What difference does it make?

WARNING!!!
This is a warning for all who are being lulled into oblivion by the great deceiver, Satan, using his greatest tool, Religion.

Colossians 1:27-28 KJV
[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: [28] Whom we preach, WARNING every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect “IN” Christ Jesus: (emphasis mine)

What difference does it make?

Six – half dozen? No, that’s not a difference.
Difference means not the same.
The question implies contrast.

I am asked this question many times when attempting to share the finished work of the cross to professed believers and professed unbelievers, that there’s nothing we can add to or take away from what He completed. To do that is saying that Christ did not finish God’s plan for our redemption and righteousness. If we have to add to it, we’re saying that what Christ has done didn’t work and it’s not finished. That the man Christ Jesus, the Son of God, born of a virgin, God in the flesh, all God and all man, died for the sins of the world according to scripture; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures, The Gospel, (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) wasn’t enough. If you add to it or take away from this gospel, the result is you have something “different”

Sad thing is, most stay confused because denominational churches never teach the full grace message. Oh, they teach it, but it’s always mixed with law or works that one must perform to be found right with God. They always find a chapter and verse to justify their mixing law with grace or mixing “before the cross” with “after the cross” or mixing what Christ said to “Jews” before the cross with what He says to “us” now, from the throne room of heaven.

If you study the scriptures, not commentary on scripture, you will clearly see the different ways God has dealt with his people throughout the ages.

I hope you will see how God at different times, gave specific commands, to specific people, and how important it is to understand what is “to us” in this specific time. All of what God has done was for us, but not specifically to us. I hope you see that you cannot place yourself in a time or economy that was not meant for you. It is important that we “rightly divide” the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

What difference does it make?
The difference it makes, is the difference it is.
It’s either God’s way, or a “different” way.

Jesus said, I am the way , the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.

Do you see this? Any other way is different.
Christ is the ONLY mediator between God and man.
Religion is not the mediator. Law, the church, baptism, tithing, behavior, morals, priestcraft, the eucharist, is not the mediator. You, are not the mediator.

Christ and Christ alone is mediator between God and man. There is no co- mediator.

Many consider themselves Christians that try to follow the teachings of Christ. They believe Christ was a good man and love his teachings. They will readily tell you as does my highly educated cousin, that they don’t for a minute believe He was God manifest in the flesh and born to a virgin or that he rose from the dead! Then you have those who consider themselves saved ; they believe Christ died for their sins but believe they need to help Jesus maintain His finished work by some act of theirs: tithing, baptism, bible reading or church attendance. Then……., you have those who believe Christ died for their sins but it only works if you don’t sin anymore. “What difference does it make if I believe some of it, and not all of it? What difference does it make if I think I need to do my part in my salvation? What difference does it make if I believe tithing brings more blessings? What difference does it make if I believe Christ is present in the wafer? What difference does it make if I believe the priest absolves sin? What difference does it make if I live by the beatitudes? What difference does it make if I try to keep the 10 commandments?” More ominous words have not been nurtured by the great deceiver. Do you see the difference? The above statements are in contrast to God’s way! I’ve honestly heard every one of them.

WWJD. What would Jesus do? You can’t do what Jesus did!!!

We don’t need an example, we need a SAVIOR!!!

God has always given man a way. It’s always the truth and leads to eternal life.
Jesus said “the truth will set you free”. Are you free?

Do you see how man attempts to reason concerning God? But, God’s ways and thoughts are not as ours. Isaiah 55:8-9

[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The fall of humanity was the result of man attempting to do it “his way” and not “God’s way” God said: “Do not eat from the tree or you will surely die”. They reasoned with the father of all lies, satan, the very one who was cast out for attempting to do his own thing and they were almost right! “See, we didn’t die” they reasoned ……. physically, but they were aware that something had changed. They were out of the presence of God that they so enjoyed. They had died spiritually. Right there in the beginning, God had joined the physical and spiritual. Man had broken the first unilateral covenant with God right out of the gate. They were now physical beings only, human spirit without the Spirit of God. They were as good as dead as far as God was concerned – Cast out from their intended position in this glorious Eden where they once walked and talked with God. A place of no darkness, disease nor sin. Why? They didn’t do it God’s way. (Genesis 2-3)

God commanded Noah to build a boat and it hadn’t rained. Everyone else must have laughed at him during the construction period. All except Noah and his family perished.
God’s way must not be mocked.

God commanded Moses to “strike” the rock to bring water to the chosen people and water poured forth. (Exodus 17:6)
Later, God commanded Moses to “SPEAK” to the rock, and Moses, in his human reasoning decided to strike the rock again because it worked the first time. (Numbers 20:8-12)

It worked, water poured forth but, it cost Moses. He was not allowed to enter the promised land. Why? He didn’t….do it….God’s ….way!

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end leads to death. ( Proverbs 14:12)
Do you see this? What seems…. right…… to …. a….man, leads to death. Religion has always seemed right to man, but it leads to death. So many ignore this wisdom and continue to build their “towers of Babel” using religious bricks. If you are adding to, or taking away from Christ’s finished work, it will lead to death.

Look at Abraham and Sarah. God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations and that the child would be from Sarah, his barren wife. They “reasoned” together that a barren wife could not produce an offspring so Abraham went in unto his handmaiden Hagar. The result was Ishmael, the father of a great nation. The Arab nation. But, not God’s way!!! (Genesis 16:15)
Abraham then trusted “God’s way” and Sarah gave birth to Issac to continue the lineage that God intended. (Genesis 21:2)

The greatest example of this is Saul of Tarsus (later, our beloved Apostle Paul). A Jew, zealous to do God’s will. A Pharisee of Pharisees ( A very religious, learned Jew, who was an expert in Jewish law)). He persecuted those who would believe Christ was the Messiah, those who had studied the scriptures and…. were eyewitnesses to the promised Messiah. Those who watched the man Christ Jesus turn water to wine, feed 5000 with just a few fish and a small amount of bread. They witnessed Him walk on the water and raise the dead. Think about how many witnessed these things only God in the flesh could do. Think about how many witnessed the giving of sight to the blind. The man was blind from birth, people knew him. Jesus touched his eyes with mud and when he washed, he could see. The blind man exclaimed it to all he met, the priests, and his friends. He didn’t try to explain it, he just said “ all I know is I was blind, and now I see”.
Look at the raising of Lazarus. People had come from afar to Jerusalem for Passover and they went to see the one Jesus raised. (John 12: 9)

Saul knew this! He heard these stories! He heard all of this happening but refused it. He defended his religion at any cost! Sound familiar?

Saul thought he was doing God’s will by persecuting those he thought were blaspheming the word of God, but Saul’s behavior was in stark contrast to what God was about to do.

I see this today as Religious people persecute those who live by grace through faith and not works. The religious call it “greasy” or “cheap” grace. The grace of God is neither cheap nor greasy, it cost Christ everything, so it wouldn’t cost you anything.

What would you have to offer anyway?

The Messiah had fulfilled the law. The Messiah had fulfilled all of scripture!!!
He would be the end of religion. “Oh no”, cry the religious! “What is left for us to do”?

God’s way, in all the scriptures that Saul knew and studied, was to send the Messiah, but Jesus didn’t fit Saul’s version of what the Messiah should look like. Saul’s version was not God’s version. Saul, and the nation of Israel thought the Messiah would be a great warrior, and he would crush the enemy with great military power, and prowess (man’s way). They didn’t understand the enemy would be crushed by the greatest act of love this world has ever known, the Cross. (God’s way). All they knew was if you hanged on a tree, it was a curse. They didn’t understand that Christ would become a curse, become sin, so others could be free from it. They didn’t know God was moving from the law, to Grace. They only knew the law, the law of Moses. They didn’t know, they didn’t know, they didn’t know, …..what God was up to! Why?

Hadn’t they read the scriptures?

From the very beginning we see Gods mercy. God said He would put enmity between Satan and the seed of a woman. Seed of a women? A women does not have a seed. We see right here that is not a human action, but must be from God. Hadn’t they seen that God would shed innocent blood and sacrifice an innocent animal to cover the very first sin? Hadn’t they seen that only Able’s blood offering was accepted ? Hadn’t they read that a ram caught in the thicket was a substitute for Abraham’s son. Hadn’t they read that the blood of an unblemished innocent lamb….. would cause the angel of death to “Pass over”? Hadn’t they read the prophet Isaiah? “A Virgin will bear a son and his name will be Immanuel ( (God with us), or Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”.

Have YOU seen this? The child will be called the mighty God, the everlasting Father!!!!!

Hadn’t they read the Psalms that depicted the Messiah suffering on a cross, or “by His wounds we are healed”? This, a thousand years before the cross.

Had they not read the book of Danial? Three were placed in the furnace , but a forth was seen by the king in the fire. (Daniel 3:25)
[25] He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Had they not read about the 70 weeks prophecy that fits perfectly in history.

What difference does it make?

The enmity God spoke of between satan and the seed of a woman was here! It was always there….but now it was here.

The shadow of things to come was no longer a shadow! He was here!

Had they not seen the entirety of scripture fulfilled in this child born in Bethlehem?

The promise of God was never a “thing”, a religion, or laws, it is a person. A human born not of man , but of God.

What difference does it make?

He had come! He was here!

God, the Almighty, creator of 100 billion galaxies, Alfa and Omega, Omniscient, omnipotent, ever present being, had become one of us, taken on human flesh.
We must remember that the physical earthly Jesus was the essence of God in human flesh. Super natural, not just another man. He was born of God to a virgin. Not of man, but of God. He was a God man, all God and all human. Here in humanity and still on the throne. He was the image of God, the face of God. (Colossians 1:15-17)

What difference does it make ?

The Word that spoke everything into existence had become flesh and dwelled among us.
In the beginning, GOD created, the Spirit hovered, and GOD said…..( Genesis 1:1)
The WORD. Is the WORD NOT GOD?

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and …. the WORD became flesh and dwelled among us. ( John 1:1, 1:14)
This was not yet revealed.

They knew the scriptures better than anyone. (Old Testament- new was not written) Saul was highly educated. He studied under Gamaliel, the greatest Professor of law in scripture. They refused to acknowledge the coming of the Messiah. Saul, and the nation of Israel refused, because this foretelling, this shadow of things to come did not fit into their religion. It didn’t fit their logic. Just as those we see in scripture: Adam, Abraham, Moses, and all who attempted to do things their own way, different from what God was doing at the time. As many today!

