Recall from our last Dispensationalism video, the Apostles were primarily dealing with the Jewish people. Thus, their ministry was focused on the anticipation of God’s physical Messiah and the physical Kingdom (which had been promised to Israel).
What does Acts 1:6 mean?
Now, the time of Acts 1:6 takes place before the Apostles set up their ministry.
Acts 1:6 “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
The mention of a kingdom for Israel means that it is a physical kingdom as it is for a physical nation. The wording ‘restore’ again implies that they had a physical kingdom beforehand, which reveals who this particular kingdom is for: the Jews. Not only that, the verse mentions that they were expecting it to be restored at any moment.
Acts 3:19-21 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
Because the kingdom was expected to be restored during this time, there was a lot of Jewish doctrine in the ministry of the Apostles.
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come“
This restoration matches with the one mentioned in Acts 1, which is the restoration of Israel’s kingdom.
“from the presence of the Lord“
Meaning that the Lord will present with them when this kingdom is restored. This makes sense because the Jews were anticipating their physical king or messiah.
“And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: “
In the Old Testament, the prophets of the time prophesied about the coming of Jesus, their Messiah as well as about end-time events.
“Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”
These events were what the prophets had talked about were that their refreshing and restitution would come when their Messiah was among them.
Thus, the Jews were anticipating the kingdom of Heaven. Matthew even mentioned the kingdom of heaven a number of times in his epistle and as you may recall, Matthew was also ministering to the Jews.
However, we also have to consider that God warned the Jews that they would be replaced with non-Jews if they rejected their Messiah. As we know, God transitioned to the non-Jews because of this and the physical Jewish kingdom was not intended for the non-Jews, but rather a spiritual kingdom of God.
Notice the transition in the following passage.
Acts 13:45-46 “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”
“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.”
The Jews reject the teachings of Paul which were spiritual. Recall the transition from Jew (physical) to non-Jew (spiritual).
“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you:”
Spiritual things were first ministered to the Jews. Jesus himself instructed the Apostles to minister to the Jews only.
“but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”
When did the Jews reject Paul’s teachings?
However, notice that the Jews rejected these teachings so the transition was made to non-Jews.
Acts 14:19-22 “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
This is another instance of the Jews rejecting Paul’s teachings.
“Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.”
Paul left with Barnabas.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,”
Notice that in the cities they went to, the Jews rejected them but the Gentiles received them.
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
The kingdom of God, a spiritual kingdom for the Gentiles, is being preached more and more because the Jews are rejecting it.
God had warned the Jews that they should have searched for the kingdom of God before seeking the physical kingdom of heaven. Now, the Jews had focused all of their life primarily on the physical things of God but now God wanted them to focus on the spiritual things. Because they rejected that spiritual side, it was taken from them and given to a different group of people.
Acts 28:23-29 “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”
“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.”
Paul was preaching the kingdom of God.
“And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”
The Jews rejected the kingdom of God and because of this, verse 28 occurs, the transition from Jew to Gentile.
“Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”
Notice the transition that is happening here. If you’re familiar with these things you’ll understand why these verses say these things in the book of Acts and the general epistles. You will also notice the difference between Jewish end-time doctrine and other spiritual things that will apply to a Christian.
Why are Paul’s teachings so different from the other apostles?
It was because his preaching was primarily focused on non-Jewish Christian Churches whilst the Apostles focused on the Jews.
Galatians 2:8-9 “(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
Paul was assigned to the non-Jews so keep this in mind when reading the Pauline epistles. People that don’t make this distinction believe Paul is a rebel (when compared to the other Apostles) and don’t understand dispensationalism which sets them apart for different time periods and groups of people. A failure to see these differences between the Apostles’ and Paul’s teachings comes down to an unfamiliarity with the covenants between God and man.
Now, we have seen that Paul’s ministry is going to be different from the Jewish Apostles. However, notice that the Apostles themselves cannot deny the charge that Paul was given (preaching things spiritual and prioritizing the Gentiles) and recognize it as being from God.
Is Paul an apostle to the gentiles or to the Jews?
Acts 9:15 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”
God speaks to Ananias and tells him that Paul’s ministry is first for the Gentiles and least for the Jews.
