Unlocking the Bible

Ever feel like you’re wrestling with the Bible? One chapter seems to say one thing, while another appears to say the complete opposite. This kind of confusion can be frustrating, leading many to just accept the contradictions or lean on church traditions that don't always seem to fit.

But what if there isn't a contradiction at all? What if there's a vital distinction in the Bible that, once understood, makes everything click into place?

The key lies in recognizing God's two distinct purposes laid out in scripture. The first is His prophetic plan concerning the nation of Israel. This was a plan "spoken since the world began" (Acts 3:19-21).

Then, there is something else. A plan that was "kept secret since the world began" (Romans 16:25). This is the mystery. It was a purpose God held in silence until He revealed it to one specific person: the Apostle Paul. Paul was chosen to deliver a brand new revelation for a new group of people, the Church, the Body of Christ (Ephesians 3:2-4, Colossians 1:25-27). This wasn't just a continuation of the old plan. It was something entirely different.

When you learn to separate God’s prophetic program for Israel from His mystery program for the Church, the Bible opens up in a new way. The fog around many controversial doctrines begins to lift as they find their proper context. Some of these resolved topics include:

• Salvation
• Faith and Works
• Tongues
• Baptism
• God’s Will
• Sign Gifts

The Lord even tells us to look to Paul as our example, our pattern for faith and life (1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1). A failure to operate according to what God revealed to Paul is often what leads to frustration with common church traditions that don't seem to line up with scripture, including:

• The Great Commission
• Tithing
• Sabbaths and Holy Days
• Communion
• Confession
• Prayer

If you're looking for a starting point, here are some of the basic teachings that come from this approach to Bible study:

• Scripture contains two distinct programs: Prophecy, which was spoken, and the Mystery, which was kept secret. (Compare Acts 3:19-21 with Romans 16:25)
• The “gospel of the kingdom” (preached to Israel) is distinct from the “gospel of the grace of God” (preached by Paul).
• Paul was the first to receive the full revelation of this "mystery" of Christ. (Colossians 1:25-26, 1 Timothy 1:16)
• Peter’s message was connected to Israel’s prophetic plan, while Paul’s message centered on the newly revealed mystery.
• The assembly of believers during Jesus’s earthly ministry is not the same entity as the Church, the Body of Christ, formed later.
• The earthly ministry of Jesus was specifically directed to Israel (the circumcision). (Romans 15:8)
• God’s prophetic timeline concerning Israel is currently paused.

This isn’t about ignoring parts of the Bible. Every word is God’s word and is for our learning. It's about following the instructions of the Lord. If you’ve been confused, consider reading Paul’s letters with this blueprint in mind (2 Timothy 2:7). You might just find the clarity and solid answers you have been searching for.