What difference does it make?

The Almighty God, creator of the universe and everything in it had done exactly what He said He was going to do!

God………… Spirit and truth…….all powerful, all knowing, all present, all loving , full of grace and mercy, who can’t lie, who knew you before He knit you in the womb, entered into the human realm, took on human flesh to set up His Kingdom on earth and was rejected by Saul and the nation of Israel. They REJECTED it!!!!!!!!
Most Jews still reject him today. For that matter, most people, even those who claim some type of religion, reject his finished work on the cross. They’re still attempting to add to it or take away from it.

There are many Christian pastors and lay members alike, that do not believe in the virgin birth or the resurrection of Christ. They don’t believe Christ is who he says He is.

What difference does it make? They are calling God a liar.
They stand in contrast to what God is doing. When God says thou shall not and you say thou shall, you are calling God a liar.

What benefit can one enjoy that calls God a liar?

The difference is just as it has always been. It’s not God’s Way! Saul’s disobedience was just as Adams when he disobeyed in the garden, just as those before the flood, just as Abraham and Sarah, just as Moses when he disobeyed and was kept from entering the promised land, just as the nation of Israel and all who rejected the Messiah, just as those today who add to or take away from the “finished” work of Christ.

Do you see this? You are just as disobedient, you call God a liar when you add to, or take away from the “finished” work of Christ

Since the beginning, Faith has always been the requirement for relationship with God.

Please don’t miss this: Faith, trusting God, is what God requires from his creatures.

Faith in what? Faith in what God is doing….. at….. the…… time. Before there was a written law, Abraham believed…..God and he was counted righteous. Faith and faith alone. It was always and will always be, taking God at His word. After that time, in the age of law, it was faith plus works, keeping the law, and remained that way until John the Baptist. Luke 16:16 KJV
[16] The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

God has dealt differently with His people throughout the ages;
The age of innocence.
The age of conscience.
The age of human government.
The age of of promise.
The age of law.
The age of grace- presently in.
The millennial kingdom- future.

You cannot apply what God was doing with Abraham in the age of promise with what God was doing with Moses after the law. Why not? They’re DIFFERENT!!

Adam was not to question or reason concerning the command of God not to eat from the tree of good and evil. Adam was saying, I don’t believe you. In His own reasoning, he thought he could be more like God by getting knowledge from the tree. It cost him his spiritual life, his God life, as it will cost you.
Noah and the people of that day were not to question or reason why he should build a boat when it hadn’t even rained. Abraham was not to question how he would have a son when his wife was barren.

Saul was in essence saying: all that God has said through his word, prophets and promises for thousands of years is untrue.

Saul was saying: you God, are a liar.

What difference did it make?

The physical, earthly kingdom that the Messiah, the anointed one, the Son of man, God in human flesh came to set up, was postponed.

Do you think God was unaware that they would reject it? No!!!
Was God reacting to the rejection? No!
Was He unaware of the postponement? No!

Before Lucifer fell and took a third of the angels with him, causing the earth to be void and dark, God knew they would reject it! Before the “WORD” spoke, and the SPIRIT hovered, GOD knew they would reject it! Before He breathed life into the clay man, He knew they would reject it! Before Adam disobeyed by allowing Eve to convince him that the forbidden fruit was ok, God knew they would reject it! When they hid from Him in the garden, He knew they would reject it! God knew all along what he would do to reconcile his pitiful beloved creatures. He would place enmity between this evil one satan, and the seed of a woman. The almighty God would enter into humanity to reconcile His pitiful creatures that He loved so much.

God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world to Himself, 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV
[19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

This is what God was doing! He was in Christ Jesus…..reconciling…. the….world… to …Himself!!!

What difference does it make?

God was here…… and in Jesus…….. and……reconciling the world…..if they would but believe He was the Messiah, If they would have taken Him at His word.

What difference does it make!

Oh! What a difference it makes!!!!! God had entered humanity through the womb of a virgin! He was born….. under….. the….. law and had come to…… the nation of Israel.
“He” is the new covenant promised to….. Israel through the prophet Jeremiah. He had come to redeem the nation of Israel. (Luke 1:67-68 )
[67] And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, [68] Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

31:31-34 KJV
[31] Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord : [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord : for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord : for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

This covenant would not be like the one He made with their fathers. (Jews) He would take away their sins and remember them no more. They would be a new creature with the law written on their hearts. They would have a……new covenant, better than the old! The first they broke causing it to fade. The new covenant was better because it was not made with man. God made this covenant with Himself. All of the shadows of sacrifice seen in the old were fulfilled and real now, in the person of Christ. He fulfilled all of scripture and the prophets. (Hebrews 9:11-14)

[11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

He would be the king and establish an earthly kingdom. They would receive the benefit of the new covenant promise.

They would no longer have to teach each other the law, they, being new creatures would have it on their hearts!

Don’t miss this. If you miss this, you miss what God was doing at the time.

The new covenant was made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It was not made with the Gentiles! The Gentiles are not, and never were a covenant people. Just read it!

This covenant was made to Israel and Judah (during the time when the house of Israel was split north and south).

The Jews rejected It!!!! It wasn’t realized! It won’t be realized by…. the….. Nation of Israel until the nation is brought back in after the tribulation.

We Gentiles enjoy the benefit of the new covenant now because of Gods mercy and grace through faith. Not because we kept a covenant. It was never ours to keep or break!!! It’s a Gift!!!!

What is it that “you” think “you” could or would keep any better than the Jewish Nation?

Because this age of grace that is being ushered in, faith will be what justifies. Faith and faith alone.

Friends, this is a hallelujah moment!!! But remember, this was not revealed until later, things had to happen. (More on this later)

Watch this beautiful act of mercy and grace unfold.

Jesus was born to a woman and under the law. (Galatia s 4:4-5)

[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

What difference does it make?

At the birth of Jesus, the law is still what God is using to deal with people and remains up to, and after the cross. Clearly stated until acts 9.

Jesus did not abolish the law, He fulfilled it, He kept the law perfectly. That’s how He could be the perfect unblemished lamb and satisfy the debt for the sin of the world. This sacrifice was needed for Him to become the new covenant. ( remember their sin no more. Sin was dealt with at the cross, once and for all, for all…. if you received it)

The law was good, it was the standard of God. It is still good.

What difference does it make?

You can’t keep it!! No man ever has! You have to be perfect! If you break one, you have broken them all. James 2:10

[10] For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

How are you doing with that?

The purpose the law was given was never for salvation, but was to show man his sin. Christ has fulfilled it. The purpose of the law was finished. It was to lead them to Christ, who had come. The purpose of the law has never changed or will not change; it is the schoolmaster to lead us to Christ.

Christ came for the Jew. Do you believe Him?
[24] But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24)

He told His disciples to go only to the Jews. Why? They were the only ones under the law of Moses and under the promises at this point.
[5] These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: [6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ( Matthew 10:5-6)

Christ’s earthly ministry, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John was an extension of the old covenant ( testament) …..under… the… law and was the fulfilling of the prophets and promises. It was to prove to the Nation of Israel that He was the Messiah. No mention of death, burial and resurrection for salvation.

Under the law, people were to believe that Christ was the Messiah. That faith, plus the law, ( the temple and sacrifices were still in practice) believing He was the Messiah was what was required. Nothing had changed from the old covenant of faith and works. The new covenant, Christ and His shed blood had not gone into effect. It will go into effect at His death on the cross. The death of the testator is required for the will and testament to take effect. (Hebrews 9:16)

As a side note: the New and Old Testament were erroroniously divided by men. The death at the cross, not the birth of Christ, was the beginning of the New Testament ( covenant) and the dividing line in the history of God reconciling mankind.

Of course, He came to Jews, that was the promise. The house of Israel was the means to eventually bring in all nations. The Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 12:1-3 KJV
[1] Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

But this did not happen in Christ’s earthly ministry. With very few exceptions, His ministry was for the nation of Israel. That’s where the covenant was made, not to the Gentiles. God chose to remain under the law to the people under the law to eventually reach those NOT under the law.
This was not revealed in Christ’s earthly ministry. The temples and sacrifices were still in effect during Christ’s ministry. Christ had not told them to discontinue the law. The age of Grace had in no way been realized.

Christ, during His earthly ministry has raised the standard of the law! He was showing them God’s ….. standard of the law; cut off your arm and pluck out your eye if you sin, better to go into heaven with one of them. If you even look at a women in lust, you have committed adultery. Be perfect like me. If you don’t forgive, you won’t be forgiven! Friends, this is Matthew 5 and 6, where most denominations live. It’s in the prayer they say in repetition everyday. They’re taught it as children and for most Christians, it’s their theology. You’re asking God everyday to forgive me if I forgive. That’s UNDER THE LAW!

What difference does it make?

You can….. not….insert yourself into some place that GOD….. has not placed you! No more than you… can use the laws in Leviticus or any of the 613 laws for someone today, no more than you can take the sermon on the mount or the disciples prayer ( denominations erroneously call it the Lords Prayer) as being for a Christian. Jesus in Matthew 5 and 6 was telling the Jews that they could not measure up to the letter of the law nor the spirit of the law.

He was showing them their need for a Savior!!!!

Just look at it. Many of the self righteous thought they had kept the law by never committing adultery. Just as before, man was interpreting the law his way and not Gods way. Jesus said, if you but look on a women with lust you have committed adultery. Many thought they were righteous because they had never committed murder. Jesus said, if you have been angry with your brother, you have committed murder. Jesus said at he end of the disciples prayer, unless you forgive, you will not be forgiven. He then crowns it with, you must be perfect as I am perfect!! Why don’t people who have placed themselves under this keep reading the disciples prayer? Unless you forgive, you will not be forgiven! Law, legalism.

This was the law, the perfect standard and spirit of the law. God was still dealing with humans in… the… age….of….LAW!!!!!!

Are you today, in the age of Grace under this? Who put you under this?

Could some pastor, theologian or laymen tell me when a born again, blood bought Christian was ever under the law of Moses?

—PLEASE DON’T MISS THIS: before the Mosaic law was given to the Jewish people, there was the law of conscience which every human was subject. It was innate in them. How did Adam and Eve know they had sinned? There was no written law, but mankind knew right from wrong! Man inherited sin, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these, although, not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them (Romans 2:14,15). –

Do you see this? The Gentiles were under the law of conscience – they were born in it, never under the law of Moses. Never! Not then, not now! Was the law good? Yes, of course, it was from God. It was His standard of civility and morality, but you couldn’t or wouldn’t keep it and you still don’t! All are fallen who are born after Adam! Some will say, “I try to”. God never said try, He said KEEP! The conscience and the law of Moses were both to show you your sin, your selfishness, your weakness, your separation from your perfect Creator. It was to bring you to your knees screaming “ I can’t do do this”!!

