Mid-Acts Dipensationalism

Hyper-Dispensationalism (also known as Ultra-Dispensationalism, Mid Acts Dispensationalism) is a movement that sounds Biblical, but in essence have doctrines that are false and that are dangerous to the body of Christ. The main doctrines of Hyper-Dispensationalism concerning the New Covenant are: The Bible is written for us but not all of it is for us, that is the body of Christ only is to follow what the Apostle Paul taught in his Epistles for doctrine and practice. Paul was the first Christian and the body of Christ (Christian Church) started with his conversion. The Gospels are not for the body of Christ but are for the nation of Israel. Jesus only came to save the nation of Israel and His teachings were faith plus works for salvation, and the New Covenant was only for the nation of Israel and the body of Christ is not in the New Covenant.

The main problem with Hyper-Dispensationalism is the misconception of what the New Covenant is and whom it is for. Throughout the Bible it is clear God works with His people by covenants, that is agreements. A covenant is defined as a "contract or agreement." God throughout the Scriptures calls out to people to follow His ways, to turn from their ways, and in that they will be delivered from their sins. The Bible speaks of a Messiah who comes to give His life as an atoning sacrifice for the transgressions of mankind, both for those of Israel and the Gentiles.

"31 Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will cut a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, 32 not according to the covenant that I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which covenant of Mine they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Jehovah; 33 but this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, says Jehovah, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Hyper-Dispensationalism teaches that this text is proof that Jesus the Messiah came only for the nation of Israel to give the New Covenant, therefore since these verses only speak of Jews in context it means that the New Covenant is not for the Gentiles. The belief is that the New Covenant was in effect from the time of the Jesus dying on the cross until conversion of Paul for Jews, then the time of grace started with the body of Christ being both Jews and Gentiles.

"1 Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; My Elect, in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit on Him; He shall bring out judgment to the nations...6 I Jehovah have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand, and will keep You, and give You for a covenant of the people, for a Light of the nations." (Isaiah 42:1&6)

This is prophecy of the coming Messiah who would bring judgment for the nations, that is the Gentiles. This prophecy speaks of the Servant, which is referring to the suffering Messiah as Isaiah 53:1-12 teaches. Jesus spoke of coming for the whole world in John 3:16, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Jesus spoke of Him coming for the nation of Israel in Matthew 15, but Jesus also spoke of His coming for the Gentiles to trust in Him as well in the Gospel of Matthew.

"18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust." (Matthew 12:18-21)

Jesus spoke this directly from the prophecy in Isaiah 42 and was referring this to Himself. Jesus was teaching that He came also for the Gentiles to trust in Him. The Bible teaches that Jesus the Messiah came for the nation of Israel, the Gentiles, that is Jesus came to give His life for the whole world. Jesus giving His life as an atoning sacrifice is what established the New Covenant for anyone to trust in Him for salvation.

Hyper-Dispensationalism teaches that only Paul spoke of the cross being atonement for sins for all people, and that is just not true. Paul shared what was already spoken of by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to God's prophets.

"2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)" (2 Corinthians 6:2)

"8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages." (Isaiah 49:8)

These two Scriptures go together in fulfillment for all people to look to God for salvation, and that was done through the work of Jesus Christ from what Paul is teaching. Paul is quoting Isaiah 49:8 which was a covenant for salvation for all people.

"6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)

Paul speaks of the "new testament" which is literally the "New Covenant" in which the work of the cross has established for all people. Throughout Paul's writings he speaks of salvation being of the heart, not of works or the flesh. Paul in writing to Gentile Christians in Corinth speaks of "us" as being the body of Christ being able ministers in the "New Covenant."

Paul in Epistle to the Romans speaks of prophets foretelling salvation being able to the Gentiles. If Hyper-Dispensationalism would examine closely the teachings of Paul they would see the truth is that the coming of the Messiah was for both the Jews and the Gentiles.

"23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? 25 As he saith also in O see, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved." (Romans 9:23-25)

"23 And I will sow her to Me in the earth. And I will have mercy on No-mercy. And I will say to Not-my-people, You are My people. And they shall say, My God." (Hosea 2:23)

It is clear that Paul acknowledged that the prophets spoke of this salvation for both Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus came not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles.

"19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you." 20 But Isaiah is very bold and says, "I was found by those who did not seek Me, I became known to those who did not ask after Me." 21 But to Israel He says, "All day long I have stretched forth My hands to a disobeying and gainsaying people." (Romans 10:19-21)

"1 I am sought by those who asked not for Me; I am found by those who did not seek Me. I said, Behold Me, behold Me, to a nation not calling on My name. 2 I have spread out My hands all the day to a rebellious people who walk in the way not good, after their own thoughts." (Isaiah 65:1-2)

It is true that Jesus came for the house of Israel, the Jews. But prophecy spoke in advance that God was not only giving this salvation only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. Paul acknowledges that God not only was reaching out to the Jews but also to those who were Gentiles, and to those who were not looking for Him. We read in the New Testament that after Christ was raised the commandment was given to go to all nations, and reading in the book of Acts the message of Jesus Christ crucified, raised, and all who trust in Him will be saved from the sins.

"44 And He said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms about Me. 45 And He opened their mind to understand the Scriptures. 46 And He said to them, So it is written, and so it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be proclaimed in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:44-47)

Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection many times to His disciples, but they did not understand this until He was raised from the dead. Jesus told them to go to all nations and they did. The message for salvation is for all people. Jesus said that these things were written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and Psalms, which shows that this message was spoken of before the Apostle Paul. It is true that Paul clarified and expounded on many things, but it is not true that it was only Paul who spoke of salvation for the Gentiles.

This information has shown that God made a way for both the Jews and the Gentiles to be saved from their sins through the work of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul teaches that this New Covenant is for both the Jews and the Gentiles, for those who are in the body of Christ. Paul in writing to the Corinthians spoke of partaking of the Lord's Supper.

"25 After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:25)

Paul writing to Gentile Christians spoke of them partaking of the Lord's Supper, which was done in remembrance of Christ's shed blood for the New Covenant. If the New Covenant was only for the Jews why is Paul not rebuking the Corinthians for partaking of this covenant ordinance that is not for them? Reading the context of the passage Paul is teaching them on how to partake of it properly, which shows Paul did not teach that the body of Christ was not a part of the New Covenant.

Those who teach that the body of Christ is not in the New Covenant through the atoning shed blood of Jesus Christ are themselves in deception. If a person has not come to accept Jesus Christ being the only atoning sacrifice for our sins and is in covenant with God, that is in agreement with God's provision for dealing with mankind's sins than they are truly not of Him. The purpose of sharing this information is that Hyper-Dispensationalism is in error on the work of Jesus Christ establishing a new covenant with man for them to have atonement for their sins. May this information be used to glorify Christ and help those who are misled understand the glorious work of the cross.