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Volume 13 Issue 4

Rightly Dividing God’s Word Training for Ministry

THE INSTITUTE UPDATE

Dr. Robert E. Nix President, Berean Bible Institute

I don’t know about you but this is one of my

favorite times of the year. The flowers and buds

begin to bloom and we celebrate the death, burial

and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spring

represents rebirth not only in nature but also as

we remember the focal point of all history, the

sacrificial payment for the sins of the world and

the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are many wonderful things taking place

at Berean Bible Institute these days. We continue

to get calls on a regular basis from potential

students who see the need to grow in the

knowledge of God’s matchless grace. We are also

thankful for our current students who sacrifice

both time and resources to attend BBI. I believe

without a doubt that God is using BBI as a

training institute to strengthen the grace move-

ment and train leaders who will stand firm in the

Grace Message.

(continued on page 6)

Berean Bible Institute PO Box 587 116 Kettle Moraine Dr. Slinger, WI 53086

Phone: (262) 644-5504 Fax (262) 644-5507

E-mail:bbi@bereanbibleinstitute.org Web: www.bereanbibleinstitute.org

Slinger, WI 53080

SPRING 2012 March, April, May

Issue 1

Many questions

are being asked

today about the

afterlife. People

are wondering;

“what will happen

to me after I die?”

Questions such as;

Does the soul

sleep between

death and the

resurrection?

Does everybody

automatically go

to heaven when

they die?

Will there really be a physical resurrection

sometime in the future? Are Heaven and Hell real

places? What kind of judgment will take place on

the last day? The State and Place of the Dead

provides Biblical answers for these questions and

others about “what happens after we die?”

IN THIS ISSUE

The Institute Update ............................................................. 1

Mail Received at Box 587 ................................................... 2

The Bulletin Board ................................................................ 2

Bible Words & Words of the Bible .................................. 3

The Apostle to the Gentiles ................................................ 4

THE STATE AND PLACE OF THE DEAD

HOT OF THE PRESS!

The State and Place of the Dead has now been

published as a soft cover book with

Scripture Index. It is available for

$10.00 + S&H.

If you would like to place an order

please contact BBI.

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Mail

Received

at

Box 587

From E-Mail:

“I am not a Mid-Acts grace believer but a traditional Dispensationalist, but enjoy receiving your newsletters.”

From E-Mail:

“I’m writing to thank you for your article in the ‘Bible Answers to Bible Questions’ February 2012 issue. This article about ‘the first question asked in the Bible’ so blessed my heart, and confirmed so many of the same thoughts that I have concerning these same verses that I had to write and say thank you for sharing your insight that the Holy Sprit of God has so blessed you with. However, one thing I would encourage, is please don’t forget to make mention of the Gospel of our faith in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Because so few understand that it is this Gospel that is the faith of our salvation.”

From Missouri:

“Like most people, I suppose, I very seldom write you, so be encouraged… I am sure there are many of us you do not hear from at all. I just wanted to say thank you for the joy and strength I have found though all of the Berean ministries, books, etc., over the years. I was introduced to the berean way by Brother Ed Bedore when he and Linda were in Bethany, MO. In time the confusion began to vanish and now I think I understand how the people felt in Nehemiah 8… ‘So they read distinctly from the book, the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice gladly, because they understood the words that were declared to them. Nehemiah 8:8,12’”

From Washington:

“”

THE “BULLETIN” BOARD Upcoming Events

BEREAN BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CONFERENCE

Dates: June 16th-21st, 2012

Location: Cedar Lake, Indiana

Theme: “The Pre-eminence of Christ”

Contact:

www.bereanbiblefellowship.weebly.com

To make reservations contact the

conference center at (219) 374-5941.

GRACE BELIEVERS

BIBLE CONFERENCE

Dates: August 3rd-5th, 2012

Location: Bitely, Michigan

Theme: “Preaching the Glorious Gospel

of Our Blessed God”

Contact: Pastor Ken Lyon at:

(231) 745-9595.

Midwest Grace Fellowship Conference

Dates: June 1-3, 2012

Location: Bethany, MO

Theme: “Christ Our All In All”

For more information contact:

Dan Heyle at (660) 425-6853 or Ken Lawson at (217) 498-6958.

Only one life; twill soon be past.

