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Dispensationalism IV - Lesson 5
Attached Audio:
- TRANSITIONAL CHANGES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
- From Judaism to Christianity
- From Law to Grace
- From Jew to Gentile
- From Gospel of the Kingdom to the Gospel of Grace
- From Peter to Paul
- From Signs and Wonders to the Word of God
- From Temple and Synagogue to the Local Church
- From Earthly Kingdom to Heavenly Kingdom
- From Jerusalem to Antioch
- From East to West
- THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH – A NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN
- A Soul-Reaching Church (Acts 11:19-21 [19] Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
[20] And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.
[21] And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
See All...) - A Preaching Church (Acts 11:19-24 [19] Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
[20] And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.
[21] And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
[22] Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
[23] Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
[24] For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
See All...) - A Teaching Church (Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
See All...; Acts 13:1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
See All...; Acts 15:35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
See All...) - A Faithful Church (Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
See All...; Acts 14:27And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
See All...) – they assembled themselves - A Serving Church (Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
See All...) – called Christians first in Antioch - A Holy Church (Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
See All...) – Christians would be Christ-like - A Giving Church (Acts 11:27-30 [27] And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
[28] And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
[29] Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
[30] Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
See All...) - A Praying Church (Acts 13:2-3 [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
[3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
See All...) - A Mission-Sending Church (Acts 13:1-4 [1] Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
[2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
[3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
[4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
See All...; Acts 14:26-28 [26] And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. [27] And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. [28] And there they abode long time with the disciples.
See All...) - GRACE AGE GIFTS
- Three Views
- That apostolic gifts have continued unaltered
- That the gifts have been replaced by ministries, callings, etc.
- That the gifts have been transformed from the apostolic gifts to the grace age gifts – that is the view of these notes
- The Purposes for the Change – Why did God not continue the apostolic gifts as He originally gave them?
- The completed Bible removed the need for gifts of confirmation (Mark 16:17-20 [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
[19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
[20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 [8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
See All...); there is no longer any need to confirm the divine authority of the spoken word since we now have the written word as a check on the truth of the speaker. - The transition from Jew to Gentile removed the need for the sign gifts (1 Corinthians 1:22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
See All...). God deals especially with the Jewish people through signs but in this age He is working through the Gentiles. - The Character of the Changes
- From gifts of confirmation (confirming the spoken word) to gifts of edification (Romans 12:6-8 [6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
[7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
[8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
See All...). - From gifts given in an immediate and supernatural way from the Spirit of God to gifts given according to the grace of God working in the believer (Romans 12:3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
See All..., 6; Ephesians 3:7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
See All...; Ephesians 4:7-8 [7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. [8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
See All...) and practiced according to the measure of faith in the believer (Romans 12:3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
See All..., 6). - The Working of the Grace Age Gifts
- A gift is something that is given; something transferred from one person to another. Both the sign gifts and the grace gifts fit this definition.
- The grace gifts come as abilities given to us by God according to His purpose for us (2 Timothy 1:9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
See All...). - They appear at different times: in childhood or later in life. They can even appear before salvation since they are part of God’s eternal plan for us. At other times, they appear when the need arises.
- Though their appearance may not be immediate and supernatural as with the sign gifts, they are still just as much the working of God in our lives. They are the result of His grace working in us to the performance of His will for His service.
- We still must decide to use these gifts for the Lord. He enables them by the working of His grace. But we must use them by the operation of faith.
- Finally, they are never to be a source of pride. Since they are given, we have nothing to glory in when we have received them (Romans 12:3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 [6] And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. [7] For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
See All...). - THE GIFT OF TONGUES
- The Meaning of Tongues: languages unknown to the speaker and unlearned by the speaker. They are unknown in 1 Corinthians 14 in that they are languages no one present knows. When tongues were spoken on the day of Pentecost, every man heard the word in his own language (Acts 2:8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
See All...). This is not angelic language. Paul only uses "the tongue of angels" as a contrast. [Even if I spoke in the language of angels, that would do no one any good if they could not understand me.] He was not defining unknown tongues an angelic language. - The Regulation of Tongues in Corinth
- Tongues were already unimportant in the service of Christ by about 60AD.
- The most carnal church Paul wrote to (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 [1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
[2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
[3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
[4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
See All...) was caught up in tongues-speaking and gave way too much emphasis to it. - No speaking of tongues should be done unless the tongues are interpreted (verse 27-28).
- No more than three should ever speak in tongues in a church service (verse 27).
- Only one should ever speak in tongues a one time (verse 27). That's what "by course" means--in order, one after the other.
- Those who truly speak in Spirit-given tongues can speak if they want or refrain from speaking if they want (verse 32). God-given tongues is not some uncontrollable urge that comes over someone. It is a gift that they can use when they want just like preaching.
- Women are not to speak in tongues in a church service (verse 34).
- Truly spiritual people will agree that these restrictions are necessary (verse 37).
Proverbs 27:23
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.