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1. We are an independent Bible
study organization. This means that we are not part of a denomination or
formal association of churches. Therefore, we do not exist to support any denomination or
organization, but only to provide a ministry for the teaching of the word of God for the
edifying of the body of Christ.
2. As a Bible study organization we use a variety of means to
help Christians understand and enjoy the Bible. We publish literature in the form of books
and booklets, doctrinal tracts and pamphlets, along with a quarterly Bible study and
newsletter entitled The Enjoy the Bible Quarterly. We offer Bible teaching on video, with
an ever-growing list of Bible teaching on video tape. In addition we offer the Enjoy the
Bible Institute on Video and produce a radio program called The Enjoy the Bible Broadcast.
For more information about any or all of these items, see their separate listing on our
home page.
Enjoy The Bible
Ministries is managed by a few volunteers, who not only work their own
jobs but who also give of their free time to look after this website, fill
orders, respond to email, and the like. This means that there are times
when we are just not available or are not able to respond to matters as
quickly as we would like. Therefore if you contact us, please understand
that there may be a delay in responding to you.
3. Doctrinally we recognize and stress the necessity to study
the Bible dispensationally according to the command to be rightly dividing the word of
truth, given to us in II Timothy 2:15. The Bible declares the fact that God is working out
a two-fold plan and purpose. One aspect of His plan and purpose centers around the people
of Israel and the covenant God made with Abraham and his seed. The other aspect of God's
plan and purpose concerns His "new creation,"the "one new man," the
church the body of Christ. Therefore, two programs, or dispensations, are set forth and
described in the Bible and they are not the same. These two different dispensations of God
need to be recognized and the distinctions between them honored. This is what
"rightly dividing the word of truth" refers to. It means to recognize and
correctly make the division in the Bible that needs to be made in it because of the two
different programs of God that it sets forth. All too often, however, the Bible is not
"rightly divided," and the differences between God's two programs are either
ignored or confused.
4. We recognize that the present program of God is "the
dispensation of the grace of God for us Gentiles." This present dispensation was
revealed to and through the apostle Paul, and was a "mystery" God kept hid in
Himself in ages and generations past. (See e.g. Ephesians 3:1-12) Until God raised up Paul
as a brand new apostle, God's program with Israel was in effect. But now God has
temporarily suspended His program and dealings with Israel and the dispensation of Gentile
grace is in effect. The portion of God's word that is expressly TO us and is particularly
ABOUT us today is the epistles of the Apostle Paul.
5. We recognize that the present dispensation of God is
greatly different from God's program with Israel, and that God is not dealing with us
today as He dealt with Israel. For example, God has not put us "under the law"
in this dispensation. (See e.g. Romans 6:14; I Timothy 1:3-10) Though God used the
performance system of the Law in His program and dealings with Israel, He has instituted a
different system for us today. In this dispensation we are "under grace" and God
deals with us solely on the basis of who He has made us to be "in Christ" by the
riches of His grace. In accordance with not being "under the law" in this
dispensation and being treated by God as adult "sons"and not
"children," God is not using the "rudiments of the world" with us
today. (See e. g. Galatians 4:1-11; Colossians 2:8-23) The "rudiments of the
world"like observing holydays, having dietary restrictions, along with submitting to
ordinances of water baptism and the like, all pertain to Israel's program. However, in
this dispensation God has made us "dead with Christ from the rudiments of the
world." Such rudiments, therefore, have no place in God's program today
6. Of all the different kinds of baptisms spoken about in the
Bible, only one is of any importance to God, or has any application, in this present
dispensation of His grace. That baptism is the one God Himself performs when the Spirit of
God baptizes the believer "into Jesus Christ" at the moment of salvation, so
identifying the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Water baptisms in particular are "rudiments of the world" that functioned in
accordance with the elementary purification, separation, and identification teachings of
the Law Covenant, and as such were a natural part of God's program and dealings with
Israel. As described in I Corinthians 1, at the beginning of this dispensation of grace in
connection with testifying to Israel outside of their land, the Apostle Paul used water
baptisms on certain occasions as a sign to unbelieving Israel. With the exception of this
limited use, water baptisms have no role or function in this present dispensation of
grace.
7. In accordance with Paul's teaching in I Corinthians 12-14,
the temporary need for spiritual gifts that existed at the beginning of this dispensation
has been superceded by the completion of the written word of God. The "perfect"
written word of God now having come, spiritual gifts have been "done away."
8. The preserved inerrant word of God has always existed,
still exists, and is identified today as the received text of the historic protestant
reformation process. The translation of the received text into the English language has
produced the inerrant, infallible word of God in English. Though a multitude of English
Bible translations exist at the present time, only the King James Version is translated
from the received text. The King James Version is identified as the inerrant, infallible,
preserved word of God in the English language.
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