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Author
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Topic: Repentance and Grace
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Carol Swenson
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quote:
Paul does not condemn Peter or James.
Galatians 2:11 - 14 (NASB)
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?"
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Caretaker
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The Mystery revealed to Paul:
Col. 1:
1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Caretaker
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Peter & Paul Taught the Same Gospel!
No Excommunications First thing to note is that although the Judaizer issue was indeed serious, none of the apostles excommunicated the others. Nowhere in scripture do any of the apostles accuse another apostle of teaching a false or different Gospel. Peter and James do not condemn Paul. Paul does not condemn Peter or James.
No Support from Church Fathers Nor am I aware of any Church Fathers teaching that Paul's Gospel was only for the Gentiles, while Peter's Gospel was only for the Jewish Christians. This is important since most of the Church Fathers were probably Gentiles.
The Scriptural Record We'll now take a quick look at scriptural proof that Peter & Paul taught the same Gospel.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "The body is one and has many members, but all the members, many though they are, are one body; and so it is with Christ. It was in one Spirit that all of us, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free, were baptized into one body." There is only one body, one Church, one Gospel. Those who hold to the two Churches/Gospels theory cannot overcome this fact.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Paul begins by stating, "Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and in which you stand firm." He then relates how Christ died, was buried and rose in accordance with Scripture, "was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve" and other witnesses, and how Paul was the least of the apostles because he persecuted the Church. Paul then concludes: "In any case, whether it be I or they, this is what we preach and this is what you believed." What WE preach! Paul clearly indicates that he and the other apostles preach the same Gospel.
Acts 10 - 11: Peter's Vision & Conversion of Gentiles Peter is the first to see that the Gospel is for Gentiles as well as Jews. In sum, "The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also.... Peter put the question...'What can stop these people who have received the Holy Spirit, even as we have, from being baptized with water?' So he gave orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." Acts 10:44-48
Note that Peter only had the Gentile converts baptized - he didn't have them circumcised.
Note also that Gentiles were converting under Peter's preaching while Paul apparently was only preaching to Jews: first in the synagogues in Damascus (Acts 9:19-22) then to Greek-speaking Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 9:29)!
Acts 15: The Jerusalem Council "Some men came down to Antioch from Judea and began to teach the brothers, 'Unless you are circumcised according to Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.' " The Jerusalem Council is the slam-dunk which destroys forever the two Churches/Gospels theory. Paul took the controversy to Jerusalem and the one, true Gospel was vindicated by all: Peter, James and the whole Council and Jerusalem Church. It was NOT decided that there were two Gospels: one for Jews and one for Gentiles. Nor was it decided that Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to be saved.
Note also Peter's words, "Brothers, you know well enough that from the early days God selected ME from your number to be the one from whose lips the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe." Acts 15:7 Nobody at the Council disagreed with Peter's statement, not even Paul who was sitting right there.
Note Peter's further words:
" 'God, who reads the hearts of men, showed his approval by granting the Holy Spirit to them just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and us, but purified their hearts by means of faith also. Why, then, do you put God to the test by trying to place on the shoulders of these converts a yoke which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear? Our belief is rather that we are saved by the favor of the Lord Jesus and so are they.' At that the whole assembly fell silent." Acts 15:8-12
"WE are saved by the favor of the Lord Jesus and so are they."
This is the Gospel as taught by Peter (and approved by the Jerusalem Council) and it is the Gospel as taught by Paul (who was present at the Jerusalem Council and did not dissent from the Council).
Note that Peter clearly states that BOTH Jews and Gentiles are saved by the grace of Christ - not by works of the Law.
There is only ONE Gospel!
http://www.shasta.com/sphaws/schism.html
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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yahsway
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Carole, the "division" started after the Bar Kochba revolution. You need to study history and find out what happened to all those "Myriads" of Jewish believers in Christ.
Also, look up the Greek word for "Myriads" and you will get an idea of how many there were spoken of in Acts.
Historian High Schonfield states this:
"The political crises in Jewish affairs engendered among the Churches of the Empire a coldness and aloofness towards the JEWISH CHRISTIANS, which, after the second Jewish Revolt in the reign of Hadrian, led to almost complete separation. The Roman Christians could not be expected to sympathize with the national aspirations of the Nazarenes. For them the destruction of Jerusalem and the cessation of the temple services meant the end of the law. It came to them as a Happy release from the incubus of Judaism and left them free to Development Christian Philosophy of their own better suited to the Gentile temperament."
The Churches desire to convince Rome of their non-Jewishness was one thing. But the way they chose to do it was quite another. and has left a permanent black mark on the history of biblical interpretation and the relationship between church and synagogue ever since.
armed with a growing anti-semetic sentiment and fueled by the flamboyant rhetoric of its leaders, the Church began to issue a series of anti-Jewish laws beginning from the mid 2nd century, some of which are still esteemed today.
At the core of this preaching was was a severe attack against the Torah and its teachings.
Justin Martyr:-
"We, too, would observe your circumcision of the flesh, your Sabbath days, and in a word all your festivals, if we were not aware of the reason why they were imposed upon you, namely, because of your sins and your hardness of heart"
In this stage of history, the anti-Jewish and anti-Torah teaching was beginning to manifest itself.
The anti-Torah attitudes of the early Church began as an effort both to make the Good News palatable to the Roman pagans and also to convince the imperial government of Rome that they were not Jews, thereby skirting any anti-Jewish enmity from the government. Once the door was opened for anti-Torah interpretation in a predominately non-Jewish Church, it became increasingly difficult to shut. Many of the best-known and most respected Church leaders walked thru that door, with their followers close behind.
A good example is John Chrysostom.
"He who can never love Christ enough will never have done fighting against them (Jews) who hate Him. Flee, the, their assemblies, flee their houses, and far from venerating the synagogue because of the books it contains hold it in HATRED and aversion for the same reason. I HATE the synagogue precisely because it has the LAW AND THE PROPHETS...I HATE the Jews because they outrage the law."