The law of Moses and the covenants were only to the Jews. However, when a gentile murdered, he was also guilty of breaking God’s law because his conscience revealed it.
So wether you were under the law of Moses or not, all… men violated Gods standard of living.
They were guilty because they had been born under Adam.

What difference does it make?

Gentiles had not entered into an agreement with God. They had no priest, or promise, or means of atonement…..YET. Extend that right into Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and…. unless you were a Jew, you were without Christ…..foreign, without God!!! (Ephesians 2:12).
12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
This scripture was shared with a dear friend at bible study and her jaw dropped. “I have never seen that, I’ve been attempting to keep the law all of my life! I was never told this”

The law, conscience or Mosaic, was to kill you. They showed you that you are a sinner, without God and deserve death! The wages of sin is death! The payment for sin is death!

What difference does it make? …….JESUS ….DIED!

Here’s the great difference “it” makes.

Jesus, the perfect lamb of God died to take away the sins of the world. All who had sinned, and all have sinned, Romans 3:23 KJV
[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Jew and Gentile, Finished! A reality that was foreshadowed in the first Passover when the Jews placed blood from a perfect unblemished lamb on the doorpost so the angel of death would “Passover”. The chosen people of God were set free from bondage. Exodus 12:3-7 KJV
[3] Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: [4] And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. [5] Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: [6] And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. [7] And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

Those who did not have the blood on the doorpost perished.

Do you see the difference? This was a shadow of things to come. Christ is….the door with the blood on it. Glory!!!!
Blood has always been required for remission of sins.

Christ came to redeem those that were under the law. Just read Galatians 4:5 again…. under the law. The law of Moses. If you were a Gentile, you were not under the law of Moses. He had to do this so Gentiles could then be brought in by adoption. Gods way!!

This scripture is worthy of repetition:

If you were not a Jew, you were without Christ and did not have the covenants made with the nation Israel.

Ephesians 2:12 KJV
[12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Christ died for the sin of the world. God had a plan all along for the Gentiles. But it had not yet been revealed.

Most denominations are parked and stuck in Christ’s earthly ministry. It was just the beginning of the glorious plan God had for his beloved creature!

Where do you want to be? Somewhere you have placed yourselves as Adam and Eve, hiding….or a place that God…. has made for you – hidden and safe “in” Him.

Colossians 3:3 KJV
[3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

(Google sermon “where are you” by Mike Hatfield)

Don’t stay in the earthly ministry, Jesus didn’t.

Before His death, Jesus said to His disciples: drink, all of you, this is my blood…..of the new covenant.

Jesus was telling his disciples and mankind that he was about to implement the new covenant and it would be ratified, confirmed and sealed in His blood.

The old covenant was confirmed by blood:
[8] And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words. (Exodus 24:8)

Blood has always been needed for the remission of sins.
Leviticus 17:11 KJV
[11] For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Blood was shed at the very beginning. Animals were killed to cover the fallen Adam and Eve.

Christ shedding His Blood is consistent with all of scripture.

What difference does it make?

Here’s the difference: Christ’s blood was “different” and was offered in a different place.

Adam, Eve and Christ were the only humans ever to be born without the contribution of a human father. That’s why Christ is called the second Adam. Their physical human blood was created and caused by God. The blood of the fetus does not mingle with that of the mother. Nourishment comes through the umbilical cord, but the blood does not mix. Mary’s blood did not mix with that of Jesus Christ. ( Sorry Catholics, science reveals Gods truths) Therefore, Christ’s blood remained perfect and untainted with the sin of fallen man. Adam was perfect and sinless, until he, by free will “chose” to sin. Christ was perfect and sinless and remains that way.
He took on “our” sin, He had none.

His blood was the perfect royal blood of an unblemished lamb that was shadowed in all of scripture to deal with sin. But, the blood of bulls and goats had to be offered daily and yearly in the earthly tabernacle. A shadow.

Christ presented His blood in the tabernacle not… made by human hands. He presented it in heaven and presented it once for all time. And… it was accepted as full and final…. payment for the sin of the world!!!!

[23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [24] For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:23,24)

This scripture truly is the culmination of all that God has done for mankind. It’s finished!

Look at the earthly tabernacle, a “pattern”. There had to be a high priest, a sacrifice and blood.

Christ offered this at the true throne of God in heaven. He is the High priest, the sacrifice and it is His blood.

Big difference. Everything before this was a shadow or figure of what was to come.

It was now done. Finished. But it’s not the end of the story!

What difference does it make?

We have a change of priesthood. Hebrews 7:11-12
[11] If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? [12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Do you see this? With the change of Priesthood, there has to be a change also of the law.

We have the end of sacrifice, Christ’s blood satisfies all the righteous requirements of God.

By ONE sacrifice for sins forever. There is no more! One enters into the throne of God boldly by the blood of Jesus! A new and living way!

What difference does it make?

Please read the following carefully:
Hebrews 10:9-21 KJV
[9] Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. [15] Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, [16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. [18] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. [19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [21] And having an high priest over the house of God;

Gods righteous requirements are found in the law. But this law was given while knowing that man couldn’t keep it. The law points men to Christ who alone could keep all that the law requires.
.
All of what God had for mankind had come down to Christ.

ALL OF WHAT GOD HAD FOR MANKIND HAS… COME DOWN TO CHRIST!

Jesus Christ is Gods last will and testament.
He is the end of sacrifices.
He is the end of the ordinances.
He is the end of the law.
He is the end of religion.
He is the end of an age.

The new covenant promised would now go into effect at the cross!!!!!!

Just because the Jews rejected it, doesn’t mean it didn’t go into effect. Christ had to die to take away the sin of the world before He could fulfill the the promised new covenant and become king. The plan is still moving forward.

Christ dies for the sins of the world, according to scripture; He was buried, and He arose again the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15: 3,4)

There’s more to the story.

He took on all the sin of the world, not just the Jews sin, the sin of the world, deposited them into hell, set every saint in paradise ( Abraham’s bosom) free and………

HE AROSE!!! No sin, scars healed. Death swallowed up in victory!
Healed scars show evidence of an injury and defeat of the injury.

The rest of the story…….

What difference does it make? He’s alive!! You can NOT park yourselves in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! Jesus didn’t stay there. Neither should you.

He shows up with a glorified body( an example of what you can expect) scars healed with no physical limitations. He walks through walls and on the water.

Christ’s earthly ministry was coming to a close. He had proven many times that He was the Son of God, the Messiah. But now He had crowned it with raising from the dead. They had seen him die. He was buried and now they were seeing Him walk among them, with their own eyes. Peter stated that they saw Him and handled him. He was seen by many.

He had done all of these things before the cross, but the presentation of the blood at the true throne of heaven makes all the difference. The debt for sin was paid in full.

The new covenant was in effect. Christ, Himself, personified the new covenant. It was no longer ordinances and laws, it was a person, the person of Jesus Christ. Once again, they rejected it, but nonetheless, He is the new covenant.
Who benefited? No one at this point. Not the Jews nor the Gentiles…. yet.

Remember the promise, we must always remember the promise. We will never understand grace and mercy or the mystery that is being revealed if we don’t remember and understand the promise to Abraham that through his seed “ALL” nations will be blessed.

Genesis 18:18 KJV
[18] Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Genesis 22:18 KJV
[18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Genesis 28:14 KJV
[14] And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

All that God ever had for reconciliation, redemption, justification, salvation, life on earth and eternal life, every law, every prophecy was in Christ.

This mystery that will be revealed was promised at the beginning. No one understood it. Duh, it was a mystery, to be revealed in GODS time. A mystery does not mean it can’t be known, it means it hasn’t been revealed.

The “risen” Christ meets with His disciples and tells them what they must do. He has told them He must go away so He can send the Spirit, to wait in Jerusalem until that day. They only had Christ while He was present with them. But, sending the Spirit, He could be with them always and with all who by faith would believe that He was the Messiah. Death burial and resurrection was not mentioned for salvation yet.

Still to the Jews, still under the law.

I keep reiterating this because scripture keeps reiterating this.

The Gentile has no part in this new covenant…..yet.

What difference does it make?

You can’t insert yourself in it, when you were not in it!

CHRIST DID NOT REVEAL ALL OF THE STORY IN HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY!!!!

Just think for a moment how confused we would be if all we had were Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Most denominations and too many “Christians are….. “parked” there!

This is the greatest reason for confusion today! Not rightly dividing the word. 2 Timothy 2:15

Christ ascends from the mount of olives and sits down at the right hand of God…. They watch it happen!

What does HE tell them just before He leaves?

[4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye…..shall…..be…..baptized… with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1: 4,5) Emphasis mine.

Do you see a change coming? Water, a shadow will give way to the real baptism.
Look what Luke writes to begin the book of Acts:

1] The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began….. both to do and teach, ( Acts1:1)

Do you see this? Luke is saying his former writing (gospel of Luke) was the beginning of Christ’s teaching. Christ’s earthly ministry is over (for now) and He, by the Holy Spirit is continuing to do and teach!!!!

As promised and recorded in the beginning of the book of Acts, Christ sends the Holy Spirit at Pentecost which gives the disciples the power Of Christ. They received the gift…. of the Holy Spirit. Don’t miss this, they were baptized by Christ with the Holy Spirit. It fell upon them. The Holy Spirit is…. the power. They are now able to do what Christ did while He was with them. They heal the sick and raise the dead! Why?
Signs and wonders, so the people would believe.

What difference does it make?

Christ was still teaching… and doing!!

The disciples were doing what Christ had done in the flesh. Peter raised the dead, healed the sick and walked on water only because Christ was living through him!!
Peter said to the lame man: “ Get up, Christ…. heals you. Acts 9:34 KJV
[34] And Peter said unto him, AEneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

This was done to show the nation of Israel that Christ, the Christ that they read about and some believed, was truly their Messiah, and was present in the Holy Spirit.

