All of the water baptized, believing Gentiles were added to the church of the New Covenant.

1Pet. 1:
1 ¶ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
¶ To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

The two books of Peter were written to the Jewish chosen (elect) that were scattered through out the ancient world.

1Pet. 1:
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Notice that they were chosen to obey Jesus Christ. This is the Jewish elect.

1Pet. 1:
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

This is typical New Covenant doctrine. It involves human conduct. It is works not grace.

1Pet. 1:
17 ¶ If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

New Covenant doctrine: Judgment according to works – not a grace message.

1Pet. 1:
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Knowing about the blood redemption of Christ, these new covenant believers were still to conduct themselves under fear because of the judgment of God.

1Pet. 2:
1 ¶ Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

New Covenant salvation was an ongoing process which involved belief that Jesus was the Messiah, water baptism, confession of sins, keeping commandments, good works, etc., etc., plus overcoming the world.

Pet. 2:
9 ¶ But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

All those that are being spoken of here are believing Jews – Peters little flock – the church of the New Covenant.  Members of the Body of Christ are not a chosen race, not a priesthood (royal or otherwise), not a people for God’s own possession. We are the sons of God.

This is obviously directed toward Jews because we all understand that they are God’s chosen race. Under the Old Covenant, only the descendants of Aaron were eligible for the priesthood, but during the reign of Christ over His earthly kingdom, every Jew will become a member of the royal priesthood and be required to perform priestly duties. Herein lies one of the answers as to why healing. There are four reasons for miracles, signs and wonders:

1) To give authority to a person.
2) To give authority to his ministry.
3) To give authority to his message.
4) To physically qualify individuals to function as priest.

Since the kingdom’s Jewish population would all be priest, it was necessary for them to physically qualify. Physical requirements had already been established by God. These specifications demanded that those with handicaps be healed before eligibility; thus the necessity of healing. Healing qualified the Jew for just one more aspect of the kingdom – to perform the duties of the royal priesthood. Consider the following:

Lev. 21:
17 "Speak to Aaron, saying, `No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God.
18 `For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb,
19 or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand,
20 or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles.
21 `No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to come near to offer the LORD'S offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God.
22 `He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy,
23 only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.'"

Most of the healings done by Jesus that are recorded in scripture fall under the reasons of 1, 2 or 3 above; however, we have no idea how many unrecorded He healed but we do know from scripture that there was an enormous amount, and many of those unrecorded healings done by Jesus and His disciples were done because of the 4th reason – qualifying the royal priesthood.

John 21:
25 ¶ And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they *were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself *would not contain the books that *would be written.

1Pet. 2:
10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

This is not speaking of Israel. Israel is a people; a nation of unbelievers. Those spoken of here are the elect Jews who believe that Jesus is the Christ. They are members of Peter’s little flock - the church of the New Covenant.

Rom. 11:
7 ¶ What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen (the elect Jews) obtained it, and the rest (Israel) were hardened;
8 just as it is written,
"GOD GAVE THEM (Israel) A SPIRIT OF STUPOR,
EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT,
DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY."
9 And David says,
"LET THEIR (Israel’s) TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP,
AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.
10 "LET THEIR (Israel’s) EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT,
AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER."



1Pet. 2:
11 ¶ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Notice: These people that Peter is addressing are Jews, not Gentiles.

1Pet. 2:
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

These Jews have been called for a special purpose; to follow the example set by Jesus of not offending the Law of Moses. Elect Jews under the New Covenant were empowered with the ability to keep the commandments. At the point of belief that Jesus was the Messiah the elect Jews were sanctified (forgiven of their past sins) because of the blood atonement of Jesus. Then when they received water baptism in the name of Jesus they were divinely empowered by God the Holy Spirit to keep the commandments and to resist sin.

Many modern churches tell their membership that they ought to be followers of Jesus. I have gone to great lengths to show that those who followed Jesus Christ were mostly Jews seeking citizenship in the kingdom of God. If we are going to follow Jesus, then we can’t pick and choose which of His commands we will follow. We must of necessity follow all of them. Should we, or more importantly, can we follow His mandates? The easy answer is no; and the reason is because we (in the dispensation of grace) have not been empowered with the divine nature that provides the ability to keep the commandments. For the dispensation of grace, Jesus has kept the commandments for us. We have salvation not because of self righteousness as the elect, but because we have imputed to us His divine, absolute righteousness.

1Pet. 2:
22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Jesus bearing the sins of the elect has given them power to die to sin (to no longer commit sins but live to righteousness).

1Pet. 2:
25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

1Pet. 3:
8 ¶ To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For,
"THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
11 "HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;
HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12 "FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL."

The above is to be the lifestyle of the elect Jews. This is certainly in contradiction to the instruction given to the Body of Christ in the dispensation of grace. Notice:

Titus 3:
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, . . .

Eph. 2:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1Pet. 3:
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Water baptism was a requirement for New Covenant kingdom believers.

1Pet. 4:
1 ¶ Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

Yet another scripture indicating that the elect have been empowered with the ability to stop sinning.

1Pet. 4:
3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

Another reference proving that Peter is teaching kingdom doctrine to Jews under the guidelines of the New Covenant; he is not teaching Gentiles under the dispensation of grace.

1Pet. 4:
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

1Pet. 4:1
8 AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?

Under the New Covenant teachings, at the time of the doctrine of the kingdom, it’s easy to see how salvation must have been a difficult matter. But today during the dispensation of grace, salvation is as easy as believing that the all powerful Son of God did everything necessary for salvation while on the cross. That He who knew no sin (Jesus Christ) was made a sin sacrifice for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. From the cross Jesus said “It is finished.” He had done everything necessary for the complete, eternal salvation of mankind. We can’t add to it, nor can we take away from it. All that is left is as Paul told the jailer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved”. It’s that simple, and it is also that personal.

2Pet. 1:
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Also notice that to these elect Jews divine power of godliness has been granted.