I have much more to say on this issue but time does not permit me to right now.
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Carol Swenson
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Caretaker, I am not dividing the body of Christ.
The Noahide Laws comprise the six laws which were given to Adam in the Garden of Eden according to the Talmud's interpretation of Gen 2:16 and a seventh one, which was added after the Flood of Noah. Later at the Revelation at Sinai the Seven Laws of Noah were regiven to humanity and embedded in the 613 Laws given to the Children of Israel along with the Ten Commandments, which are part of, and not separate from, the 613 mitzvot. These laws are mentioned in the Torah. According to Judaism, the 613 mitzvot or "commandments" given in the written Torah, as well as their reasonings in the oral Torah, were only issued to the Jews and are therefore binding only upon them, having inherited the obligation from their ancestors. At the same time, at Mount Sinai, the Children of Israel were given the obligation to teach other nations the embedded Noahide Laws. (Wiki)
quote:
The grace dispensation did not change the gospel or the means of salvation, nor did it create another church.
What it did was bring together the Acts congregations that had been formed by the preaching of the gospel of Christ, who were under ordinances (Ref. 1 Cor. 11:2), with the post-Acts congregations who were not, into one fellowship (“the fellowship of the mystery” - Eph. 3:9), the “one new man” of Ephesians 2:15.
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Caretaker
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It is wrong to divide the Body of Christ, paid for on Calvary, commissioned through the Eleven, founded upon the Apostolic Confession of Faith, indwelt/empowered on the day of Pentecost, the Mystery of the Indwelling Christ revealed through Paul.
Romans 10:
10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 Peter 1:
1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Do not divide the Body of Christ!!!!
Do not divide the Church!!!!
Do NOT deny the validity of the very WORDS of Christ Jesus our Lord for ALL Believer.
To deny the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, Believer's Baptism, for the Body of Christ, and to teach such, does a grave disservice to Christ Jesus our Lord, and to any who would buy into such teaching.
FF Bruce says: "Only one saving message is attested by the NT. The “gospel to the circumcision” preached by Peter and his colleagues did not differ in content from the “gospel to the uncircumcised” entrusted to Paul (Gal. 2:7), though the form of presentation might vary according to the audience. Paul’s testimony is, “Whether therefore it was I or they [Peter and his colleagues], so we preach, and so you believed” (1 Cor. 15:11). The basic elements in the message were these: 1. the prophecies have been fulfilled and the new age inaugurated by the coming of Christ; 2. he was born into the family of David; 3. he died according to the Scriptures, to deliver his people from this evil age; 4. he was buried, and raised again the third day, according to the Scriptures; 5. he is exalted at God’s right hand as Son of God, Lord of living and dead; 6. he will come again, to judge the world and consummate his saving work."
The Very Words of Paul, The Same Gospel:
1 Cor. 15:
15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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yahsway
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I whole heartedly disagree with a lot of this article.
For starters in Acts 15:19 it speaks of the Noahide laws that the Gentiles coming into the faith were charged to do. to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled(which is to eat Kosher)and from drinking or eating blood.
verse 21 tells us that "for Moses has had thruout many generations those who preach him in every city and that it(old Test Scriptures) is being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.
This basically means that now the Gentiles turning to God have been charged to keep the Noahide laws and that they can come hear about the rest of the Scriptures being used at that time in the synagogues.
The scriptures say nothing about Sauls name being "changed" to Paul for it was both. Saul was born a Roman citizen and this is what he was called by the Romans all his life. Saul did not go from being a Jew to a Gentile because of his faith and conversion. He was still a Jew until the day he died. He was just a believing Jew.
It was not all the sect of the Pharisees that wanted the gentile believers to be circumcised, the scripture says "and some of the Jews".
Paul continued to keep the Feasts of the Lord, He continued to observe the Sabbath day, He took a Nazarite vow, and He certainly did listen to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem because of what he did. If Paul was against it, that would have been the opportune time for him to refuse to go with those men (Acts 21:20-25)
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Carol Swenson
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There is one body of Christ. But the Jewish believers still obeyed the Law, while the Gentile believers were not under Law, except the law of Christ.
Acts 15:4-5; 19-21 (NLT)
4When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. 5But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”
19And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”
In Acts 15, the Jewish believers still followed the Law of Moses.
The Difference Between the Dispensations
The grace dispensation did not change the gospel or the means of salvation, nor did it create another church.
What it did was bring together the Acts congregations that had been formed by the preaching of the gospel of Christ, who were under ordinances (Ref. 1 Cor. 11:2), with the post-Acts congregations who were not, into one fellowship (“the fellowship of the mystery” - Eph. 3:9), the “one new man” of Ephesians 2:15.
In summary, I see the grace dispensation, the mystery, as the revelation that ended all the practices associated with the Jewish religion. As Sir Robert Anderson put it,
“Christianity is not a religion, it is a revelation and a faith.”
(Adapted from the article written by Mike Schroeder)
http://agbsf.com/articles/Rightly-Dividing-Pauls-Epistles
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Caretaker
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quote:
Originally posted by yahsway:
I want to thank you Caretaker for your response about Dividing the body of Christ into Jew and Gentile camps. I see this all to much in a lot of Christian Churches.
Yeshua has only ONE body, having broken down the wall that divided us.
A lot of people do not realize that it was God that blinded the Jews, put blinders on their eyes for the Gentiles sake. It was a God thing. And we should not boast in that as Gentile believers.We should be thankful to God that He did this for us.
Yeshua has only one Kingdom that is made up of only one Bride. He does not commit adultry. Why should we? Jew AND Gentile-One in Messiah, One in Yeshua, One in the Olive Tree.
Amen Sis!!!!
