Preaching The Grace Of God
From The King James Bible – Dispensationally Delivered
Berean
Bible Church – Edgewater, Florida – Doug Dodd s.b.g. Pastor
Text: 1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we
preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto
them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Introduction
Whenever we do not follow God’s instructions we get into a lot of trouble and confusion. God is not
the author of confusion but man is.
There is a lot of confusion in denominational, charismatic, and religious circles over the issue of
"Signs" in the Bible. This confusion is the result of a failure to follow 2 Tim 2:15 Study
to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth.
When we "rightly divide the word of truth" we give to the Nation of Israel the Bible information
that was written to the Nation of Israel and we give to the church the body of Christ the Bible information
that was written to the church the body of Christ! When we follow this simple method of Bible study we
find there are no contradictions in the word of God and all the confusion we thought was there has vanished.
In this lesson or study we will see that "signs" were given to the Nation of Israel and
not to the church the body of Christ.
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Webster’s 1828 Dictionary – SIGN
1. A token; something by which another thing is shown or represented; any visible thing, any motion,
appearance or event which indicates the existence or approach of something else.
- Some visible transaction, event or appearance intended as proof or evidence of something else; hence;
proof; evidence by sight
Comment On Definition: If one understands the principles of right division then you would know
by the very definition of this word that it does not fit in the dispensation of the grace of God – but
that it does fit very well in the dispensation of the kingdom or as Paul calls it (by the Holy Spirit)
"time past".
A sign then is physical evidence of something unseen – proof.
Under the kingdom economy everything was presented on a physical level. In the current dispensation
of grace everything is presented on a spiritual level with the word of God as our final authority, again
"rightly divided".
The Necessity Of Signs In Time Past
Consider for a moment the blessing of having a completed revelation. In time past there was no such
blessing. When God spoke signs followed as a "physical proof" of His speaking.
Gideon is a very good example of this….
Judg 6:17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that
thou talkest with me. (6:17-22)
Moses also is a good example….
Exo 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my
voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. 2 And the LORD said unto him, What is
that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground,
and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine
hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
The Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry is a good example…
John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe
not me, BELIEVE the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him…
1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign…! And they are people of the sign
The Pauline Question – Didn’t Paul Employ Signs?
Yes he did, as the scriptures point out…..
Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem,
and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
2 Cor 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and
wonders, and mighty deeds.
Why did Paul employ signs? - For two reasons…
One: Paul’s message was a new message with much of it could not be validated by the OT scriptures
therefore he and his message had to be validated by signs.
For example:
The fact that the Gentiles were to be saved apart from Israel was a mystery
The fact that the Gentiles
would be saved apart from the Law of Moses was a mystery
The fact that the Gentiles would reign in
the heavens with Christ was a mystery
The fact that the body of Christ would one day be "caught
away" or raptured was a mystery
Therefore it follows that in Paul’s early ministry and before the completion of the word of God signs
were necessary for the validation of Paul as an apostle and his message.
Two: The word of God had not been completed. It is with the completion of the canon of scripture
that God given, and I stress God given, signs are done away. With the completion of the
word of God man would now have an objective standard in the written word of God as the final authority
for all matters of faith and practice.
The signs are withdrawn…
That the signs were withdrawn is evident from Paul’s ministry.
In the beginning of Paul’s ministry he did many signs and wonders associated with his apostolic office.
2 Cor 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and
wonders, and mighty deeds.
Acts 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith
to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And
when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia,
The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
Paul is healing in his early ministry as did all of the apostles. However towards the end of his ministry
we find him leaving his fellow helpers and companions in the gospel sick.
2 Tim 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
The signs are fading out as the word of God is being completed!
1 Cor 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there
be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
The sign gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge were designed to communicate the word of God before
the completion of the written revelation. When the written revelation was completed the sign gifts were
no longer of any value.
1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come,
then that which is in part shall be done away.
When was the word of God Competed?
The prophetic program books were finished first of course the books comprising the "mystery program,"
Romans through Philemon were finished by direct revelation from the risen Lord Jesus Christ to the Apostle
Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me
for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,
but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
The word "fulfil" means, according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, to complete.
To Paul was given the divine revelation that completed the canon of scripture. We now have in our hands
the inspired, preserved, complete and objective final authority for all matters of faith and practice.
Conclusion
The sign of the times is there is no sign of the times.
Those who would practice the sign gifts
do so either disobediently or ignorantly.
We have a finished revelation. Read it, study it, believe
it and practice it – rightly divided.
~ FINIS ~
