I ask that as we go through these lessons, that you get a Bible, read
it, pray, study, and ask the Holy Spirit of the Living God, to help guide you
into truth.
By comparing scripture with scripture, and comparing
spiritual things with spiritual things, is the only way Christians are able to
discern truth from error.
In this lesson I would like to
contrast a couple of things that changed as the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (Jesus’s
commission to Peter) was put on hold, and the dispensation of the grace of God
(Jesus’s commission to Paul) was ushered in.
2nd
Peter 3
[15] And account that the
longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul
also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
[16] As also in all his
epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things
hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,
as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
In the verses above we see Peter
putting his stamp of approval on Paul’s ministry and epistles which Peter now recognizes as scripture. When
Peter uses the word “wrest” he understands the importance of rightly dividing
the word of truth. Notice also Peter said Paul spoke some things hard to be
understood, but he didn’t say everything Paul spoke was hard to be understood.
As we look at the verses this week we
will not try and make them say anything but what they say and teach. We will
not be twisting or wresting these verses against themselves, or any other
scripture. I believe the verses are simple and easy to understand as written.
Acts.3 [20] And he shall send Jesus Christ,
which before was preached unto you: [21]
whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things,
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world
began.
Peter and the 11 disciple’s preaching of the
Lord Jesus were in light of well-known facts that were spoken and known by all the “holy prophets since the world began”. I am not going tell you these verses
mean anything but what they say, this information was available, and well known
(….spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began…), and in
no way was a secret, or mystery. Just read it, and believe it, it’s that
simple.
Rom.16 [25] Now to him that is of power to
stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret
since the world began, [26]
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to
the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the
obedience of faith: [27] To God
only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Now in Rom. 16 Paul tells us his
preaching of Jesus is according to the revelation of the mystery, “which was
kept secret since the world began”. Again just read it and believe it, Paul
clearly says “kept secret since the world began”.
One can only come to one conclusion,
the message Paul preached was simply not given to, known, or understood by any
of the other Apostles, or prophets until after Paul’s conversion!
Eph.3 [1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner
of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2]
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given
me to youward: [3]
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I
wrote afore in few words, [4]
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
[5] Which in other ages was
not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his
holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: [7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the
grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. [8] Unto me, who am less than
the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; [9] And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath
been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Now in Eph. 3 Paul tells us about the
“dispensation of the grace of God” given to him, and the revelation of the
mystery, which “was not made known unto the sons of men” in other ages, “which
from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God”. Again just read
it and believe it, “not made known”, “hath been hid in God”.
Hopefully you are picking up on the
fact that Jesus revealed to Paul information, facts, and instructions that had
been kept a secret for how long? Simple “since
the world began”!
Col.1 [24] Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you,
and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for
his body's sake, which is the church: [25] Whereof I am made a
minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for
you, to fulfil the word of God; [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
In Col. 1 Paul repeats again his
message of the “dispensation of God” given to him, and “the mystery
which hath been hid from ages and from generations”.
Again just read it, and believe it, “hath been hid”.
I believe anybody saved, or lost,
Christian or not, when reading and comparing the verses should be able to
clearly see that the message that Paul received by direct revelation from the
Lord Jesus was something different than anything that had ever been preached or
taught in the world prior to Paul’s ministry.
Why is this important? It’s important
because it is at the heart of sound doctrine for this period of time in the
year of our Lord 2015. If you fail to be able to discern the instructions that
applies to Christians today, you will be mired in unsound doctrine and never
able to live a victorious Christian life and be an effective witness for the
Lord Jesus.
1Cor.2 [13]
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Ok what we just did was a spiritual discernment
exercise, we compared spiritual things with spiritual things. We looked at what
Peter said in Acts and compared it to what Paul said in Romans, Ephesians, and
Colossians. Hopefully we are in agreement at this point in time, that Peter and
the 11 disciples had to be preaching something different than Paul. If they
ever did teach the Gospel of Grace they had to get it from Paul who received it
by direct revelation from Jesus.