Only what’s done “in Christ” will last.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

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BIBLE WORDS &

WORDS OF THE BIBLE

Dr. W. Edward Bedore Editor, BBI Bulletin, BABQ

The words used in the Bible are of supreme

importance to our understanding of what the

Scriptures actually teach. Strangely, we are living

in a time when many “professing” believers seem

to be uninterested in putting the time and effort

into serious Bible study. They seem to be content

in letting others tell them what to believe. This is

a serious matter if we accept that Scripture alone

is the believers’ authority for all matters of faith

and practice. If we believe that “all Scripture is

given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for

doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in

righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim.

3:16-17) we will be diligent in studying the Bible

to learn all that we can about our Savior and His

instructions to us on how He wants us to live our

lives to His glory. We should also want to know

Scripture so we can know what is true and what

is error. To be grounded in sound doctrine is the

only way that we can guard ourselves from being

led astray by false teaching.

We continue now with our series on key

words from Scripture that are related to

important Bible doctrines.

SALVATION

The meaning of the word is “deliverance” or

“rescue” from some danger. There are at least

four kinds of salvation found in Scripture; the

national salvation of the nation of Israel; the

physical salvation of persons in danger or need;

the soul salvation of individual sinners; and the

believers’ salvation from the power of sin and the

schemes of the Devil. What we have in mind here

is the salvation of souls from the penalty of sin,

which is the most commonly recognized use of

the term in the New Testament.

Salvation is a comprehensive term when used

of the deliverance of souls from the awful penalty

of sin, which is separation from God in the

everlasting fires of Hell. The terms regeneration,

conversion, imputed righteousness, justification,

adoption, sanctification, ransom, forgiveness of

sins, redemption, reconciliation, and glorification

are all aspects of what takes place when an

individual comes to faith in Jesus Christ and

receives salvation through His blood. No person

can be said to have any of these things true of

them without having them all apply because they

are interrelated to each other.

Every human being is in need of salvation

because “all have sinned and come short of the glory

of God” (Rom. 3:23). Man is worthy only of

judgment. God sent His Son to become a Man

and pay the penalty for sin that we owe that

through faith in Him lost sinners might be saved.

Salvation is not through any merit of any kind that a

person has, but is dependent totally on the merit, or

worthiness, of Jesus Christ and His work of

redemption on the cross as our substitute. “For by

grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man

should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). “….Believe on the Lord Jesus

Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

When a person trusts in Jesus Christ as their

Savior, they are forgiven of their sins, redeemed

from the slavery of sin, declared righteous in

God’s sight, and reconciled to God along with

many other blessings of grace that are bestowed

on him (or her) through a new personal

relationship with the Lord. Every believer is

indwelt by the Holy Spirit and personally

identified with Jesus Christ and has an eternal

inheritance in Him.

CHRIST

“Christ” was not the Lord Jesus’ last name,

but a most important official title. It means

anointed one and is the same as “Messiah” in the

Old Testament. Both are transliterated words from

their respective Greek and Hebrew languages.

God promised that He would send His “Anointed

One,” or “Messiah” to deliver Israel from her

bondage to and fear of the nations and reestablish

David’s throne over an everlasting kingdom

under His righteous rule. Jesus of Nazareth claimed

to be the promised Messiah (Jn. 4:25-26) and was

recognized as such by His followers (Mat. 16:13-16

Jn. 1:47-49). Although the Old Testament contains

(continued on page 4)

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(BIBLE WORDS & WORDS OF THE BIBLE

continued from page 3)

prophecies concerning both the suffering of the

Messiah and His coming in glory, His disciples did

not understand about His death and resurrection

and only looked for His glorious coming (Lk. 24:13-

27). When He was crucified they hid in fear, but

after His resurrection they boldly preached Jesus as

“both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

John the Baptist introduced Jesus of Nazareth

to Israel as the Son of God when He came to be

baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descended

on Him (Jn. 1:29-34). The oil used to anoint men

into the offices of prophet, priest, and king in the

Old Testament was symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit coming upon Christ when John

baptized Him was a sign that Jesus was the

Messiah who would serve as the greatest Prophet,

the Effective High Priest, and the Promised King

of Israel. God anointed His own Son as Messiah

(Ps. 2:6-12; cf. 45:6-7; Prov. 30:4).

There is a day coming “that at the name of Jesus,”

who is God’s Anointed One, every one will bow

before Him and acknowledge “that Jesus Christ is

Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).

