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The Transition part two

by | Aug 25, 2025 | Bible Brief

By Dave Adams

  1. Last article we began a message which we hope to finish today. We spoke about the transition period that we find in the New Testament and in particular in the book of Acts. We’re talking about the changeover from God’s Jewish program in the past to His present program for the Body of Christ.
  2. It is vitally important that we see and share our understanding of this period of change. For without acceptance of the transition period, there is much confusion and discord in Christian doctrine and practice. This we see all around us. We have hundreds of differing denominations with all kinds of different and even opposite practices. For example, there are dozens of variations in just one area (baptism)which separates and divides – touching with a drop, pouring, sprinkling, dipping (by the way no one practices real immersion – staying under-drowning- but immersion in numerous ways Once, 3 times, forwards, backwards, , for salvation, as a testimony, symbol, seal, etc. etc. etc. Do you think such division and discord and disunity pleases our Lord.
  3. As we said last week, the primary reason for this disunity of doctrine and practice comes from a failure to recognize the New Testament transition period. Now we’ll very briefly review the two main points we gave last week. First we saw the principle of transition in the New Testament. Turn to Hebrews 8:13 (gradual change from old to new over a period of about 30-40 years. Then 1 Corinthians 13:11 (just as we grow to maturity over a period of years, so it is that God reveals His truth – gradually over a period of years Acts 26:16; 2 Cor. 12:1.
  4. Then we also saw the people of transition for the nearly 2000 years from Abraham in Genesis 11:12 up to this present dispensation. God’s salvation was of and thru the Jews (Isa. 60:3; John 4:22). There was no change in this Old Testament order thru the Gospels and early Acts (Mt. 10:5,6; 15:24; Lk. 24:47; Acts 1:8; 2:5, 14, 22 etc.) It is only at and after the salvation of a new apostle, Saul, that we see God’s salvation going to Gentiles apart from Israel (Acts 9:15; Acts 10). This previously secret salvation of Gentiles apart from Israel (not thru) developed thru the rest of Acts and is the rule today. Salvation today is apart from Israel and most often in spite of Jews not thru them. as was the case in the Old Testament, Gospels and early Acts. This fact Paul refers to as a mystery not revealed before it was revealed to him by our risen, glorified God (Rom. 11:25; Eph. 3:2-6). Now today we want to spend most of our time looking at:

 

  1. THE RESULTS OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

 What concrete example do we see in Scripture that a change was taking place during the Acts period? We speak here of changes in the things that believers did, or were able to do. And then that most important question for us living today is if changes have taken place exactly what are we to be practicing today? Here is a very simple common sense answer to this last question. We are to follow the last instructions the Bible gives us which is thru our Apostle to the Gentiles (Paul) Rom. 11:13.  Now, what specific changes do we see? To begin with let’s look at the.

  1. Transition in prodigies

                        The changes in such things as miracles. healings and tongues.