From the words of Peter:
1 Peter:
1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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yahsway
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I want to thank you Caretaker for your response about Dividing the body of Christ into Jew and Gentile camps. I see this all to much in a lot of Christian Churches.
Yeshua has only ONE body, having broken down the wall that divided us.
A lot of people do not realize that it was God that blinded the Jews, put blinders on their eyes for the Gentiles sake. It was a God thing. And we should not boast in that as Gentile believers.We should be thankful to God that He did this for us.
Yeshua has only one Kingdom that is made up of only one Bride. He does not commit adultry. Why should we? Jew AND Gentile-One in Messiah, One in Yeshua, One in the Olive Tree.
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Carol Swenson
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I did a brief study of the expressions "Kingdom of God" and "Kingdom of Heaven". As usual, there is a lot of confusion and disagreement, but basically this is the majority thinking:
1. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are the same. The phrase, Kingdom of God, occurs 70 times in 69 verses—all in the New Testament. The phrase, Kingdom of Heaven, is used 33 times in 32 verses. Every one of these occurrences is in the book of Matthew. It is believed that Matthew did not want to say "God" because he was writing to a Jewish audience. Both phrases refer to the Millennial Kingdom which will become the Eternal Kingdom after 1000 years.
2. The Kingdom of God includes the Kingdom of Heaven, but it also includes everything in the universe over which God is Sovereign, including the spiritual realm.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven is not the same as Heaven. Heaven is where the Holy Trinity and angels dwell, and is the home of departed saints.
4. The Mystery Kingdom, within the hearts of believers today, is the Holy Spirit of Christ reigning in our hearts. Here the kingdom of heaven is spoken of as a power which must work in the heart of man. A word study of Luke 17 [the kingdom of God is within you] shows it should be translated "among you" [Christ referring to Himself] instead of "within you". It may be argued, though, that Heaven is wherever God is, and since He is within our hearts then Heaven is within our hearts. It may also be said that "among you" refers to the Church, the body of Christ, living among unbelievers in the world.
5. Paul wrote about the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of the Son, and the heavenly kingdom:
Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-- such a man is an idolater-- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
1Co 15:50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
2Ti 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.
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Caretaker
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The Kingdom of God:
Col. 1:
1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
The letter of Paul to the Romans:
14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
What is the Kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal sovereign God over all creatures and things (Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:3). The kingdom of God is also the designation for the sphere of salvation entered into at the new birth (John 3:5-7), and is synonymous with the “kingdom of heaven.”
The kingdom of God embraces all created intelligence, both in heaven and earth that are willingly subject to the Lord and are in fellowship with Him. The kingdom of God is, therefore, universal in that it includes created angels and men. It is eternal, as God is eternal, and it is spiritual—found within all born-again believers. We enter the kingdom of God when we are born again, and we are then part of that kingdom for eternity. It is a relationship "born of the spirit" (John 3:5), and we have confident assurance that it is so because the Spirit bears witness with our spirits (Romans 8:16).
God is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and the ruler over all of His creation. However, the designation "the kingdom of God" compasses that realm which is subject to God and will be for eternity. The rest of creation will be destroyed. Only that which is part of the "kingdom of God" will remain.
Luke 17:
17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
17:22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
17:23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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WildB
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The Kingdom of God
Of Prophecy and of "The Mystery"
By Roland N. Icke, M.D.
Most of Scripture is concerned with the prophesied Kingdom of God, also called the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew's Gospel. Prophecy and its fulfillment under the Messiah have primary reference to God's sovereignly-chosen people, Israel. The specific Kingdom, called the "Kingdom of His dear Son," "…of His Christ," was not prophesied. God's eternal purpose to save Gentiles in a joint body with Jews was "Hid in God" as a sacred secret ("the mystery") until fulfilled. This mystery was revealed thereafter by the glorified Christ, through Paul's epistles.
Alva J. McClain wrote in "The Greatness of the Kingdom," p. 284: "The events attending the appearance of the Messianic King indicate a literal identity between the Kingdom preached in the Gospels and that of Old Testament prophecy."1
There is at least one phase of the Kingdom of God which is equivalent to the Kingdom of Heaven. This has reference to the prophetic Kingdom about which Jesus and His Apostles preached while He was with them on earth, and which they preached during the early Acts period. He was proclaimed to be Israel's Messiah and King, the Heir promised to David (II Sam. 7:16), and the Son promised to Mary (Luke 1:31-33). He was "the Christ," concerning whom the prophets spoke (Isa. 9:7, and chapter 53).
The term "Kingdom of Heaven" is used more than 30 times in the Gospel of Matthew, and the term "Kingdom of God" is used in more than 70 other references. Sometimes these refer to the same Kingdom and at other times they are different. This leads to the conclusion that the designation "Kingdom of God" is a universal term. It includes the Kingdom of Heaven and all other aspects of God's jurisdiction over His creation, whether animal, vegetable, mineral, life, matter, energy, light or time. In these cases, the context often reveals a more specific designation. There are many aspects and phases of "The Kingdom." No single definition is adequate for all these broad terms. God had a Theocratic Kingdom in the past. His prophesied Theocratic (Messianic) Kingdom was "at hand" when Christ was on earth. It is now in absentia but it will be restored after the tribulation, established in "the millennium," and continue in eternity. Today, believers are members of the unprophesied Kingdom (to be considered later).
Though sometimes having uncertain meaning, the term "Kingdom of Heaven" (used only in Matthew's Gospel) could have been used interchangeably with "Kingdom of God" in the following Scripture references:
Mark 1:14,15: "the kingdom of God is at hand."
Luke 8:1: "glad tidings of the Kingdom of God."
Luke 9:2: "sent them to preach the kingdom of God."
Luke 10:9: "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."
Luke 21:31: "The kingdom of God is nigh at hand."
Luke 23:51: " waited for the kingdom of God."
