Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth - Biblical-data.org

Ultra-Dispensationalism - H.A. IronsidePage 18 of 54yet come into the full liberty of grace. The ordinances of the Lord's Supper and ofbaptism were linked with these companies and were to continue only until Israel haddefinitely and finally refused the Gospel message, after which the full revelation of themystery is supposed to have been given to the apostle Paul when he was imprisoned atRome. From that time on a new dispensation began. Surely this is wrongly confoundingthe Word of Truth. How any rational and spiritually-minded person could ever come tosuch a conclusion after a careful reading of the book of Acts, and with it the variousepistles addressed to the churches and peoples mentioned in that book, is more thansome of us can comprehend. Let us see what the facts actually are.In the first place, it is perfectly plain that the Church, the Body of Christ, was formed bythe baptism of the Holy Spirit. Very definitely this term is used of that great event whichtook place at Pentecost and was repeated in measure in Cornelius' household. In eachinstance the same exact expression is used. Referring to Pentecost, our Lord says, "Yeshall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1: 5). Referring to theevent that took place in Cornelius' household, Peter says:"Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptizedwith water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as Godgave them the like gift as He did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;what was 1, that I could withstand God?" (Acts 11: 16,17).In 1 Corinthians 12: 12, 13, we read:"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that onebody, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we allbaptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond orfree; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."Here we are distinctly informed as to the way in which the Body has been brought intoexistence, and this is exactly what took place at Pentecost. Individual believers were thatfile://C:\MYtemp3\Wrongly_dividing.htm2/12/06