Now let us look at how things
continued to change after Paul’s conversion, again this will be accomplished,
by comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
Acts.19 [11] And God wrought special miracles
by the hands of Paul: [12] So
that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the
diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Ok here in Acts Chp. 19 we have the
apostle Paul working special miracles, what were these special miracles? It
simply states that handkerchiefs or aprons that Paul touched were taken to people
that had diseases and evil spirits and they were healed. Pretty simple to discern what was going on in
this verse. Just read it and believe it, it’s that simple.
Alright question for you readers, can
we claim these verses today the year of our Lord 2015 and send out
handkerchiefs to all of our sick friends and relatives and expect them to get
better?
A couple of years ago I witnessed a
preacher claim the handkerchiefs he was passing out in church could heal people. Do you think this is scriptural, after all it’s in the Bible?
I say no, Paul is alive in heaven, he is not here with us on planet
Earth. Keep in mind the Handkerchiefs had to be touched by the Apostle Paul. We
are going to see by the end of this lesson that while Paul was still alive he
could no longer perform this special miracle.
Let’s move forward to the end
of Paul’s ministry, and compare a couple of verses with what happened in Acts.
Chp. 19. and see if we can answer those questions.
Phil. 2 [25] Yet I supposed it necessary to
send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and
fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. [26] For he longed after you all, and
was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
[27] For indeed he was sick
nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but
on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Now when we look at these verses we
see that Epaphroditus got sick, and there is no record of Paul sending him a
handkerchief or apron so he could be healed, in fact he almost died, but he
recovered and Paul states God had mercy on him, but there is no evidence of a
faith healer, Paul or Peter touching him, or his immediate recovery from his
sickness.
2Tim.4 [18]
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto
his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [19] Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the
household of Onesiphorus. [20]
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
Alright lets look at another
situation that I believe will really bring the point home, in this passage to
Timothy, Paul is closing out the epistle and passing along information and we
read “Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick”.
This time Paul has to leave a coworker Trophimus sick, it is very clear to me
that the sign gifts Paul displayed in the book of Acts were no longer in
operation, otherwise Paul would have whipped out a handkerchief or apron and
healed his friend. It’s that simple!
1Tim.5 [22] Lay hands suddenly on no man,
neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. [23] Drink no longer water, but use
a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
Another example in the above passage
Paul is continuing to give out instructions to Timothy and tells him it is ok
for him to use a little wine for his stomachs sake and infirmities. Again we
don’t see Paul whipping out a handkerchief or apron and healing Timothy, surely
that would have been the preferred method if he still had that ability.
Ok one last example of spiritual
discernment for this lesson, and why it is so important to not just read a
verse and think you can claim it and think it applies to you because it is in
the Bible. You can correctly interpret a verse, and still misapply it if you
don’t consider who is speaking and to whom is being spoken to.
I have seen more people try and
justify a drinking problem by quoting 1Tim.5, and telling me that Paul told
Timothy to drink wine.
Well let’s spiritually look at verse
23, and discern if we should use this verse for an excuse to drink wine.
First off Paul was talking to Timothy
who had something going on with his stomach as well as other infirmities. Just
taking the verse at face value Paul is giving Timothy the recommendation to use
the wine for medicinal purposes, not to get drunk or high.
So when we look at all the verses
Paul spoke of wine, it was always against the use of it to get a high, or end
up drunk. I cannot count the number of people I have personally known that have
been destroyed by drinking. I know of many cases where family members, and
supposed friends of people with drinking problems, will drink in front of their
recovering alcoholic friend, or relative and think it is ok.
Rom.14 [21] It is good neither to
eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is
made weak.
1Tim.3 [3] Not given to
wine, no striker, not greedy of
filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [8] Likewise must the deacons be grave, not
doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Tit.1 [7] For a bishop must be
blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given
to wine, no striker,
not given to filthy lucre;
Tit.2 [3] The aged women likewise,
that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not
given to much wine,
teachers of good things;
Every one of
these verses although not out and out saying a person cannot drink wine is
certainly not leaning in favor of it!
Eph.4 [14] That we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to
deceive;
As far as spiritual discernment when
you know where to get your doctrine from, you will no longer be a confused
Christian, or an easy target by the sleight of men to deceive you.
The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!
2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Come join with us as we study God’s Holy Word!
Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.
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