His Kingdom, foretold in Old Testament prophecies, was actively proclaimed as at hand and partially fulfilled during the earthly presence of Jesus of Nazareth. It will be fulfilled completely in the future. God's Kingdom of today is not found in the Old Testament Scriptures (Eph. 3:5,9; Col. 1:13), though its salvation aspect was anticipated by types, patterns, and symbolic ordinances. The mystery aspect was progressively revealed after Calvary and fits into the present unprophesied interval during which "blindness in part is happened to Israel," until the "fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Rom. 11:25). The rest of these prophecies will then be fulfilled. "That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, He might gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him" (Eph. 1:10). Our effort is limited to the consideration of these two aspects of God's Kingdom, one prophesied and one unprophesied. All aspects of His Kingdom are according to God's eternal purpose (Eph. 2:7, 3:10,11).
As His representative, Adam was given dominion over all God's earthly creation (Gen. 1:26-29). By disobedience, Adam forfeited his administrative right to Satan, giving him domination of all subsequent earthly systems of world government (Luke 4:6,7). "This continuous warfare between Satan and God is the key to discerning the ultimate purpose of world history. Satan's purpose is to overthrow God and usurp His place as the unique sovereign of the universe. God's ultimate purpose is to demonstrate that He only (the Creator) is the ultimate sovereign."2 God allowed that challenge. By undeniable restoration at Calvary He proved to all creatures in heaven and earth that He has supreme authority over all that He created (II Cor. 5:19,21; Rev. 4:11, 11:15, 12:9-11).
In sovereign grace, God chose Abram (Abraham) out of heathen idolatry, and gave him an unconditional promise. Abraham was promised (1) a land (extending from the Nile to the Euphrates rivers (Gen. 15:18) and from Lebanon and the Euphrates to the Mediterranean Sea (Deut. 11:24)); (2) A great name; and (3) Blessings for Abraham (and through him to all families (nations) of the earth). The promise was confirmed and continued through Isaac (not Ishmael), through Jacob (not Esau), and applied through his twelve sons to their descendants who became the nation, Israel.
God made a conditional covenant to make Israel (not the Gentiles) a "peculiar treasure unto me above all people…and you shall be a Kingdom of priests, a holy nation…called the children of Israel" (Ex. 19:5,6), and shall reign over many nations (Deut. 15:6). This is the first use of the word "Kingdom" in the Scriptures. This was a Theocratic Kingdom under God through Moses as its mediator. At Mt. Sinai, God gave specific requirements for Israel with promised blessings for obedience to all His commandments (Ex. 15:26; Deut. 11:22,23), and curses (punishment) for disobedience (Deut. 8:19, 11:28). The Lord did not choose Israel because of its numbers but "because the Lord loved you" and had given His promise to the patriarchs (Deut. 7:6-9). "All the people answered together and said: `All that the LORD has spoken, we will do'" (Ex. 19:5-9). God's laws were promptly broken, the people were judged, and His laws were given again.
The Theocratic Kingdom continued after Moses' death through Joshua and then through the Judges for about 450 years. Some of the judges were unfaithful. The people wanted "a king to judge us like all the nations." The Lord said to Samuel: "Hearken to the people, they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them" (I Sam. 8:3-22). Samuel entreated: "the Lord your God was your King" (I Sam. 12:12). King Saul reigned for about 40 years but became proud and jealous, causing Israel much distress. David was then chosen to be king and to lead the Israelites in conquest of their enemies. David prophesied about the coming Messiah, who would establish a righteous kingdom on earth (Acts 2:29-35). In spite of failures, David's heart was "right" with God; his sins were confessed and forgiven (though judged). He was promised an Heir who would reign eternally (II Sam. 7:16).
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds" (Heb. 1:1,2). Some of the "mysteries of the Kingdom" were revealed to His Apostles (Luke 8:11). The "mystery" (musterion) was "Hid in God" (Eph. 3:5,9) until the "due time" after Calvary. It was "committed" first to Paul as a "steward" of the mysteries (Rom. 11:13; I Cor. 4:1,2, 9:17; I Tim. 1:16; Titus 1:3) and through him, by the Spirit, to the Apostles (Gal. 2:2) and to his associates (called holy apostles and prophets; Eph. 3:5). These include Timothy, Titus, Appollos, Barnabas, Silas, Sosthenes, and some others.
Jesus came to fulfill the promises made to Abraham (Gen. 12:13, 17:1-14) and to David (II Sam. 7:16), which promises were confirmed "by the mouth of all His holy prophets...since the world began" (Luke 1:69,70; Acts 3:21; Rom. 15:8).
This One, legally the "Seed" of Abraham and the "Son of David," will establish a righteous Millennial Kingdom on earth. As the reigning Messiah, all enemies will be put under His feet. He will have crushed Satan, conquered death, and will deliver this Kingdom to the Father, and will reign with Him forever (John 17:6-12; I Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 22:16) from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev. 11:15, 22:3-5).
Problems arise in understanding which Kingdom is designated unless we carefully distinguish between: (1) The prophesied "Kingdom of God" (the Kingdom of Heaven), also called the Messianic Kingdom, and (2) God's unprophesied "Kingdom of His dear Son" (Col. 1:13), "the Church, the Body of Christ" in the present dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2). Both of these Kingdoms belong to the Kingdom of God in its broader sense. (3) Sometimes the phrase "Kingdom of...", was used as a simile, metaphor, or in a parable (Matt. 13:3-53) with the meaning revealed only to the Apostles. These were all "fitting" to the prophetic Kingdom, but some were replaced by new revelations under Grace (after redemption by His blood at Calvary; Eph. 1:7).
