𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬?

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬?

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡:

We live in a time when doctrinal confusion floods the Church. One preacher says, “Repent and be baptized for salvation.” Another says, “Believe only.” Some teach that you can lose salvation, others say you cannot. Some claim miracles and signs are for today, while others deny them.

Why all this confusion?

Because the majority of Christendom fails to rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). They mix Israel’s prophetic program with the Church’s mystery program. They ignore the distinct message given to the Apostle Paul for this Dispensation of Grace.

Understanding this difference clears the fog of confusion and lets us walk in the sound doctrine revealed to the Body of Christ.

WHAT IS THE REAL CAUSE OF ALL THE DOCTRINAL CONFUSION TODAY?

The Cause of CONFUSION: 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘

(2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 3:2–5; 2 Peter 3:15–16)

Doctrinal confusion begins when men fail to distinguish God’s programs.

A. The Command to Divide – “Rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
B. The Clarity of the Dispensation – “The dispensation of the grace of God… given me to you-ward.” (Eph. 3:2)
C. The Confusion of the Unlearned – “They that are unlearned and unstable wrest… the other scriptures.” (2 Pet. 3:16)

Dispensational Truth: Mixing Israel’s prophetic program with the Body’s mystery program results in spiritual blindness and doctrinal chaos.

The Cause of CONFUSION: 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗨𝗟’𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗧 𝗔𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣

(Romans 11:13; Galatians 1:11–12; 1 Timothy 1:15–16)

When people ignore Paul’s apostleship, they reject the authority of the message for this age.

A. Paul’s Position – “I am the apostle of the Gentiles.” (Romans 11:13)
B. Paul’s Proclamation – “I neither received it of man… but by revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12)
C. Paul’s Pattern – “In me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

Dispensational Truth: Christ spoke on earth to Israel through the 12; but from heaven He revealed His will for the Body of Christ through Paul. Ignoring this truth leads to misplaced obedience.

The Cause of CONFUSION: 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗟𝗦

(Galatians 2:7–9; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Mark 16:15–16)

People confuse salvation messages because they mix the Gospel of the Kingdom with the Gospel of the Grace of God.

A. The Gospel of the Kingdom (Prophetic) – “The gospel of the kingdom shall be preached…” (Matthew 24:14)
B. The Gospel of Grace (Mystery) – “Christ died for our sins… buried… rose again.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)
C. The Great Divide – “The gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me.” (Galatians 2:7)

Dispensational Truth: The gospel for Israel was about the kingdom and baptism; the gospel for us is about grace and the cross. Mixing them confuses salvation, assurance, and practice.

The Cause of CONFUSION: 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦

(Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15–18; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20)

Many churches claim to follow the “Great Commission,” but that command was never given to the Body of Christ.

A. The Kingdom Commission (Prophetic) – “Teach all nations… baptizing them.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
B. The Grace Commission (Mystery) – “We are ambassadors for Christ… be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
C. The Contradictory Characteristics – One involves baptism and signs; the other involves the word of reconciliation.

Dispensational Truth: The Great Commission was for Israel’s kingdom ministry. The Grace Commission is for the Body of Christ today. Confusion comes when preachers mix the prophetic with the mystery.

The Cause of CONFUSION: 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗜𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗜𝗦𝗥𝗔𝗘𝗟 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗢𝗗𝗬 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧

(1 Corinthians 10:32; Romans 11:25–27; Galatians 3:27–28)

Many assume the Church replaced Israel—but God’s Word says otherwise.

A. Different Identities – “Give none offence… to the Jews, Gentiles, or the church of God.” (1 Cor. 10:32)
B. Different Inheritances – Israel’s promise: earthly kingdom; Body’s promise: heavenly position. (Ephesians 1:3)
C. Different Instructions – Israel under law; the Body under grace. (Romans 6:14)

Dispensational Truth: Israel is prophetic and earthly; the Body of Christ is mystery and heavenly. Confusion reigns when we claim promises that don’t belong to us.

The Cause of CONFUSION: 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗦 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦

(1 Corinthians 13:8–10; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17)

Many still chase miracles, tongues, and visions instead of trusting the completed Word.

A. The Ceasing of the Sign Gifts – “Whether there be tongues, they shall cease.” (1 Corinthians 13:8)
B. The Calling to Walk by Faith – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
C. The Completion of Revelation – “Faith cometh by hearing… the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Dispensational Truth: Signs belonged to Israel’s prophetic program to confirm the kingdom message. Today, we walk by faith in the finished revelation of God’s grace, not by signs.

The Cause of CONFUSION: 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘

(2 Timothy 3:16–17; Colossians 2:8; Acts 17:11)

Tradition and emotion have replaced sound Bible study.

A. The Sufficiency of Scripture – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
B. The Subtlety of Philosophy – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit.” (Colossians 2:8)
C. The Standard of Searching – “They searched the Scriptures daily.” (Acts 17:11)

Dispensational Truth: God’s final authority today is the written Word rightly divided—not councils, customs, or charismatic claims.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡:

The real cause of all doctrinal confusion is the failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth. When men mix law and grace, prophecy and mystery, Israel and the Body, they create confusion instead of clarity. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), but of peace—to those who follow His revealed pattern through Paul’s ministry.

To understand God’s will today, you must interpret the Bible dispensationally, dividing what God said to Israel from what He says to the Church.

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡:

Study Diligently – “Rightly divide the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
Stand Firmly – Hold fast to Pauline sound doctrine. (2 Timothy 1:13)
Speak Boldly – Preach the Gospel of Grace clearly to a confused world. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:

Confusion comes from mixing programs.
Clarity comes from rightly dividing truth.
Confidence comes from standing in grace.
Courage comes from knowing our calling.
Consistency comes from following Paul’s pattern.
Conviction comes from the Word rightly divided.
Completion comes when we finish our course faithfully. (2 Timothy 4:7)