Romans 11:13 “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:”
Paul proclaims himself the apostle of the Gentiles here meaning that if you’re going to find anything related to non-Jew, Paul will teach it. If you turn to any other Apostle, you’ll be following things meant for the Jews, which Catholics and lordship salvation Protestants do, and your salvation will be based on the wrong covenant. Not only that, all of Paul’s books with the exception of Hebrews (hence the title) is addressed to churches, thus, those are applicable to the Christian Church.
Now, we have established that Paul’s ministry was non-Jewish. However, that didn’t stop him when he tried to minister to the Jews. God, however, warned him of punishment if he did that as you will see shortly.
Acts 20:22-24 “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:”
Paul expresses his burden for his people the Jews so he wants to go to them.
“Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”
The Holy Spirit warns Paul that he will be imprisoned if he goes to Jerusalem to the Jews.
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
Paul expresses his incredible burden to minister to the Jews.
Did the Holy Spirit forbid the Apostle Paul from going to Jerusalem?
Now some Bible scholars may argue that God did not really forbid Paul from going to Jerusalem to see the Jews. The following verse contradicts that belief.
Acts 21:4 “And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.“
The Holy Spirit did not want Paul going to Jerusalem.
Pay heed to how the Holy Spirit is given in the context of Paul’s ministry for a non-Jewish Christian Church.
Ephesians 1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
Notice that it is not given through physical dealings such as physical water baptism and laying of hands, which was how the Jews obtained the Holy Spirit. For a non-Jew to receive the Holy Spirit, they only needed faith.
Can you lose the Holy Spirit when you sin against God?
Now, Pentecostals and Charismatics believe you can lose the Holy Spirit when you sin against God, which is false. Because God’s ministry is not based on physical dealings but rather spiritual dealings, it does not matter what physical works (good or bad) you do, the Holy Spirit will not depart from you.
Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
This verse says that you can grieve the Holy Spirit, however, He is not able to leave you no matter what.
It was long ago that Jesus preached a doctrine that Christians would be born again of the Spirit if they only believed on Him. This is seen in John 3:6-7.
What is the difference between the circumcision for the Jews and Gentiles?
Because Paul’s ministry was primarily for the non-Jewish Christian Church, this meant that physical circumcision of Jews was no longer applicable to the non-Jewish Christian Church. The non-Jew circumcision is spiritual because we are the spiritual Jew of Abraham.
Romans 4:11 “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:”
We are considered part of the circumcised even though we don’t have a physical circumcision. Now, the following verse will explain our spiritual circumcision.
What does Colossians 2:11 mean?
Colossians 2:11 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:”
This circumcision is purely spiritual because the physical part (our body) has been separated from our spiritual nature. When God mentions the putting off of the body, it is not considered you. What you (Christian) are now considered is the born of the Spirit which is your spiritual nature. To sum it all up, what this verse says (which is a great verse to prove eternal security) is that our spiritual nature (which was born of the Spirit) was cut off from our sinful body, meaning that no matter what sin is committed in the body, it does not affect salvation.
This is different from the Old Testament where whenever the soul was mentioned, the person’s body was connected to it. There was no separation of body from the soul so good works were necessary for salvation at this time. Again, quite contrary to the Christian today, where God separates the soul from what the body does. This is why our salvation is purely spiritual with no works involved, because we are separated from the body anyways (they don’t count!). Hence why dispensationalism is needed to note these differences between Jews and non-Jews.
Do Christians need to follow Old Testament laws?
Romans 2:29 “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
This verse states that we Christians are also Jews but not the physical kind; we are spiritual Jews because of God’s spiritual (not physical) dealings with us.
Colossians 2:14,16 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:”
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us”
The law of Moses.
“which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:”
This is a list of the physical things that were practiced in the law of Moses. These things are no longer applicable to the non-Jewish Christian Church becasue of verse 14, Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Paul wrote that the law was only observed for spiritual aspects since we are born of and under the law of the Spirit and not bound by the law of Moses.
Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”
The law is based on physical dealings while the law of the spirit is based on the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ death is what made the law of the Spirit accessible to us.
Galatians 5:14-18 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Here we see that if we (Christians) are to follow the law of Moses, it is done through the basis of something spiritual, hence the mentioning of ‘loving thy neighbor as thyself’. Seventh Day Adventists will argue that you have to follow the physical side of the law but this verse contradicts all of that, only deeming loving one’s neighbor as oneself as the fulfillment of the law. Again, wrong doctrine can be avoided if you possess knowledge of the covenants along with dispensationalism.