2Pet. 1:
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

His promises have made them made them partakers of the divine nature and has allowed them to escape the corruption that is in the world. In other words they have received the power to resist sin. His promises are contained in the New Covenant.

This divine power was promised to Israel when they came into the kingdom at the Second Advent. Obviously, this power was given to the elect as they prepared for the upcoming kingdom. Consider the following:

Ezek. 36:
25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

2Pet. 1:
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing (electing) you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Entrance into the eternal kingdom refers to that earthly kingdom where the promise land will be given. Peter preaches a New Covenant kingdom message from start to finish. It’s about works and the fulfillment of an earthly promise of land made by God to the descendants of Abraham to be ruled over by a son of David, namely Jesus Christ. In Peter’s writings and teachings there is no dispensation of grace, no church doctrine – no grace; only kingdom doctrine, faith plus works.


The gospel of the kingdom as proclaimed by James:

James 1:
1 ¶ James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
¶ To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

As indicated in verse 1 the book of James is written to Jews. There is no information in the book of James pertinent to the dispensation of grace or its church. From start to finish, James is a book of works and Jewish traditions. This is definitely not a book of grace.

James 1:
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

This is Jewish religion and has nothing to do with the church – the Body of Christ.

James 2:
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Emphasis is on keeping the Law of Moses. This is New Covenant doctrine.

Concerning the Law, the Apostle Paul says:
Gal. 2:
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

James 2:
13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Obviously this is not grace doctrine. It’s about an individual showing mercy rather than God showing mercy.

James 2:
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

James 2:
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Both of the above scriptures are in stark contrast to the gospel of grace taught by the apostle Paul.

Rom. 4:
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

James 5:
12 ¶ But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

More works to deliver one from judgment.

James 5:
14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

Anointing with oil is an ancient Jewish ceremony – never practiced by Gentiles and totally inappropriate during this dispensation of grace. The church involved in anointing with oil is the church of the New Covenant.

James 5:
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

During the dispensation of grace, prayer for the sick cannot bring about forgiveness of sin.

James 5:
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Confession of sins one to another is never recommended by Paul and probably is not a good idea for the dispensation of grace.


The gospel of the kingdom as proclaimed by John:

The book of 1st John is addressed to the children of Israel. (See 1John 2:1 below.)  2nd John is addressed to the elect lady and her children, i.e., Israel (the elect nation of God) and her children - the Jewish people. (See 2John 1:1.  And 3rd John was written to Gaius. (See 3John 1:1) Gaius is said to be one of John's children, i.e., a Jewish person under John's ministry. (see 3John 1:3-4)

1John 1:
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

By comparing the above two verses a definite contradiction is obvious. On one hand we are told that cleansing of sin is accomplished by the blood of Christ; then we are told it is accomplished by confession of sin. If you look closely at verse 7 you will discover that in addition to the blood of Christ there is also a condition of walking (having one's life style) in the Light which produces both cleansing and fellowship.

Actually, neither of these activities is appropriate for salvation or fellowship during the dispensation of grace. In the dispensation of grace, cleansing is by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone as savior, believing He did everything necessary for eternal cleansing while on the cross. His work for salvation is complete. We can add nothing to it, nor can we take anything from it. Both of the above scriptures contain human works for forgiveness and cleansing by lifestyle and confession.

1John 2:
3 ¶ By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

Today, we are under grace alone; not the law – not the New Covenant.

1John 2:
12 ¶ I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake.

Body of Christ believers have their sins forgiven because of the saving work of Jesus Christ while on the cross; when He who knew no sin was made a sin substitute for us in order that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. His saving work has nothing to do with His name's sake. His name's sake speaks of the Messiah and His kingship.

1John 2:
17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Doing the will of God equals works, not grace.

1John 2:
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

Once again we have confession for salvation. Confession is something one does. It is works.

1John 2:
27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

During the age of grace we are told to “study.” Furthermore, the anointing is a kingdom doctrine for Jews. Oil was symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Thus anointing was symbolic of receiving the Holy Spirit. For we who live in the dispensation of grace the modus operandi is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which we receive at the point of faith.

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

1Cor. 3:
16 ¶ Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1John 3:
6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

The New Covenant elect of the kingdom were given divine power over sin.

2Pet. 1:
4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

1John 3:
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;

The New Covenant elect was made righteous because they practiced righteousness. They were righteous just as was Jesus – by choice.

In the dispensation of grace we are made righteous by receiving the imputed righteousness of God at the point of faith.

Rom. 4:
3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."

Rom. 4:
22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,


1John 3:
9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Once again we see that the Jewish elect of the kingdom were given special divine ability not to sin. Remember these people were functioning under the New Covenant not under grace.

1John 3:
15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Under the law there were certain commandments that, if broken, could be confessed and forgiven; while other commandments could not be forgiven but carried the death penalty. Murder was one of those unforgivable sins. One could not go to temple, confess his sin of murder to the high priest and have a sacrifice made for his sin. Instead, the murderer was taken outside the city and stoned to death according to Jewish law. Of course while on the cross, Jesus was judged by God the Father for all sin, including the sin of murder. Under Grace, because of the work of Jesus while on the cross, even murder is forgivable.

1John 3:
22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

This is New Covenant works for kingdom Jews. The procedure is grace for the dispensation of grace believer:


Eph. 3:
20 ¶ Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

With a promise like this, seems to me that we don’t need to be asking for stuff. All we need do in our prayers is give thanks.


1John 4:
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

These New Covenant Jews have overcome the world. For grace believers Jesus Christ has overcome it for us.

1John 4:
15 ¶ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

This is kingdom gospel – confessing that Jesus is the Son of God – the Messiah. Abiding has the connotation of continuing or remaining. It pertains to service and does not entail indwelling. For the gospel of grace believer – believing that Jesus is our personal savior places us in union with Him.

1John 5:
1 ¶ Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.

This is more kingdom gospel – believing Jesus is the Christ – the Messiah. Dispensation of grace gospel requires trusting Jesus Christ as savior.

