Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If you were to die right now, where would you spend eternity?
Q: Was Jesus really born on December 25th?
Q: When did the Body of Christ begin?
Q: How does the Holy Spirit work today in the Dispensation of Grace?
Q: Does the Church, the Body of Christ, start on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)?
Q: Who do you follow today?
Q: Is water baptism in operation today?
Q: What is Meant by the Phrase: The Preaching Jesus Christ in His Heavenly Ministry?
Q: What is the Two-fold Purpose of God?
Q: Does Healing Take Place Today in The Body of Christ?

If you were to die right now, where would you spend eternity?

A: What a question! This is a question that you should consider very carefully. Wherever you are in your life, the only thing that matters to God today is if you are in Christ. When God looks at your heart, He wants to see your faith resting in what His Son did on the cross for you. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. That is you and me. Consider these sciptures:

Romans 3:10-11 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God"
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God:"
Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
I Cor. 15:1-4 1 " Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

The moment you place your faith in Christ alone, God will save you.

Romans 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

He will place you into His Son and make you complete in Christ. God does it all!!

Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"
Colossians 2:9-10 "9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

My dear friend you do not need to go anywhere, pray a prayer, join an organization, or even move a muscle. You don’t have to do anything. Christ did it all. Make the decision to trust Christ and His finished work at the cross. It’s your choice.

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Q: Was Jesus really born on December 25th?

A: The answer to this question is NO. The information concerning the date of the birth of Jesus Christ has been revealed in Scripture. The key to dating the birth of Jesus Christ is in looking at the announcement and birth of his forerunner John the Baptist.

So let’s look at Scripture:

Concerning John the Baptist, we see in Luke that Zacharius was in the temple performing his priestly duties according to his course. (Notice Luke 1:5, 8, 9)

5: There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

8: And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
9: According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

Here is Zacharias, the priest, up at the temple performing his priestly duties and these are in the "…course of Abia…" When does this course taking place? In I Chronicles 24, King David divides the temple time between the remaining sons of Aaron. The time spent by each at the temple was one week. In verse 10 we see the course in which Zacharias was mentioned:

10: The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

So in the eighth week from Passover Zacharias was in the temple for one week.

Then we must determine when Passover started. Look if you will at Exodus 12:2 and 13:3-4:

12:2: This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

13:3: And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
13:4: This day came ye out in the month Abib.

The month in which the calendar for Israel started was the Abib (Hebrew) or Abia (Greek). In our calendar today this is the month of April. According to Leviticus 23:5 the Passover was to start on "...the fourteenth day of the first month…" So with Passover beginning on the fourteenth of April, then Zacharias’s course would be eight weeks later or in late June.

In Luke 1:11-17 Zacharias is given the information from Gabriel concerning the birth of John.

11: And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12: And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13: But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14: And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15: For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16: And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17: And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

In verse 18-22, Zacharias ask for a sign and he is made dumb until the birth of John.

18: And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19: And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20: And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21: And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22: And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

In verse 23, Zacharius leaves and travels home.

23: And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

Zacharias receives the vision, finishes his days of ministration and then travels home. His course is in late June and it would take a couple of days to get home and in verse 24, Elizabeth conceives John. This all happens in late June.

24: And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25: Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Elizabeth is in her sixth month when Gabriel visits Mary. This would be in late December.

26: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27: To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
We are then given the details of the conception of Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost (vs. 35) the real miracle.
28: And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29: And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30: And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34: Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36: And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37: For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38: And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

From verse 39-56 Mary goes to visit Elizabeth until she gives birth in verse 57. John is born in late March.

57: Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58: And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59: And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60: And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

According to Scripture, Jesus would been born in late September!

Luke 2:6: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7: And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

21: And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

So notice the time line:

Passover is the fourteenth day of April.

Eight weeks later Zacharias is in the temple in late June. He is visited by Gabriel and told he is to have a son. He goes home and Elizabeth conceives.