(1) The prophesied Messiah's Kingdom: Some have called this the Davidic Kingdom because it is primarily concerned with the eternal Kingdom which was promised to David (II Sam. 7:16) with Christ, whom King David prophetically called his "Seed," "my Lord" (Psa. 110:1). Jesus verified that He was the object of that reference (Luke 20:41-44; John 4:25,26). The prophesied Messianic Kingdom was "at hand" in the presence of Israel's Messiah during the earthly ministry of Jesus with His disciples. His mission was to convert those chosen Israelites, who by physical birth were the natural children of Abraham (Matt. 15:24), into those becoming children of God by a spiritual new birth. "The natural man does not receive the things of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:14).
"The Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1,14), "with all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9; Rev. 19:13). Jesus said: "He that has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 10:30, 14:9); "blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Jesus said: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." "It is not meet to take the children's (Israel's) bread and cast it to dogs" (Gentiles) (Matt. 15:24,26).
(2) Paul called the unprophesied Kingdom of God in this present age of grace, "the Church (which is) the Body of Christ." This was also called the mystery, because it was "kept secret since the world began" until it was revealed to him by the resurrected, glorified Lord several years after Calvary (Rom. 16:25; Gal. 1:11,12; Col. 1:13,14). This is a relationship spiritually between Christ, its heavenly Head, and redeemed fellow-members of His body (Jew and Gentile alike individually) living on earth but having heavenly, rather than earthly promises (Eph. 1:3,20, 2:57, 5:30; Titus 2:13). This could also logically be called Christ's "Body Kingdom." Neither term, "Davidic Kingdom" nor "Body Kingdom," is specifically so translated from the original Scripture texts but may reasonably be used for clarification of the references. In Paul's epistles, his term "Church of God" usually refers to Christ's "Body Church" and "Body Kingdom" except when confirming the historical facts of the "gospel by which we are saved" (I Cor. 15:1-4; Acts 9:20-22,27, 19:3-8). The "end-time" Kingdom will be delivered to God the Father, restoring dominion forfeited by Adam's sin (Heb. 12:22,28; I Cor. 15:24).
When one is saved today, by Grace through faith alone (in Christ's finished work at Calvary), the Spirit places this member into the unprophesied "Body Church" as a new spiritual creation (I Cor. 12:13; II Cor. 5:17) and simultaneously translates him into "The Kingdom of His dear Son" (Col. 1:13,14). This is not an entrance into the prophesied Davidic Kingdom of God (properly called also the Kingdom of Heaven). That Kingdom, with earthly blessings, was promised to redeemed Israel and it included proselytes to Judaism (Acts 10:36-48). The Apostles had been instructed to pray for the Messiah's prophesied spiritual Kingdom to come out of heaven, and for its righteous conditions to be established on earth (Matt. 6:10). Since Christ's ascension, the Kingdom of God (of Heaven) in the person of the Messianic King has not been at hand. In the future Millennial and eternal Kingdoms, Christ will reign with power and great glory.
What difference does it make? It should be remembered that God did not make a covenant with, or promise blessings directly to, any Gentiles since the days of the patriarchs, and that the Lord's earthly ministry was only to Israel (Matt. 15:24; Rom. 15:8). The Gentiles were "strangers from Israel's covenants, without hope and without God in the world." How thankful we Gentiles should be for the "But now in Christ Jesus" which changed that hopeless state and reconciled us to God (Eph. 2:12-16).
All our blessings, as believers today, are spiritual, in heavenly places (not earthly) in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). We are fellow-members in the Body Kingdom, without gender or racial distinction. "That He might reconcile both (Jew and Gentile) unto God in one body by the cross" (Eph. 2:16). The earlier Bible teachers erred in claiming some of Isaiah's prophecies about Israel, when there was no Israel (between 70 A.D. and 1948), to mean the present Body Church and Body Kingdom. We have no right to select blessings promised to others in the Messianic Kingdom and claim them in this "present evil age" (Gal. 1:4). God always fulfills His promises to the ones promised.
THE PROPHESIED KINGDOM OF GOD
The Messianic (Davidic) Kingdom
As God incarnate, Jesus called Himself the "Son of man." This term is used more than 80 times in the Gospels, and again by Stephen in Acts 7:56, and by John in Revelation 1:13 and 14:14. In Daniel's prophecy, speaking of endtime events (2:44), he stated: "and in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed. The kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Daniel saw in a vision, "One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and there was given to Him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people nations and languages, should serve Him...His dominion is everlasting...shall not pass away...shall not be destroyed" (Dan. 7:13,14). This prophecy does not distinguish between the Messiah's 1000 year reign and His eternal reign, but considers them blending together.
When the wise men from the east "followed the star" (Matt. 2:9-11), they came to Jerusalem and asked: "Where is He that is born King of the Jews?" (Matt. 2:1,2). They knew from the Old Testament scrolls that God had promised David that one of his descendants ("Seed"; II Sam. 7:12-17) would establish a kingdom and throne forever. More was revealed in Isaiah 9:6,7, Daniel 2:44 and numerous other prophecies. "A king shall reign and prosper" (Jer. 23:5). "One king shall be king unto them all" (Ezek. 37:22). The virgin, Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she will "bring forth a Son, JESUS, who will be great...the Son of the Highest...and God will give unto Him the throne of His father, David...of His kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:31-33). This King will "redeem His people (Israel)," deliver from all enemies (Luke 1:68-77), fulfill God's promises to the patriarchs (Rom. 15:8) and prophecies of Israel's peaceful earthly inheritance and blessings (Gen. 12:13; 17:1-14), and reign eternally.
