What are the differences between the Law and the Mystery programs?
This important question, neglected by many believers is answered by Paul’s epistles. Knowing the mystery program (as opposed to the Law) will help us to live according to the plan and will that God administers in the world today, as well as prevent confusion and malpractice of His Word. (Qualifying scriptures: Rom.11:13; 1 Cor.14:37-38; Rom.16:25-26)
The Bema Seat of Christ
Something else I think is very important to mention that only Paul taught as a new truth, was about the judgment seat of Christ. The judgment seat of Christ is only for believers of the body of Christ. Believers will be judged and rewarded based upon their relationship to the mystery revelations given to Paul! In other words, if you ever expect to get rewarded one day when you stand before Christ, it will be based on how you responded to, and followed, and believed, and shared the unique revelations of the dispensation of grace.
There's a lot of people today that do a lot of good things, but these things are according to the Kingdom program which is NOT how God is working today and neither is it rewarding you today. For example, you might think that baptizing someone in water today is good and spiritual because it was done in Acts, but water baptism is meaningless in the grace dispensation. Doing it has no heavenly reward and that work will just be burned up like wood, hay or stubble at the Bema Seat Judgment. God declares through Paul's teachings that your rewards will be relative to your relationship with THE MYSTERY PROGRAM, because that's how God is working in the world today. It's your faithfulness to the mysteries that will determine your rewards at the judgement seat of Christ.
Rom.2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Rom 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,
Notice the above verse! It says, "according to my gospel, AND the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, …". The gospel and the preaching of Christ according to the mysteries revealed by Paul are inseparable. They belong together. A person is eternally saved through believing the gospel message, but their rewards in heaven are directly connected to their faithfulness to the mysteries. Practicing Kingdom doctrine will result in works that relate to wood, hay and stubble based on the verse below:
1 Cor.3:10-15 According to the grace of God, which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
This cannot be stressed enough as there is a lot of ignorance in the Church today. Just ask any Christian if they has heard of the revelation of the mysteries that Paul taught. They will probably respond with, "Huh? Say what?" It is sad to say, but I can presume that 80% of church goers today do not know about the "preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery". They are all still trapped in the Kingdom program, following the Law program taught by Jesus in His earthly ministry and the 12 apostles. They are still focused on water baptism, spiritual baptism, speaking in tongues, healing ministries, prophesying, and building their own spiritual kingdoms which have very little to do with God's grace program today. They can still be saved (according to 1 Cor.3:15, assuming they responded to the pure grace gospel), but most of their works will not be regarded as gold and silver and precious stones on 'that day'.
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Each item below has contrasting differences between the Law and Grace Programs
1. The Dispensation of Grace, 2. The Gospel of Grace, 3. The Body of Christ, 4. The Catching Away (aka the Rapture), 5. Holy Spirit Baptism, 6. Water Baptism, 7. The Blinding of Israel, 8. The Abolishing of the Law, 9. The Judgement Seat of Christ, 10. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit, 11. Equality of Jews and Gentiles, 12. The Bread and the Cup, 13. Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, 14. Christ's Resurrection, 15. The Greatness of Salvation, 16. Our Heavenly Destination and Inheritance, 17. The Two Programs of Heaven and Earth, 18. The Count of Apostles, 12-Apostles versus 1-Apostle, 19. The Churches, 20. Signs and Wonders, 21. Prayer, 22. Hope, 23. Forgiveness
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