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The Transition part one

by | Aug 25, 2025 | Bible Brief

By David Adams

Introduction: Scripture 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and Hebrews 8:13

1. Three times in John 17, Jesus Christ made this statement. “That they may be one, seeing as we are one.” This was just before the Cross. The Lord desires a real unity among His people, even as there is unity in the Trinity. But one thing which is obvious among even conservative evangelical churches today is disunity. How this must sadden the heart of our Lord.

2. There is much discord as to Bible doctrine. There is much confusion, as to church practices. – Tongues or not, healing and healers or not – what type of baptism, or not at all.  Often unsaved use apparent contradictions and discord as excuses for not heeding the Bible at all. Many Christians see this discord and confusion. They don’t like it, so they just won’t face the issues and refuse to talk about them. They won’t discuss with open Bibles – even most pastors. Beloved, that attitude is a cop-out. It is sidestepping the issue. We have here God’s Holy Word which He has magnified above all His name (Psa. 138:2). If we would truly magnify God’s Word, then we must study it/find out what is indeed God’s program for today. And then stand for the truth. God’s Word is not to be taken lightly. If it’s worth God’s giving , it is worth our study.

  1. It is because of this confusion and discord of doctrine and practice among even conservative churches and Christians that we bring this message today. We believe that God’s religious program underwent an extensive change – a transition – during the history of the book of Acts. We believe that God’s program relative to the Jews and their Kingdom with the 12 Apostles is quite different from God’s program for today’s Body of Christ given thru the Apostle Paul. And it is during the book of Acts that we see this change or transition from the Jewish program to the Body program taking place
  1. Further we believe that a failure to see and admit this difference of programs and change over is a major cause of the discord and confusion in fundamental Christianity today. The refusal to recognize the transition period is a basic reason for this disunity which so saddens the heart of our Lord. So let’s continue by looking at the reason for the transition period.

Why do we insist upon such as thing as the transition period? What Bible basis do we have for saying that God changed His program during the period of the book of Acts? First let’s notice the

 

A. Principle of transition as set forth in Scripture.

  1. Turn to Hebrews 13:8. There are more who from this verse insist that God never changes His program, exp., in the New Testament. That is obviously wrong – Deut. 55. But what or who is this verse speaking about? The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, not about any particular religious program of God. Yes, Jesus Christ is always the same – forever in His person and character. Praise the Lord for this truth. But this verse is obviously not saying that God’s religious program never changes. To say that reveals a great ignorance of the very book of Hebrews.in which we find this verse. They jerk the verse right out of context.
  2. The whole purpose of the entire book of Hebrews is to show and insist up a change from the Old Testament Jewish system to the finished work of Christ.. To show that what a person has thru faith in Jesus Christ’s work on the Cross is much better than all that old rituals and religion could ever offer (Heb. 8:6). But amidst all these major changes in God’s program we can count on our unchanging Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He never changes. Wonderful. But Hebrews speaks of other things which do change.
  3. Turn to Heb. 8:13. What point are we making here? That there was indeed a change and that this change, this transition, took place over a period of many years. Check the verse again. Don’t forget that this book of Hebrews was written over 30 year after the Cross. And even by that time, the old system had not quite yet vanished away. Yet it would soon. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70A.D.
  4. Now to 1 Corinthians 13:10, 11; 14:20. Here again we find Paul speaking in terms of gradual change – a transition. He talks of growing from infancy to manhood which change obviously takes place over a period of many years (perfect. vs. 10 cf. men 14:20). And what does he speak of as referring to the time of infancy? (the sign gifts – tongues, prophecies).
  5. Now I’ve heard some insist that the manhood, perfect or maturity spoken of here (v. 10) refers to the time of Christ’s coming. They want to keep the tongues, etc. until then. But then why does Paul command them to be men, or mature, perfect here at this point? If such only comes when Christ returns? (14:20. Read verses 21, 22) – Be perfect Understand that tongues are for unbelieving Jews. Neither does verse 12 refer to the time of Christ’s return.
  6. Paul uses these very terms to refer to the place all believers should have arrived in seeing God’s truth later on in his epistles. Read 2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6. Ephesians 4:13, 14. No time to dwell on this now. Let me add something about 13:13. Read faith and hope. These remain until the Lord returns. They may lose their function (Rom. 8:24, 25. 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1). Only love remains forever after the Lord returns.
  7. I trust that you’re beginning to see the Bible fact – the Scriptural principle. That there was indeed a transition or change in God’s religious program and that it took place over a period of time. In fact, a generation of about 30 years. The Bible clearly presents this principle of change over many hears (Heb. 8:13; 1 Cor. 13:11).
  8. Why the change over extended time? Grace, God’s grace. Just as physical growth occurs over extended time, so it is with spiritual growth. If God had instituted this changeover all at once, very few would have or could have accepted it. It was beyond their capacity to see a change that quickly. But thru the process at gradual change and revelation of truth, we’re able to see and accept new spiritual truths. Thus it was then and thus it is today (eg. Who of us has arrived at our present spiritual level over night – gradual over years (Isa. 28:10,13.
  9. As far as the outward religious program was concerned there was seemingly no sharp switch in the book of Acts from the Jewish to the Body program. But nevertheless when we look at the total progression thru the Gospels, Acts and Paul’s Epistles, then we find a gradual change over a number of years – a transition period. We find that what is given as doctrine and practice at the end of tht time is quite a bit different than what was 30 years earlier. And if someone doesn’t recognize that there is a transition, he’ll really get confused – try to follow opposite orders. He won’t know how to or when or where he can believe the Bible and many have given up trying. Baker quote AP th
  10. It is both difficult and dangerous to try to establish permanent doctrines on the practices of a period of transition. When many things are in a stage of flux as in the book of Acts one can go to Paul’s experiences in the book of Acts to find support for practicing circumcision, Nazarite vows, animal sacrifices, tongues, gift of healing, vision, water baptism, etc. Yet later all of these things are either forbidden or are to pass away according to Paul’s Epistles. Now, we don’t have time to go into detail at this point. Will later next week, but now let’s take some time to look at the