Many of the prophecies and promises were written over a period of several hundred years, warning of God's judgments and dispersion for disobedience and idolatry, but promising future restoration. Since the Babylonian captivity in 586 B.C., the Israelites have had no king. The "times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24) will continue until the Messiah's second coming to judge, then to reign as King, giving "the sure mercies of David" (Acts 13:34). Israel had been subjected to the Babylonians, Media-Persians (536 B.C.), Grecians (322 B.C.), and Romans (63 B.C.). During the interval of about 400 years between the Old Testament and New Testament writings, the Rabbis developed differing traditions for interpretation of the Scriptures, often opposed to the literal Word. The genealogy in Matthew (chapter 1) established the legal right of Jesus of Nazareth to the throne of David. More than 300 prophecies were quickly fulfilled literally in less than 4 years of His earthly ministry; the remaining prophecies will also be fulfilled literally.
"But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law" (Gal. 4:4,5). Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:47), taken as an infant to Egypt (Hos. 11:1; Matt. 2:13-15), and raised in Nazareth (Matt. 2:23; Luke 4:16).
"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness...saying: `repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand'; For this is He that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: `The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight'" (Matt. 3:13). He warned the Pharisees and Sadducees: "O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" (Matt. 3:7,8). Quoting from Malachi 3:1, Jesus said that John was the one preparing the way for the Messiah, as prophesied in the Old Testament (Luke 7:24-27). He was baptized by John, "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15), and that He might be "made manifest to Israel," He was introduced, "Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world." God the Father and the Holy Spirit authenticated John's record that "this is the Son of God" (Matt. 3:16,17; John 1:29-34).
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights...and hungered," the tempter tried repeatedly to entice Him into acting independently of the Father, and showed Him "all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them." The devil offered "all these things" in exchange for worship (Matt. 4:8; Luke 4:1-13). This was his attempt to "be like the most High," to displace God, and to be worshipped himself (Isa. 14:12-15). Jesus could not violate His covenant with the Father for our redemption (Eph. 1:3-11, 3:10,11) and He overcame all temptations "by the Word of God." He came into the world to "destroy the works of the devil" (John 12:27,31; Eph. 6:12; Heb. 2:14; I John 3:8; Rev. 12:10,11).
In the Nazareth synagogue at age 12, Jesus had astonished the doctors with his understanding and answers (Luke 2:46-48). Upon beginning His ministry, He shocked them further by claiming to be the One who fulfilled the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 61:1,2, "As His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read…`The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor...to heal the broken hearted... preach deliverance to the captives...recovering of sight to the blind...to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. He closed the book and said: "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:16-22). He did not quote the remainder of Isaiah's prophecy: "and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn," for that part is still future. "And all bare Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, `Is not this Joseph's son'?" And He said, "no prophet is accepted in his own country" (vs. 24). This claim was a threat to their prestigious positions.
"And all they in the synagogue when they heard these things, were filled with wrath" and tried to kill Him, but He passed through the midst of them and went His way (Luke 4:28-30). As on other occasions, His "hour had not yet come" (John 7:30, 8:20). He was sent to preach the Kingdom of God in other cities also (Luke 4:43). Jesus said: "There is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he that is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him" (Luke 7:28-30). Many of the chief rulers also believed on Him, "but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42,43). Jesus later reproached the lawyers, who continued trying to trick Him in words in order to ensnare and discredit Him (Luke 11:52-54). He told the covetous Pharisees: "You are they which justify but God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. The Law and the prophets were until John; since that time the Kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it" (Luke 16:1416).
"From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, `Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand"' (Matt. 4:17, 9:13), emphasizing the spiritual nature of His Kingdom. He raised the Law's commandment against adultery and covetousness, forbidding lustful thoughts as well as the deeds (Matt. 5:27-28). "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel" (good news; Mark 1:14,15).
"Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness...and diseases...and cast out devils (as prophesied for Israel's Messiah). His fame went throughout all Syria...and a great multitude of people followed Him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond Jordan" (Matt. 4:23-25).
Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, He validated the accuracy of the Old Testament prophecies, presented Himself as the One literally fulfilling what the prophets had said, and gave assurance that their remaining predictions would be literally fulfilled. The prophets often did not understand all that they had been divinelyinstructed to write (Luke 10:24) and often were unaware of intervals between near and farterm events. The Apostles had not recognized that He must suffer before His reign. Some Rabbis thought there must be two Messiahs, one to suffer and one to reign; and they interpreted some prophecies about suffering to mean that the nation Israel suffers.
It should be realized that He was not preaching "the gospel of the Grace of God" (Acts 20:24), which in resurrected glory He commanded Paul to preach after Calvary.
"And seeing the multitude, He went up into a mountain, and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him...and He taught (that which is known as The Sermon on the Mount), as One having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt. 5:1 to 7:29). This fifth chapter of Matthew presents what many have called "the charter of the Kingdom," the "beatitudes" or blessings associated with the prophesied Kingdom of God (out of Heaven) on earth, under the Messiah's reign as King.
This is the spiritual aspect of the Kingdom under Christ. Its blessings and promises are conditional (as was Israel's covenant at Sinai), based upon complete obedience. The pure in heart shall see God. The peacemakers shall be called the children of God. Those who mourn shall be comforted. The merciful will be shown mercy. The meek shall inherit the earth (Psa. 37:11). Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled. The Kingdom of Heaven is promised to the "poor in spirit," and to those who are reviled and persecuted for righteousness' sake (Matt. 5:2,10). Their righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees to enter into this spiritual kingdom (Matt. 5:20) for those hypocrites say and do not (Matt. 23:3). All of the promised blessings will come only under the Messiah's righteous millennial reign, without any evil influence, when there will be complete obedience to all the terms of God's covenant with Israel.