Peter continues Christ’s early ministry…. still under the law, still to the Jews with only few exceptions. If the nation of Israel had accepted Peters Gospel, Christ would have come back and set up the kingdom. Peter’s Gospel was that if one believed Christ was the promised Messiah-and was baptized in water, they would receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 KJV
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

After Pentecost, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit continues Christ’s early ministry. (it was Christ in Peter) One had to believe that Christ is the Messiah, to repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. Peter was doing what Christ had done in His earthly ministry. That’s all he knew. It was still under the law, under the old covenant, as was Christ’s earthly ministry. One was saved by doing what God told them to do! These things have changed over the course of God’s history of dealing with mankind.

After the Holy Spirit descended upon them, they spoke in tongues (not gibberish as some today would have you believe, it was language understood by those present and representing other nations) Sorry Pentecostals.

[5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. [6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. [7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? [8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? [9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, [10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, [11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:5-11)

Peter stands up in Acts 2 filled with the Holy Spirit and gives it to them…. still under the law.

He tells them that King David, as a prophet, foretold Jesus as the Messiah, and you, the nation of Israel have rejected and crucified Him. ( Acts 2:36)
[36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Peter continues: Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins and receive the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) Still under the law. ( if you or your church are under this teaching, run for the hills. Our Pastor told us every Sunday that we needed to be an Acts 2 Church. I didn’t know any better) Acts 2 is still….under ….the law!!!!!

The church, the body of Christ did not…. start there!!! This is the assembly of Jewish believers.

This is big, don’t miss it…Stephen,
(selected when the seven were added too assist the 12 (Acts 6:5)) filled with the Holy Ghost, had done miracles, preached the good news (that Jesus was the Messiah) and was brought to the Jews for blaspheming the law of Moses. Do you see this? They were holding on to their religion; they ask Stephen to explain and he stands up and beginning with Abraham, lambasts the Jewish council for not seeing what the prophets since Abraham had revealed. He preached from Abraham through to Moses, to John the Baptist and told them that the law was fulfilled in Christ. Stephen asked them “ which one of the prophets did…. you…not….kill”. They were cut to the heart at hearing this truth and became very angry, manhandling and assaulting him. Stephen, looks up and states that he sees the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing….on the right hand of God.

[56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:56)

It was not until Stephen said this, that they then threw him out of the city and stoned him to death. He saw Christ STANDING……..NOT SEATED – He was “standing” at the right hand of power preparing to return!

What difference does it make?

The Nation of Israel knew what this meant. They knew Isaiah 3:13: the The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.” They remembered what Peter had said at Pentecost when He quoted Psalm 68:18 Sit…Thou on my right hand. They knew that standing meant they would now be judged for their rejection. They had rejected their Messiah for the last time in this age. They had rejected the new covenant and their king! God would set the “nation” of Israel aside for now.

And….the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. (Acts 7:58b)

And…..Saul of Tarsus…… consented, caused havoc, (Acts 8)

And…. Saul….. still breathing out threatenings and slaughter (Acts 9)

And…. Saul……secured letters from the religious leaders to go to Damascus to persecute any of this “way” (the assembly of Jewish believers).

Saul of tarsus was still at it, still fighting for his religion. Saul witnessed and condoned the murder of Stephen, yet another prophet killed attempting to bring the nation of Israel in. After Stephen is killed, there is a great persecution of the Jewish believers. Saul continues to bring havoc to the assembly of Jewish believers. Acts 8:1-3 KJV
[1] And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. [2] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. [3] As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Take note of this: when the word church is used it merely means assembly. This was the assembly of Jewish believers, not the church, the body of Christ we have today. Start to look for this as we proceed. The church, the body of Christ is different. Remember: these early believers were still under the law.

What difference does it make?

Christ had stood to judge the nation of Israel. Remember, all judgement was given to the Son. God was preparing to deliver His wrath upon mankind for their rejection of His law, His Son and His Word through the Prophets. If God had condemned Israel, the rest of the world would have been lost and…. that would have made the Abrahamic covenant a lie. Remember, God promised to bless Israel and… all of the nations through Abraham’s seed, and He will. God can not lie.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Right here, and now, we see the greatest act of Love, Mercy and Grace ever shown to His beloved creatures. He did what He had always planned to do. He revealed that which had been hidden since the beginning.

Instead of Christ condemning the nation of Israel, He, the risen, ascended, glorified Christ meets Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus…..

THE ASCENDED, HEAVENLY JESUS CHRIST MEETS SAUL OF TARSUS ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS!!!!!!!!!! Saul is on his way to persecute more believers and is met by “the” light;

The light spoken of so many times in scripture. John 1:9 KJV
[9] That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

This was the brightness we see in scripture so many times. The Shekinah ( Hebrew meaning “to dwell”) glory exhibited by Moses after being with God on the mountain. Brightness a man can’t look upon- God.

….and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: [4] And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [5] And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. [6] And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Light… from heaven. The same light mentioned in the beginning even before the sun was placed in the heavens! God has always separated light from darkness

What difference does it make?

All the difference in the world. Literally!

The nation of Israel is set aside because of their rejection. Not condemned, because of Gods mercy. (Romans 11:25). That’s right folks, God will bring the Nation of Israel back in after the rapture and tribulation. Doesn’t seem fair does it? Was it fair that you were saved, who were lost and without God and the covenants? (Ephesians 2:11-12)

By our standards, the nation of Israel does not deserve this act of love, mercy and grace. Neither do we.

What difference does it make?

God would now use Saul, a Jew, first, just as He had promised to bring in the Gentiles.
That’s right folks, Saul, Saul of Tarsus who was persecuting the Jewish believers! He held the garments of those Jewish religious zealots that stoned Stephen in Acts chapter 8. Not how you would have done it? Gods ways are not man’s ways.

The rest is history……. read acts 9……. and 10….and… Read it all! Read Paul’s epistles for the rest of the story. This is your story now!

God will use Saul to usher in the age of Grace, a new age, a change from the age of law.

Saul was blinded by this light round about him. The glory of God would have fried Saul like a bug on a hot flame but God protected him as He did Moses in the cleft of the rock.
Exodus 33:20-22 KJV
[20] And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. [21] And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: [22] And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

Saul asks, “who are you, Lord?” The risen, ascended, glorified, heavenly, Christ answers:

“ I am Jesus whom you persecute”
“What would thou have me do Lord” Paul asks. (We should all ask the same.)

This very Jesus that Paul has been persecuting, is who He said He is, God. Paul knew the scriptures well:
[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Saul asks nothing else, he has no doubt who this is, the ascended living Christ has met him on an earthly road. Once again, Divinity reaches into humanity. He has no further questions. He follows the instructions to the letter. (As should we.)

Do you see this? Christ never gives up on us. His plan was always to bring the Gentiles in. His way! Not religion, works or law, but now grace- unmerited favor.

This was Saul’s purpose since being knit in the womb.

He is told to enter into the city and meet with a man named Ananias. Ananias is told by the Lord to expect Saul’s arrival. (Acts 9:11-12)

When God tells us to do something, He is always working on the other side of it to make it work. No matter how impossible it seems to us.

Just as Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, Jonah, and most throughout history, Ananias questioned what the Lord was doing, and said, “Lord, are you sure? This is SAUL!!! Saul of Tarsus, the one who has been persecuting those who believe Christ is the Messiah! He has just secured letters from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name!”

Isn’t it just like a human to question God? Mary asked when told she would be the vessel to bring God unto humanity: “How can this be Lord? I have never been with a man”.

This is huge, don’t miss it!

The LORD answers: “continue on Ananias, HE IS A CHOSEN VESSEL UNTO ME, (Paul, like Mary was a chosen vessel) to bear my name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel: For I…. will show him how great things he must suffer for my names sake”. (Acts 9:15-16). Emphasis mine.

Do you see this? God….. is saying Saul of Tarsus is who He…. has chosen to bring His name to the Gentiles and to the world, not Peter, James or the other Apostles, Saul of Tarsus, not the Pope, not your pastor or favorite theologian, not the law, not the sacraments, ordinances, offerings, scientific studies, your work or ability, but Saul! Saul is GOD’S chosen vessel to the Gentiles!!

This is the secret that has been hidden since the beginning. God will use Saul of Tarsus, a Jew, a religious Pharisee, one steeped in Jewish law, one who had been persecuting the believers, to reveal the “rest” of the story. That which Jesus began……. to do and teach. ( Acts 1) Jesus finished paying the debt for the sin of the world with His precious blood at Calvary, but He was not finished with mankind!

What difference does it make?

The nation of Israel that God had set apart to reconcile all of mankind had rejected Him and will now be set aside and have been made blind. Their stumbling will be used to bring the Gentiles in, causing the nation of Israel to be jealous.

Romans 11:25 KJV
[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Fullness of the Gentiles? Gods next change will be after the fullness of the Gentiles. Fullness always means in God’s time, for Gods purpose.

Romans 11:8 KJV
[8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Romans 11:11 KJV
[11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Oh How the hidden pieces of the puzzle are found! This is all a part of Gods divine plan to save “All” of His people.

This was all prophesied but never understood. See how the scriptures foretold this:

Isaiah 42:6 KJV
[6] I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

For a light of the Gentiles.

Genesis 12:3 KJV
[3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

All nations!

Genesis 22:18 KJV
[18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Friends, those who were lost and without God, without covenants, will awaken like dry, dead, bones as this glorious age of grace dawns!

Old Testament prophecy to include what Jesus said during his earthly ministry (still Old Testament before the cross) was all coming true. The Gentiles will be the focus now to bring in the Jews! Their stumbling will bring our salvation and our salvation will make them jealous! Amazing!

Peter and the rest did not get this. In the early years after Christ had ascended, Peter continued in the law teaching that salvation was by repentance and water baptism. (Acts 2:38). That’s all he knew at the time. Peter, and the twelve were faithful to what Christ had revealed…at the time. He was continuing Christ’s earthly ministry. They continued going to the temple and meeting and preaching in the synagogues. They continued with signs and wonders with the power they had received at Pentecost. One must repent and be baptized and then… receive the Holy Ghost. Nowhere was it said to stop the law or not go to temple. They didn’t know any better. They where by faith doing what Christ had told them to do. The entire early “church” (assembly, should always be translated assembly) was Jewish! They were taking the good news of Christ still to the Jews. The gospel of the kingdom, nothing of the gospel of grace as of yet. There were absolutely no Gentiles. Acts 11:19 KJV
[19] Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to……none….. but unto…..the…….Jews only.

So where was Saul/Paul while the others were preaching to the Jews? He was being taught by the living Christ!

