[stephanos]

Originally Posted by MC1171611

As far as Hyperdispensationalism goes, I haven't met many that really believe it, but I've been accused of believing it and teaching it by Cloudish people for years.

I believe that the Apostles and those saved in Acts 2-7 were accepted into the Church and will be at the marriage supper of the Lamb, but from what I can make out, the Church Age didn't properly start until the final rejection of Christ in Acts 7 with the stoning of Stephen; in the very next chapter, the first Gentile is saved, unarguably by Grace through Faith, as per Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 10:9-10. Immediately following, Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, was saved and called in Acts 9.

Overall, I'm cautious when preaching doctrinal stuff out of the Old Testament or the Gospels, as it's easy to get young Christians confused between the Kingdoms and Gospels without an all-out study on the matter, but the entire canon of Scripture is given to us for doctrine, correction, reproof and instruction in righteousness, though perhaps not in exactly that order.

As far as the Bible school thing goes, the only on-site institute I could recommend in good conscience is Pensacola Bible Institute, and correspondence courses would include the Bible Doctrine Institute and Charity Baptist Church's course. Bro. Steve Sturgeon in Dillon, Montana has an institute which my uncle is/was attending, but he has a somewhat more heavy-handed way of running his church, so it's definitely not for everyone.

(See this link for some information and a video that deals with apostasy in the Church and Crown College's response to the message.)

I believe that the Old Testament is a shadow of what has come. I think that it, in its entirety, is excellent doctrinal material when used with discernment by a regenerate man. I have been more edified as of late by my OT reading than I've been by the NT. For me the beauty and finality of the NT is illuminated by the readings of the OT. Also, the Gospels are of vital importance and chaulk full of great teachings. Your concerns about causing confusion are valid, but it's quite easy to remedy that. People just need to be taught that if something contradicts what is taught by our Apostle then that Scripture needs to be understood to be for either another dispensation and or people/nation. The problem is is that that (lol) isn't taught by most churches, and as such most of the Bible simply isn't taught for fear of confusion.

Peace and Love,
Stephen