A woman in California cuts off her right hand according to Matthew 5:30 because it was cause for an offense (she felt it had led to a sin). A group of people in Tennessee meet to handle poisonous snakes as a sign of their faith according to Mark 16:18. Another congregation in Texas watches as a man is baptized for the remission of sins according to Acts 2:38. On and on it goes as we consider the various practices and beliefs of professing Christians.
To the woman who literally obeyed Matthew 5, people shake their heads in unbelief. The authorities of Tennessee seek to arrest those who handle poisonous snakes as part of their religion. Many voices are raised against the doctrine of baptismal regeneration.
What is the cause for such confusion and difference of interpretation of the Word of God? How can it be avoided?
The answer is simply to understand the difference between what God wants for the Body of Christ, His Church today, and what God wants for the nation of Israel, His future millennial Church.
If the confusion exemplified above can be avoided with no more effort than that, why isn't it?
The principle reason is a lack of care for knowing just what God has said. We have all heard it said at one time or another, of some issue, "I couldn't care less." It is this care-less attitude of Christians that results in the failure to realize fundamental distinctions to be made in Scripture.
Many Christians are concerned about the broad issues of Scripture but never get down to the equally important details of God's Word.
It may be possible to get by with generalities, but if a person is to advance in his understanding of the Word and discover the grand beauty of God's purpose and work, he must deal with the specific distinctions of Scripture as well.
The cry for world evangelism is often used as an excuse to avoid dealing with specific teachings of the Bible. There are those who take pride in the fact that theydon't get involved in doctrinal questions. Their calling is evangelism! However, a successful world-wide evangelism program for all people of the earth without national and ethnic privileges depends on recognizing dispensational principles of the Word of God. Didn't Christ once issue the restrictive order, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles"? (Matthew 10:50?
What authorization then do we have to go to the nations with the gospel of justification by faith? It is only because of the very basic difference between God's plan for the Church, the Body of Christ, and God's plan for the Israelitish Church of the Millennial Kingdom.
Another reason for failure to distinguish between the Church and Israel is the desire to reconcile the promises of prophecy with what God is doing today. There is often a desire to borrow and apply for today promises and blessing given to the nation of Israel in prophetic Scriptures. These promises can be more easily appropriated for today by blurring the
distinction between the Body of Christ and Israel.
Three Common Approaches
Three prominent views prevail regarding the relationship between Israel and the Church. Though there are many ramifications of each, these seem to be the basic positions most often held.
The Liberal position (the position taking the loosest view of divine revelation) suggests that the promises and plans of God for Israel have been set aside as illustrated below. This view teaches that the prophecies to Israel are only of historical importance and do not pertain to us today or to any future purpose of God and that the Church has replaced Israel and has a completely different structure. This view does not say that the Church is to be held in contrast to Israel, but that the Church is God's replacement for Israel.
(1) Liberal Position (Israel) (Church)
The Traditional point of view (the view held by many major denominations) suggests that the Church today is the spiritual fulfillment of Israel. The Church is thought of as "spiritual Israel." This point of view holds the promises of the prophets to be fulfilled in a spiritual way in the Church, and suggests that God is working in two stages. First, that He worked through the physical nation of Israel and second, that now since the Cross, He is working through "spiritual Israel" in the form of the Church, the Body of Christ.
(2) Traditional Position (Israel )( Church)
The Dispensational view recognizes that God has made definite and specific promises to the literal nation Israel and believes that these promises will all be fulfilled in a literal sense through this same nation. This point of view notes that the Church is neither the replacement for Israel nor the continuation of Israel in a spiritual sense. Instead, the Church, the Body of Christ, is understood to be completely distinct from God's purpose and plan through Israel. The Dispensational view understands that God's dealings with Israel were suspended when He took up dealings with the Church, the Body of Christ. See the illustration below. This view also recognizes that the dispensation of the Church will come to a conclusion, at which time God will resume His dealings with national Israel. This third point of view has the abundance of scriptural evidence to support it.
(3) Dispensational Position (Israel) (Church) Israel)
An Evident Distinction
Shortly after the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter invited the people of Israel to repent and be converted. He declared that if they would repent as a nation, the "times of refreshing" and the "times of restitution" would come (Acts 3:19-21). These "times of restitution of all things" had been spoken of "by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21).
In Romans 16:25 the Apostle Paul talks about "the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
There is certainly a distinction to be noted between these two portions of Scripture! One speaks of that which had been spoken since the world began and the other speaks of that which had been kept secret since the world began!
This distinction between prophecy and mystery lies at the heart of the difference between Israel and the Church which is the Body of Christ. God's intention to bring blessing through Israel as a nation was the theme of His prophetic design. On the other hand God's plan to offer blessing to both Jew and Gentile alike is exclusive to His secret plan, the mystery
A Significant Chapter
God's once secret plan now revealed is described in Ephesians, chapter three. In verse 2, it is spoken of as "the dispensation of the grace of God." In verse 9 it is referred to as the "fellowship [or dispensation] of the mystery."