We see Paul’s message and Peter’s message converge in mid -Acts. Both are from Christ, one under law, one the beginning of grace. Watch how the age of law gives way to the coming age of grace. It had to, it was God’s plan from the beginning.

Remember, the early believers were first exclusively made up of Jews. At Pentecost 3000 Jews got saved. Shortly after that, 5000 Jews came to Christ. It took years to reach out to Samaritans and more to reach out to the Gentiles.
In mid – Acts, we see the Jews start to fall away. Saul/Paul addresses their concerns: “ What about the Jews?” Furthermore, the church would have no separate Priesthood, (all would be Priests) no temple (we would become the temple) and no more sacrifices. Christ is the final sacrifice !!!! So the question raised by the Jews in the first Century was, “have the Jewish people been cast away?”
So Paul answers this in Romans 11:1 – “Hath God Cast Away His People? GOD FORBID.” Proof of this fact was Paul himself, he was a Jew and He was saved. He continues in Romans 11:2 – “God has not cast away His people which He foreknew.”
So what happened to the Jewish people? Again, this is part of the mystery. Romans11:25 says they have been blinded in part until the fullness of the Gentile is accomplished.
The idea here is that this temporary blindness will continue until the full number of Gentiles has come to faith. In other words, there will come a point in time when the grace now extended to the Gentiles will end, as we know it, and God’s face will once again turn to the Jews.
He says in Romans 11:26 – “And so all Israel will be saved”.

Peter and the apostles went to Jews, then to the Samaritans. It took 20 years for the Gentiles to come in. and the Jews start to fall away because they were accepting the grace message but mixing it with law! Sound familiar? Thats the problem with most denominations today.

The “church” the body of Christ is not there yet.

What difference does it make?

Once Stephen was stoned and killed, the mystery of the ages was about to be revealed.

God would use Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.

Saul of Tarsus did not “become” Paul, as some religions teach. His name was not changed at his conversion as we see Jacob’s name changed to Israel in early scripture, Genesis 32:28 KJV
[28] And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. ]

Saul of Tarsus at his conversion on the road to Damascus was still Saul. Paul, is merely the Latin name for Saul and is used more as we go through the book of Acts. Paul was a Jew , but also a Roman Citizen. ( Acts 22,23,25)

Interesting, Paul was a Jew and a Gentile.

Make no mistake, they are the same person……with a changed mind. This one we know as Paul, the Apostle now, was totally changed!!!!! He is the epitome of Gods wonderful grace and mercy. Paul is now called an Apostle because he is now sent by Christ to the Gentiles and will be under His tutelage in the future. Galatians 1:11-12 KJV
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul, as one born out of due time.

Think about this: Paul, who loved God with all his heart had found Messiah!!

PAUL, IS GOD’S CHOSEN VESSEL TO REVEAL THE GOSPEL OF GRACE TO THE WORLD!!
——————————————————————————————————————————

Not so fast…..

Paul had not yet gone into Arabia and received the Gospel of grace. Galatians 1::11- 12
This is not another gospel, this is the rest of the gospel.

Galatians 1:6-7 KJV
[6] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: [7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Paul is saying to add to, take away or mix this gospel of grace is to pervert it. Pervert means to move something from its purist form. Paul further tells us this will bring a curse! Galatians 1:8 KJV
[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.

I fear for those who mix this gospel of grace and pervert it today.

Paul must have been elated that he had found Messiah, that’s a Jews ultimate goal! But, they wanted their kind of Messiah, in their time.

God redirects Paul’s passion. Previously, Paul was sincere, passionate and…. wrong! Sound familiar?

I believe God also uses Paul to show His grace and mercy. Paul was the epitome of what this new creature would be. A sinner would now be saved by grace through faith, not works. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

The religious couldn’t stand this! What about all the law and the prophets? All the sacrifices and ordinances? All the positions held by Pharisees and Sadducees?

A sinner would be saved by grace??? Not works???? Who is this Paul?

Paul was “chosen” just as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Mary, all the prophets and disciples.

Paul was chosen to give the world “ the rest of the story”. The revelation of the mystery.

Paul received this not from men but from the risen, ascended, glorified Christ.

[1] Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:1, 1:12)

Just as Christ selected His earthly disciples, He now has selected Paul to inaugurate the glorious age of grace.

Do you see this. It’s all new. There’s no religious tradition.

Jesus warned them of this in His earthly ministry:
[7] Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. [8] For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. [9] And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Jesus was scolding them for holding on to their shadows of religion when He, the fulfillment of all of it was standing before them!!! (Mark7: 7-9)

[8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. ( Colossians 2:8-10)

Do you see this. Christ is all. All that is needed to be complete.

This transition takes time. It takes years to progressively transition from thousands of years of law , of ordinances, animal sacrifices, from one chosen nation, to opening it to all people.

The book of Acts covers approximately 40 years.

After Paul’s conversion, he goes to Arabia, not to Jerusalem nor does he confer with men.
(Galatians 1:17)
We must remember that Paul was not only met by the light, but his soul was illuminated by it, as we shall be.

Paul was met by the risen, ascended Christ from heaven. Why on earth would he confer with men? We could learn from this. He was also being chased by the Jews. God will use your circumstances to bring you to where He wants you.

Many scholars have attempted to define where Arabia is, but it is left unexplained in scripture. Arabia was a vast area in that day and could certainly be dessert. Some say even Mt Sinai where Moses received the law. Some liken it to when Jesus was baptized and went out to the dessert. All sounds good, and makes for good commentary, but it’s just not there.

We must take the Holy Spirit through Paul at His Word, that he went away and received it not of man, but it was revealed to him by Jesus Christ. It seems he was there for 3 years and then went back to Damascus. Christ met him on the road, He could certainly school him in Arabia.

We humans think in human terms, that Paul was in a stoic classroom in the desert or a cave in Arabia being taught by Christ. Paul tells us in his letters that he had the mind of Christ. When God enters a man, his mind is renewed. We should never be so smug to think we know how God accomplishes His purpose. One thing is for sure. Paul is God’s mouthpiece for this dispensation of grace.

It’s interesting that Luke’s account in Acts 9:26 says Paul went to Jerusalem.

Acts 9:25-26 KJV
[25] Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. [26] And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

Is there 3 years between verse 25 and 26? Makes you want to tear that page out!

Luke’s account is a more general accounting of time. Yes, I certainly believe both. Paul’s account in Galatians is more detailed.

Let me be clear, this is not Jesus versus Paul, as many will say.

This is “all” Jesus working through Paul.

This is God’s way of revealing what has been kept secret since the beginning.

Watch as God’s plan unfolds.

Paul, blind, continues with the instructions from Christ to go into Damascus and meet with Ananias. He is met by Ananias, the scales fall off of his eyes ( blind but now he sees!) and he is baptized.

Paul immediately preaches Christ in the synagogues (Jews, still reading law) and upsets the Jews! He was their greatest weapon against these blasphemous Christ followers, now he’s following him.
They seek to kill him but Paul is saved by his friends and is let down the wall in a basket and goes to…..Arabia. ( Galatians 1:17-18 KJV)
[17] Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. [18] Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

While Paul is in Arabia,

Cornelius, a Roman Centurion (Gentile), receives a vision from God telling him to seek out Peter who lives with Simon the tanner. This is Peter the Apostle. (Acts 10) At the same time Peter the Apostle receives a vision in a dream of all types of animals, clean and unclean.
God tells Peter to take and eat. Peter refuses and tells God (once again, man is telling God) I will not eat of anything unclean. The voice then tells Peter: do not call common or unclean what I have cleansed.

Do you see this? God has now cleansed what was once called unclean under the law. These animals that God showed to Peter were always forbidden under the law…..

What difference does it make?

What once was unclean is now clean!

God is showing Peter the transition from law to grace and Peter will soon give Paul the right hand of fellowship. Peter struggles with this because it’s all new to him.

Who had changed it? Who had caused this difference? Peter is being shown and is convinced it is of God.

Can one argue with this? God had changed the thing!!!! DIFFERENCE!

God was in Christ reconciling mankind to Him. His way!

At this very instant, while Peter is struggling with the message, the Holy Spirit informs him there are people at his door. It’s the men sent to bring Peter to Cornelius.

God has caused Peter and Cornelius to come together. A Jew and a Roman Gentile.
Peter explains to Cornelius it was once unlawful for a Jew to even keep company with a non- Jew, but God has now shown him in a vision that He (God) is no respecter of men.

What difference does it make?

Just a day ago, it was breaking Mosaic Law to even keep company with a non- Jew!!

Do you see this transition unfolding as a cocoon changing into a butterfly. God has said, don’t call unclean what I have called clean! A gentile was once unclean! Christ even called them dogs!

God has said different things, to different people, at different times. We must rightly divide the word to see what God is doing at a specific time.

The book of acts, a history book, and book of transition, clearly shows this transition if we would read it and not add to it.

Peter continues: (the Holy Spirit can say it better than I)

Acts 10:37-48 KJV
[37] That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; [38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. [39] And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: [40] Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; [41] Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. [42] And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. [43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. [44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. [45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. [46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, [47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.]

What a difference! Peter once preached to Jews that one had to be baptized in water for remission of sin and be water baptized to receive the Holy Spirit! (Acts 2:38)
Now, while Peter was preaching who Christ was and……..what He had……done, (died and was raised) the Holy Ghost fell upon those listening! What? No water baptism, did they confess and repent of all their sin? I don’t think so.

Whosoever……. believes, through His name…….shall receive remission of sins, and….. the Holy Ghost fell upon them….while Peter…..yet…..spake!!!!!! Sounds like a gift to me. They didn’t do any work.

Vs. 43-44, 43] To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. Blood was always needed for remission of sin? Believing in Christ was the same as His blood!

Sound familiar? Jesus knew all along this was coming. He told them in John 3:16. Whosoever believes. But it was done under the law before the Cross. It was not yet revealed.

Jesus in Matthew – John, His earthly ministry, is merely prophesying what will be revealed. The age of grace will come soon.

What difference does it make?

Acts 10:35-36 KJV
[35] But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. [36] The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Do you see this? In every nation!!! Oh! What a difference!

This was promised in the Abrahamic covenant as well, but not realized.

Peter has no clue what just happened, but he sees it happen along with many other witnesses.
They received the Holy Ghost while he yet spake!! Gentiles!!

