by Rick Combs
It amazes me that when you show people steeped in a certain theological thought system, how they can completely ignore the straightforward passages of Scripture you read to them. If they read it, they don’t see it.
What is the general response? Instead of really considering the plain Scriptures, they immediately go to an avoidance argument such as, “well, you are a dispensationalist, but I am a (fill in the blank). Therefore, we interpret the Bible this way. But we love the same Jesus?” All the while they never grapple with the plain written words.
According to Galatians 1:8-9 and verse 12, the Apostle Paul is very specific about the gospel we are to follow.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed”. Paul continues. 12 “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ”.
These are frighteningly bold words with a warning! It’s the gospel of grace by which we are saved that was received by Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him”.
Which Jesus and which gospel are we to follow? The earthly one or the heavenly one?
It is so true. Old habits are very hard to break. I have more success with those who know nothing about the Bible and/or are not saved then those who are “Christians” and have been in church all, or much of their lives. We believe what we are taught. Today, most Christians do not read their Bibles, or read a version that adds or deletes from the Word of God. So, we trust the pastor/teacher in the pulpit to give us the correct information. Since almost all do not rightly divide the Scriptures, then what we are getting is I’m afraid, “another gospel” and “another Jesus”.
We assume that other gospel is from a religious cult or false religion. The reality is the other gospel is from a previous dispensation that is not intended for the Body of Christ today.
I had to take a hard look at the above scripture as well as 3 others. Romans 16:25-26 “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”.
How am I established in the faith? It is according to Paul’s gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to what? The revelation of the mystery. This mystery is new information because it was kept secret since the world began but now is manifested through the Apostle Paul’s revelation. Will I find this in the Old Testament or the 4 gospels? No. Plainly written. All we have to do is believe it.
Ephesians 3:2-5 “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 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”.
This is very straightforward. It is either true, or it is not. Is there a “dispensation of the grace of God”? Well, I guess so because that’s what it says. Plain words.
1 Corinthians 14:37-38 “…let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant”.
Is that true just as it is written? Instead of explaining it away or worse, completely ignoring it, I had to admit that what I was reading were God’s very words given to me through the Apostle Paul. This in turn was given to him as revelation from the Ascended Christ Jesus Himself. In order to follow Him, I better take this verse seriously.
We are in a spiritual war with an enemy that is tricky in his plan of evil. He can twist and navigate the Word of God with his famous old saying, “hath God said?” As long as what we are hearing in a message, or reading in an article has the word “Jesus” in it, we automatically assume that it is correct and from God. We look no further into the Scriptures to see if that information is correct and rightly divided. Please refer to 2 Timothy 2:15. Do we believe this verse as written?
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”.
Our minds can be darkened and blinded without even knowing it. Our ONLY source of truth is that old dusty King James Bible setting on the shelf. Pick it up, dust it off, and begin to read passages like 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 that tells you what the Gospel is and how to be saved by believing 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”.
Then go over to Paul’s epistle to the Romans and read about your new life in Christ that tells you 1 – you are now dead with Christ 2 – buried with Christ 3 – risen with Christ. That’s a very good place to start.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.