1John 5:
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.

More works – keeping the law.

1John 5:
5 ¶ Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Here we have more emphasis on overcoming (persevering, remaining faithful) associated with believing that Jesus is the Son of God, but nothing pertaining to belief in Him as savior.

1John 5:
13 ¶ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Belief in the name (Messiah) contains no information about the Savior or His saving work on the cross.

1John 5:
18 ¶ We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

Being born of God or being born again is a Jewish, kingdom thing. When Christ told Nicodemus in John 3:7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again,’” He was speaking to a Jew during the Dispensation of the Law. Furthermore, first time the word “you” is used it is singular in the Greek, but the second time the word “you” is used in the sentence it is nominative plural in the original Greek. That means that the “you” He was addressing is not the singular person, Nicodemus, but the entire nation of Israel. The correct translation would be “Do not be amazed that I said to you (Nicodemus), you, (Israel) must be born again? You may say “In order to be born again there must be a first birth. Prove that Israel was ever said to be born.”

Note: Ex. 4:
22 "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, `Thus says the LORD, "Israel is My son, My firstborn.

Being born again is not church doctrine and does not apply to Gentiles today living in the dispensation of grace. Being born again is the kingdom’s elect receiving the empowerment to live a divine life – having the commandments written in their hearts and minds. We Gentiles are not born again. We become a new creature in union with Christ. We become church – Body of Christ.

2John 1:
9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

A person going too far refers to New Covenant Jews who do not remain faithful to the end; do not abide; do not overcome. There is no security of salvation for these Jews. In order to inherit the kingdom they must overcome the world, the flesh and the devil until the end. We grace age believers receive salvation at the point of faith. These Jews do not receive salvation until the Second Advent of Christ and then only if they have persevered to the end.


The gospel of the kingdom as proclaimed by Jude:

There doesn’t seem to be much information or agreement as to who Jude actually was. But he was, without doubt, a kingdom/New Covenant Jew and his writings were to those people.

Jude 1:
24 ¶ Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

Briefly, I’ll note that Jude adhered to the doctrine that the kingdom’s elect were divinely empowered by the new covenant to keep one from stumbling and to make one stand blameless and with great joy. The contrasting of doctrine is apparent here because in the dispensation of grace the believer is not blameless. It is Christ that is blameless and the believer is hidden safely in Him. We have no righteousness of our own, but have the imputed righteousness of God applied to our souls.

Col. 3:
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.


The gospel of the New Covenant/kingdom as proclaimed by the writer of the book of Hebrews:

The author of the book of Hebrews definitely was not the apostle Paul. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles and would not have written a book to the Hebrews. The book of Hebrews has a kingdom message from start to finish. It is not written to the Body of Christ nor does it contain any church doctrine pertaining to grace.

Heb. 3:
14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

Holding fast, enduring, remaining faithful, abiding, persevering, overcoming, etc., are all the same kingdom message. These people are sanctified at the point of faith but they do not receive salvation until the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, they are said to be partakers of Christ. We in the dispensation of grace are in union with Christ. He is in us and we are in Him. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Positionally, we’re seated in heavenly places with Him.

Heb. 4:
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.
9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

The “faith rest life” of claiming promises is Old Testament doctrine. The keeping of the Sabbath and the Sabbath rest is a part of the Law of Moses and is not for nor was ever intended for Gentiles.

Heb. 5:
9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

Nowhere in the writings of Paul, under the revealing of the mystery of the dispensation of grace, is it even remotely suggested that our obedience to Christ is the source of our eternal salvation. The gospel of obedience is a part of the gospel of the kingdom and New Covenant. It is for the Jewish elect, not for Gentile believers of this dispensation.

Heb. 8:
6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

But now (now means it is now in effect) He has (past tense) obtained a more excellent ministry.  Has been enacted (is past tense). The New Covenant was previously enacted after the death and resurrection of Christ on the day of Pentecost with the giving of the Holy Spirit and is still in effect at the time of the writing of the book of Hebrews.

Heb. 8:
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.

It (the Law) was faulted because no one could keep it.

Heb. 8:
8 For finding fault with them, He says,
"BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD,
WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT
WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS
ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND
TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;
FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT,
AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.
10 "FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
AFTER THOSE DAYS (the days of the Old Covenant), SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.  (By putting His laws in their minds and writing His laws in their hearts, the elect of Israel will be able to keep the Law, the commandments of God.)
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
11 "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, `KNOW THE LORD,'
FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,
FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
12 "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,
AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."

This New Covenant is only for the house of Israel and the house of Judah. The house of Israel because of the promised land and the house of Judah because of the promised king. The New Covenant is for the kingdom. It has its own doctrine that parallels (co-exists) with the dispensation of grace but does not in any way apply to the Body of Christ. At the time of the writing of the books of Acts, Hebrews, James, the books of Peter and John, and Jude the New Covenant/New Testament is in place. There are two different churches, two different gospels, two different baptisms, and two different destinies for these two different dispensations.

Heb. 9:
15 ¶ For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called (the elect) may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it (Jesus Christ).
17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are not written under the New Covenant because as the above verse indicate, it was necessary for Jesus to die before the New Covenant would be valid. The New Covenant was validated on the day of Pentecost by the giving of the Holy Spirit. Consequentially, the books of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John are Old Covenant/Old Testament covering a time period when the dispensation of the Law was in effect.

Heb. 10:
8 After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them" (which are offered according to the Law),

Heb. 10:
9 then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

He takes away the Law which is the old covenant and establishes the second covenant which empowers the Jewish elect. How they will be empowered by the new covenant is as follows:

Heb. 10:
14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
16 "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,"
He then says,
17 "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."
Heb. 10:18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Heb 8: 10-12 repeated in Heb 9: 16-17 outlined the New Covenant for the kingdom. That covenant is in effect for the elect of Israel from the giving of the Holy Spirit in the 2nd chapter of Acts until the last of that dispensation’s elect dies. Then it will resume for the elect of Israel during the seven year tribulation period and continue on into the one thousand year reign of Christ when He sits as king over the entire world from His throne in Jerusalem.

