How Many Times Should God Say It?
It
is evident in the bible that God went to every possible end to make it known
that he put a difference between the nation of Israel and all the other people
of the earth in TIME PAST. It is also plain that God went to every extent
possible to make us know that today he is not dealing with Israel, and that
Israel is fallen, cast away and "Loammi," or "not God's
people," as the prophet Hosea said in Hosea 1:9.
But blindness, in part, has happened to Israel
for a reason and for a season. It was so that God could offer salvation to
unworthy, rebellious, sinful people like you and I. Not on the basis in which he
dealt with Israel in time past, but on the basis of his love, mercy and grace.
In order to make the message of grace known to
the world, God called a sinful, hate-filled rebel of a man named Saul of Tarsus,
and revealed things to him for us today that were never before known. It is
called the "preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the
mystery."
It is amazing how little attention religion
pays to the fact that just as God put a difference between Israel and all other
nations in time past, he has also put a difference between the preaching of the
gospel of the Kingdom by the 12 Apostles, and the preaching of the grace
salvation message by Paul.
Over and over, the bible repeatedly says that
Paul's message was a secret, and kept secret since the world began, that
it was hidden, that it was not made known, and that nobody knew it before Paul.
The message the Lord revealed to Paul beginning
on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter nine, and by the abundance of visions
and revelations from the Lord that Paul received sits in stark contrast to the
conditional, tribulation, endure to the end message of the gospel of the
Kingdom, as preached in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and by Peter in the book of
Acts.
Today's salvation message was so hidden and
unknown, that not only did the Devil not know it, but nobody on the planet knew
it or had ever heard of it, or even thought of it. The very fact that people who
had once cursed rather than blessed the seed of Abraham could now be saved apart
from, and even in spite of the fact that Israel was concluded in unbelief.
So, sometimes you just have to wonder how many
times God has to say it. Religion seems to stumble blindly along with their look
good, feel good things as if they do not have a clue.
How about you? Have you really searched these
things out and studied them? God doesn't do things or say things without a
reason, and time and again in ordinary, easy to understand words, God has told
us of his love, mercy and grace, and how he wants all men to receive it...free,
without cost or obligation, but as a gift, by grace.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Take the time to ponder over these next few
verses. There is something very important written in them:
(Gal
1:11 KJV) But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me
is not after man.
(Gal 1:12 KJV) For I neither received it
of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's Gospel was KEPT SECRET:
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power
to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the
world began,
Paul's Gospel was HIDDEN:
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the
wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before
the world unto our glory:
Paul's Gospel for today was NOT
MADE KNOWN:
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was
not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Paul's Gospel for today was HID
IN GOD:
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see
what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world
hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Paul's Gospel for today was A
MYSTERY:
Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath
been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Paul's Gospel for today was UNSEARCHABLE:
Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than
the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Yes, the Apostle Paul has both a unique
ministry from all the other Apostles....and most certainly a unique
message...different from that of the others. It was not until Jesus Christ
appeared to Paul and gave him this special and unique ministry and message that
we were ever told to "rightly divide the word of truth." BUT NOW it is
an absolute necessity in order to avoid the religious trap of compromise and
confusion which is the lot of most of religion today.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.