“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”
Another spiritual thing mentioned, specifically one that is being done in a negative context.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
Basically, if you are going to follow the law, the only way it will fulfilled is by following the Spirit. This is more plainly explained in the following verse.
“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”
Because we are based on spiritual dealings, the Holy Spirit, who is given to us, will guide us according to what He deems necessary. This means that it won’t necessarily be through a set of set in stone rules like the Jews were expected to follow. This also means that by following the Spirit, we are already fulfilling the law of Moses.
Not only that, if you couple this passage with Romans 8, it shows a greater evidence that the observance of the law of Moses in a physical aspect is no longer required. These two passages show that the observance of the law of Moses is only through a spiritual means’ through following the Holy Spirit.
Now, something to keep in mind is that Paul’s ministry was primarily geared toward the non-Jews meaning that the dealings were spiritual and not physical. Non-dispensationalists will accuse you that Paul brought a new doctrine that had never been previously taught and that you only has his word to go on. This is not true as we have seen spiritual dealings in the Old Testament those of which Paul used to support his spiritual doctrine.
Now, just because there were instances in which God used spiritual dealings in the Old Testament, it does not mean that He did not deal with the Jews primarily through physical means. This being said, some people will make the erroneous argument that because people in the Old Testament were used as an example to prove Paul’s spiritual ministry, it must mean that those living during the Old Testament must have observed the same Christian doctrine as we Christians today. Again, not only is this false but it could have been avoided by simply knowing the covenants and acknowledging dispensationalism.
What new teachings did the Apostle Paul bring?
Ephesians 3:1-6 “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles”
Speaking to the Gentiles.
“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”
Verse 6 states that becoming one in the spiritual body of Christ was not as clearly shown before as it was shown to those during the Church age. Thus, these following verses point out the fact that Paul was introducing many things that were different from the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles.
Romans 16:25-26 “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:”
Paul reveals that his teachings (spiritual) were not revealed clearly until his time.
Colossians 1:25-27 “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 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:”
“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;”
God dispenses something to Paul.
“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 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:”
Now, in order to prove that his ministry didn’t come from thin air (given that his teachings were not physical for Jewish people), Paul used examples of spiritual dealings found in the Old Testament. This was also used to prove that God’s spiritual dealings with non-Jews were legitimate.
The following verses are examples of cases Paul found in the Old Testament of God’s spiritual dealings.
- Romans 4:2-8,12-14
- Galatians 3:10-11,21,24
- Hebrews 10:8-11
This did not mean that Paul spiritualized everything found in the Old Testament to prove his new teaching because he recognized that God’s physical dealings with the Jews differed from the spiritual Christian. An example of this is when he recognized that for the Jew, blood sacrifice was needed for the forgiveness of sins
Hebrews 9:18-22 “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Galatians 3:12-13,23 “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.”
“And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”
The Jews found life by living by the law, not through faith.
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,”
When Jesus died He redeemed us from the curse of the law.
“being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.”
Paul recognized the difference between Jews and Christians were the law was for the Jews but not the Christians.
Romans 10:4-5 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness”
Paul recognizes that the law was relevant to the Jews until Jesus Christ ended it.
“to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law,”
What was the righteousness during Moses’ time?
“That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”
Again, through the law, the Jews were able to find life.
Romans 2:7’13 “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”
“To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:“
The Jews obtained eternal life through good works.
“(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”
If you are under the law you have to do the things of the law in order to be justified for salvation.
Now we have established that Paul understood the difference between Jewish and non-Jewish doctrine: one under the law and the other not bound by the law respectively.
1 Corinthians 10:32 “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:”
Again, this shows that Paul understood the distinction between these groups. Thus, distinction between the two is important in order to get the correct doctrine. Applying a spiritual dealing found in the Old Testament to the Jews as well as the Christians creates a lot of confusion because you have to remember that during the Old Testament, God was dealing with the physical nation of Israel primarily in a physical way, not spiritually.
Now, given that fact that there was a bit of spiritual dealings found in the Old Testament, albeit not many, it proves that Paul did not make up his teachings. Another thing to consider is that God was dealing with non-Jews through spiritual things. Lastly, Paul was given understanding by God that was very different form what the other Apostles and Jews were given, making his ministry different from those before him.