Heb. 10:
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Most preachers today just love the above scripture. They use it to motivate their members to attend church. Of course it’s not intended for the church of the dispensation of grace. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t attend church, only that the above scripture doesn’t teach it. It’s like reading somebody else’s mail and pretending that it was sent to you. However, you never hear the preacher quote the verse that follows. If they did it should become obvious to all, except the spiritually ignorant, that nothing in the book of Hebrews is Body of Christ doctrine.

Heb. 10:
26 ¶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

Scary isn’t it. Thank God we’re under grace. Grace gives security and confidence. Thankfully, we can say the same as our Apostle Paul:

2Tim. 1:
12 . . . for I know whom I have believed (Jesus Christ) and I am convinced (absolutely certain) that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him (the safe keeping of my soul) until that day (the day I stand in His glorious presence).


Heb. 10:
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.

None of these Jews will receive salvation until the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb. 10:
38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Endurance is a requirement of the kingdom. It has the same connotation as being faithful until the end, abiding, not shrinking back, overcoming, etc. These kingdom Jews must endure until death or the second advent, whichever comes first. Only then will they receive grace and salvation.

There is a difference between the types of faith shown by the elect Jews of the kingdom and Gentiles of the dispensation of grace. Paul describes it this way:

Rom. 3:
30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

The above scripture teaches that Jews are justified by faith and Gentiles are justified through faith. Exactly what does this mean? First let’s consider the faith of Gentiles. It is by grace through faith.

Eph. 2:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Then the faith of Jews is by faith through works. There is even an element of legalism (works) connected to their faith in every application except as Body of Christ during this dispensation of grace. Consider the following:

Heb. 11:
4 By faith Abel offered . . .

Heb. 11:
5 By faith . . . he obtained . . .

Heb. 11:7 By faith Noah . . . prepared . .

Heb. 11:
8 ¶ By faith Abraham . . . obeyed . . .
9 By faith he lived as an alien . . .

Heb. 11:
11 By faith even Sarah herself . . . considered . . .

Heb. 11:
17 ¶ By faith Abraham . . . offered up Isaac . . .

Heb. 11:
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, . . .
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed . . .
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention . . .

The above listed individuals lived before the Law, yet there is still an element of legalism associated with their faith.

Heb. 11:
23 ¶ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden . . .
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused . . .

Heb. 11:
27 By faith he left Egypt . . .
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood . . .
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea . . .
30 ¶ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down . . .
31 By faith Rahab . . . welcomed the spies in peace.

Heb. 11:
33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

Heb. 11:34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

For all of the above people the modus operandi was faith plus works. For Gentiles in the dispensation of Grace it is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone as our only means of salvation.

Eph. 2:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.


Heb. 12:
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
"MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

I have good news for you. God does not punish us and our test of sonship is not determined by whether or not we are disciplined. All the above is for New Covenant people, not us. God the Father does not punish the Body of Christ. We are body of His body, bone of His bone. We are hidden in Christ. We share His absolute righteousness. To condemn us to hell would be to send Jesus to hell. To scourge us would be to scourge Jesus. It just isn’t going to happen; not during the administration of grace.

Within the writings of the new covenant/kingdom doctrines you will never encounter the grace doctrine of liberty. Consider the contrasting difference contained in the words of Paul:

1Cor. 6:
12 ¶ All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

1Cor. 10:
23 ¶ All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

1Cor. 8:
9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

2Cor. 3:
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Gal. 2:
4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

Gal. 5:
1 ¶ It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Gal. 5:
13 ¶ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.


The gospel of the New Covenant/kingdom as proclaimed by the book of Revelation:
Most who teach the book of Revelation say that after these verses dedicated to the seven churches of Asia, the rapture takes place, the church is removed from earth and then the rest of the book of Revelation pertains to kingdom doctrine. However, I submit that all of the book of Revelation contains only future events, all of which is kingdom New Covenant doctrine. In the first verse we are told that Jesus Christ is revealing future events. This is a book of prophesy.

Rev. 1:
1 ¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place (haven’t happened yet); and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,

Rev. 1:
3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy (future events), and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (hasn’t taken place yet).

Rev. 2:
1 ¶ "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
¶ The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
2 ¶ `I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.
4 `But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 `Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent.
6 `Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'

All of the churches being addressed here are obviously Jewish in nature. They are churches of the New Covenant. Deeds, toil, perseverance, intolerance of evil men, testing false apostles, enduring for His name's sake (Messiah), loss of lampstand, and hating deeds of Nicolatians are all aspects of works and have nothing in common with the dispensation of grace, Gentiles or the Body of Christ. Also the comments pertaining to having ears and hearing and having eyes and seeing pertains to unbelieving Israel. Only the elect are able to hear and see. Israel is deaf and blind.

Rom. 11:
7 ¶ What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen (elected Jews) obtained it, and the rest were hardened;
8 just as it is written,
"GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR,
EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT,
DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY."
9 And David says,
"LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP,
AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.
10 "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT,
AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER."

Rev. 2:
8 ¶ "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
¶ The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 ¶ `I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 `Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'

Statements concerning, poverty, blasphemed by false Jews from a false synagogue, suffering, testing and tribulation, rewards only if faithful until death are legalistic, Jewish issues and have nothing to do with grace or its church.

Rev. 2:
12 ¶ "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
¶ The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 ¶ `I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 `But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.
15 `So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 `Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

Jesus says that there are some among them who hold to the teaching of Balaam who taught Balak how to overpower the Jews. This is a Jewish event that took place during the wanderings in the wilderness. It was actually a type of treason against the nation Israel. Then there is more Jewish doctrine about unbelieving Israel who can’t hear, the elect who can hear, giving of manna (which is a Jewish thing) and other blessings for those who overcome (which has absolutely nothing to do with grace).