The Bible calls several specific truths to our attention concerning this dispensation of the mystery. Ephesians 3:2-3 reveals that Paul was chosen by God to be the messenger of this mystery. On numerous occasions the Apostle Paul speaks of "my gospel." In Romans 11:13, he speaks of himself as "the apostle of the Gentiles" and magnifies his office.
Ephesians 3:5 teaches that the revelation of the mystery was not made known to mankind in other ages. This statement could not be made of God's prophetic purpose through the nation Israel. In Ephesians 3:8 Paul says it was given unto him to preach the "unsearchable riches of Christ." The term "unsearchable" could be translated literally "untraceable." The truth concerning the Body of Christ cannot be traced out or followed in the writings of the prophets.
Another difference to be noted is found in Ephesians 3:6. The revelation of the mystery shows the Gentiles being made joint heirs of a joint body. A person would look in vain for suggestion of this in the writing of the Old Testament prophets. Prophetic writings do speak of Gentiles being saved and blessed and of them partaking of the good things of God, but only through the blessing and establishment of the nation Israel.
Nowhere do you find mention in the Old Testament of the Gentiles being blessed as equals with the nation Israel. Isaiah, chapter 2, outlines the emphasis of the Old Testament prophets.
"And many people shall go and say. Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. " (Isaiah 2:3)
Distinctions We Need to Understand
Kingdom Vs. Body
God's plan through Israel involved the establishing of an organization ... a kingdom on earth over which Christ will reign as King.
In II Samuel 7:12-16, God promised David to establish a Kingdom through his family line. The prophets of Israel expand the testimony regarding this kingdom. Israel looked for a literal kingdom and a literal king.
When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream, he said, "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed..." (Daniel 2:44).
The other kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar's dream were literal, historical kingdoms. The kingdom which God will establish through the descendants of David will also be a literal, historical kingdom.
The Lord will raise up unto David "a righteous Branch" and a King who shall reign and prosper (Jeremiah 23:5). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Righteous Branch and the Prosperous King. As the Messiah of Israel He will surely deliver the people and be established as King. Study Isaiah 9:6-7.
God's plan for the Church of this dispensation is different. It involves the calling together of a spiritual organism to a heavenly citizenship.
Today, Christ is not ruling on an earthly throne as King. He is now seated 10 at the right hand of the Father in glory as Lord and is bringing together Jew and Gentile into one Body.
Christ is the Head of this- spiritual Body.
"And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head of the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. " (Eph. 1:22-23) As Head, He directs all believers as members of His Body. "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. " (Colossians 1:18)
We are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh according to Ephesians 5:30!
There is, therefore, a great difference between the visible organization of the Kingdom and the invisible organism of the Church. Christ's role as King differs from His role as Head of the Body. The Kingdom on earth is different from the Body of Christ which is blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:3)
Prophecy Vs. Mystery
We have already mentioned the difference between Acts 3:21 and Romans 16:25. One passage speaks of something spoken by the prophets since the world began and the other speaks of something which was hidden since the world began.
Searching the prophets of Israel will uncover no mention of the Body of Christ. As we have already stated, there was reference to Gentiles being saved, but only through Israel's blessing. Israel was to mediate salvation to the nations of the world. Today the Gentiles are saved apart from the priesthood of Israel.
Blessed Israel Vs. Fallen Israel
According to prophecy, the Gentiles were to receive salvation through the rise and blessing of Israel. Zechariah 8:22-23 speaks of the people of the nations (Gentiles) seeking the Lord in Jerusalem, through the Jews! Note what the peopleof the nations will say during the Kingdom age.
"... We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."
This is different from the truth found in Romans 11:11:
"Through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them [Israel] to jealousy. "
The difference is that under God's prophetic plan, the nations are to be blessed through Israel's rise, and under the plan of God in the Church, Gentiles are blessed aside from Israel and as a result of their fall.
Supreme Vs. Same
A promise that a great nation would proceed from his descendants was given to Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18). This "great nation" is the nation of Israel. This place of supremacy is further stated in prophecies, such as Isaiah 2:2:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. "
The mountain of the Lord which will be again exalted refers to the nation of Israel during the Millennial Age.
There is a sharp contrast in Colos-sians 3:11. This passage describes the Body of Christ as a spiritual creation.
"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free . . . ."
The conclusion is that God's prophetic plan calls for Israel to be supreme as a "great nation." God's secret plan in the Body of Christ places Jew and Gentile on equal ground.
Return Vs. Rapture
"And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives" (Zechariah 14:4).
This Scripture speaks of the second coming of Christ to the earth. The Lord Himself describes His coming to earth in Matthew 24:27.
"As the lightning cometh out of the east and shine th even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. "
His coming will be a literal return to the earth. It will be evident to all the world.
A difference develops when we read in I Corinthians 15:51-52.
"Behold, I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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."
Here we have a resurrection which will take place in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye. This could hardly be the coming seen by all the world.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 states that Christ will meet the Church in the air as contrasted with His return to the earth. This is an important difference between the prophetic return of Christ to set foot on the earth and the meeting in the air described by the Apostle Paul as "a mystery" in I Corinthians 15:51.
