The Apostle Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Therefore, beware of false teachers.
Rebels. The rebellious, unbelieving, Old Testament Jews warned the Prophet Jeremiah and said, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, lest you die by our hand” (Jeremiah 11:21). The Apostle Paul said, “[The unbelieving Jews] killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost” (1 Thessalonians 2:15, 16; See Stephen’s accusation of the Jewish leaders – Acts 7:51-53).
Note: God holds all mankind, not just the Jews, responsible for the death of Christ (Acts 4:23-28; 5:28-32). You and I also are responsible for His death. Some people falsely believe that the Church has replaced Israel. [1] But God isn’t done with them yet (See Romans 11:1 ff).
The Dominant Cry Of Today in much of Christendom seems to be, “Tell us what we want to hear, not what God wants us to hear, know, and practice.” They want a “garbled Gospel” that conveys to them the idea that God was/is really lucky to get them on His side since they are such worthy and wonderful people. No! No! No! (Read Romans 3:10-23.)
The Pure Gospel is “Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again bodily on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). [2] Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, through this message, will be saved (Acts 16:31). We are NOT saved by our good works or by our faith PLUS our good works which is taught in many “churches” and in other religions (Ephesians 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5). We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in the Christ of the Scriptures alone, and for God’s glory alone.
Confused. Far too many Christians who have genuinely been saved don’t understand the Bible or they think it’s very confusing and contradicts itself. Perhaps they haven’t been taught that there is a difference between “doctrines (teachings) that are to be believed and practiced,” as opposed to “doctrines (teachings) that are to be believed but not practiced” (Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:1-4).
Value. From the Old Testament, Christians can learn much about the characteristics (attributes) of God which don’t change (Exodus 3:14; Hebrews 13:8), the sinful nature of man (Jeremiah 17:9), negative examples to avoid (1 Corinthians 10:1-13), and that God is trustworthy to keep the unconditional promises that He makes to people (Romans 15:4).
Promises. How many of them do you know and claim? [3] Don’t try to claim those that aren’t for you or you’ll probably become very disappointed and angry toward God. Avoid the “Health, Wealth, and Happiness Preachers” who twist the Scriptures to mislead greedy people (2 Peter 3:16).
“Dispensationalism” has been under attack for a long time even by those who claim to be “fundamentalists” (i.e. those who believe in the fundamental (basic) teachings of the Bible). “Dispensations” deal with the “Rules for Living” for people who live at different times in human history. (They are NOT different ways to be saved.) Dispensations are the result of a normal, literal, historical, grammatical interpretation of the entire Bible. Contrast “Ages.” [4]
Law, Grace, Kingdom. It’s not hard to see that the “Rules for Living” for the Jews living under “The Law” that were given to Moses on Mt. Sinai, are distinct and different from the “Rules for Living” for Christians who live under “Grace” principles. The “Rules for Living” for those who will enter Christ’s Kingdom Reign over the earth for 1,000 years (“Sermon on the Mount” Matthew 5-7) are more intense than those given to the Jews of Old Testament times (See Matthew 5:21, 22, 27, 28, 31, 32 et al).
Source. All the “Rules for Living” come from the same Source, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. They are designed to prove to mankind that no matter what “Rules for Living” God imposes on some or all of mankind, they cannot please God as long as they act independently of Him (John 15:5; Romans 8:8). (See our FREE “Bible Study Book Marker”on our website for more information.) [5]
Examples: The Jews, living in Old Testament times, had a very restrictive diet (Leviticus 11). Christians under Grace are free to eat anything for which they can give thanks (1 Timothy 4:1-5). Old Testament Jews offered bloody sacrifices to God (Leviticus 1:5-15; Hebrews 9; 10); Christians offer up spiritual, non-bloody sacrifices (Romans 12:1, 2; Hebrews 13:15, 16). Israel had a priesthood that was specific to the tribe of Levi (Numbers 3:6-7), whereas all Christians are priests to God (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6). There are other differences too. Law, Grace, and Kingdom Rules are very distinct from each other (Romans 6:14, 15). Knowing this can keep confusion at bay.
Non-Christians. If you’re not a Christian and would like to be saved from eternal condemnation (John 3:16, 18, 36; Romans 8:1), you must believe in/on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, Who died for your sins…and rose again bodily on the third day (Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).
Christians. If you’ve been saved, how much spiritual growth has taken place in your life (2 Peter 3:18)? Are you a “carnal Christian” (1 Corinthians 3:1 ff) who needs to confess your sins to God and then claim His forgiveness and move on to spiritual maturity (1 John 1:9; See Hebrews 5:12-14)? Continuing to live a carnal lifestyle could lead to a premature, painful, physical death (1 Corinthians 11:30; James 5:19, 20; 1 John 5:16).
Our Purpose In Life is to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31) by making Him known to others so they have Someone in Whom they can believe and be saved. Having done this, we want to help young Christians be assured of their salvation (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13), to grow (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18), to serve other believers (primarily) with their spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10; Galatians 6:10), and to reproduce themselves (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8).
Help. We’re here to offer assistance to those who are teachable, willing to change, and then grow spiritually (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16, 17; 2 Peter 3:18). Figuratively speaking, we’ve been through some “raging rivers” and on “rugged mountain paths.” But we’ve been comforted and encouraged by God through His Word and by some of His choice servants, and so we want to extend God’s comfort to you if you long for it (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4).
Contact. We can be reached here or through our website: www.kelseypeach.com.
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[1] Replacement Theology – https://www.gotquestions.org/replacement-theology.html
[2] Gospel Presentations – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2022/02/16/gospel-presentations/
[3] Promises – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2019/04/01/promises-for-christians-to-claim-2/
[4] “Age” – “An indefinite period of time in which God gives a specific revelation of Himself designed to relate a truth concerning His nature, desires, or antipathies to His creatures. An age, therefore, may run concurrent with a dispensation or may precede or follow the dispensations (Ephesians 2:7).” – Dr. H. L. Schafer
[5] FREE Bible Study Book Marker & Dispensations Chart – https://www.kelseypeach.com/_files/ugd/08892a_ce5bb78881fa4f50a6c866dd9ab0adfe.pdf
[6] Spiritual Gifts – https://www.kelseypeach.com/bible-basics
“Sermonettes” – https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2018/08/10/sermonettes-for-christianettes/
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by Permission. All rights reserved.