Taos Bible Conference SUN
The Church: Its Timing, Meaning, and Purpose FI RST BAPTI ST CHURCH OF TAOS, NM | BI BLE CONFERENCE
SUNDAY – THE CHURCH: LIMITED TIME OPPORTUNITY Hebrews 1:1-2 reveals that God has spoken in parts, not the whole. No part is, in itself, the whole. In the revelation of God, we live in a portion of the ages of God. We are instructed to “rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) because failing to do so would make a mixed-up-mess of the storyline of the Scripture. THE CHURCH HAS NOT A LWAYS EXISTED WHEN YOU INTERPRET THE CHURCH AS HAVING ALWAYS EXISTED—
Old Testament laws and regulations are imposed upon the church. Old Testament promises are transferred to the church. New Testament grace is falsely seen in the people of Old Testament days. The blessings of the Age of Grace are not understood and celebrated.
IF THE CHURCH HAS NOT ALWAYS EXISTED, WHEN DID IT BEGIN?
If you believe it began with Jesus, then many passages in the Gospels become problematic and confusing. If you believe it began with Pentecost, then many passages in the early chapters of Acts become problematic and confusing. In 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Paul claims that he was the first sinner saved by the “longsuffering” (grace) of Jesus Christ. With the salvation of Paul and the revelation given to him, a new age began: the Age of Grace, which is also called the “Church Age.”
THE CHURCH WILL NOT ALWAYS EXIST
God has made promises to Israel that obligates Him to Israel at some point in the future. In the Church Age, God is not distinguishing between Jew and Gentile, male or female, slave nor free. God is dealing with individuals on an individual level. In order for God to deal with Israel exclusively, the church is an impossibility. Since the Church Age began with Paul, we should look to Paul first to see when the age concludes. o Paul teaches about a coming day in which living Christians are caught up and meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This is often called the “rapture,” based on the Latin word for caught up. o In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul does not teach when the rapture will occur. He does, however, show that after the rapture the church will be gone.
www.RandyWhiteMinistries.org
After the church is gone, the Church Age is complete, and God will return to His focus on Israel to complete His promises to her. o The next event promised to Israel is “the day of the Lord,” which is exclusively taught as a horrific time of punishment for Israel and the nations who have rejected God. It is a day of God’s wrath. See Isaiah 13:9 and Zephaniah 1:18 (among many others). o Immediately after Paul teaches about the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17), he teaches about the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). Make a careful note of the distinction of the pronouns in 1 Thessalonians 5, which clearly show that Paul does not teach that the church will be present in the day of the Lord. This, among many other evidences, displays Paul’s belief in a “Pre-Tribulation” rapture. The church is “not destined for wrath,” but whether its members are “awake or asleep” (that is, dead or alive), “we will live together with Him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The fact that this is a doctrine of encouragement (1 Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11) is a further testimony that the rapture takes place before the day of the Lord. After the rapture, the Church Age is over, and the day (age) of the Lord’s wrath begins.
THE SALVATION OFFERED IN THE CHURCH AGE IS A LIMI TED TIME OPPORTUNITY
Paul was saved as a “pattern” of those who would “believe in him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16). o If Paul was not the first, why would we need a pattern? o If Paul is the pattern, then what about his salvation experience can become the experience of others? The aspects of Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus are “one of a kind,” and not a pattern at all. These aspects of Paul’s experience of faith are available as a pattern: Paul was saved outside of Israel and Israel’s apostles. Paul was saved outside of good works, baptism, or service to the Messiah. Paul was saved as a sinner and out of his sin. Paul was saved by grace, through faith. There is a coming day in which the nations will once again be “without hope” (Ephesians 2:12). In that coming day, the people of the earth will know about God and His Son, but will be powerless to respond (Revelation 6:15-17). Have you received the salvation that God offers? This is a limited-time offer. o Jesus Christ has paid the price of sin and purchased salvation for all. o This salvation has been paid for and made available, but is only given to those who receive it. o This salvation is received by grace and through faith. No works of any kind are involved (the work was done by Christ on the cross!) o ANYONE who will believe (have faith) in this “good news” will be saved.