Rev. 2:
18 ¶ "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
¶ The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
19 ¶ `I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
20 `But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 `I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
22 `Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.
23 `And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds (No doctrine of grace here).
24 `But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them- I place no other burden on you.
25 `Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come (persevere).
26 `He who overcomes (perseveres), and he who keeps My deeds until the end (perseveres), TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;
28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

Here we have another Jewish example for Jews. Jezebel was wife of a king of Israel who called herself a prophetess. We are told that if those in this church commit acts of immorality with her and eat things offered to idols (another Jewish no-no) don’t repent of their deeds will be thrown into the great tribulation. That great tribulation is the last three years of the tribulation period. Nowhere in the Bible can anyone find where the Body of Christ will enter that period of history.

Peter, James and John, being of the kingdom, had a big problem with eating things sacrificed to idols.

Acts 15:
19 James says, "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,
20 James confirms, “but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

Acts 15:
29 James writes, “that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell."

Acts 21:
25 James reconfirms,"But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."

Speaking of eating things offered to idols, Paul, only concerned with the mystery dispensation of grace, says:

1Cor. 8:
4 ¶ Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.
5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

Paul says that there is actually no such thing as an idol since there is only one true God. The indication is that if there is no such thing as an idol certainly there is no such thing as eating things sacrificed to idols.

1Cor. 8:
7 ¶ However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.

Food will not make you godly whether you eat or don’t eat.

1Cor. 8:
9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

We have freedom to eat what we please; however, for the sake of the weaker brothers we should abstain so as not to offend him.

1Cor. 10:
19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

NO!

1Cor. 10:
20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?
23 ¶ All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.  In grace, all things are lawful; but not all things edify.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake;

Eat anything, but don’t ask questions.

1Cor. 10:
26 FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake.
28 But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake;
29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?
31 ¶ Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

Paul has only one problem with what he eats; will it offend anyone? For Peter, James and John, what one eats is of major concern; and for Jesus Christ in His dealings with kingdom saints eating things sacrificed to idols is also a major issue. Why is there differing opinions?  Paul is under grace, while Jesus and the apostles to Isreal are under the law.

Rev. 2:
20 `But I have this against you, that you . . . eat things sacrificed to idols.

I bring this contrast of doctrine to your attention only so you can better understand that Christ is dealing with kingdom saints during the tribulation period rather than Gentile Christians during the dispensation of grace. The attitude of the Lord is consistent with New Covenant doctrine administered by the twelve apostles, as outlined by James in the book of Acts, but in direct contrast with the grace doctrine principles administered by the thirteenth apostle – Saint Paul. Conclusion: The churches referenced in the Revelation are kingdom churches; not dispensation of grace churches, not Body of Christ.


Rev. 3:
1 ¶ "To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
¶ He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: `I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

This is obviously not the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is quickened (made alive) by Christ Himself. The life that Christ gives is eternal.

Eph. 2:
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Eph. 2:
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Rev. 3:
2 `Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God

No doctrine of grace here. In contrast, Paul says “we are complete in Christ.”

Col. 1:
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

Col. 2:
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

Rev. 3:
3 `So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. (According to scripture those for whom He comes as a thief are swept into Hell)
4 `But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy (Being worthy has nothing to do with grace).
5 `He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life (The Body of Christ believer has a guarantee of salvation. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise. Our names cannot be erased from the book of life), and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
7 ¶ "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
¶ He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ¶ `I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (They have not denied that He is Messiah)
9 `Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you (The “you” in this scripture is the true Jew. Only the believing Jew is recognized by God as being a true Jew).
10 `Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 `I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 `He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
13 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

The rewards referred to here are earthly rewards in the temple in the new Jerusalem. These rewards are for Jews. Our rewards will be in Heavenly places.


14 ¶ "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
¶ The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15 ¶ `I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16 `So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17 `Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19 `Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20 `Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Many denominations today claim verse 20 as a salvation message. It most definitely is not. Many will tell you that the door is your heart and that Jesus is knocking, desiring to come in; and that if you invite Him into your heart you will be saved. This is worse than pure rubbish, this is heresy. No one has ever been saved by inviting Jesus into their heart. This is not a salvation passage. It is a New Covenant church passage spoken to kingdom Jews of the tribulation period. The dispensation of grace salvation message is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Yes, it is important what you believe. You must trust Him as your only means of salvation; believing that He died according to the scriptures as a substitute for your sins. That while on the cross He did everything necessary to provide you with everlasting salvation thus appeasing forever an offended, righteous and angry God. That He was buried, and rose again from the grave according to the scriptures.

Rev. 3:
21 `He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 `He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

The church of the mystery is not wretched, miserable, poor, blind, or naked. Jesus Christ will not spew His Body, the church that He loves and died for, out of His mouth. To teach such a thing is ignorance bordering on insanity. Enough said.


The tribulation period, as recorded in the book of The Revelation to John, is a time of great wrath; a time when God will pour out the wrath of His judgment upon the earth.

Rev. 6:
15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;
16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"


The church (the Body of Christ) will not go through the tribulation period, that great day of wrath, but will be raptured out before it commences.

Rom. 5:
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

1Th. 1:
10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

1Th. 5:
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,


The Lord Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, all 12 of the apostles, including Peter, James, John, and the writer of the book of Hebrews all taught the same thing – kingdom New Covenant doctrine. In summary, the gospel of the kingdom demanded belief and confession of Jesus as the Christ, the anointed Messiah, the Son of the living God. It required water baptism, repentance, keeping the Law of Moses, circumcision, confession of sin, living a holy life, and perseverance to the end. It was a system of faith plus works. It contained no assurance of salvation.

