Part 7 of 17 – Clarity versus Confusion

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called The Last Gospel.

The vast majority of Christendom has strayed far from Paul’s gospel. The Bible reveals Paul’s message as being distinctly different from the rest of the Bible, different from any God/man relationship that existed before.

The hermeneutic errors preached today lead to this confusion of Biblical interpretation. The false idea of “one gospel” or a “Pentecost gospel” not only leavens “the gospel of the grace of God,” but also this mistaken approach to Scripture makes the written word of God to become confusing and contradictory. It then pushes preachers to twist and mishandle the word to “make things fit” as they suppose it ought to be.

It is undeniable that each dispensation through the ages and times has differing God-given requirements for man. Some were given to mankind before Abram was called; and then some were different for Israel. Paul’s grace message, principally to the joint-body of Christ, is quite different from The Law given to Israel.

Each dispensation differed; The Dispensation of Innocence required man not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil, The Dispensation of Conscience required man to live by his conscience, The Dispensation of Human Government required man to subdue and fill the earth, The Dispensation of Promise required Abram to dwell in Canaan, The Dispensation of The Law requires man to obey God fully, and The Dispensation of the Grace of God is for man to receive the Grace that is in Christ by faith.

One could hardly be under “The Law” and Paul’s “Dispensation of the grace of God,” at the very same time.

Ephesians 3:1-2 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Romans 6:14 … for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Those who do not rightly divide the Scriptures by its dispensations must admit they have great contradictions to try and to explain. Consider these examples of contradiction as seen in Paul’s and James’ writings.

  • Paul says – salvation is by grace through faith alone, not of works. Salvation is by 100% unmerited favor, acquired by faith alone!

Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it NO more of works (“0” % works): otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Grace must be 100%.
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

  • James writes though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? James answers his question as follows. Jas 2:14, faith without works is dead?Jas 2:20

How are we to reconcile this contradiction between Paul and James? We can easily reconcile these two very different statements of God-inspired Scripture by reading the Bible and using a normal book reading method of interpretation; that is, we must note who it is that James is addressing. James’ epistle, in accord with Jesus’ instruction of Matt 10:5-6, is not written to Gentile “body of Christ,” but rather to the twelve tribes (of Israel) which are scattered abroad…(James 1:1b)”

Proper hermeneutics requires that we must always note these points. 1) To whom the writer is writing, 2) concerning what, 3) concerning who, and 4) concerning what time frame. Studying the Bible in this way of rightly dividing (2Tim 2:15) helps us to discern the key dispensational differences, leading us to know our Bible in its fulness.

Peter, the Apostle to “the circumcision” (Jews) eventually saw the truth’s of Paul’s unique gospel for the Gentiles. Peter supported Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles in the Acts 15 meeting in Jerusalem with the Jewish Messianic church leaders. Peter wrote to the Jews “scattered abroad” (1Pet 1:1). In his 2nd epistle he offers a sober warning to the Jews concerning the twisting of Paul’s epistles, which have wisdom from God.

2 Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you (in the epistle to the Hebrews); 16 As also in all his (Paul’s) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (Gk. Strebloo, pervert, twist, distort and misinterpret), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.