Abraham believed what God told him, and God counted Abraham as righteous. Paul said that this is a principle upon which God deals with all of mankind.

Rom 4:5
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (KJV)

Much of the hatred we see in our world today is caused by the different religions of the world. Many times Muslims in Muslim communities simply follow the customs taught by their Muslim leaders. Many Hindus just follow the teachings of their Hindu leaders. Many Christians base their lives on the doctrine of the Christian traditions. On judgement day, God will not judge people on the basis of their compliance with their religious culture. He will judge on the basis of their faithfulness to the Word of God.

That is why the Apostle Paul told Timothy,

2 Tim 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)

It is obvious that God deals with people differently in different times. How can we find out what God expects from us? We must rightly divide the word of truth. In the Old Testament, God gave the nation of Israel a kingdom which would bring great physical blessings to its citizens. To live in that kingdom, the Jews were required to live according to the Old Covenant Law.

The dispensation of the offer of the New Covenant Kingdom began with John the Baptist and continued through the end of the book of Acts. During that dispensation, God did many miracles as a sign to the nation of Israel that Jesus Christ was the promised messiah. During that dispensation, Jewish believers continued practicing the Old Covenant Law which included the circumcision of all male children. Jews and Gentiles alike practiced water baptism as a sign of their faith.

Water baptism was especially important for the Jewish believers because, in the New Covenant Kingdom, the nation of Israel will function as a nation of priests. As such, they will perform the priestly duties for the nations of the world just as the Levites did for the tribes of Israel in the Old Covenant Kingdom. The priests of both kingdoms were to be set apart by ceremonial washings in water.

In our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ, we do not have an earthly kingdom, and we have no physical ceremonies or rituals to bind us to the earth. Paul said,

Phil 3:20
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJ)

At the end of our present dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in the heavens, and believers will instantaneously appear with Him in heaven.

Col 3:1-4
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NKJ)

After that, God will offer the New Covenant Kingdom to Israel once again. According to the book of the Revelation, the world will once again see great miracles, wonders and signs, but many of them will be done by the supernatural power and trickery of the antichrist and the false prophet.

Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com

Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/

James III's link:
http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com