Consider the following: We all know that Jesus told the apostles that anyone who denied Him before men, that one He would deny before the Father in Heaven. Peter had complete understanding of this when Jesus told him that before the cock crowed that he would deny Him three times. Peter insisted that it would never happen, but before dawn on the morning of the crucifixion, Peter had done just as the Lord had foretold. After cursing and denying that he ever new the man. Peter wandered away into the dawn of another day, ashamed, fearful and heart broken. He fully understood the ramifications of his actions. By his own words he had condemned himself. He had just lost everlasting life and the kingdom of God. Of course that same morning, unbeknownst to Peter, Jesus would die as a sin substitute in order that Peter’s sin of denial could be forgiven. At the time of his sin, Peter and the rest of the apostles did not understand that Jesus was going to die for their sins, much less be raised from the dead.

The sin sacrifice of Jesus: did He die for many or did He die for all?

Matt. 20:
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Matt. 26:
28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Mark 10:
45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Mark 14:
24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Heb. 9:
28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

In the above verses, we are told that Jesus died “for many;” then in the verses below we are told that Jesus died “for all.” This is an obvious contradiction unless you realize that in the books of Matthew, Mark and Hebrews “the many” referred to is Israel living under the New Covenant; and in the epistles of Paul “the all” referred to is the entire human race living during the dispensation of grace. God is dealing with two different groups of people during two different dispensations in two different ways. From the cross Jesus died for Israel who at that time were under the Old Covenant (the Law), sanctifying them of their past sins and also establishing a New Covenant with them, divinely empowered “the many” (the elect Jews) to keep His commandments, persevering to the end.

For those who live in the dispensation of grace, He died as a sin substitute for all sins – past, present and future, for all people whether they are believers or not; and provides salvation for all who believe in Him for salvation by imputing to them His absolute righteousness at the point of their faith.

Rom. 6:
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Rom. 8:
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

2Cor. 5:
14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Col. 1:
20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

1Tim. 2:
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

1Tim. 4:
10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

Titus 2:
11 ¶ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the grace of God. He brought salvation to all men through His death on the cross, but all men have not accepted that free gift of salvation by faith.


Possibly you ask the question, what about those who lived before the Old Covenant with Israel (the dispensation of the Law); did Jesus die for their sin also? The answer is yes.

Rom. 3:
21 ¶ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God had passed over the sins previously committed (i.e., before the Law) in order that Jesus would be the savior of everyone who has faith in Him. In other words God held in limbo the sins of those who believed His word in order that Jesus could pay their sin debt while He was on the cross and become their redeemer the same as He is ours.


Signs and Wonders:

Acts 2:
1 ¶ When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
5 ¶ Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.
7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs-we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."

Remember what we have already covered: there are four reasons for miracles, signs and wonders:

1) To give authority to a person.
2) To give authority to his ministry.
3) To give authority to his message.
4) To physically qualify individuals to function as priest.

But the gift of tongues is special and there is a fifth reason for it:

5) It was prophesied as a curse.

From the above scripture we can determine that when these Spirit filled people spoke, those in attendance from many different countries all heard them speaking in their own native language. This supernatural phenomenon had never happened before nor has it happened since. From this point on in scripture, speaking in tongues is not miraculously understood by those who hear it. It mandates an interpreter. Speaking in tongues does not mean, nor has it ever meant to speak gibberish as faked by modern day Pentecostals.

1Cor. 14:
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret;
28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

1Cor. 14:
13 ¶ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.


In the following verses, Paul makes it clear that the tongues that the Corinthians are speaking are foreign languages. He makes the point that words spoken without understanding are as the words of a barbarian (one who lacks literary culture, i.e., unable to understand or speak foreign languages) and do not edify the church.

1Cor. 14:
9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

This miracle of Acts 2 gives God’s authority to those speaking, their message and their ministry. Plus all of these languages that were being spoken were Gentile languages and were fulfillment of prophesy from Isaiah 28:11-12

1Cor. 14:
21 In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.

This prophesy of tongues was a curse upon the Israelites of the northern kingdom, Ephraim. Tongues were intended as a sign and a curse on unbelievers; never as a blessing for believers. Isaiah 28:11 actually says “through stammering lips and a foreign language.” You will notice the unbelievers who scoffed in Acts 2:13 accused those speaking of being drunk on wine. To them the words, as predicted by Isaiah, sounded like the stammering lips of an intoxicated person rather than the language of their homeland.

1Cor. 14:
22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers . . .

The following is from Peter’s encounter with Cornelius:

Acts 10:
44 ¶ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.
45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,
47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"

The Gentile proselytes spoke in tongues and were water baptized into the church of the kingdom.


When the dispensation of grace and its church, the Body of Christ, were in its early years, many of its members spoke in tongues. This was while the church was in transition. Signs and wonders, including tongues, were functional to give the ministry of Paul, his Gentile congregation and its church recognizable authority as being from God in order that the Jewish church and their Apostles would accept then as legitimate.

Modern day Pentecostals claim that the reason that most people today can’t speak in tongues is because of spiritual immaturity. If that were the case, probably none at Corinth would have been able to speak in tongues because they were all a bunch of spiritual babies.

1Cor. 3:
1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

Paul tells us that the gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge will be done away with; and that they will be replaced with love.

1Cor. 13:
8 ¶ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

There is much debate and difference of opinion as to what “the perfect” is that will terminate the gift of tongues and numerous other gifts of signs and wonder. Many, possibly most, believe “the perfect” is the finished Bible; however, I suspect that it is something else. Many years before the bible is completed, Paul’s writings are already silent concerning the gift of tongues, as well other gifts of signs and wonder. As Paul increased in knowledge concerning the church, the Body of Christ, through teaching encounters with Jesus Christ, the church became more mature and accurate in its doctrine. Doctrines such as water baptism, gifts of signs and wonders including tongues ceased. I suspect “the perfect” that came and eliminated those gifts of signs and wonder was the removal of all New Covenant church doctrine from the doctrine of the grace church, the Body of Christ. “The perfect” is full knowledge of grace church doctrine, delivered to Paul by face to face encounters with Jesus Christ. I believe that Paul compares himself growing as a child into manhood and doing away with childish things to the maturing of the church. Look closely at the next scripture. Read verse 10 above in context with verse 11 and 12 below and quite possibly you will better understand what I saying.