Peter in acts 11 is chastised for even sharing Christ with Gentiles. But, he goes on to tell them of his dream that God has shown him that nothing is unclean. He tells them that the Holy Spirit has fallen on them, just as it did on them! Do you see this? Gentiles have now received from God what was once exclusively to Jews!!! Peter tells them that all of this has brought to his remembrance what Christ had said to them just prior to His ascension: “John indeed baptized with water; but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 11:15-17)
[15] And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. [16] Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. [17] Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Peter, who wouldn’t even share the same room with a gentile is saying, “who was I that I could stand against God?”

Oh! Friends, I would say the same to those today that attempt to mix what God was doing under the law, with what He now is doing by grace through faith! Who are you to stand against what God is doing?

Paul (Saul) is God’s chosen vessel to reveal the way of salvation to the Gentiles and to the world. At this very time, Paul is in Arabia being prepared by Christ Himself to inaugurate this glorious age of grace and salvation to all who would believe!! Glory! Glory! Glory!!!

If Paul (Saul) is the chosen vessel to bring you Gods truth, why would you not listen?
You, a gentile had nothing before God chose Paul to bring you in. He chose grace to do it. How can you argue with that which God had predestined before the beginning of time?
Galatians 1:15 KJV
[15] But when it pleased God, who separated me (Paul) from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, (parenthetical emphasis mine)

1 Corinthians 15:8 KJV
[8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

This is all God’s perfect plan to use Paul!

What difference does it make?

The conversion of Saul is the epitome of God taking a sinner, by no merit of his own, and making him the example for the rest of the world and bestowing upon him the lead position in this new creature that is created by faith alone. (Jesus is the head but Paul was the first of the lost creatures.)
1 Timothy 1:15-16 KJV
[15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

If we were to get technical and look at all scripture that uses this term “chief”, we would see that he means first, not worst. Was Paul’s sins really worse than any other in Gods eyes?

By Grace…… through…….faith. Not works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God was showing Peter this transition from law to grace and at the same time Paul was being shown what He would take to the Gentiles and the rest of the world.

Friends, this could not be stopped, it was decided before the foundation of the world!
No mater your religion, this is Gods truth!

Acts 5:38-39 KJV
[38] And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: [39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. (Gamaliel to Peter’s persecutors)

Peter continues preaching to the Jews that the Gentiles are being saved by believing on Jesus.
Not…. the ….same ….message he was preaching before his revelation from God and his meeting with Cornelius! It’s different, and Peter is telling them so! He’s preaching this in the synagogues and some of the Jews are riled up.
Peter is bound and thrown into jail and the chains fall off!!! Nothing can stop what God is doing!

Oh boy, this gets good!

Jerusalem gets word of this grace message and many come to believe. Jews and Gentiles.

Barnabas comes to Jerusalem and witnesses all of it. He goes forth to Tarsus to find Saul/Paul.

Do you see this? They are still preaching mostly to Jews in the synagogues. The message is a mixed one because the Jews are still fighting for their religion.
Barnabas and Saul go to Antioch where they are first called Christians and then back to Jerusalem to bring the relief to the church. I suppose they were still giving all their money and belongings to the church and it had run out!! Remember, they were waiting for Christ’s return.

What a mess! (In a human sense)

The apostles were still going forth and preaching that the Gentiles had received what they had received but by faith, not by keeping the law or any works. But some were teaching that they had to at least be circumcised. They contend with Peter, Saul and Barnabas about it and a counsel is called in Jerusalem to settle the issue. James, (not the Apostle killed in acts 12) who is the leader of the church in Jerusalem makes it clear that no burden shall be placed on the Gentiles whom God Himself has chosen to save by His grace through His faith.

The counsel of AD 51

Acts 15:6-19 KJV
[6] And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. [7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. [8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; [9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. [10] Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? [11] But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. [12] Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. [13] And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: [14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. [15] And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, [16] After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: [17] That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. [18] Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. [19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

They are only told to refrain from certain things, not that it would hinder their salvation, but that it was good for them.
Acts 15:29 KJV
[29] That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Whoa! Do you see this? Two thousand years ago the decision was made by the apostles who had seen and walked with the earthly Jesus, the risen Jesus and…. the ascended, glorified Jesus not to interfere with this message of grace. They were all seeing what God was doing. Peter, James, Barnabas, Paul and the rest! God was bringing it all together. His way!

The religious today are still troubling the grace message and burdening those that have been liberated; You have to tithe, be baptized, keep the ten, no, nine! Don’t miss mass, no meat on Friday….
nothing’s changed with the religious.

The Gentiles are being brought in unlike the early Jews, but by faith. The wall between Jew and gentile is removed. So much so that God, as He sets aside His chosen people turns to the Gentiles and will very soon give them the same inheritance calling Gentiles fellow heirs.
Ephesians 3:6 KJV
[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

“ IN “ CHRIST BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH!!!!!!!!

What difference does it make? You are now fellow heirs!!!!!

Paul becomes the focus in the rest of the book of acts, ( mid-acts to the end).

We must remember that the book of acts is a history book that gives a general account of the transition from law to grace. It is clearly seen that God is showing the apostles that this age of grace is sure, it has been ordained since the beginning of time. We also see that after the meeting in Jerusalem, the apostles agree that Paul’s meeting with the living Christ is true and the message is changing. What we don’t see in the book of acts is what Paul was preaching during his journey through this Mediterranean countryside.

This is found in the letters of Paul. Remember, the book of acts was written well after Paul’s letters.

What difference does it make?

The book of acts, nor any scripture, prior to Paul, does not reveal the deep wisdom and mysteries of God that Paul was selected to deliver.

Much of Paul’s doctrine is nowhere found in the Old Testament, Christ’s earthly ministry, nor the early part of the book of Acts.

Why? Because God kept it a secret until He was ready to finally reveal His amazing grace!!!

We must hear Paul to hear what God is saying to the world after the cross, for 2000 years, even now.

Paul delivers this deep hidden wisdom unknown to the world, unknown even to The princes of the world. If they had known it, they would not have killed Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:8 KJV)
[8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Satan didn’t even know it. He thought he had victory at the cross with the death of Christ. He didn’t know Christ was just getting started.

As Noah was chosen to continue the human race, as Abraham was chosen to be the leader of a called out nation and to receive their covenant promises, as Moses was chosen to meet God on the Mountain and receive the law, as Mary was chosen to bring divinity into humanity, Paul was chosen to inaugurate the age of grace. Paul was selected to reveal Gods mind, His mysteries kept since the beginning of time. Each of these was a specific message to a specific people at a specific time. God has changed things over the course of history to accomplish His plan. His way!

Paul, who was zealous to do Gods will in keeping the law and persecuting those who didn’t, was set straight by the living Christ! As we would be if we rightly divided God’s word in context.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We must divide because there are divisions in the scriptures. The dividing line for all of mankind since 33AD is the cross of Christ. The dispensation of grace.

THE….. DIFFERENCE!!!!

Have you heard of the dispensation of grace? Ask your religious friends.

I attended a mainstream denomination for 50 years and never heard of it! It was as if the Bible they used was missing everything after Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!!!!

That God… has given to….Paul…..for….. you!!!!!!

Ephesians 3:1-6 KJV
[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 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; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

What difference does it make?

We can not mix what God had for another time and people. The message God has for us now will come through Paul. All of scripture, to include Christ’s earthly ministry was to bring you to this glorious age of Grace.

Paul’s epistles.

We must read and study Paul’s epistles from Romans to Philemon to receive this hidden wisdom. They reveal God opening the flood gates of grace and mercy to all who were dead, without Him.

God has set aside the “nation” of israel as a nation but will allow an individual Jew to be reconciled and redeemed by faith in the finished work of the cross, that all may be made one “in” Christ.

Many of these mysteries were prophesied by Christ and the prophets, but none were revealed and understood until Christ revealed it to Paul…….for us.

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV
[16] And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Do you see this? How many Christians argue if Jesus was God in the flesh? It’s put to rest right here. The secret is revealed. Settled. Yes, as stated earlier, it was prophesied in isaiah and other places, but not revealed.
Isaiah 9:6 KJV
[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.] There are over a hundred verses in the Bible that Jesus is God!

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV
[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.

The god of this world, satan, will keep you blind without this glorious light in Christ.

Doesn’t that make a big difference for you? That Christ is God in the flesh, the Father in the Son and the Son in the Father.
The divinity of Christ is revealed here.

The God of the universe loved us so much that he became one of us, took our death and gave us His life, life that never ends. He changes us from our dead state in which we were born, to His state in which we are alive! GLORY!!!!!!!!

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 KJV
[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

The mystery I want to focus on now to conclude this writing is the body. The unity and oneness one can now have with the almighty God. The church the body of Christ.

The good news (gospel) kept hidden since time. Not a different gospel but the rest of the gospel, the rest of the gospel that Jesus began to do and teach.

The new covenant promised thousands of years ago begins with and is rarified by the blood of Christ at Calvary. But, the covenant is not with man. The new covenant is between God and Himself. Therefore it will never be broken and is now forever binding. Hebrews 6:13 KJV
[13] For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

The good news – gospel has gotten better.
The gospel delivered by the living Christ “seated” at the right hand of power through Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. Oh what mercy. We were foreign and without God.

What difference does it make?

No longer do. Done!
No longer work. It’s a gift.
No longer water baptism to receive the Holy Ghost. You by faith are baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ.

What difference does it make?

Are you kidding me?

Prior to this age of grace that is being ushered in through Paul, law keeping, yearly sacrifice of bulls and goats, baptism, dietary restrictions, tithing, 613 do’s and don’ts to please God and…. it was exclusive to God’s chosen( not favorite) people, the Jews.

But Now!

By faith, we have all of the blessings of God. Ephesians 1:3 KJV
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Gods faith! We receive His faith when we believe His Word!

Galatians 3:22 KJV
[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

His Word, what He has for mankind in this age, is that “all” now can be reconciled, (made right) redeemed, (bought back) sanctified, (set apart) and liberated – set free. Free from death to receive eternal life. His life!!

All!! God wishes that none should parish.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV
[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Galatians 3:28 KJV
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. All one “in” Christ!!!!!

I’m counting on HIS FAITH! Not my little less than a mustard – seed faith ( moved any mountains lately) that waxes and wanes with my emotions and circumstances, His faith, a gift when you believe.

Believe what?

