(1). The 12 apostles knew that the gospel that they were to preach, was the gospel (good news) of the Kingdom, to Israel only! What the 12 did not know about was the “revelation of the mystery of Christ,” or the “dispensation of Gentile grace.” This was still a mystery, a secret, kept hid in God. Jesus explained the events that would take place all the way through to the end of the world, in Matthew chapter 24. Except the mystery. The mystery was still a mystery!
The point is this, the gospel (good news) that was commissioned to the 12 to preach was Israel’s gospel, the gospel of the Kingdom. The message about Israel’s program coming to its fulfillment and culmination. But this is not the gospel (good news) we are to proclaim in the dispensation of grace. Israel’s program is still suspended, set aside (See: Rom. 9, 10, & 11).
The gospel recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John & in the opening chapters of Acts, Is still the gospel of the Kingdom to Israel. When we rightly divide the word of truth as God through Paul instructed us to do, we can clearly see that the Great Commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom is Israel’s gospel, and not ours!
(2). In Mark 16:15-16: Jesus says to the 12, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Now, we who rightly divide the word of truth, know that water baptism has nothing to do with us today in the dispensation of grace. We know our baptism is a Spiritual baptism:
(Rom. 6:3-4) “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into his 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.” Our Baptism is a Spiritual operation of God, the Holy Spirit into the CBOC.
1 Cor. 12:13: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; And have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
(3). Satan’s policy of evil (SPOE) is using men in pulpits today, who do not rightly divide the word of truth. Men have changed the meaning of Mark 16:16 from “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” to mean: “He that believeth and is SAVED (+) shall be (WATER BAPTIZED)” (You see how works have been added (+) to salvation?) This is a classic example of “wresting the scriptures.” This is taught in organized religion today!
2 Peter 3:16: Peter mentioned Paul. He said, In Paul’s epistles are some things hard to understand, by those unlearned (who do not rightly divide), & the unstable (unestablished) as they wrest (manipulate, tweak, change) not only Paul’s epistles, but also other scriptures (to mean what they want it to mean) to their own destruction. Cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-17 = loss of rewards/ destruction of your temple.
What we have today, & what Bro. Blades wants us to see, is the SPOE, men practicing The Ministry of Dishonesty or Bible Mishandling. Paul refers to it in 2nd Corinthians 4: 2-4:
Vs 1. “Therefore seeing we (BOC) have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; Vs 2. But have renounced (disowned) the hidden things of dishonesty (corrupt doctrine), not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. Vs. 3. But if our gospel be HID, it is hid to them that are LOST: (“Let God be true, but every man a liar-Rom, 3:4).” Vs. 4.In whom the god (Satan) of this world has 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.” (This comes from my notes from the GSB), “Manuscript Evidence:”
This is the Ministry of Dishonesty. Yes, organized religious system operating in their own human frame of reference, what men think God should be saying, using their own opinion, & translations, instead of utilizing the KEY to right division (2 Tim. 2:15). When you don’t rightly divide, like organized religion, you begin forming your own theology & imposing it on the Word of God. You will begin compromising, mixing Law with Grace. This is not new, remember, Satan did this to Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3).
(4). The root source of all doubt & questioning God’s word comes from the adversary (SPOE). Satan’s tactics are: (1) Questioning, (2) Subtracting, (3) Adding, (4) Watering down, & finally (5) Denying God’s word. This is the process. It’s called: Dynamic Equivalency Method of Translation (ministry of dishonesty). But what WE as dispensationlists hold to, is a literal, word for word, likeness of the KJB text.
Satan’s objective is to get us all in our feelings (human viewpoint) like he did to Eve & get rid of the Final Authority (rightly divided). “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” (2 Cor. 2:17).
(5). Water Baptism is a sore spot among religious denominations. But water baptism belongs to Israel’s program exclusively. It belongs to the WORKS PRG. Just like tithes, tongues, healing, signs, miracles. We know John the Baptist placed people into the water. But why?
1. The purpose of water baptism was to identify the believing remnant of Israel with their Messiah, Jesus Christ. 2. And the reason Jesus Christ was baptized according to John 1:31 was to identify Himself with the believing remnant Israel, through water baptism. (IDENTIFICATION).
Water baptism was the cleansing or purification process, the prescription for cleansing, that God required for the believing remnant to receive their king. It was to separate believing Israel from apostate or unbelieving Israel. But God wasn’t talking to you and I concerning water baptism. We aren’t spiritual Israel, and water baptism has nothing to do with the CBOC in the dispensation of Gentile grace today. “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: lest the cross be made of none effect.” 1 Cor. 1:17
If you are getting your information about water baptism from the gospel accounts, & the opening book of Acts, you are stealing from Israel’s program. Brother Blades said in Roman survey, lesson #3, concerning our identification in Christ: know ye not that it is robbery to identify with Israel? And yes, “such were some of us.” We once identified with Israel!