Only through faith in the Savior, who is Christ

Jesus the Lord, can anyone be saved from the fires

of Hell that their sin has condemned them to. In

He who is the Christ, is life everlasting.

The Foundation of Christian Faith

When his oldest child died, Sir James Simpson, a Scottish physician, had a stone monument erected on the grave. On it were carved these words: “Neverthe-less, I live!” Chiseled above the words was a butterfly, which has emerged from a chrysalis into the freedom of life with wings.

How meaningless would have been the words and the emblem if Christ had not risen from the dead.

The Bible says, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain…Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are…most miserable…But now Christ is risen from the dead…” (I Cor. 15:17-20).

Christ is alive! He is the great “I AM” not the great “I was.”

“I serve a risen Savior,

He’s in the world today;

THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES

Dr. W. Edward Bedore, Editor, BBI Bulletin, BABQ

“Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by

Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from

the dead;....

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was

preached of me is not after man.

“For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it,

but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:1, 11-12).

WHY PAUL?

Without the book of Acts, we would not know where the Apostle Paul came from. Indeed, this is the primary purpose for the book of Acts, to reveal the transition from the kingdom program that is the subject of Old Testament prophecy and is centered on the nation of Israel, to the mystery program which deals with all of mankind on an individual basis without regard as to national identification.

God’s purpose for Israel is a kingdom here on earth over which her Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be King. This was never a mystery (secret) but was “spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21).

What had been kept secret (a mystery) was revealed to Paul only after Israel had persisted in the rejection of her Messiah. The promised kingdom was still in view and within Israel’s reach until the stoning of Stephen as recorded in Acts 7. From this point on, we see a diminishing of Israel and the twelve kingdom apostles as Paul comes to the forefront as God's chosen servant. A new apostle to whom He would reveal His long kept secret (mystery) program of grace. Today, salvation is offered to all through simple faith in Jesus Christ, the Living Head of the Church which is His Body.

It is only in this secret (mystery) program as revealed to Paul (Eph. 3:1-7) that we find the promise of eternity in heaven and the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone, totally apart from works of any kind.

Why Paul? To reveal to a lost and God rejecting world the Dispensation of the Grace of God, the dispensation that we live in today.

(continued on page 5)

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(THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES

continued from page 4)

BUT WHAT HAPPENED?

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,

Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mat.

4:17).

The first words recorded as spoken by the

Lord Jesus Christ when He began His earthly

ministry are: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at

hand.” He “then went about all Galilee teaching and

preaching the gospel (good news) of the kingdom, and

healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease

among the people” (Mat. 4:23). All this was in strict

accordance with what the prophets of Israel had

declared years before. The promised Messiah had

finally come, Israel’s reproof would be taken

away and the time of great blessing and

prosperity for God’s chosen people would soon

come upon the favored nation.

But it has now been almost two thousand

years since Jesus Christ came upon the scene, and

still the kingdom has not been realized. What

happened? Has God’s promise been made void?

Has He cast away His people? Was God simply

not able to fulfill the words of Israel’s ancient

prophets?

This question has perplexed many and

brought confusion in large doses into the church.

Legion are the theologians and Bible teachers who

have tried to explain away God’s promises to

Israel pertaining to the kingdom that one day will

be brought to this earth when Jesus Christ comes

to rule in righteousness. The problem is that most

view the Bible as all of it pertaining to the

dispensation we live in today.

The problems disappear when we heed the

Apostle Paul’s admonition to “rightly divide the

word of truth.” Paul explains in Romans chapters

9-11 why the kingdom has not yet materialized.

Israel’s hope will one day be manifest, but now

God is working out His secret (mystery) program

as revealed to the Apostle Paul for us today.

WHICH PART OF THE BIBLE IS MOST IMPORTANT?

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is

profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

instruction in righteousness.” (II Tim. 3:16).

While the whole Bible is the Word of God and

vitally important, all of the Bible does not deal

with the same subject matter. In general the Bible

is about God’s redemptive plan for mankind.

Jesus Christ is the central figure of the entire

Bible. Essentially it is about Him, and what He

has done, what He is doing now, and what He

will do in the future.

To answer the question “which part of the

Bible is the most important,” first we must

determine which part of God’s program do we

want to know about. Just as a repair manual for

an automobile is divided into sections or chapters

that give detailed information for the different

parts or systems of the automobile covered in the

manual, the Bible is divided into sections which

give detailed information about the various

dispensations past, present, and future.

