Grace Family Bible Church

 

Differences between the Earthly Program and the Heavenly Program

 

Earthly Program

Heavenly Program

God's focus is the earth (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1; Genesis 13:15-17; Deuteronomy 11:21; Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 23:5; Psalm 37:9-11; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 6:10; Revelation 3:12)

God's focus is for the heaven (Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

God's program is prophecy- spoken about since the world began (Luke 1:68-70; Acts 3:21-24; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:7; 18-19)

God's program is mystery- kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:4-11; Colossians 1:26; Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8)

God's chosen; elect nation is Israel (Abraham; Isaac; Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) and his twelve sons); who will be given supremacy over the nations (Gentiles). (Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Isaiah 44:1-5; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 61:6; Deuteronomy 28:13; Deuteronomy 32:9; Exodus 19:6; Matthew 10:5-10; 1 Peter 2:9)

God's elect people are the Body of Christ (the church where there is neither Jew nor Gentiles; but one new man). (Romans 10:12; Romans 3:22; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 2:16-17; Romans 12:5)

Israel knew Jesus in the flesh- Matthew; Mark; Luke; and John (John 1:14)

We know Jesus according to the revelation of the mystery (2 Corinthians 5:16; Romans 16:25-26)

Redeemed Israel to rule and reign with Christ in His kingdom on the earth (Isaiah 62:1-4; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Exodus 19:4-6; Revelation 5:10)

The Body of Christ to rule and reign with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 2:6; Philippians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 6:3; 2 Timothy 4:18)

Gentiles to be blessed through Israel's RISE to kingdom glory (Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 61:6-9; Zechariah 8:13-23; Genesis 12:1-3)

Gentiles to be blessed through Israel's FALL in blindness and unbelief (Romans 11:11-12; Romans 11:15; Romans 11:25; Acts 9:15; Acts 13:46-47; Acts 18:5-6; Acts 22:18; Acts 28:27-28)

The gospel of the kingdom is central (Matthew 3:24; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 24:14; Luke 9:2; Mark 1:14-15)

The gospel of the GRACE of God is the theme (Acts 20:24; Romans 1:16; Colossians 1:5-6; Romans 3:23-25; Ephesians 3:2; Ephesians 2:5-8; Titus 3:7)

Peter is the main apostle (Matthew 16:15-19; Acts 1:15; Acts 2:14; Acts 2:37-38; Galatians 2:7-9)

Paul is the chief apostle (Romans 11:13; Ephesians 3:1; 1 Timothy 2:5-7; 2 Timothy 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; Galatians 2:7-8)

Israel was required to tithe (Malachi 3:8-10; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Luke 11:42)

The Body of Christ can give whatever amount. It's our personal choice; as long as it is done in love (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Israel is to have both physical and spiritual circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14; Luke 2:21; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 3:1-2; Acts 7:8; Galatians 5:3; John 7:22)

The Body of Christ has only spiritual circumcision (Colossians 2:11; Colossians 3:11; Acts 15:1-2, 24; Galatians 5:2, 6, 11; Galatians 6:12-13; 1 Corinthians 7:18; Romans 4:9-12; Philippians 3:3

Israel is to have both physical and spiritual baptism (Exodus 29:1-7; Matthew 3:2-7, 11; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:4; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Ezekiel 36:25-26; Acts 1:5, 8; Hebrews 6:2; Hebrews 9:10; 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5

The Body of Christ has only spiritual baptism (different than Israel's spiritual baptism) (Ephesians 4:5; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Corinthians 1:17

Israel is to be born again (Isaiah 66:8; John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23; Ezekiel 37:4-6; 12-14)

The Body of Christ is a new creature... (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:15)

The Body of Christ is adopted into God's family (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:5)

Israel, Christ, and the 12 apostles operated under the law (Galatians 4:4; Matthew 5:17-19; Matthew 23:1-3; Matthew 28:20; James 2:10; Joshua 1:8)

The Body of Christ functions under GRACE (Romans 6:14; Romans 10:4; Romans 7:4-6; Galatians 4:1-11; Galatians 5:18; Colossians 2:8-17)

The prophecy program was God's purpose from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8)

The mystery program was God's purpose from before the world began (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:9)

Forgiveness was conditional upon their behavior (Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Matthew 18:34-35; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 6:37; 1 John 1:9)

Forgiveness is unconditional based upon the fact that Christ died for our sins (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32)

Physical healing was granted to all who asked (Matthew 4:24; Matthew 8:16-17; Matthew 12:15; Mark 16:18; Luke 4:40; Luke 6:19; Luke 9:1; Acts 5:16; James 5:14-15; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3)

The Body of Christ has all spiritual blessings; NOT physical. Our outward man is perishing (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 10:7; 2 Timothy 4:20; Philippians 2:25-27)

Justification required works; not faith only (James 2:24; Mark 16:16; Deuteronomy 6:25; Exodus 20:24; Romans 2:13; Acts 10:35)

Justification is NOT by works; but by faith alone (Titus 3:5-7; Romans 3:20, 24, 28; Romans 5:1, 9; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:24-25; 2 Timothy 1:9)

Israel's diet was restricted (Leviticus 11)

The Body of Christ can eat any type of meat we want (1 Timothy 4:4)