Problem 10 - That the Abrahamic Covenant is being fulfilled during this age

PROBLEM NO. 10 --THAT THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT IS BEING FULFILLED DURING THIS AGE OF GRACE

Acts 2 brethren believe that God's dealings with the Gentiles today is based on the Covenant God made with Abram in Genesis 12:1-3. They quote Genesis 12:3b, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." This is supposed to include this Dispensation of grace. The Scofield Bible teaches that Acts 15:13-18, which deals in part with Peter's ministry to Cornelius, is the most important dispensational passage in the New Testament (Scofield Bible, pages 1169-1170; 1909). Acts 2 theologians like to use the terms 'single purpose of God' and 'single plan of God' for the human race, and fit Paul's writings in at the appropriate place. Appeal is also made to Romans 15:8-12 where Paul refers to five Old Testament passages dealing with the Gentiles.

THE TRUTH

To teach that God has only one purpose for the human race is very misleading. (Covenant Theology teaches this too). It only shows that they do not understand what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 11:11-15: "I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid! But rather, through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if [since] the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office. [14] If by any means I may Provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. [15] For if [since] the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead?"

This Passage is much more dispensationally important than Acts 15:13-18. For it sets forth a Divine truth that is not found anywhere else in the Bible. It proves that God is NOT WORKING according to the Abrahamic Covenant, but rather according to a brand new principle that is a vital part of the Revelation of the Mystery revealed to Paul. Peter, John, James and the others did not know about this principle of God. They would have to learn about it from Paul himself.

The words 'fall' in verses 11,12; 'diminishing' in verse 12; and 'casting away' [rejection] of verse 15 refers to the Nation of Israel. When did the Nation begin to 'fall'? This 'fall' started when the leaders of Israel rejected the Holy Spirit and His ministry through Stephen in Acts 7 when they stoned him to death (Acts 7:59). The Greek word translated 'fall' is PARAPTOMA, one of the main Greek words for 'sin' in the New Testament. The King James Bible translated PARAPTOMA 'trespass' (in Matthew and Mark), 'offence,' 'sin,' 'fall,, and 'fault.' It certainly describes Israel's greatest sin in the New Testament.

The FALL of Israel did not occur during our Lord's earthly ministry as given to us by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. After nailing His Son to the cross, God gave Israel another chance to repent under Peter's ministry in Acts 2 and 3. Peter knew what God was doing and Peter knew what he was doing; he was not ignorant of the purpose of God for Israel.

Now, the RESULT of this 'fall' by the Nation of Israel is the SALVATION OF THE GENTILES DURING THIS DISPENSATION OF GRACE. This truth can not be found in the Old Testament. What IS FOUND in the Old Testament is the fact that Israel had to be saved FIRST and then they would go to the Gentiles with the good news from God concerning salvation. That was the purpose of the so-called 'great commission' of Mark 16:15-18 and Matthew 28:19-21. This is the way the Kingdom program was supposed to operate. This is why the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world, to bring salvation to Israel first and to the Gentiles second. However, it did not work out this way because of Israel's unbelief.

Along with the word 'salvation' for the Gentiles mentioned in verse 11, are other synonymous words like 'the riches of the world' in verse 12; 'the riches of the Gentiles' in verse 12; and 'the reconciling of the world' in verse 15. All involve salvation. NONE OF THIS CAN BE FOUND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT because the Old Testament taught something entirely different. The Gentiles are to be saved THROUGH the Nation of Israel (Zech. 8:20-23). That has never happened during this Dispensation of grace.

The two "if's" in verses 12 and 15 should be translated 'since' because Israel DID FALL in the book of Acts. That is a definite fact. The word 'fall' as used here reminds one of Hebrews 6:6, 'If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance...'

This passage also proves that Israel does indeed have a future as a Nation. This is seen in the phrases 'how much more their (Israel's] fulness?' (verse 12); 'what shall the receiving of them [Israel] be but life from the dead?' (verse 15). The word 'fulness' is an excellent word to describe the millennium. A very simple little outline of this section can be diagrammed as follows:

A. Israel's Fall - verses 11-12
B. Salvation of the Gentiles - verses 11-12
C. Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles - verse 13 [not Peter, James, or John]
b. Salvation of the Gentiles - verse 15
a. Israel's Fall - verse 15

This new principle of God is very significant to a proper understanding of God's ways and purposes. THIS is what makes the Mystery so important for believers.