1Cor. 13:
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly (we do not know the full scope of the mystery doctrine of grace), but then face to face (but in the future we will know the full scope of that mystery doctrine); now I know in part (at this time even I don’t know everything pertaining to grace doctrine), but then (when Jesus reveals it to me) I will know fully (I will know all there is to know about the mystery doctrine of grace and about it's application to the grace church) just as I also have been fully known.
13 But now (until full knowledge is delivered from Jesus) faith, hope (the word “hope” means confident assurance), love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.


Let me give you just a few words on the gift of healing.

2Cor. 12:7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-to keep me from exalting myself!
8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 2Cor. 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

2Cor. 12:
10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

By the time we get midway through the book of 2nd Corinthians, we find that the Apostle Paul does not have the gift of healing. He can’t even heal himself.

1Tim. 5:
23 ¶ No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

Obviously Timothy is having serious stomach problems. Paul recommends to his friend that he quit drinking water; instead, he tells him, drink a little wine for medicinal purposes. He does not attempt healing; neither does he pray that God heal him.

Phil. 2:
27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Paul is writing to the church at Philippi concerning a mutual friend who was sick enough to die. Paul does not say anything about himself praying for the healing of his friend or soliciting the church’s prayers in his behalf. There is an indication of a divine healing in than God showed mercy to both men. God has always had the power to heal. The only point I am making is that healing is a sovereign choice made by God and is no longer influenced by prayer.

2Tim. 4:
20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.

Paul mentions a sick friend he left behind. He does not solicit prayers for God’s intervention. At this juncture in Paul’s spiritual growth, he does not seek divine healing from God for either himself or others. We should follow his example.

Note: None of Paul’s later writings, generally referred to as prison epistles, contain any reference to tongues or the other gifts of signs and wonder.


The gospel of the grace of God as proclaimed by Paul:

Rom. 1:
16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1Cor. 15:
1 ¶ Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 ¶ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

In this dispensation of grace we are saved by grace through faith. But it does matter what we believe, because salvation is only through faith in the gospel. The gospel tells us the good news of how Jesus Christ died (spiritually and physically) as our sin substitute on the cross. And how He was raised by God the Father and God the Holy Spirit because of (not for) our justification, i.e., He was raised because His sacrifice was satisfactory in appeasing the offended justice of the righteous and holy God. His resurrection becomes our confidence that His saving work was accepted. Because of His sacrifice Jesus Christ became the appeasement of our sins and not our sins only but for the sins of the whole world (believers and unbelievers alike). With the sin problem no longer a factor, the question becomes one of faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ to provide eternal salvation. When we trust Him as our complete and only means of salvation, we receive His imputed righteousness as our own through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit baptism identifies us with Christ, places us in union with Christ and allows us to share (since we have none of our own) His perfect righteousness, His eternal life, His sonship with the Heavenly Father, His eternal destiny and His glory. This imputed righteousness that is given us is our seal of promise from God the Holy Spirit of a non cancelable, irrevocable, ticket to eternal life in Heaven with the God of our salvation.

Concerning salvation through faith during the dispensation of grace, consider the following scriptures:

Rom. 3:
21 ¶ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Rom. 3:
28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Rom. 4:
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

Rom. 5:
1 ¶ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rom. 9:
30 ¶ What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;

Gal. 2:
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Eph. 2:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Phil. 3:
9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

2Th. 2:
13 ¶ But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.


Paul addresses two groups:
During the lifetime of Paul, as we have amply noted, there were two churches in existence. In the scripture we can find where Paul addresses both groups.

Gal. 6:
15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Paul pronounces a blessing on both groups: "And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them.” The first half of verse 16 addresses the church, the Body of Christ, but so as not to leave out that other group of saints which still existed at that time, Paul also acknowledges them, "and upon the Israel of God." Who is this "Israel of God” whom he addresses? Obviously, they are none other than "the circumcision" to whom Peter, James, and John agreed to confine their ministries. They are the Jewish elect of Israel.

Gal. 2:
9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.


Should we be followers of Christ or followers of Paul?

Most modern ministers tell their congregation that they should be followers of Christ. That it is the Christian right thing to do. Some are so dogmatic about it that they would tell you that anyone who does not obey the commands of the Lord Jesus is a servant of Satan. But the Apostle Paul said that we who live during the dispensation of grace ought to be followers of him.  To clarify, established religions mandate following the commandments of the earthly ministry of Jesus and making His life the pattern for their lives.  As we have already shown, His earthly ministry was to Israel only.  Today we Christians ought to follow the grace teachings of the risen Christ as delivered to our apostle, Paul.  Paul's teachings are the same teaching he received from the risen Lord and has passed on to us through his epistles.

1Cor. 4:
16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

2Th. 3:
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

2Th. 3:
9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

Phil. 3:
17 ¶ Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.


I suspect that most Christians, if asked, would say yes we ought to be followers of the earthly ministry of Jesus. But do they follow Jesus, should they follow Jesus, or more importantly can they follow Jesus. Consider the following mandates of our Lord:

John 14:
15 ¶ "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Remember, James said, if you offend the Law in one point you are guilty of breaking them all. And the Lord said, if you hate you are guilty of murder. If you look with desire you are guilty of adultery. Consequently, in the eyes of God, mental attitude sins are as damning as the overt.

Matt. 6:
17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face

When was the last time you fasted? Did you anoint you head with oil first?

Matt. 6:
18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

If you fasted, did you keep it a secret?

Matt. 6:
19 ¶ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Do you have a banking account, saving account, retirement fund, etc? Jesus said don’t do it.

Matt. 6:
20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt. 7:
1 ¶ "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

You are condemned if you do. Truthfully, we judge people everyday. We have to because we are living in the devil's world, not the kingdom of God. We are surrounded by con artists and criminals who, except for our diligence to make sound judgments, would rob us blind and possibly even take our lives.

