Program Differences
By Rick Combs
In our last post, I posed the question: Do you want to follow Jesus? My answer was: Then do it according to the revelation of the mystery as outlined in detail in Paul’s epistles. Follow his example. Here is where the great deception comes in; from the 1st century of the church, the prophecy program of the Gospel of the Kingdom and Paul’s mystery program of the Gospel of the Grace of God have gotten mixed and confused. What we need to understand is that there are differences. The Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Christ, or the Grace of God are not the same.
Being in Christ was always part of God’s plan for heaven and earth. That Israel needed to be found in the Lord was nothing new. When Christ came, he taught that they needed to be in Him, and that they would be one with the Father (John 17:21). Those in Christ according to prophecy were part of Israel’s kingdom covenants (John 15:5). Under that system, a Gentile had to go through Israel in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
Those that are in Christ according to the mystery dispensation (or program) of Christ are part of a new creature, without Jew or Gentile distinction (2 Cor 5:17, Col 3:10-11). Out of the two, Jew and Gentile, God made one new man in Christ in this current dispensation (Eph 2:15-16). What a wonderful gift this is; the whole world is in a blessed period of GRACE. Praise God!
Making the Church, the Body of Christ spiritual Israel and mixing what is taught in the four Gospels with the teaching in Paul’s 13 epistles spells nothing but confusion and bad theology, and sometimes even false doctrine. For instances; Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”. Jesus speaks of an if – then command. If we forgive others, then we will be forgiven. But in Ephesians 4:32 Paul says, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. Colossians 3:13 basically says the same thing. These verses are clearly about forgiving others as a result of already being forgiven; the cross.
The two statements are not the same! They are both correct, but cannot be correct at the same time. Matthew 6:14-15 belongs to the Kingdom prophecy program and was conditional based upon their behavior, while Ephesians 4:32 belongs to the mystery or grace program and is unconditional based upon what Christ did for us on the cross in dying for our sins.
Here are some other differences that will enable us to understand the mystery program of today. Look up the scriptures for your learning and understanding.
Prophecy Program – God’s focus is the earth (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1; Genesis 13:15-17; Deuteronomy 11:21; Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 23:5; Psalm 37:9-11; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 6:10;)
Mystery Program – God’s focus is for the heaven (Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Prophecy Program – God’s program is prophecy- spoken about since the world began (Luke 1:68-70; Acts 3:21-24; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:7; 18-19)
Mystery Program – God’s program is mystery- kept secret (mystery) since the world began (Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:4-11; Colossians 1:26; Romans 11:25;
1 Corinthians 2:7-8)
Prophecy Program – God’s chosen; elect nation is Israel (Abraham; Isaac; Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) and his twelve sons); who will be given supremacy over the nations (Gentiles). (Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Isaiah 44:1-5; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 61:6; Deuteronomy 28:13; Deuteronomy 32:9; Exodus 19:6; Matthew 10:5-10; 1 Peter 2:9)
Mystery Program – God’s elect people are the Body of Christ (the church where there is neither Jew nor Gentiles; but one new man). (Romans 10:12; Romans 3:22; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 2:16-17; Romans 12:5)
Prophecy Program – Redeemed Israel to rule and reign with Christ in His kingdom on the earth (Isaiah 62:1-4; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Exodus 19:4-6; Revelation 5:10)
Mystery Program – The Body of Christ to rule and reign with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 6:3; 2 Timothy 4:18)
Prophecy Program – The gospel of the kingdom is central (Matthew 3:24; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 24:14; Luke 9:2; Mark 1:14-15)
Mystery Program – The gospel of the GRACE of God is the theme (Acts 20:24; Romans 1:16; Colossians 1:5-6; Romans 3:23-25; Ephesians 3:2; Ephesians 2:5-8; Titus 3:7)
For a full listing check out the excellent chart of Differences Between the Earthly Program and the Heavenly Program at www.gracefamilybiblechurch.org/?subpages/Heaven-and-Earth-chart.shtml.
We have only begun with the differences between the Prophecy Program and the Mystery Program. We will look at more in the next post.
Grace and peace be unto you.