Monday, March 5, 2012

LLM Question for 3-6-2012, and, THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE: Beginning and Ending, part 3 of 3

First the Question: Simon, (the Apostle Peter), was introduced to Jesus by Philip. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 3-4-2012

Question: The LORD committed the Dispensation of the Grace of God to Peter for Gentiles when He gave him the kingdom keys. True or False?

Answer: Absolutely FALSE! The LORD never committed the Dispensation of the Grace of God to Peter for Gentiles when He gave him the kingdom keys, nor when He gave the Eleven the so-called “Great Commission." Nor at any other time. Read and take note, in Colossians 1:23, who had the responsibility for preaching the Gospel to every creature under heaven! So far as we are concerned, in 2 Cor. 5:18-20 and Ephesians 3:1-11, we find a Commission far greater for us, today, than Matthew 28:19-20 or Mark 16:14-18. Now, out of the 711 responses we received to this question, only 73.9% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE: It's Beginning and Ending, part 3 of 3

What a great difference between “the Gospel of the circumcision” and “the Dispensation of the Mystery”!

In order that we might recognize this great difference, we must keep in mind that “the Gospel of the circumcision” was given to Peter AFTER the resurrection of Christ. All of the message of Peter on the day of Pentecost to devout Jews from every nation under heaven, was in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy and David’s prophecy. He preached in the third chapter of Acts concerning days prophesied by all of Israel’s prophets. Acts 3:24.

All of this is SO VERY different from THE DISPENSATION OF THE MYSTERY concerning the Gentiles, about which all of Israel’s prophets were both silent and ignorant. Why did the LORD instruct Peter to continue with the Gospel of the circumcision on and after the day of Pentecost? Because, He had not yet cast away (temporarily) His circumcised nation Israel!

After Saul’s name was changed to “Paul”, the RISEN Christ committed unto him the Ministry of Reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:18-20. This was after Israel was set aside. Romans 11:15, “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

As long as the Gospel of the circumcision was proclaimed, the LORD’s messengers went back to the Abrahamic Covenant and the Covenant of Circumcision. Acts 7:8. When Israel was set aside and the LORD committed to Paul the dispensation of the Grace of God and the Ministry of Reconciliation, then for the first time reference is made to Adam. Note Romans 5:11-12, “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation (atonement) Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:11-12.

The LORD never committed the Dispensation of the Grace of God to Peter for Gentiles when He gave him the kingdom keys, nor when He gave the Eleven the so-called “great commission.” Nor at any other time. Note in Colossians 1:23 who had the responsibility for preaching the Gospel to every creature under heaven? So far as we are concerned, in 2 Cor. 5:18-20 and Ephesians 3:1-11, we find a commission far greater for us than Matthew 28:19-20 or Mark 16:14-18.

The Gospel of the Kingdom, which is NOT the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24), will be proclaimed AFTER the present economy of the Grace of God has been brought to an end. This Dispensation of Grace will end. After that “the times of the Gentiles” will be fulfilled.

The Dispensation of the Grace of God did NOT begin on the Day of Pentecost, or with the salvation of Cornelius, or with anything that the Twelve preached or did. It began with the casting away of Israel (temporarily), when that nation committed the unpardonable sin.

The beginning of the end of national Israel was Stephen’s message in Jerusalem and the Apostle Paul’s message in Acts 13:46, “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 you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to ‘the Gentiles.’” And Acts 18:6, “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads: I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”

Then came the END of Religion (and everything that goes with it), the END of Circumcision, the proclamation of the Gospel of the un-circumcision, the beginning of the times of the Gentiles spiritually, the Dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles. Then followed the revelation of “the dispensation of the Mystery.” Note Ephesians 3:9, “And to make all men see what is the dispensation (fellowship) of the Mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

What are YOU, Christian, doing about Ephesians 3:9?

Look at the glorious Divine Truth in Ephesians 1:23 and Ephesians 4:13, “WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULNESS OF HIM THAT FILLETH ALL IN ALL.” “TILL WE ALL COME IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, UNTO A PERFECT MAN, UNTO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST.”

We would emphasize the word “FULLNESS.” The Body of Christ is the fullness of Christ. Here we have the very HEART of the Mystery.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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