Six months later Mary is visited by Gabriel and told she is going to give birth to Jesus in late December. The Holy Ghost comes upon Mary and she conceives.

Three months later Elizabeth gives birth to John in late March.

Six months later Mary gives birth to Jesus in late September.

Again, the key to dating the birth of Jesus is in the details of the birth of John. The real miracle that happened in late December is the conception of Jesus Christ, not his birth.

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Q: When did the Body of Christ begin?

A: The Body of Christ started with the conversion of Saul (whose name was changed to Paul in Acts 13) on the road to Damascus. God calls out Paul, the chief of sinners, (I Timothy 1:15) and reveals to him (Galatians 1:11-12) the Dispensation of Grace.

The Apostle Paul writes to us in I Timothy 1 about the beginning of the Body of Christ. .

I Timothy 1:16: (emphasis is mine)

16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Notice how Paul says that the pattern was first set with him. Paul was the first one placed into the Body of Christ. Not second or third, but first.

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Q: How does the Holy Spirit work today in the Dispensation of Grace?

A: The Holy Spirit works today in the Dispensation of Grace through the written word of God.

Notice these passages: (emphasis is mine)

1Cor:2:10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

I Corinthians 2:13: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."
1Cor. 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The Holy Spirit teaches or works in us by comparing spiritual things with spiritual. That is, the Holy Spirit works through the ONE source that is spiritual, the written Word of God.

Paul tells us that we are to strengthen and renew our inner man (Ephesians 3:16, II Corinthians 4:16) through a daily intake of God’s Word rightly divided. This is accomplished by the Holy Spirit working in our inner man in conjunction with the intake of the written Word of God so that we may be strengthened.

Paul goes on to write in Colossians 3:10: "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" We gain knowledge by studying the Scripture.

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Q: Does the Church, the Body of Christ, start on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)?

A: No. Let us look at some verses within Acts 2 that will make answering this question easy.

People have come up with many reasons why the Church, the body of Christ did or did not start in Acts 2. Yet, with just studying a couple of verses within the chapter itself, we can begin to see the answer to this question.

In Acts 2:1 we read "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." Notice in the verses the "they" is the Twelve Apostles. The previous verses in Acts 1:26 demonstrates this; "And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." Therefore, when we look at the events of the Day of Pentecost, we need to realize that God is still dealing with Israel and NOT the start of the Church, the Body of Christ.

The events that took place on the Day of Pentecost were not a secret; they were prophesied to happen. The very event of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was prophesied in Joel 2. Acts 2:14-16 (emphasis is mine)

14: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16: But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

Peter later says in Acts 3:21 "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." And in 3:24 "Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days." (emphasis is mine)

The program that is in place in Acts 2 is the continuation of Israel’s program. Joel does not say anything about a mystery Church or something starting new. Instead, Joel is talking about Israel and their program.

Now compare that with what Paul writes in Ephesians 3:2-5. The Church, the Body of Christ was a mystery, a secret: (emphasis is mine).

2: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4: Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5: Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Paul also writes in Romans 16:25: "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," and then in Colossians 1:25-26: "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: (emphasis is mine)

Paul says that the Church, the Body of Christ was a mystery and was only revealed to him from the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ and then given to us.

Conclusion: Based on reading and studying a couple of verses in Acts 2, you can see that the events of the Day of Pentecost are clearly connected to Israel and the prophetic program. The Church, the Body of Christ, did not start on the day of Pentecost.

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Q: Who do you follow today?

A: We follow the Apostle Paul, as he instructs us to do in several passages. Paul is the Apostle sent to the Gentiles (Acts 9: 15; Romans 11:13) and was given the doctrine of the grace of God which he has written down and passed on to us in the Word of God (Acts 26:19; Ephesians 3:1-9; Galatians 1:11-12).

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 4:16

"16: Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me."

