Anti-Dispensationalism

Pastor Martin moves from the Old Testament period of preparation to the period of manifestation in the Gospels, showing that from the very first verse of the New Testament Jesus is presented as the rightful King who fulfills the promises to Abraham and David. He examines Matthew 1:1, Gabriel's annunciation in Luke 1, the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2, and Nathanael's confession in John 1, demonstrating that Jesus' kingship was openly declared at his conception, his birth, and the beginning of his public ministry. He pointedly rejects the dispensationalist view that Christ's enthronement is postponed until a future earthly reign.

Pastor Martin moves into the period of proclamation, the book of Acts, to demonstrate that the kingship of Christ was a dominant note in apostolic preaching. He shows that the very words 'Christ' and 'Lord' carry the freight of messianic kingship and supreme rule, and that Acts opens and closes with the kingdom motif framing the whole book. He then expounds the first Christian sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2, where Peter's climactic argument from Psalms 16 and 110 declares that God has made the crucified and risen Jesus 'both Lord and Christ' and that all forgiveness flows from a presently enthroned Savior who must be obeyed.