  1. Turn to Exodus 34:10. When God established Israel as a nation, He covenanted to deal with them means of marvels. And thus He did down thru the Old Testament, into the Gospels and the book of Acts. 1 Corinthians 1:22 The Jews require a sign for thus God had always dealt with man. Let’s look at the issue of Tongues.
  2. Turn to Isa. 28:11. (Note before reading, the principle of progressive revelation of God’s truth (vs. 10, 13 referenced to earlier. Read 28:11 (v.14). the promise of tongues was to this people – Israel way back in Old Testament prophecy (confirmed 1 Cor. 14:20-22) (Joel 2:17,18 ff; 28:14) And thus it was fulfilled in early Acts. (Acts 2:4,5,8,10b, 14, 22 – The entire Pentecostal message, tongues and all, involved and was directed to Jews alone (proselyte = recent Jew). Thousands of Roman (gentiles) about ignored.
  3. The other place in the New Testament where we find tongues teaching involves the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 12-14). Now the Corinthian Church was the most Jewish of New Testament churches (Acts 18:7,8). Also it was most carnal (1 Cor. 3:1-3; 1 Cor. 13). By means of inspired tongues God gave revelation at this truth in part (bit by bit) before the New Testament written (v.9) But tongues were said to be an infancy stage to be left for maturity or manhood (v. 10,11). Col. 1:25 – God’s revelation completed.
  4. But even when they were practiced tongues were the least, bottom, spiritual gift (1 Cor. 12:28). They were only to be practiced in accord with about eighteen strict rules, rules which are usually disregarded by the tongues speakers today (no women 14:34; interpreter lit, 14:28). Read 1 Cor. 14:19-22 – Understand that tongues were for unbelieving Jews. (Heathen then and now and cults have their tongues.)
  5. Turn to Ephesians 4:8 – written after God totally turned from Israel as stated in Acts 28:28. Read eph. 4:8,11,12. Here God’s Word gives those spiritual gifts by which believers today are to mature, grow spiritually and serve the Lord. The sig gifts such as tongues are totally omitted. And thus it has been thru the centuries. All must admit that God’s greatest servants, Martin Luther, J. Edward, Moody, Sunday, etc. never spoke in tongues. When cometh tongues today? Quote Mt. 7:21-23 Tongues were for Jews: the Bible tells us. And when we see God totally turned from the Jews, we find tongues gone too. Comment Romans 11:29ripped from context.
  6. What about the gift of healing? That is also quite prominent today. God thru His servans performed miraculous healings thru the Old Testament, the Gospels and into the book of Acts. (Acts 5:15, 16; 19:11,12) But look what is happening as God gradually turns from the Jews and changes His program (Acts 16:11; 2 Cor. 12:7-9; and after the end of the book of Acts (1 Tim. 5:23; 2 Tim. 4:20). By the end of the New Testament times nearly all God’s best saints are sick and according to God’s will – more glory to God.
  7. (Romans 8:17-23) Sickness is allowed in God’s plan for the present age. Comment on James. Some go to the book of James to support the gift of healing for today (James 5:14, 15) medicinal oil. But notice to whom the book of James is addressed (James 1:1). We certainly believe God does heal when it accords with His perfect will (eg. Phil. 2:25-30) but that is quite different from the gift
  8. Transition in Practice’s in which all believers are involved.
  9. We’ll not have time to look into all areas but, we would take the time to look into a couple of the more prominent. How about the way people lived that is the economy. In coming to the Jews about their Kingdom, both John the Baptizer and Jesus Christ had neither homes nor possessions. Look how Christ sent forth His disciples (Matt. 10:9-10 no modern missionary does) Turn to Matthew 19:16, 17,21 Mk. 10:17,21. What was the way to eternal life for this rich young Jewish ruler? Sell all (over simplified) cf. Luke 3:10; 6:20, 24. Blessed poor. Woe rich.
  10. It is this same pattern which is given to the Jews in Acts (all Jews or half-Jews until Acts 10 – several years after Pentecost) – Acts 2:44, 45; 4:32, 24,25. The death of Ananias and Sapphira was connected with failure to carry this thru. Now to Acts 11:29 – Give to poor saints in Judea and Jerusalem who were starving. Who had sold all in accord with God’s previous will. (God changed programs or broke promise) Most of teaching about giving in the rest of the New Testament is in relation to those who had previously sold all as instructed and were now in poverty under the Jewish program ( 1 Cor. 16:2,3). Romans 15:26/
  11. What is God’s program for today as to economy? It is quite different than in the Gospels and early Acts. Again we must turn to Paul’s Epistles for the last word of revelation. 1 Tim. 6:17=19. Rich believers, not true in early Acts. This is how to use your wealth. No command to sell all as before. Also 2 Thess. 3:10. We’ll have time for only one other practice now in which we can track the transition.
  12. The practice of baptism. Water baptism was not something new to the New Testament but was a part of the Mosaic Law (Heb. 9:9, 10) Num. 19:13 etc., etc. Morgan tract Lev. 16:4, 24, 26. When John the Baptist came upon the scene, there is no hint that the ceremony performed by him was any different from that already in Old Testament practice. John 1:25 – The Pharisees didn’t ask what John was doing, but merely why (Vs. 31 Expected Messiah to be baptized Isa. 52, 2 Kgs. 36:25). Now Matthew 3:11. (Lk. 7:28-30) Here was water baptism only, no Spirit baptism as yet
  13. (Note the Commission of Matthew 28:19 cf. Isa. 52:15 Acts 2:38 (Note v. 36 Israel) Here we still have water baptism for salvation (remission of sins) but now the Spirit also comes. V. 36. Jews alone are in mind here (Acts 22:16. But look at the change which takes place right after the salvation of Saul when God sends Peter to the first Gentile – Acts 10:44-48. What a change! The order is fully reversed. Spirit and salvation first and of the Gentiles why were Jews then so shocked. Finally we turn to a time after the setting aside of Israel after Acts 28 – Eph. 4:5; 1 Cor. 12:13. Though there had been as many as 12 different baptisms practiced in Scripture, what one and one alone remains. All true believers have this baptism by the Holy Spirit of God and that is the one around which believers are to maintain their unity today.

CONCLUSION

  1. We could show this same gradual transition in many other areas about which there is confusion among Christians – i.e. passing of the Law or prayer. Even Gospel itself – works involved 64 – Now Gal. 2:8,9 1 Cor. 15:3,4. So many Christians and Churches are confused and at odds because they are still placing selves fully under Israel’s program. They’ve put themselves under (Ps. 51:1). Or else they’ve not fully followed thru with the changeover. This is so sad, for it makes people think that the Bible contradicts itself and causes discord among believers (See Homoki Have you Made the Transition?)
  2. We would urge and challenge every believer to note these changes. Let God’s Word mean exactly what it says when and to whom it says it. Take the last instruction at the end of the transition period and hold to that. It’s only common sense. If this be done then would be eliminated perhaps the major areas of disunity among true believers today. Oh, that believers would be less interested in maintaining church traditions and church rituals and ordinances and were interested in keeping the spiritual unity of Scripture. Eph. 5:3-6. The only Biblical doctrinal statement – One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, one Lord, one Faith and one Baptism, One God (Back to Number 3)

 Let us always be endeavoring to keep the unity of the Sprit. Continue on there – Eph. 4:3-6.