This is why we know there are people LOST in the church! There are (2) ways to be ”LOST.” Paul clearly tells us (2 Cor. 4:3 ) “But if our gospel (The Grace of God; the preaching of JC according to the revelation of the mystery) be hid, (through the hidden things of dishonesty, & handling the word of God deceitfully, wrong division); It is hid to them that are LOST.” God said it, & I believe God! (cf. Rom. 3:4). Again, there are (2) ways to be “LOST:”
(A). Lost without Christ (Satan does not want people to know Jesus Christ paid their sin debt in full, past, present, and future sins. They’re under the wrong gospel, under the law, under the yoke of bondage, no liberty, no joy, “following Christ after the flesh,” “In this life only some have hope in Christ, therefore, they are of all men most miserable (1 Cor. 15:19). There is NO death, burial, & resurrection, in the “gospel of the kingdom.” You are LOST in trespasses & sins in the church! The saving gospel of the grace of God has been HID. Now, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT SATAN HAS CHURCHES TOO! We pass right by them all day long! If the gospel of the kingdom is being preached, you are following Israel’s gospel/program, & you are In SATAN’S CHURCH! “False apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And marvel not; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Men disguised as “ministers of righteousness” preaching Another gospel, Another Jesus, by Another spirit! (2 Cor. 11:3-4; 11:13-15; Gal. 1:6-9). The second way to be LOST:
(B). You can be Saved, yet LOST Doctrinally & not aware of what God is doing today! You are functionally dead to God! If a person has not been taught “right division,” the Bible is still a book of confusion. They are LOST to what God is doing! Right there in even a grace church. 2 Tim. 2:15. “STUDY!”
Paul tells us in 2 Tim. 2:17-18 of Hymenaeus & Philetus (they were false teachers). These men “concerning the truth had erred, saying that the resurrection (Rapture) was already past,” causing some to lose faith in what Paul taught. Saying that the resurrection was already past, would mean they had missed the Rapture & were headed into the tribulation period. Paul goes on to say:
Vs. 19. “Nevertheless the foundation of Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, that Paul as the master builder has laid on top of Christ’s work on Calvary stands sure, having this seal, that the Lord knows who believes in him and his truth. The Lord knows who have really trusted in him for their salvation and who are following His truth to Paul (Romans-Philemon).
We are not the judges of men. That is why Paul wrote the “weaker brother in the faith doctrine” in Romans 14 Chapter. (Vs 4). “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Cf. Rom. 14:10-13
Paul wants everyone who names Christ as their Savior to judge himself instead! Are you really in the faith? If you are, Paul wants you to depart from iniquity (sin), which is wrongly dividing the truth. The inquity (sin) we are to depart from is wrongly dividing the truth, by not considering what Paul says. We should purge ourselves of words without profit. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, avoid going back under the law, & avoid them that turn away from the truth. (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Tim. 4:2-4). Paul continues:
(Vs 20).“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. The church, all the BOC, is A GREAT HOUSE. (The religious system is called by God “the unclean thing,” that’s why He told us to come out from among them & touch it not (2 Cor, 6:14-18). But in a “GREAT HOUSE,” (BOC) the believers are vessels of gold and silver, but also some believers are of wood and earth. 1.The ”vessels of gold and silver” are those who are faithful to the doctrine. They will receive honor & rewards at the JSC). The believer’s life is an earthen vessel for Christ’s doctrine (treasure) to live in and through. 2.The believers who Wrongly divide God’s word (or mixing Peter and Paul, law and grace, are the “wood and earth vessels,” who shall be dishonored & receive a loss of rewards at the JSC.
Wrongly dividing God’s word, dishonors God. Preaching the gospel of the kingdom, dishonors God. Believing that the Great Commission is ours to bring in during this dispensation of grace, is dishonoring to God. And it will lead to legalistic living, and loss of reward.
Vs. 15. “If any man’s work shall be burned, (wood and earth vessels) he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (Getting into God’s heaven, just barely escaping through a wall of fire). Cf. 2 Cor. 5:10-11.
At the “Judgment Seat of Christ” God will hold the “Great House,” CBOC accountable, “for making all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery. We have been commissioned the ministry reconciliation;” cf. Eph. 3:8-10; 2 Cor. 5:17-21.
Colman J. Gilliland 