Rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Part 43
Rightly dividing the Word of truth.
This is part 43 in a series of 53 articles about RIGHTLY DIVIDING GOD’S WORD OF TRUTH. All scripture quoted will be from the King James Bible.
In part 43, I am going to show you some of the contrasts between God’s earthly program for Israel under law, and God’s heavenly program for the Body of Christ under grace. Today, all believers are part of God’s heavenly program, which is under grace.
THE FOLLOWING ARE ONLY SOME OF THE BIBLE CONTRASTS IN THE BIBLE:
If you read these contrasts very carefully and look up the scriptures given, you will see they are not contradictions, but changes that were made by God when He revealed the Grace message to our Apostle Paul.
Special Abbreviations: (e.g.) meaning “for example” (ff.) meaning “following verse or following verses” (EP) meaning Earthly Program—(HP) meaning Heavenly Program
(EP) Blessing through Israel’s Rise is promised the Gentiles in the Old Testament through early Acts. Isaiah prophesied that Israel will be given supremacy over the nations (Isa. 60:10-12; 61:6). From that position of priority Israel shall be a blessing to all the nations of the earth (Gen. 22:17-18; Zech. 8:13; Acts 3:25- 26).The prophet further states that “the Lord shall arise upon thee [Israel}.” Then “the Gentile shall Come to thy [Israel’s] light, and … rising” (Isa. 60:1-3). Jerusalem and the Jews will be the route whereby the nations come to God (Zech. 8:22-23). The Gospels confirm these prophecies (Mark 7:27; 11:17).
(HP) Blessing through Israel’s Fall, apart from Israel, is presently God’s program. Now “there is no difference between” Jew and Gentile before God (Rom. 10:12). The Jews rejected the Word of God Paul preached so “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles” (Acts 13:45-47; 28:25-28). It is through Israel’s unbelief,” “blindness,” “casting away”; “through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles” (Rom.11: 11-15-25-30).
(EP) Tongues a Sign: Isaiah prophesied that God would speak to His people Israel with “another tongue” (Isa. 28:11-12). At Pentecost, “Jews … out of every nation under heaven” heard the disciples “speak with other tongues” (Acts 2:4-6). “Jews and proselytes … ” heard “them speak in our tongues” that is, native languages (Acts 2:8-11). The Apostle Paul wrote that “the Jews require a sign” (I Cor. 1:22). He urged mature understanding and then quoted what Isaiah wrote. He concluded that speaking with other”tongues are for a sign” to unbelieving Jewish people (I Cor. 14:20-22).
(HP) Tongues to Stop: Paul regarded tongues as the least of spiritual gifts (I Cor. 12:28-31; 14:19). Tongues were prominent in the most unspiritual New Testament church (I Cor. 3:1-4). Thus it is not surprising to read Paul’s statement: “whether there be tongues, they shall cease” (I Cor. 13:8). Instead, for the present time “now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three” (I Cor. 13:13). God has presently cast away Israel the sign people in blindness, (Rom. 11:15-25). Thus the very purpose for tongues has ceased.
To be continued