Our blog will share 30 different Bible Contrasts that show distinctions that matter when studying God’s Word. It is important to understand this perspective or we may get confused.
We see a number of dissimilar wordings within God’s Word. Some have seen them as contradictions in the Bible. We prefer the term “contrasts.” The main reason for these differences is that God is setting forth two separate programs (intimated even in Genesis 1:1). The first deals with the earth and Israel. The other concerns the heavens and Christ’s Body Church. It was given to the Apostle Paul to lay out these differences. He is God’s “apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13).
So then we must recognize such Bible divisions if we’d truly understand God’s Word and be approved by Him (II Tim. 2:15). Then we must follow the last directives given by God through Paul as “the commandments of the Lord” for this present time (I Cor. 14:37).
Today is Part #14:
JEWISH CHURCH: Israel under Moses was called “the church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:37,38). To “all ye the seed of Israel” the Lord says, “In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee” (Psa. 22:22,23). Hebrews quotes that Psalm “saying…in the midst of the church [congregation=church]” (Heb. 2:12). Christ and His apostles were not sent but unto “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:5,6; 15:24). His Jewish disciples are called a “church” in contrast to “an heathen” or Gentile (Matt. 18:17). At Pentecost, Peter spoke only to “the house of Israel” and “the Lord added to the church” which already existed (Acts 2:36,47). Peter said that “all the prophets…foretold of these days” (Acts 3:24).
BODY CHURCH: The Apostle Paul alone wrote of “the church, which is His [Christ’s] body” (Eph. 1:22,23). In God’s present church “there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek,” “there is neither Jew nor Greek…for ye are all one in Christ” (Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:28). This Body Church was “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations” (Col. 1:24-27; Eph. 3:4-6).
For more information and understanding, we recommend doing the PMA “Understanding your Bible” our 8 part lesson series available for free download at Free Bible Correspondence – Prison Mission Association
(These points come from Pastor David Adams, booklet, Bible Contrasts used by permission)