Paul’s Gospel. The gospel of grace that was given to you! The good news that Christ was crucified, dead and buried, and on the third day arose! The good news that Christ has finished all of the work required to be saved, to be reconciled and redeemed. The good news that “all” may receive salvation by His finished work on the cross. The good news that He will trade His perfect life for your sinful life. The good news that it’s yours when you believe it. A gift, because He loves you. Whoever you are, whatever your station in life. The good news that while…. you…. were….. yet….. a ….. sinner, He died for you. Romans 5:8 KJV
[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Turn from your sins to receive this gift is nowhere found in the gospel of grace. Jesus did not die to make your behavior better, He died to set you free from the penalty you deserved. Death! He took your penalty in His death so you would not have to die. One sacrifice for all time for all sin. He paid it all! He, not your religion or your philosophy, not your rules, not your works, not your way , HIS WAY!!!!!
The good news that Christ is all in all.

The gospel of grace is the gospel now. If you add to this you do not have the gospel of grace, you have another gospel, one that is perverted and diluted and different!!!

My mother made pound cake and she left us a book of recipes after she went to be with the lord. Many ask for the ingredients and my wife graciously shares “ Moms pound cake”. If you leave out one of those ingredients or add something that wasn’t in the recipe, you no longer have “moms pound cake”, tou have perverted it.

It’s the same with Paul’s gospel handed down to him by the risen glorified Christ.

Are you adding to or taking away from this message that Jesus has saved you by grace through faith and not works?

What difference does it make?

The Bible clearly shows the gospel of the kingdom preached by Christ and the twelve is for Jews only, but Christ completely set that gospel aside in Acts 28:25-27. God turned to the Gentiles Acts 28:28. Paul’s gospel is for all of mankind from Acts 9:15 until the rapture of the church the body of Christ.

You are cursed if you add to or take away from Paul’s gospel. Galatians 1:8 KJV
[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.

Do you see this? You are cursed if you mix law and grace. You are cursed if you tithe for salvation or claim water for salvation Don’t confuse water baptism after salvation as a celebration and symbol of salvation to include communion with bread and wine to REMEMBER….. what Christ has done.

1 Corinthians 11:24 KJV
[24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Jesus said eat my flesh and drink my blood. But look what He said before He finished this thought: John 6:53 KJV
[53] Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:63 KJV
[63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Paul tells us if we attempt to keep the law, you have fallen from grace. Why are earth would you “now” try to keep the law when you never could or would? Christ keeps the law for you.

Christ says “I have paid it all for you, nothing required.”

The gospel of the kingdom (good news given only to Jews that Christ was the messiah and came to earth to set up His earthly kingdom was only given to the nation of Israel. They’re different, they’re both true, they are different truths to different people. The gospel of the kingdom was… not given… to….you if you were not a Jew!!! Are you a Jew? If you are a Jew born after Paul wrote Christ’s truths in his epistles, the way of salvation has changed !!! Your nation rejected it, but allowed you as an individual to receive it by faith , not law or works.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4,13 KJV
[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ is not risen.

They’re different!!!
Watch this: Paul goes on in the same exhortation to say that if we just believe who he is, we are miserable but adds the rest of the gospel that Christ rose from the dead. Paul’s gospel. That which was hidden but now revealed.
1 Corinthians 15:11,19-20 KJV
[11] Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. [19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. [20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

But now, it’s different. Not another gospel, but the rest of the gospel. Both true, one part to Jews and the rest – Paul’s gospel from the risen ascended Christ opened to all!!!!!

If you are a gentile, this is your only shot at salvation!! You had nothing before, no covenants, you were without God!

Paul preached both of these gospels but he didn’t mix them. He knew law better than anyone but understood now the dispensation of grace given to Him by Christ!! A better covenant. Hebrews 8:6 KJV
[6] But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Paul’s gospel (good news) continues…. as he shares what Christ is revealing. That all men now can be saved, a different way – by Gods Grace now – different.

Ephesians 3:1-10 KJV
[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 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; [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: [10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

We have been given the unsearchable riches. In Paul’s letters, we have the wisdom of God kept from the ages!

Don’t read a book or commentary on God or Jesus, read the glorious letters written to us from Christ, penned by the one He…. chose to bring it to the world.

Romans to Philemon is the rest of the story. It’s what God has chosen to reveal now, the age of Grace. All of scripture was given to us to bring us to this place. Why on earth would you want to go back to a place of bondage? Soak in this grace, this freedom to live for God. Free from sins penalty and grasp. Free from religion, free from ordinances, free from legal denominational requirements.

It’s actually a sin to mix law and grace. In fact, when we we attempt to keep the law, we have fallen from grace!!! Galatians 5:4 KJV
[4] Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Whoa! Do you see how serious this is?
Christ fulfilled the law, who do you think you are that you could keep it!

YOU CANT HAVE IT YOUR WAY AND….GOD’S WAY!!!!

If Noah had built a bird house and not a boat, mankind would have perished.

What difference does it make?

God is inviting you, who were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world, to be made nigh, close, reconciled….by the blood of Jesus. Don’t miss this, you are made right by His shed blood! (Ephesians 2:12-13)

12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: [13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

What difference does it make?

But NOW, “in” Christ, you who were far off….are….made…. close…..by…the blood of Christ.

“IN” is the big difference!!

The scripture that began this writing makes sense now.

Colossians 1:27-28 KJV
[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: [28] Whom we preach, WARNING every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect “IN” Christ Jesus: (emphasis mine)

“IN” is the big difference.
Being “in” Him secures us.
Being “in” Him changes us. We become what he is. As a cup of water poured into the ocean.

The church, (assembly) the body of Christ is the mystery revealed. You are either in it or not. When you believe that Christ and Christ alone with nothing added has done it all, secured everlasting life for you by His finished work on the cross, has satisfied all that’s needed to spend eternity with almighty God, you are placed into this mystery body, those who have been called out of the world, out of religion and placed into Christ. You are baptized by he Holy Spirit into Christ. You are crucified with Him and raised with Him. Romans 6:3-8 KJV
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin. [8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Christ has entered into that place of death we are in and makes us alive with a new birth.
We lost our spiritual lives as Adam and Eve, separated from God and kicked out of His presence in the garden. We were always dead to God, being in Adam until Christ enters into our dead bones and trades His life for or life.

You were dead to God! You lost the Holy Spirit of God intended for you because of Adam’s sin. All born after Adam are born dead to God. We are born with a human body, a human spirit and human soul. DEAD to God, alive in the human realm only. Ephesians 2:1 KJV
[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Your body will die. We humans are 1 for 1.
Your human spirit has a nature of sin and cannot co exist with a perfect sinless God in heaven. It has to die and be given a new nature. When you believe the finished work of the cross, Christ and Christ alone, you are crucified with Christ. Dead. He does it, you can’t place yourself in Christ.
Your old nature that couldn’t help but sin is put to death and you are quickened, made alive with Christ. You are immersed into Christ and are where He is. Ephesians 2:4-6 KJV
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Colossians 2:12-13 KJV
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. [13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

This will only happen when the Holy Spirit searches your heart and knows you truly believe Christ is who He says He is and has done what He says He has done.
Lip service won’t do it. Only God knows your heart, you can’t fool Him.

We are now alive to God!!

Redeemed, bought back, made right! Reconciled to God. Lost but found, dead now alive!

You were dead! Can a dead man get up himself?

Ephesians 5:14 KJV
[14] Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

This is the new birth. Born again, once of the water, our physical birth, and now born of the Spirit. This new birth prophesied by Christ to Nicodemus. John 3:5-6 KJV
[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Your flesh can not dwell forever with the spirit of God. They didn’t get it, now it’s all revealed.
Your body of sin will die as promised, but the you that lives in that box or carcass is safe and secure “in” Christ, never to die again. He promised, you are as safe as He is and you are where He is!! That’s the gospel of grace revealed to Paul by Christ Himself for us!!! Hallelujah!!!

We, the body of Christ are His body here on earth.

You must be in His body to enter into heaven. Christ is the only conduit from humanity to divinity. It’s the only way!!! God has ordained this from the beginning and it is now revealed. Christ said I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6 KJV
[6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is the door to eternal life. You must go through it. There’s no other door.

If you say you are going through Jesus, Then add tithing, good works, baptism and all of your religion, you can’t go through, the gate is too narrow. You can only take that baggage through a wide gate that leads to destruction. Matthew 7:13-14 KJV
[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
I don’t care how good you think you are, you’re not good enough to enter.

Good people go to hell, saved people go to heaven.

Think about this for a moment: [4] Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. [5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? [6] Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; [7] When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
[8] Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? [9] When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, [10] And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, [11] And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? [12] Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; [16] Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? [17] Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? [18] Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

[2] Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him ? He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Can you answer any of these questions? I didn’t think so. Science did not cause these, Science is merely God allowing man to peek into His workshop. Man cannot instruct God. The clay cannot instruct the potter.

You can not enter into the spirit realm of the almighty, all knowing, ever present God as a human with flesh and blood. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 KJV
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

You must be changed and God will do that changing His way. Ephesians 2:5 KJV
[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

He has given us a way and that way is through Jesus Christ and Him alone. He is Gods last will and testament.

Can any fool place himself into Christ?
Religion says you can! Tithe, read more of your Bible, send more to Ethiopia, pray more, volunteer more, …….. They’re all good things that you will do when Christ lives in you but they won’t put you in Christ!!

There are only two places your spirit man can be: in Adam or in Christ. Either you are in Adam or in Christ. The man sitting next to you in traffic or the women drunk at the bar or the queer at the alter about to marry his or her same sex partner is either in Adam or in Christ.

All of mankind is in Adam at birth. You are not born a child of God as most religion tells you.

You were born a child of Adam and fallen in sin. You can be the greatest teacher, preacher, philanthropist, theologian, king, queen, pope or pauper, you must be placed into divinity by divinity. The Holy Spirit places you into Christ. One Spirit, one body, one baptism.

One Spirit – Holy Spirit
One Body – Jesus Christ. All those who by faith and faith alone have believed Paul’s Gospel of Grace.
One baptism – Baptism of the Holy Spirit into Christ.

Watch the difference. John baptized men with water, Christ baptized men with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit baptizes us now …into…. Christ. The church, the body of Christ. One Spirit, one Body, one baptism.

Ephesians 5:30-32 KJV
[30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. [32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

A people that were not a people and are now Gods people! (1 Peter 2:10 KJV)
[10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

This was prophesied by Christ in the true Lord’s Prayer. Hidden, but now revealed.

Jesus’prayer to the father before the cross:
John 17:20-21 KJV
[20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; [21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

That they.. may be one; as thou Father are in Me, and I in thee, that they may be one “in” us!!!