THE UNPROPHESIED KINGDOM OF GOD
Christ's "Body Church Kingdom"
The Mystery
Mankind failed under all administrations of the general Kingdom of God. Adam sinned and forfeited his earthly dominion to Satan. The Gentiles "did not like to retain God in their knowledge," and were "given up" (Rom. 1:24,26,28). God, in the person of His Son, "came unto His own" (Israel), preaching the gospel (good news) of the Kingdom of God, "but His own (nationally) received Him not" (John 1:11). "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14), but God's eternal purpose will not fail.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus were so unexpected and humanly impossible that the Apostles did not believe those first reports; however, with God all things are possible (Luke 24:11; Acts 9:13,14,26; Matt. 19:26; Acts 2:32). Saul had made havoc of the Jerusalem Church believers. He went to Damascus with authority to arrest and bring to Jerusalem for judgment all those of "the way," who believed Jesus to be the resurrected Christ (Acts 9:3). Though zealous in the "Jews' religion" (Gal. 1:13) and "blameless" under the Mosaic Law (Phil. 3:6), Saul did not believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. As an unbelieving blasphemer who should have known, he deserved God's judgment, but was shown mercy (I Tim. 1:13).
In matchless grace (Gal. 1:15), the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ appeared in His heavenly glory and chose this one, His chief human enemy, to be His faithful bond-servant (Rom. 1:1). Blinded by the divine glory, Saul's zeal was redirected and he asked: "Lord, what will you have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). He was directed: "bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). Though knowing "what great things he must suffer for My (Christ's) names' sake" (Acts 9:16), he considered it "not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).
After receiving his sight again and being "baptized to wash away his sins" (Acts 22:16), Saul "straightway preached Christ in the Damascus synagogue, that He is the Son of God." He confirmed that Jesus was indeed Israel's prophesied Messiah, crucified, dead and buried, and that God had raised Him from the dead, as the Apostles had preached post-resurrection. He "confounded the Damascus Jews, proving (from the Old Testament Scriptures) that this is very Christ," but they tried to kill him. He escaped to Jerusalem and wanted to tell the ones he had lead in persecuting the believers that he had been wrong and that Jesus really was their Messiah; however they also tried to kill him (Acts 9:20-23,27,29, 19:3-8). The Lord said to him, "make haste, and get quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me…I will send you far away unto the Gentiles" (Acts 22:18-21). After Saul's conversion, "official" anger was furiously directed toward him because he preached Jesus Christ's resurrection and salvation for the Gentiles. The churches "had rest," served the Lord, were "edified," comforted by the Spirit, and their numbers increased (Acts 9:31).
Saul (a Hebrew name) was also called Paul (a Roman name, Paulus). He was, for three years in Arabia, taught by "the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11,12,17-23). Progressively during his ministry, Paul learned what had been accomplished at Calvary when the sinless, incarnate Son of God took man's guilt upon Himself and paid man's sin-debt (death) as our Substitute. He learned that God's eternal purpose was to redeem both Jew and Gentile alike as "one new man," in a manner unprophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures, by grace alone without the works (ordinances) of the Law (Eph. 2:8-19).
Barnabas brought Paul from Tarsus to Antioch for mostly a Gentile ministry. He taught there for a full year and many believed. God "opened the door of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27, 15:3), and "wrought miracles and wonders among the Gentiles through them" (Acts 15:12). "The disciples were called Christians, first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26).
Certain men came from Judea and said, "Except you be circumcised, you can not be saved" (Acts 15:1). This caused much dissension and disputation. The Antioch Church sent Paul, Barnabas and some others to Jerusalem to settle the question.
Paul was divinely-directed (about A.D. 50) to go with Barnabas to Jerusalem and communicate to the Church leaders, "that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles." He took Titus, an uncircumcised Gentile, as a "test case" (Acts 15:1-6; Gal. 2:1-5). Peter recalled his puzzling command to go to the Gentile, Cornelius, noting that the Holy Ghost had purified their believing hearts by faith "even as He did unto us" (Acts 15:7-11). James, presiding, noted Peter's experience and that the prophets foretold salvation for believing Gentiles, and he rendered his decision that the Gentiles should not be required to observe Israel's Law and covenant requirements (Acts 15:19-30). James, Cephas (Peter) and John (representing the Apostles) formally agreed, with the "right hands of fellowship," to confine their ministry to "the circumcision" (Israel). They commended Paul and Barnabas' ministry to the "heathen" (Gentiles; Gal. 2:7-9).
Scripture gives no record that they violated that agreement. James wrote his epistle to "the twelve tribes, scattered abroad" (James 1:1). Peter wrote to "the strangers who were scattered" at the time of Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 8:1, 11:19; I Pet. 1:1), after he was given "further revelation" by the Spirit of truth (John 16:12,13) on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4, 16-23), at Cornelius' household (Acts 10:45), in Samaria (Acts 8:17), and from Paul (Acts 15:11; Gal. 2:2). He stated that the prophets had searched diligently about the "salvation of souls" and had pondered about the "sufferings of Christ" and the "grace that should come." This would be a "light to the Gentiles," to be revealed in the last time (Luke 2:26-32). The angels also, had wanted to "look into that gospel" (Luke 24:25-27; Acts 26:23; I Pet. 1:5-12; II Pet. 3:15,16). John's writings (in the A.D. 90s) also were primarily directed to the Jews, but they contain much that is compatible with the "Body truths" revealed through Paul.
In "due time," the glorified Lord revealed "the mystery of Christ" (Col. 4:3) to His chosen Apostle Paul, and by it He completed the Word of God for the Gentiles (Col. 1:24-26). This gospel, a sacred secret (musterion), was "in other ages not made known." It was "Hid in God," according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph. 3:1-11). That which Paul calls "the mystery" is a body of truth which could not be known by any other means than by divine revelation. The heart of the mystery was the blood of the cross and what the "once-for-all" sacrifice (Heb. 10:10) of the sinless Lamb of God accomplished by His death in substitution for us (Gal. 6:14). "But God raised Him from the dead" (Acts 13:30). "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins… but now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept" (I Cor. 15:17-20). This is the basis for his preaching the "Gospel of the Grace of God" (Acts 20:24) which explains the means whereby God remains righteous and just, while justifying the ones deserving the death penalty for sin (Rom. 3:26; II Cor. 5:21). Christ completely paid the death penalty, leaving no sin debt.