B. People of Transition

  1. We’ve seen the principle of a transition period of a changeover as set forth in the Bible. Now we want to look at how people were affected by the transition. That is the Jews and the Gentiles (the two groups of mankind). First, the Jews. God’s method of world salvation from Abraham on down thru the Old Testament times was thru the Jewish nation (Gen. 12:1-3_ (Ex. 19:6 kingdom of priests; Isa. 60:3; Zech. 8:23).
  2. When Jesus Christ ministered on earth, the very same order was followed. There was no change (Matt. 10:56. The Twelve were sent only to Jews. On those two occasions when our Lord did deal with Gentiles, it was as they came thru Jews and as dogs as the Jews or children’s feet (Lk. 7:3-6) (Matthew 15:24-27; Mk. 7:27) (John 1:11). It was to a half Jew, a Samaritan that Jesus Christ spoke (John 4:22) (salvation is of the Jew)
  3. In the Commission Jesus Christ gave to the Twelve Jewish Apostles just before His ascension, what was the order or witness (Lk. 24:47; Acts 1:8) There is no change. The Jews remained the ones who were the privileged and were to be reached first. Look at the beginning of carrying out the Commission (Acts 2:10 – Peter full of Holy Spirit Acts 2:14; 22, 36, 28; 3:12). Peter preached only to Jews though we know 1000’s of Gentile Roman soldiers were present. Acts 8:1 Apostles remain in Jerusalem faithful to Commission).
  4. It is only after the salvation of Saul (Paul) that Peter is sent to Cornelius (10:2). Going to the Gentile, Cornelius, before the children (Jews) were first filled (Mk. 7:27) was contrary to Peter’s Commission (Matt. 15). That’s why Peter needed and God gave the special revelation of the sheet let down with all kinds of animals. Peter was not stubborn as many say, but faithful.
  5. The look at Paul’s commission right at his salvation (Acts 9:15). The Gentiles are on top (major change). Paul goes throughout the known world with the message of God’s grace. In each case he goes to the Jews in a city first. But look at Acts 13:44-46; 18:5,6. In the Old Testament Gospels and early Acts, salvation was of and thru the Jews. But what have we here? It is the Jews refusal to be God’s channel of world blessing. So God sends salvation to the Gentiles apart from Israel. This is really foreign and contrary to prophecy and is in fact the subject of the Mystery revealed to the Apostle Paul. Gentiles come thru Israel’s fall (Rom. 11:12, 15. Romans 9-11 Explain change.
  6. Look at Acts 28:17a, 25-28. Jews the world over had refused Christ. Thus under Holy Spirit inspiration Paul ames the definitive statement of Acts 28:28. In the Epistles written by Paul after this point, after the end of the book of Acts we find no more trace of Jewish primacy or privilege. And, thus it is today. No one any longer goes to Jews alone or reaches Gentiles thru Jews or goes to Jews first and then to Gentiles. (that was as ordered in the so-called Great Commission (Acts 1:8) We know that be be true for I would venture to say that no one who are saved here today have come thru a Jew. Many don’t even know a Jew.
  7. What we’ve seen here is a transition, a change in how God dealt with people. It is a clear example of the transition period of which we’ve been speaking. Over a period of a number of years we’ve seen a transition from a program of Jewish dominance and privilege to today’s program of God where there is no difference no special place or privilege to any racial or religious group. (Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11; Gal. 3:26) And let me again remind you that this change took place gradually, over a number of years, a transition period.

CONCLUSION

  1. I trust now you’ve begun to see that there is indeed this transition period in the New Testament. The Bible states the Principle of a transition in several places in Paul’s Epistles. And we can see that transition in the people who were the objects of God’s dealings.
  2. Next article  we’re going to see some even more specific examples of how this transition applies to every area about which there is confusion among evangelical Christians – Tongues, healing, baptism, etc.  We’ll see how the division and confusion among Christians arise primarily from a two-fold failure. Either to see this transition period or to carry it thru to the end as Scripture does. (See tract by Homoki “Have You Made the Transition?)

 3. Beloved, this whole matter is very important for it affects our thinking on the basic holiness and truthfulness of God. To many, the Bible seems confusing and contradictory. But god is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). We must either recognize this transition and hold to the final truths or admit that God’s Word confuses us. We choose to see and accept this transition in Scripture and hold to the latest truths revealed. Have you also made this same transition? Prayer

 We will Close with 1 Cor. 14:20 “Brethren, be not children in understanding: (howbeit in malice be ye children babes,) but in understanding be men(mature, perfect).