1. We are an independent Bible study organization.This means that we
are not part of a denomination or formal association of churches. Therefore, we
do not exist to support any denomination or organization, but only to provide a
ministry for the teaching of the word of God for the edifying of the body of
Christ.
As a Bible study organization we use a variety of means to help Christians
understand and enjoy the Bible. We publish literature in the form of books and
booklets, doctrinal tracts and pamphlets, along with a quarterly Bible study and
newsletter entitled The Enjoy the Bible Quarterly. We offer Bible teaching on
video, with an ever-growing list of Bible teaching on video tape. In addition we
offer the Enjoy the Bible Institute on Video and produce a radio program called
The Enjoy the Bible Broadcast. For more information about any or all of these
items, see their separate listing on our home page.
2. Enjoy The Bible Ministries is managed by a few volunteers, who not only work
their own jobs but who also give of their free time to look after this website,
fill orders, respond to email, and the like. This means that there are times
when we are just not available or are not able to respond to matters as quickly
as we would like. Therefore if you contact us, please understand that there may
be a delay in responding to you.
3. Doctrinally we recognize and stress the necessity to study the Bible
dispensationally according to the command to be rightly dividing the word of
truth, given to us in II Timothy 2:15. The Bible declares the fact that God is
working out a two-fold plan and purpose. One aspect of His plan and purpose
centers around the people of Israel and the covenant God made with Abraham and
his seed. The other aspect of God's plan and purpose concerns His "new
creation,"the "one new man," the church the body of Christ. Therefore, two
programs, or dispensations, are set forth and described in the Bible and they
are not the same. These two different dispensations of God need to be recognized
and the distinctions between them honored. This is what "rightly dividing the
word of truth" refers to. It means to recognize and correctly make the division
in the Bible that needs to be made in it because of the two different programs
of God that it sets forth. All too often, however, the Bible is not "rightly
divided," and the differences between God's two programs are either ignored or
confused.
4. We recognize that the present program of God is "the dispensation of the
grace of God for us Gentiles." This present dispensation was revealed to and
through the apostle Paul, and was a "mystery" God kept hid in Himself in ages
and generations past. (See e.g. Ephesians 3:1-12) Until God raised up Paul as a
brand new apostle, God's program with Israel was in effect. But now God has
temporarily suspended His program and dealings with Israel and the dispensation
of Gentile grace is in effect. The portion of God's word that is expressly TO us
and is particularly ABOUT us today is the epistles of the Apostle Paul.
5. We recognize that the present dispensation of God is greatly different from
God's program with Israel, and that God is not dealing with us today as He dealt
with Israel. For example, God has not put us "under the law" in this
dispensation. (See e.g. Romans 6:14; I Timothy 1:3-10) Though God used the
performance system of the Law in His program and dealings with Israel, He has
instituted a different system for us today. In this dispensation we are "under
grace" and God deals with us solely on the basis of who He has made us to be "in
Christ" by the riches of His grace. In accordance with not being "under the law"
in this dispensation and being treated by God as adult "sons"and not "children,"
God is not using the "rudiments of the world" with us today. (See e. g.
Galatians 4:1-11; Colossians 2:8-23) The "rudiments of the world"like observing
holydays, having dietary restrictions, along with submitting to ordinances of
water baptism and the like, all pertain to Israel's program. However, in this
dispensation God has made us "dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world."
Such rudiments, therefore, have no place in God's program today.
6. Of all the different kinds of baptisms spoken about in the Bible, only one is
of any importance to God, or has any application, in this present dispensation
of His grace. That baptism is the one God Himself performs when the Spirit of
God baptizes the believer "into Jesus Christ" at the moment of salvation, so
identifying the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
Water baptisms in particular are "rudiments of the world" that functioned in
accordance with the elementary purification, separation, and identification
teachings of the Law Covenant, and as such were a natural part of God's program
and dealings with Israel. As described in I Corinthians 1, at the beginning of
this dispensation of grace in connection with testifying to Israel outside of
their land, the Apostle Paul used water baptisms on certain occasions as a sign
to unbelieving Israel. With the exception of this limited use, water baptisms
have no role or function in this present dispensation of grace.
7. In accordance with Paul's teaching in I Corinthians 12-14, the temporary need
for spiritual gifts that existed at the beginning of this dispensation has been
superceded by the completion of the written word of God. The "perfect" written
word of God now having come, spiritual gifts have been "done away."
8. The preserved inerrant word of God has always existed, still exists, and is
identified today as the received text of the historic protestant reformation
process. The translation of the received text into the English language has
produced the inerrant, infallible word of God in English. Though a multitude of
English Bible translations exist at the present time, only the King James
Version is translated from the received text. The King James Version is
identified as the inerrant, infallible, preserved word of God in the English
language.