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message for the present dispensation, and these two extreme cases make it
abundantly clear that, apart from a knowledge of dispensational truth, there is
every likelihood that the very gospel that is preached will be a garbled
message.
Even if we transfer our allegiance to Mark 16:15 -20 and say that here
this gospel must include the sacrifice of Christ, for the one offering had been
made, here `every creature' cancels the limits imposed in Matthew 10, here `Go
ye' countermands `Go not', yet we still have to face the fact that
(1)
`He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved' which is
entirely opposite to the present -day teaching `He that believeth is
saved', whether he sets forth his faith by subsequent baptism or not.
(2)
`These signs shall follow them that believe' and an honest reading
of what those signs comprise, will compel most of us to admit that
we have therefore
no evidence of our salvation if Mark 16 is dispensationally true
for us today.
That such conditions obtained during the Acts of the Apostles it is easy
to show.
(1)
Baptism preceding salvation:
`Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ,
for the remission of sins' (Acts 2:38).
(2)
They shall take up serpents:
(3)
`A viper ... fastened on his hand ... he felt no harm ... others ...
which had diseases ... came, and were healed' (Acts 28:1 -9).
Mark 16 therefore was fulfilled during the Acts, and its terms obtained right
up to the last chapter. In fact these conditions belong to `the hope of
Israel', a hope expressed in Acts 1:6 and confessed in Acts 28:20, and which
therefore is in the background of all the intervening ministry of the apostles.
(This feature is discussed more fully under the headings Hope, p. 132; Second
Coming4; and Miracles3). That there were two phases of this gospel during the
same period a reference to Galatians 2:7 makes clear. Before dealing with any
one verse, let us see the section as a whole.
Galatians 2:1 14
A
2:1,2.
a
Paul goes to Jerusalem for the faith.
b
Barnabas stands fast.
B
3 -5.
c
Titus not compelled.
d
Paul's stand for the truth of the
gospel.
C
6 -10.
e
Seemed to be somewhat.
f
Added nothing to me.
g Gospel of
Uncircumcision
Paul.
g Gospel of Circumcision
Peter.
e
Seemed to be pillars.
f
Remember the poor.
A
2:11 -13.
a
Peter comes to Antioch. Faith overthrown.
b
Even Barnabas carried away.