www.RandyWhiteMinistries.org
SUNDAY – THE CHURCH: LIMITED TIME OPPORTUNITY Hebrews 1:1-2 reveals that God has spoken in parts, not the whole. No part is, in itself, the whole. In the revelation of God, we live in a portion of the ages of God. We are instructed to “rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) because failing to do so would make a mixed-up-mess of the storyline of the Scripture. THE CHURCH HAS NOT A LWAYS EXISTED WHEN YOU INTERPRET THE CHURCH AS HAVING ALWAYS EXISTED—
Old Testament laws and regulations are imposed upon the church. Old Testament promises are transferred to the church. New Testament grace is falsely seen in the people of Old Testament days. The blessings of the Age of Grace are not understood and celebrated.
IF THE CHURCH HAS NOT ALWAYS EXISTED, WHEN DID IT BEGIN?
If you believe it began with Jesus, then many passages in the Gospels become problematic and confusing. If you believe it began with Pentecost, then many passages in the early chapters of Acts become problematic and confusing. In 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Paul claims that he was the first sinner saved by the “longsuffering” (grace) of Jesus Christ. With the salvation of Paul and the revelation given to him, a new age began: the Age of Grace, which is also called the “Church Age.”
THE CHURCH WILL NOT ALWAYS EXIST
God has made promises to Israel that obligates Him to Israel at some point in the future. In the Church Age, God is not distinguishing between Jew and Gentile, male or female, slave nor free. God is dealing with individuals on an individual level. In order for God to deal with Israel exclusively, the church is an impossibility. Since the Church Age began with Paul, we should look to Paul first to see when the age concludes. o Paul teaches about a coming day in which living Christians are caught up and meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This is often called the “rapture,” based on the Latin word for caught up. o In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Paul does not teach when the rapture will occur. He does, however, show that after the rapture the church will be gone.
www.RandyWhiteMinistries.org
After the church is gone, the Church Age is complete, and God will return to His focus on Israel to complete His promises to her. o The next event promised to Israel is “the day of the Lord,” which is exclusively taught as a horrific time of punishment for Israel and the nations who have rejected God. It is a day of God’s wrath. See Isaiah 13:9 and Zephaniah 1:18 (among many others). o Immediately after Paul teaches about the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:17), he teaches about the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). Make a careful note of the distinction of the pronouns in 1 Thessalonians 5, which clearly show that Paul does not teach that the church will be present in the day of the Lord. This, among many other evidences, displays Paul’s belief in a “Pre-Tribulation” rapture. The church is “not destined for wrath,” but whether its members are “awake or asleep” (that is, dead or alive), “we will live together with Him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The fact that this is a doctrine of encouragement (1 Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11) is a further testimony that the rapture takes place before the day of the Lord. After the rapture, the Church Age is over, and the day (age) of the Lord’s wrath begins.
THE SALVATION OFFERED IN THE CHURCH AGE IS A LIMI TED TIME OPPORTUNITY
Paul was saved as a “pattern” of those who would “believe in him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16). o If Paul was not the first, why would we need a pattern? o If Paul is the pattern, then what about his salvation experience can become the experience of others? The aspects of Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus are “one of a kind,” and not a pattern at all. These aspects of Paul’s experience of faith are available as a pattern: Paul was saved outside of Israel and Israel’s apostles. Paul was saved outside of good works, baptism, or service to the Messiah. Paul was saved as a sinner and out of his sin. Paul was saved by grace, through faith. There is a coming day in which the nations will once again be “without hope” (Ephesians 2:12). In that coming day, the people of the earth will know about God and His Son, but will be powerless to respond (Revelation 6:15-17). Have you received the salvation that God offers? This is a limited-time offer. o Jesus Christ has paid the price of sin and purchased salvation for all. o This salvation has been paid for and made available, but is only given to those who receive it. o This salvation is received by grace and through faith. No works of any kind are involved (the work was done by Christ on the cross!) o ANYONE who will believe (have faith) in this “good news” will be saved.
www.RandyWhiteMinistries.org