God is offering you, who were out, to come “in”. You who were dead, to be made alive. You who were without any covenant to have all of the blessings of the new covenant promises. You, a Gentile to have your sin taken away and…. remembered no more, removed as far as the east is from the west. And all as a gift!

We will become flesh of His flesh and bone of his bone. The assembly (church) the body of Christ.

This teaching will come….from Christ…..through Paul the Apostle to… the… Gentiles and the world.
This was never understood in the early assembly of Jewish believers. It was never revealed until Christ revealed it through Paul. The revelation of the mystery.

All that Jesus began to do and teach, is revealed through revelation, to Paul. (Saul of Tarsus)

Now, It all makes sense, what Jesus was saying during His earthly ministry:
The lamb of God that takes away the sin of the “world”.
You must be born again, of water (physical) and Spirit (from above)
God so loved the “world” that He gave His only begotten Son, that “whosoever” believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
“All” that believe have the power to become his children. (No human is born a child of God, we are all born children of Adam. We by faith become Gods child) (John 1:12)

Pay close attention here, what Jesus spoke in the “real” Lord’s Prayer.

Please read this slowly and drink in this love, mercy and grace.

John 17:1-26 KJV
[1] These words spake Jesus and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: [2] As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. [3] And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. [4] I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [5] And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. [6] I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. [7] Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. [8] For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. [9] I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. [10] And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. [11] And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. [12] While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. [13] And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. [14] I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. [18] As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. [19] And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. [20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; [21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. [22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. [24] Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. [26] And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it : that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Vs 2: He who has power over “all” flesh should give eternal life to as many as have been given to Him. How many were given to him? All, whosoever will, all who call. Gods will was that none parish.

Vs 3 : Eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ.

Vs 4: The work is finished.

Vs 8 : they believe that I came out from thee. This is big! The earthly, fleshly, human was God. The Word became flesh. Jesus was God in a body.

Vs 20: Jesus prays that all, not just the few that were with Him, but “ALL” that will believe the gospel truth, the finished work of God in Christ.

Vs 21,22,23 : here is the truth revealed, the beginning of the explanation of the mystery that had been concealed since the beginning of time : that they (believers) may “ALL” be “ONE” as You Father are in me and I am in you, that they may be “ONE…. IN….US.

Praise God, do you see this? We, like a cup of water poured into the ocean, like a breath of air into the atmosphere, a grain of sand on the beaches of the world. We become one with God as if we were Jesus!!!!!! As Jesus is one with Him , we are now one with Him. We are hidden in Him as an oak tree in an acorn.

Hallelujah moment!!!!

We by faith, by faith, become a part of His body, the “church” (assembly) the “body of Christ.

An assembly (church) called out… to be “in”.
We, who were lost and without God, without any covenant are adopted sons and daughters by faith! Not works less any should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

This was all prophesied in the earthly ministry and revealed through Paul!

We now have everything God promised to the nation of Israel.

How? By taking God at his word. By faith and faith alone, His faith given to us when we believe. We are placed (God does the work) into Christ. Christ is the new covenant. We are “in” Him. We are in the new covenant. We enjoy everything that Christ has. We live as long as He lives, we have His righteousness, we are washed in His blood! We are always where He is. Our minds and hearts start to think like He thinks, and we will become what He is!!!!!

Oh this gets good. So much better than religion.

John 1:12-13 KJV
[12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Do you see this? We are born anew. Not a physical birth but a spiritual birth. Born of God, not flesh and blood, but a birth that places us “in” Gods eternal life.

We are as close as bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. Ephesians 5:30 KJV
[30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

This has never happen since God breathed His Spirit into man. Genesis 2:7 KJV
[7] And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

We are born anew, a part of His glorified body. Paul is saying we are as Eve was, bone of Adams bone and flesh of his flesh, we are born this new creature in Christ.

Paul likens it to a marriage where the two become one. This will be revealed later after the church the body of Christ will be called out to meet Christ in the air and will become His Bride.

What difference does it make?

He, by Grace, by Grace, by Grace… unmerited favor, exchanges His righteousness for your unrighteousness. It’s all His doing when we believe.

You become what He is. You live as long as He lives.

You, the new spiritual man, not your body, it will rot in the ground or burn up in a car accident or in war; Your spirit man, the one that is seated with Christ right now in heaven.

What difference does it make?

All things are new. The old has passed away. We have a better covenant.

Do you see this, “we” now have a promise that God will seal us and never leave us. Not anymore by what we do but by what He has done.
His faith sustains our little mustard seed of faith. He is faithful even when we are not.
He…. does the holding. If it were left up to me to hold on, I’d fall off in 10 seconds after I wake up every day. Our faith, (gift from Him) given to us when we believe, places us in Him.

Hebrews 8:6-7 KJV
[6] But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. [7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Many in religion today continue to mix this new way of grace with the old ways.
Scripture clearly shows us “things past”, “things present” and “things future” and they shouldn’t be mixed. If they are mixed, they become diluted. When something is changed from its purest form, it… is… different!

Law is law, Grace is Grace. When they are mixed, they become something else. A curse.

At different times, God has given man different ways to Him. Some call these “Dispensations”, I call it “God’s way”. Dispensations are what God is dispensing at the time. He made different covenants with different people at different times. What difference did it make? The covenant God made with Noah, was not the same as with Abraham, nor, was the Abrahamic covenant, the same as with Moses, the Mosaic covenant was different from the Davidic covenant, and the new covenant is different yet again.

Different, they’re different.

When we rightly divide the word, we see these differences, we see that man went through different ages. We see the age of innocence, conscience, promise, law and grace to this point. We will see in the future, the age of Grace will end with the rapture and the Jewish Nation will return to God during the Millennial Kingdom. That’s right friends, the Jew is under God’s promised covenant. One that is a Jew inwardly. (In the heart, not just by ordinances or outward signs as circumcision) shall be brought back in during the Millennial Kingdom. (Romans 11: 26) For those of you that say, “ this is unfair”, get over it, it’s “ God’s Way”.

And here’s a revelation: NONE OF THESE WAS “TO” YOU, if you were born after the Cross!
God did not tell you to build a boat.
God did not tell you to place your son on an alter and sacrifice him.
God did not tell you to refrain from eating shellfish, or to refrain from Saturday work.

God has ushered in a new economy, a new dispensation. He’s moved from Law to Grace. If you were not a Jew, you were never under any of it!!!!!! This grace is a gift, to you who were without God!!!!! Why on earth would you place yourself under something you never had and under something God did not intend for you? Why?

Friends. This truth is revealed in the epistles of Paul, from Romans to Philemon. This is for you if you were born after the cross.

This assembly, the church, the body of Christ, those who by faith and faith alone have been immersed (baptized) into Christ by the Holy Spirit of God are all over the world. They are Gentile, Greek, black, white, male, female, gay and straight. They are African, Canadian, Lebanese, American, Chinese, and from every nation on the earth. The local church and denominations are not this “body” but, those in the local church and denominations may be in this body. The one true church. Those who are “in Christ.

We become one body, one Spirit with Him, one baptism (not water). This is the church, the body of Christ, The church is not denominational institutions with their rules and disciplines. The one true church is not glorious temples and those adorned in high hats with gold chalices, gold rings and crosses adorning their person that bring Christ out of a box above an alter and eat of his flesh and then place him back into the box. God forbid! These temples and alters and ornate vestiges were that of religion that killed the savior of the world. The first churches were without any of this. They met in homes, read the word of God, sang praises and then celebrated His finished work by partaking of the bread and wine to REMEMBER what He did at the cross. The church (remember, means an assembly called out for a specific reason) has become the body of Christ. Called out of religion!!! They are not surrounded by walls. The church are those who by faith have excepted the life ring our Lord in the midst of their drowning has provided. Oh lord I’m not worthy, I’m a sinner, I lust and I’m a drunkard, I’m a lying homosexual, I don’t love you with all my heart, or my neighbor. I haven’t forgiven or loved as you have…..I haven’t tithed, I haven’t been baptized, I don’t even go to church or read my Bible, I’m awash in sin! Oh! God save me!!!

At once, that nail-scared hand reaches down and He places the eternal life ring upon you. He doesn’t say grab on or hold on, He does the holding! You are then washed in His royal blood, clothed with the cloak of righteousness and seated with Him where He is.

What difference does it make?

Jesus Christ is the difference.

God has given us a recipe to be saved from hell and reconciled with Him.

That recipe is Jesus Christ! Add anything to it and you don’t have it. Take Anything away from it and you don’t have it.

What difference does it make?

In Christ, you mind will be renewed. Your desires will change. Your addictions for sin will fade away. You will love people and things that you never did. Your lusts will change from sin to righteousness. You will find peace beyond your understanding.
You will start to hate the world and it’s “things”. You will be content even in the worst of circumstances. You will seek the things above and loose your childish ways.
You will forgive as He forgave and love as He loves. You will lose your fear of death because you will want to leave and see Him face to face. You will no longer fear your circumstances because you will know He is with you through it all. You will Be liberated, free from religion and traditions knowing you have all of what God has for you in Christ. You will thirst for Him as a deer pants for water. You will yearn to know more of Him. You will read His word as if you were a starving man.
You will be different. People will say “you have changed” you will walk with Him and talk with Him. Oh what a difference He makes.
Christ is everything. He will be the air you breath and the water you drink. He is your life.
To live is Christ and to die is gain.

Christ is the way, the truth and life.
You cannot go to the father but through Him.

He is the conduit from humanity to divinity.

You must go back to that clay man of dust and die, being reshaped and have that breath of life breathed into you. Born of God. Taken out of Adam and placed into Christ.

John 12:24 KJV
[24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Friends, don’t let religion keep you from this glorious truth.

What difference does it make?

You bring a curse upon yourself when you add to or take away from the finished work of Christ. Galatians 1:8 KJV
[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.

What difference does it make?

Life and death. AMEN.

Please read the epistles of Paul from Romans to Philemon, and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you. It’s the rest of the story from our glorious Savior. It will set you free.

I would like to acknowledge my dear friend and sister in Christ, Mandy, whom Christ sent to me when I was confused and struggling with what I thought were contradictions in scripture. She shared with me “rightly dividing the word” and dispensational truths.

Call on Him today in whatever state or condition you are in and trust Him and only Him, and He will lead you to all truth. He promised!

THE SINNER’S PULPIt
COME IN A SINNER AND LEAVE A SAINT.