Twelve Vs. One
Another important distinction is the choice of twelve apostles to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom as opposed to the choice of one apostle to make known the message of the mystery.
In Matthew 10:5-7, the twelve are sent to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" to preach that the "Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Later, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter and the eleven continued to witness of the promise to Israel as recorded in Joel's prophecy (Acts 2:14-16).
The twelve apostles received the promise of reigning with Christ over the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). We cannot separate them from the purpose of God in and through the nation of Israel on earth.
In I Corinthians 15:5-10, the Apostle Paul distinguishes himself from the twelve by saying that after the Lord appeared in resurrection to them and others, that "last of all he was seen of me also, as one born out of due time" (I Corinthians 15:8).
Paul does not speak of being commissioned to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. Instead, he speaks of having been given the dispensation of God concerning the Gentiles being blessed in Christ (Colossians 1:25-29). In Ephes-ians 3:1-5, we see that to Paul was given the "dispensation of the grace of God." This was something not made known unto any of the sons of men until that time. In Galatians 1:10-17, Paul speaks of the unique ministry given to him.
"I neither received it of men, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Paul's special apostleship was not a matter of sharing in the ministry of the twelve apostles on behalf of the Millennial Kingdom.
God called him to be the apostle to the Gentiles and to make known the revelation of the secret concerning the Body of Christ.
How important it is to distinguish between the ministry of the twelve apostles of the Kingdom and the ministry of the one apostle of the Body of Christ.
Sign Gifts Vs. Ministry Gifts
The various gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in such portions as I Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, can be divided into at least two types. Sign gifts are those, as the name implies, which serve as signs or demonstrations of God's working. Ministry gifts are those which relate to the effective ministering of the Word of God and the encouraging of the people of God.
The sign gifts include such gifts as prophecy, supernatural knowledge, tongues, and the gift of healing. In I Corinthians 13:8 we are told that such gifts were only temporary and would one day pass away. In I Corinthians 13:8,9, we see that knowledge and prophecy were "in part." When the perfect or complete had come, then the partial would be done away or cease. Colossians 1:25 indicates that the fullness of knowledge and prophecy came with the full revelation of the Dispensation of the Grace of God; even as it says, it "fulfilled the Word of God." The sign gifts ceased when the Word of God was completed with the revelation of the mystery. There was no longer any need for the partial now that the completed had come.
The sign gifts relate to the nation Israel. It is the Jews who required a sign (I Corinthians 1:22). From the very beginning of the ministry of signs and wonders (God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt), such signs pertained to the nation Israel. More than this, in I Corinthians 14:21,22 we are told that the sign gift of tongues pertains not to the believing but to the unbelieving of the nation Israel. Tongues were for a sign to unbelieving Israel.
Though sign gifts were temporary. and pertained to Israel, the ministry gifts are never said to be temporary and are associated with the Body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-16 makes this clear.
Many sincere Christians are confused by undue stress upon the sign gifts given to Israel, while paying little attention to the ministry gifts for the Body of Christ. This failure is another classic example of how people continue to confuse Israel and the Church.
John the Baptist said, "... but that he should be manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." (John 1:31)
John's baptism Was of repentence for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4), and pertained to making Christ manifest to Israel. It is this very baptism which Peter preached on the day of Pentecost to that congregation of Jews:
"Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).
Today if one were to preach the necessity of water baptism for the remission of sins and to receive the Holy Spirit, he would be frustrating the Grace of God. He would be teaching contrary to the message of God for this present day. Paul's letter to Titus in chapter 3, verse 5, makes it very clear that we are saved NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, but BY HIS MERCY. Again, to the Ephesians Paul writes that only by God's grace through faith and by reason of the shed blood of Christ are we granted salvation and the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8,9).
Who then was right—Peter or Paul? The answer is both, for each was speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Peter was' right in telling Israel that they must receive the baptism of repentence for the remission of sins. They were to do this not for national redemption but for nation restoration. Paul was also right in preaching to the Body of Christ that through faith in Christ and because of the forgiveness of sins through Christ's blood, Jew and Gentile alike are baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ.
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jew or Gentile, whether we be bond or free; all have been made to drink into one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13).
There is a great difference between a ceremonial water baptism offer to Israel for the remission of sins, and the spiritual baptism of the individual into the Body of Christ because of the remission of sins.
These are but a few of the basic differences between Israel and the Church. Making such distinctions is fundamental to "rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
Knowing Who We Are
Where do you fit in God's picture? Failure to distinguish between God's prophetic program and the mystery, between Israel and the Church, causes many Christians to not know their true spiritual identity. They are not aware of their own particular place in God's eternal purpose and thus, fall short of their calling in Christ (Ephesians 4:1).
Do not be robbed of the blessings and privileges which Christ has purchased for you as a member of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 2:8). Know them, understand them, claim them by faith!
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent ["distinguish between the things which differ" - alternate rendering] , in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:9-10)!
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