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The dispensational place of John's Gospel.
#1.
pp. 17 - 22
Many phases of scriptural truth have not found a place in these pages simply because
The Berean Expositor was published to make known the dispensation of the mystery
committed to the apostle Paul, and its limited size allowed no margin for outside subjects.
For some time, however, it has been clear to us that we have a responsibility to all
believers who are called during this present dispensation, and while we do not entertain
the hope that our circulation will be increased by this series, we do hope that our readers
will be thereby enabled to minister more intelligently and sympathetically to that great
company who give no evidence that they are members of the body of Christ.
Believer's to-day seem to fall into three groups:--
1.
Those who believe and stand by all the revelation contained in the prison epistles.
2.
Those who have realized the teaching of the apostle Paul up to the central theme of
Romans.
3.
Those who, while most certainly believing on the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life,
give no evidence that the great doctrines associated with the apostle Paul have much
place in their apprehension.
Such as are included in the second group are often in a preparatory state, and pass on
into the fuller light of the mystery as the truth becomes known to them.
Rom. 6: lays the great foundation upon which the mystery is built. It reveals the
identification of the believer with Christ--the truth that we have been crucified with
Christ, that we have died with Him, been buried, quickened and raised with Him. This
great doctrinal foundation is necessary for the added, dispensational feature of Eph. 2:--
"seated with Him".
In the present series, we have not the second but the third group before us, the widest
circle of believers. What is their calling? What is their place in the present dispensation?
What is the word for them? Before seeking a scriptural answer to these questions, it will
be necessary to consider briefly to these objections and suggestions. In view of past
misunderstanding, we also wish to make it plain in dealing with these that no individual
writer is in mind.
What is the exact position of the great company of believers who are called during the
dispensation of the mystery, and yet are not of it? Are they enjoying the blessings of the
Abrahamic covenant? Are they in the same position and calling as the Pentecostal
church? Do they come under the new covenant?