The Apostle Paul was fully aware of Israel's Kingdom program. He wrote about it in Romans 15:8-12. Verse 8 begins with the ministry of Jesus to His earthly people, 'to confirm the promises made unto the fathers' - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then the Gentiles are immediately brought into the context in verses 9-12. There are five quotations of Old Testament verses which picture the Gentiles in a Kingdom setting (Psalm 18:49; Deut. 32:43; Psalm 117:1; Isaiah 11:1,10). When the Kingdom is set up right after the Second Coming of Christ, the Gentiles are going to receive the blessings of God through a redeemed and restored nation, the Nation of Israel. Israel then will be the HEAD of the nations and not the tail as she is now (Deut. 28:13).

Romans 15:8-12 is a unit in itself, a separate paragraph dealing with the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gentiles according to the Covenants (promises) made with Israel in the Old Testament. This section shows us what God had planned for Israel before His only Son became a member of the human race. He was sent in order to save Israel from its sins (Matt. 1:21). Then after that would be accomplished, the Gentiles could hear the Word of God also and be saved through the Lord Jesus Christ. Since this didn't happen in the past, it will definitely happen during the coming Kingdom of God on earth.

The reason why the Apostle mentioned the Gentiles in this letter to the Roman assembly, was to show them that they should be rejoicing in the Lord because of being saved by Christ Jesus. The Gentiles under the Kingdom program will be rejoicing in their Lord in the future; they (and 'we') should be like them and also rejoice in our Lord now.

The letter of Romans contains some very important contrasts, and one of them is found in this chapter. Remember, in verse 8 it is stated that the Lord Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision, which refers to Israel. But verse 16 clearly states that Paul is the minister of the risen Lord to the Gentiles. His duty was to preach the Gospel of God (which is also called the 'Gospel of Christ' in verse 19). These are synonymous terms for the Gospel of the grace of God. This gospel presents Christ ALONE as being necessary for salvation (Acts 16:31). His blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7).

This contrast is carried a step further in Ran. 16:25-26, where Paul said he preached (referring to the contents of preaching and not to the act of preaching) the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Revelation of the Mystery. This 'Mystery' was kept secret in God until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul. This 'Mystery' is in contrast to the 'promises made to the fathers' in the Old Testament.

A contrast like this is because of the dual purpose of God (Genesis 1:1):

1. His purpose for the earth through the Abrahamic Covenant - Israel

2. His purpose for heaven through the Revelation of the Mystery - Gentiles

So, what about Acts 15:13-18? Is the Scofield Bible right? Let's read Acts 15:13-18, "And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: [14] Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. [15] And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, [16] After this I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: [17] That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. [18] Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world."

We have to keep in mind here who spoke these words - Knowing who the speaker was and his relationship to Israel should definitely help us in the understanding of this passage.

James, a brother of the Lord Jesus (Mark 6:3), was the speaker, and he had become the leader of the Jerusalem church. He took the responsibility of standing up before all those who came to this council, and made the final decision in regards to the Gentiles. Instead of referring to Paul's ministry among the Gentiles (verse 12), he refers to Peter's single instance of going to the house of the Gentile, Cornelius. James, in his decision, quoted from Amos 9:11-12 and said that what Peter did in going to Cornelius was in agreement or in harmony with the Old Testament prophets.

You see, Cornelius was the PRIME EXAMPLE of the Abrahamic Covenant in action. Cornelius was a Gentile receiving salvation from A SAVED JEW, Peter. This is what is taught in the Old Testament, that Gentiles will hear the Word of God from SAVED JEWS who come from the Nation of Israel.

Cornelius was a blessing to Israel (Acts 10:2,22), and so he was rewarded by God with the hearing of the Word through Peter and receiving salvation. This is EXACTLY the way it was revealed to Abram in Genesis 12:3, "1 will bless them [Gentiles] that bless thee" (Abram and his seed]. This is what James knew and so he quoted from Amos.

The Gentiles receiving salvation according to the Abrahamic Covenant is related to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as Israel's Messiah and the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple for the Millennial reign of Christ. James knew accurately the program of God for Israel and the Gentile nations. This is how we are to understand this passage in Acts 15.

It does not refer to the Body of Christ and the Mystery revealed to Paul, even though today Gentiles are receiving the Word of God. The Acts 2 interpretation, that it refers to the Church, the Body of Christ, is wrong. This whole incident is based on God's Kingdom program for Israel.

By Robert C Brock