Matt. 7:
26 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

Do you act on all the words of Christ?  We do not have the luxury of choosing a set of words that he Lord used and acting on just that set.  We cannot keep some of His words and reject others.  If we are to be followers of the earthly ministry of Jesus then of necessity we must act on all of His words.

Matt. 5:
29 "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Matt. 18:
9 "If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.

Matt. 18:
8 ¶ "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.

Have you plucked out any eyes lately? Cut off any hands or feet? If they cause you to stumble (sin) then you need to act on the words of Christ.

Luke 12:
33 ¶ "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.

You need to sell your house, car, TV, sell all your possessions and give the money to charity.

Matt. 6:
25 ¶ "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

But Paul says:
2Th. 3:
10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

Luke 12:
29 "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.

Don’t worry about your life. Cancel all your life and health insurance. Stop going to the clothing and grocery stores. If you don’t provide for your own needs, certainly you will not be providing for your family.

But Paul writes:
1Tim. 5:
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own (needs), and especially for those (needs) of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Possibly you think I am being ridiculous; that no one would really sell all their possessions and give all the proceeds to charity and have no concern as to how they are going to live from one day to the next, what they are going to eat, or how they will be clothed. Yet, this is exactly what Peter’s little flock of the kingdom did. And well they should have followed the directives of Jesus, because they were His church of the New Covenant.  On the other hand, today, we are not members of the New Covenant church; but rather we are members of the church of grace, the Body of Christ.

Acts 2:
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 4:
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

Matt. 5:
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Luke 6:
27 ¶ "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Lend money at zero percent interest to friends and enemies alike. As a matter of fact don’t even expect repayment of the principle.

Luke 9:
3 And He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.

When you go on a trip don’t take anything with you; including money, suitcase or food. And only take one coat. You take the one coat so, if requested, you can give it away to whoever desires it.

John 13:
14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

When was the last time you washed a fellow Christian’s feet? The Lord said you ought to.

Matt. 5:
40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

You should forget about legal representation. Freely give the person suing you the shirt off your back and throw in your coat for good measure.

Matt. 5:
42 "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Give to a person whenever he asks and loan him whatever he wants.

Matt. 4:
23 ¶ Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

Jesus did these things. As a follower of Jesus, shouldn’t you do them too?

Matt. 10:
8 "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. . .”

Doing these signs and wonders are obviously a mandate from the Lord Jesus Christ. He didn’t say you ought to do these things. He said do them. Did He give orders to do the impossible? When was the last time you healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, cast out demons? If we are true followers of the earthly ministry of Jesus as outlined in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we can’t pick and choose what we want to do. We must follow all the mandates.

I asked the question, “Did Jesus give orders to do the impossible?” The obvious answer is no. The people to whom He gave all the above mandates were able to accomplish them because those mandates were for a different people (Jews) who were living under different guidelines (the kingdom doctrine) during a different administration (the dispensation of Law). Within less than three and one half years, everyone to whom He was speaking would be under the New Covenant. Through His sacrificial death they would be sanctified (their past sins would have been forgiven) and through the receiving of the Holy Spirit at baptism, they would be empowered to keep the commandments and enabled to perform signs and wonders. And yes, if the rich young ruler had sold all his possessions, given all his money to the poor and followed Jesus, he would have been with Peter and the other 11 Apostles on the day of Pentecost, received sanctification through faith in the Messiah and would have performed signs and wonders through the receiving of the Holy Spirit and (instead of lying about it) he would have been empowered to actually keep the commandments, and by persevering until the end he would have inherited eternal life in the kingdom of God that he so desired.

We live during a different administration (the dispensation of grace). We are to be followers of our Apostle, Paul. We can and should follow his mandates as outlined in his epistles.  Paul received the doctrines of grace directly from the risen Jesus Christ.  When we follow the doctrines of grace as recorded in the Pauline epistles, we are in fact following the risen Christ.

CONCLUSION:

Today, many local churches claim to be dispensational, but probably most believe that they are just an extension of Israel, and they believe that all the promises that God made to Israel also pertain to them. Of those who claim to be dispensational, many display graphs that indicate the time line for the different dispensations and most of them have it wrong.

When asked if they believe that the Christian ought to be a follower of the earthly ministry of Jesus, most modern day church members will give you a definite yes. They believe that salvation is through faith plus other various things they must do. They believe they have been born again.  If asked they will tell you that they are the elect. They think that John 3:16 contains the gospel of salvation. They believe that they are following Jesus in water baptism and that they need to repent (be sorry for and turn away from) their sins. They believe that good people go to heaven and that bad people don’t. They don’t really believe that a God of love will send anyone to a place of eternal hell fire and damnation. They believe that the ritual of water baptism replaces the ritual of circumcision and that it is important, possibly necessary, for salvation. They believe they must confess their sins in order to be forgiven of them. They believe that there is something about the public confession of Jesus (possibly walking the aisle in church) that seals their salvation. Many believe that salvation is obtained through calling on the name of the Lord and inviting Him into their heart. But, most think (if you pin them down on the subject) that they can lose their salvation because of something they either do or don’t do. They believe that America is a priest nation, blessed of God, composed of believer priests. They think that they will receive rewards in and be a part of the earthly kingdom of Christ. They believe that God is all love; that Jesus is all sweetness and light, and all that is needed to please God is to join a church, get right with their fellow man, make Jesus the Lord of their life and sing praise hymns to His holy name.

ALL OF THE CONCEPTS LISTED IN THE CONCLUSION ARE DEAD WRONG.

Most of us, myself included, at one time or another in the course of our lives, erroneously believed some of those doctrines listed above.  It's no shame to be ignorant, but it is a shame to remain in that condition. If you believe any of the above statements are true, I recommend that you re-evaluate your beliefs through a thorough, careful, prolonged study of the scriptures.  A good lesson plan for you would be to go through this document, and others at this website, as many times as necessary until you thoroughly understand right division.