Just as we would not read the section in the

repair manual that tells how to change a fuel

pump when you wanted to replace a universal

joint in the drive shaft, we should not look to

those parts of the Bible that concern the historical

aspects of God’s dealing with Israel, nor should

we try to apply the part that deals with Israel’s

future (prophecy) to the “dispensation of grace”

that we live in today.

Just as a good mechanic will have an excellent

overall understanding of how all the parts and

systems of an automobile work, we should have a

good grasp of the entire Bible. But let us make

sure that we are diligent to “study to show thyself

approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be

ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (II Tim.

2:15). It is in Paul’s letters that we find God’s

plan, purpose, and direction for the present

dispensation.

THE PROTOTYPE

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all

acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to

save sinners; of whom I am chief.

"Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me

first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering,

for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on

Him to life everlasting"(II Tim. 1:15-16).

(continued on page 6)

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(THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES

continued from page 5)

A prototype is an original model, the first in a

series, the pattern of that which is to follow. The

first model of a certain type of airplane would be

a prototype of those like it that were to be

manufactured, the first of a kind. The Apostle

Paul uses the Greek word “protos” (translated

first) in describing himself as "a pattern to them

which should hereafter believe on Him [Jesus Christ]

to life everlasting." It is from “protos” that we get

our English word prototype. What Paul was

saying is that he was first in time and place. He

was an original model. We know that Paul was

not the first person saved, as the Bible gives us

many examples of men and women who placed

their faith in the living God in both the Old and

New Testaments before Paul ever came on the

scene. What could he mean then?

When we recognize that Paul was referring to

a new, never before revealed dispensation, it

becomes clear that he means he was the first

saved under this new program of God, the

Dispensation of Grace (see Eph. 3:1-7 and Gal.

1:11-12).

The gospel Jesus Christ preached during His

earthly ministry was the “Gospel of the

Kingdom,” which says that He will one day rule

here on earth with Israel as the premier nation in

that kingdom. This is the subject of prophecy. The

gospel (good news) revealed by the resurrected,

ascended, glorified, and highly exalted Lord Jesus

Christ Himself from heaven to Paul was the

mystery (secret) “Gospel of Grace,” ushered in

with Israel’s rejection of her Messiah. Now,

without distinction, Jew and Gentile are saved

and placed into “one Body” with a heavenly

hope.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU?

When it comes to what we believe, doctrinal integrity is much more important that academic, denominational, or social recognition, position, or acceptance. While man may make judgments about what he “thinks” or “feels” is the most important, in God’s eyes there is no contest, only His revealed truth will do.

(THE INSTITUTE UPDATE continued from page 1)

EXPANDING OUR PROGRAM

On January 14th the Board of Directors of Berean Bible Institute voted unanimously to move ahead with the implementation of the following changes at Berean Bible Institute. Beginning in the fall of 2012, students will be able to work toward a two year Associates Degree (60 credit hours) in either Biblical Foundations or Biblical Studies. Those students pursuing full-time ministry will be able to earn a Bachelors of Ministry Degree (126 credit hours) in either: Pastoral Studies, Missions, Christian Education or Interdisciplinary Studies. We will continue to offer the Certificate of Basic Bible Studies (30 credit hours) and the Diploma of Advanced Biblical Studies (96 credit Hours) as we have done in the past.

It is the goal of the BBI Board of Directors to maintain a strong ministry focus centering upon the propagation of the Grace Message and the training of leaders for the Grace Movement. We believe that the implementation of these changes will further expand and strengthen our program at BBI while accomplishing our stated goals. In our estimation these changes will strengthen our impact in the Grace community and allow us to reach more students with the Grace Message.

BBI will continue to function as an independent self-governing ministry training institute that seeks no outside accreditation. Berean Bible Institute continues to be completely committed to training men and women in the Grace Message in order that they might become leaders within the Grace Movement. It is our desire through these changes to expand and strengthen our programs so that our students might be better equipped to minister wherever the Lord may lead.

We ask that you commit to praying for BBI as we make the changes necessary to strengthen our program and prepare leaders who are completely surrendered to Christ and committed to His Message of Grace.

