Our command for right division: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
Mid-Acts Dispensationalism provides the key to understanding God's Word properly and resolving apparent contradictions in scripture. This approach recognizes Paul's unique apostleship and the distinctive dispensation of grace revealed to him.
Salvation Requirements
Kingdom message required baptism: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16 KJV)
Grace message is faith alone: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
Law Observance
Christ upheld the law in His earthly ministry: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18 KJV)
Paul declares freedom from law: "For ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14 KJV)
Hope Differences
Kingdom promise was earthly: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5 KJV)
Body of Christ has heavenly hope: "For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20 KJV)
Paul's Gospel Clearly Stated
The saving message revealed: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved...For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV)
Direct from Christ
Unique divine appointment: "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father)" (Galatians 1:1 KJV)
Apostle to Gentiles: "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles" (Romans 11:13 KJV)
Distinct ministry: "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity" (1 Timothy 2:7 KJV)
Separate Gospel
Different message given: "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter" (Galatians 2:7 KJV)
Direct revelation: "But by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:12 KJV)
Distinct ministry focus: "And they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision" (Galatians 2:9 KJV)
Secret Until Paul
Hidden wisdom revealed: "According to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25 KJV)
Previously unknown: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations" (Colossians 1:26 KJV)
Special revelation: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery" (Ephesians 3:3 KJV)
Current Revelation
New truth revealed: "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men" (Ephesians 3:5 KJV)
Our responsibility: "To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery" (Ephesians 3:9 KJV)
Paul's special ministry: "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister" (Colossians 1:23 KJV)
Our Pattern
Following Paul: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV)
Clear direction: "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do" (Philippians 4:9 KJV)
Special ministry to us: "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles" (Ephesians 3:1 KJV)
Grace Operation
Proper foundation: "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation" (1 Corinthians 3:10 KJV)
Standing in liberty: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" (Galatians 5:1 KJV)
Salvation clarity: "For by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works" (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)
True Unity Explained
Spiritual unity: "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3 KJV)
Growing together: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13 KJV)
One mind: "That ye might be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV)
All Scripture Profitable (For Learning, Not for Doctrine)
Complete value: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)
Learning from all: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning" (Romans 15:4 KJV)
Examples provided: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples" (1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV)
Mid-Acts Dispensationalism:
Resolves Bible difficulties
Provides clear instructions
Shows God's purpose today
Maintains scriptural unity
Right division is commanded
Paul's ministry is unique
Mystery truth is for today
Grace now operates
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