Abraham believed what God told him, and God counted Abraham as righteous. Paul said that God has always dealt with mankind upon this very basis.

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 what God has said.

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.

During the period of time covered by the book of Acts, God offered Israel the New Covenant Kingdom. 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 Law, while Jews and Gentiles alike practiced water baptism.

During the Acts period, water baptism was especially important for the Jewish believers because the nation of Israel will function as a nation of priests in the New Covenant Kingdom. 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.

Today, we live in the dispensation of the Church which is the Body of Christ. Paul revealed truth for the Church in Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. In these books, we find that the Church has no earthly kingdom, and we have no physical ceremonies or rituals to bind us to the earth. Paul said,

Col 2:20-22
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? (KJV)

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

After the Church is caught up to be with Christ, 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/