In addition, in I Corinthians 11:1 "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

Paul says this because he knows that he is our pattern (I Timothy 1:15-16). When we follow Paul, we are in reality following Jesus Christ. Notice Romans 16:25:

25: Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

The interesting thing here is that Paul tells us to follow him as he (and we) preached Jesus Christ. Notice though that Paul gives a clarification statement "…according to the revelation of the mystery…" We are to preach Christ according to His heavenly ministry not earthly ministry.


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Q: Is water baptism in operation today?

A: No, water baptism is not in operation today in the dispensation of Grace. The Apostle Paul says in I Corinthians 1:17 " For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." Therefore, since Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13) and he is our pattern (I Tim. 1:16) and he tells us to follow him (I Cor. 4:16, 11:1) then water baptism is not in operation today for the Body of Christ. What IS in operation today is the preaching of the cross of Christ.

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Q: What is Meant by the Phrase: The Preaching Jesus Christ in His Heavenly Ministry?

A: When we say that we preach Jesus Christ according to his heavenly ministry what we are doing is drawing a distinction between Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry and His heavenly Ministry. Let’s see the differences:

The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ:

• To the Jews only: Mt:15:24: But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

• Starts in Jerusalem and then goes to other nations: Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

• Twelve Apostles as the leaders: Matt. 19:28: And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

• Water Baptism is part of salvation: Mark16:16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

• Issue of a coming Kingdom: Acts1:6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

• Issue of restoring the earth back to God: Ephesians 1:10:That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

The heavenly ministry of Jesus Christ:

• To all mankind: I Tim. 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

• To every nation: Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

• One Apostle as the pattern: I Tim. 1:16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

• Faith alone, no works for salvation: Romans 4:4-5: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

• Issue is the Body of Christ: Eph. 1:22-23 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

• Issue of restoring the heavens back to God: Eph. 1:10: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Clearly, the messages are different. The reason for the differences is the two-fold plan of God. To understand this one must study his Bible properly, rightly dividing.

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Q: What is the Two-fold Purpose of God?

A: The two-fold purpose of God is a reference to the two programs in which God re-establishes His authority over the earth and the heavenlies.

The earthly program deals with God’s use of the nation of Israel to accomplish the restoration of the earth back under His authority. (Gen. 12:1-3; Deut. 4:1, 7; Dan. 2:44-45).

The heavenly program deals with God’s use of the Body of Christ to restore the heavenlies back under His authority. (Eph. 1:22; Rom. 12:4; I Cor. 12:12-13, 27; Col. 2:17).

Both programs are designed to accomplish specific things resulting in Jesus Christ being the head over all in the dispensation of the fullness of times. (Luke 1:31-33, Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:10).

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Q: Does Healing Take Place Today in The Body of Christ?

A: The question of healing is one that many Christians struggle with today. The simple answer is that physical healing is not an issue in the Dispensation of Grace. In order to understand why it is not an issue, we must understand physical healing.

Physical healing has, and always will be, associated with Israel’s program. Notice:

Exodus 15:26: And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. (referring to Israel)

Matt. 4:23: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Acts 3:6-11: 6: Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7: And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8: And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9: And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
11: And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Notice that when God healed the lame man in Acts 3 He completely healed his entire body.

Notice Paul, and see what happens to him when he prays for a healing:

II Cor. 12:7-9:

7: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8: For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul asks the Lord for help three times and the Lord responded that His grace was sufficient. The passage also goes on to tell us that we are to glory in infirmities because it causes us to rely upon His strength.

Notice what Paul says about others and their sicknesses:

I Timothy 5:23: Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

II Timothy 4:20: Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

In both of these passages, Paul does the opposite of healing them physically. To Timothy he tells him to take some medicine, and then he leaves Trophimus sick.

The basic issue here is that the healing program of God is not in affect in the age of Grace. It belongs to the Nation of Israel and their program. Understanding how to rightly divide the word of God will help to clear up the confusion regarding healing today.

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