Because Israel during the Acts period did not repent, this "postponment" occured many years later at the close of the Acts period (note Mr. Bullinger's reference to Acts 28:25-28). The commission given then at Matt 28:19-20 was operable as long as Israel was given the opportunity to "Repent, therefore, and be converted" (Acts 3:19)and as long as Israel remained the focus of God's channel for blessing. Once Israel "departed" (Acts 28:25 - this word means "put away" or divorced), they and their hope ("hope of Israel" see Acts 28:20) were set aside and God began the "dispensation of grace" (Eph 3:2), where there is "neither Greek nor Jew" (Col 3:11). The church of the one body has now a different calling and a different hope than Israel. The church today has a calling in the super-heavens. This is not an earthly calling nor is it an earthly hope. The earthly belong to Abraham and those that are of the faith of Abraham.
I understand that this teaching is difficult for anyone who has studied the traditionalist's approach. But if you will take time to study the Word rightly divided it will be a great blessing.
Again, I recommend that you use the search engine found on the home page for any topic. For instance, check out the one here:
http://www.rightdivision.com/html/handling_scripture.html
God bless! |