NEW CLASSES AT BBI

With the changes above we will be adding several new courses within our three year sche-dule. These courses are: Biblical Greek, Ministry

(continued on page 7)

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(THE INSTITUTE UPDATE continued from page 6)

Leadership, Cross Cultural Studies, Theology in

Missions, Readings in Christian Education and

Readings in Missions. These courses will allow us

to strength our programs by giving our students a

more specific focus in their studies.

DISTANCE STUDIES COURSES ADDED

This summer we will be adding two of our

current on campus courses to our distance studies

course offering. This will allow students to take

up to 40 credit hours through BBI’s distance

studies program. The two distance studies courses

should be ready by August. The classes are 207—

Major Prophets and 304—Bible Exposition IV

(Pauline Epistles).

We are also continuing to make plans to offer

future online courses that will give students even

more flexibility. Keep checking our website for

regular updates.

WEBPAGE

Please continue to visit bereanbibleinstitute.org

for updates on our new programs and other

special announcements. We endeavor to keep our

website fresh and informative. We are currently

working on updating our handbook and brochures

to reflect our changes in programs. We will be

updating them regularly on our website in order

to better serve both current and potential students.

INTERNET UPDATES

We are excited to announce that BBI will be

soon be offering regular Email updates to our

partners. If you are interested in receiving our

new BBI Email Updates please log on to

bereanbibleinstitute.org and sign up for this new

offering. This is a quick and easy way for you to

keep up with how God is working at BBI and

instantly know how you can pray more effectively.

FRIENDS OF BEREAN BIBLE INSTITUTE COOKOUT

On Saturday, May 19th, BBI will be hosting a

cookout at Woodlawn Park in Hartford, WI. This

will be a wonderful time to celebrate the

completion of a great year, and the joy of looking

forward to what God has in store for BBI in the

future. BBI will provide the meat and drink and

we are asking those who attend to provide a dish

to pass. We hope to see you there. The cookout

will be from 10:00AM—5:00 PM with lunch at

1:00 PM.

THE PLACE AND STATE OF THE DEAD

Berean Bible Institute is excited to announce

that Dr. Ed Bedore’s work entitled The Place and

State of the Dead is published in book form. We at

BBI believe it is critical for the believer to

understand what the Bible actually teaches

concerning death and judgment. In the past

several years we have seen popular Christian

authors and preachers drift into the heresy of

universalism, leading literally thousands to

believe that Hell is just a temporary bump in the

road. Dr. Bedore’s book uses Scripture to show

that judgment is both real and eternal.

NEW COMPUTERS

You may be aware that Berean Bible Institute

is currently updating our computers. For the last

four years we have been using donated

computers from a local hospital. While we were

very thankful for God’s provision for those

computers it has become more and more evident

that an upgrade was much needed. As you know

we have been working on raising approximately

$4,000.00 for these computers. I am happy to

announce that we have reached our goal. I want

to personally thank those partners who have

given toward this project. It is such a blessing to

see God work in the lives of His children and to

see His provision though their gifts.

Thank you all so much for making a ministry

like Berean Bible Institute possible. We are truly

blessed to have partners who are committed to

seeing the ministry of BBI grow and succeed in

honoring the Lord Jesus Christ and training men

and women to be leaders within the Grace

Movement.

Serving Together,

Dr. Robert E. Nix

President, Berean Bible Institute

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The BBI Bulletin is the official newsletter of the Berean Bible Institute Inc., and is sent free of charge to any that request it.

Berean Bible Institute exists as a college level school of adult education, which endeavors to provide advanced Biblical and doctrinal studies in accordance with the Biblical principle of right division and the revelation of the mystery along with practical training in ministry and leadership skills, in order to help individuals become prepared to do the work of the ministry in local churches, the mission field, at home or abroad, with the overall goal of making the Gospel of Jesus Christ known to the lost throughout the world, the edification of believers, and the promotion of personal Bible study.

President & Executive Editor: Robert E. Nix, Ph.D.

Managing Editor: W. Edward Bedore, Th.D

Composition & Layout: Jessica Sadler

BEREAN BIBLE INSTITUTE 116 Kettle Moraine Dr. S.

PO Box 587 Slinger, WI 53086

Phone: 262.644.5504/Fax: 262.644.5507 E-mail: bbi@bereanbibleinstitute.org/Web: www.bereanbibleinstitute.org

Berean Bible Institute, Inc. admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.

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