Paul warned vigorously of God's curse upon any one in our present dispensation who preaches "any other gospel," and substitutes any other means to be saved, than that which the resurrected, glorified Christ commanded him to preach. Mixing the "grace message" with anything else would "frustrate the grace of God" (Gal. 2:21), and "the cross of Christ would be made of none effect" (I Cor. 1:17). This curse would be upon Paul himself, any man, or an angel from heaven, if any being dared to violate that heavenly command (Gal. 1:8,9,11,12). "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of. For necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is unto me if I do not preach this gospel…a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me (I Cor. 9:16,17). "The things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (I Cor. 14:37), "the word of God" (I Thess. 2:13), and replaced His teachings to Israel in the flesh (II Cor. 5:16).
Paul "gloried" in the cross (Gal. 6:14). The background for its importance for salvation was laid in the Old Testament Scriptures. The reason for, and result of, Christ's suffering was a mystery, unrevealed at that time. The "gospel of God" was promised "by His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord…made the `seed of David according to the flesh,' declared the Son of God with power…by the resurrection from the dead" (Rom. 1:1-6). "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up" (Num. 21:9; John 3:14). In Paul's defense before King Agrippa, he verified that Moses and the Prophets had foretold Christ's suffering; and "that He should rise from the dead and should show light unto the people (Israel) and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:19-29). If his "almost persuasion" were sincere, Paul would have urged Agrippa to trust Christ as his own Saviour.
Types, patterns, commandments, animal sacrifices and other symbolic ordinances were considered to be "works of righteousness" under the Mosaic Law (Deut. 6:25). All of these anticipated Christ's complete provision for the soul's salvation in all ages (though not known in the past). These served as temporary "coverings," or for symbolic washing away of sins. It was the faith of those sincere believers who did what God required at the time, which was accepted by God. The teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, in the flesh, to the Apostles and other Jews under the Law are important for us to know. However, the resurrected Christ gave different commandments for us today, under Grace (II Cor. 5:16-21).
Endnotes
1. Alva J. McClain, "The Greatness of the Kingdom," p. 284. Moody Press, Chicago, IL.
2. Renald E. Showers, "Foundations of Faith," Israel My Glory, Apr./May 1999, p. 28. Friends of Israel Gospel Ministries Inc., P.O. Box 908, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-0908.
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That is all.....
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WildB
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quote:
Originally posted by Carol Swenson:
I'll rephrase. The Twelve did not preach that Christ died on the cross for the propitiation of our sins. In Christian theology, propitiation is accomplished through Jesus Christ on the cross in His crucifixion, His sacrifice.
quote:
Do not divide the Body of Christ!!!!
Do not divide the Church!!!!
Do NOT deny the validity of the very WORDS of Christ Jesus our Lord for ALL Believer.
To deny the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, Believer's Baptism, for the Body of Christ, and to teach such, does a grave disservice to Christ Jesus our Lord, and to any who would buy into such teaching.
I am not dividing or denying anything. I love every word of scripture, and the words of Christ are more precious than life. Nevertheless, did the Twelve know about the Book of Revelation? No. Did they know about the mystery revealed to Paul? No, not until later.
God's revelation to us is progressive. Why does this offend you?
Im with ya BigC
All these labels, " the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, Believer's Baptism, for the Body of Christ" that CT coined only one is found in the text.
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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WildB
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by becauseHElives:
the word stands against the perverted message of another Gospel....
Paul's Gospel was taught to him by Yahshua.
Paul's Gospel is the same as Yahshua's and the other Apostles....
you can accuse me and curse me but I will not stop exposing the false teachings of the Bearen Bible Society...
if I can save one soul from the lies of this group , I will rejoice.
many things look and sound good about the Bearen Bible Society...which make them all the more deadly and dangerous.....
Thats nice, it is clear to all your fruit.
![[BooHoo]](graemlins/boohoo.gif)
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
by Cornelius R. Stam
A man's conduct, in Scripture, is called his "walk"! The Bible has much to say about how we walk, morally and spiritually. Many "walk after their own lusts" (II Pet. 3:3) and "walk in darkness" (John 12:35). Some even "walk in craftiness" (II Cor. 4:2) trying to lead others astray. Indeed, even Christian believers are sometimes careless about their "walk" and so cause others to stumble.
Every true child of God should be very careful about his walk, or conduct. In Eph. 2:8-10 we read that while believers are not saved by good works, they are saved "unto good works." God's grace is the root of our salvation, and good works are the fruit.
Sincere believers in Christ are counted as one with Him, and it is expected of us that "as Christ was raised up from the dead" after having died for our sins, "even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).
Christians are exhorted in the Bible to "walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing" (Col. 1:10), to "walk in the spirit" that they might not "fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). They are exhorted to "walk worthy of [their] calling" (Eph. 4:1), to "walk in the light" (I John 1:7) and to "walk as children of the light" (Eph. 5:8). They are exhorted to "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise" (Eph. 5:15), to "walk honestly" (Rom. 13:13), to "walk in love" (Eph. 5:2) and to "walk by faith, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7).
Much more is said about the believer's walk in the Bible, but never are we told that it is our "walk," or conduct, that makes us acceptable for salvation. Our failing, stumbling ways could never earn salvation for us. On the contrary we are exhorted to walk pleasing to the Lord out of sheer gratitude to Him.
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That is all.....
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Carol Swenson
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I'll rephrase. The Twelve did not preach that Christ died on the cross for the propitiation of our sins. In Christian theology, propitiation is accomplished through Jesus Christ on the cross in His crucifixion, His sacrifice. But Peter said they murdered Him and they needed to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.
quote:
Do not divide the Body of Christ!!!!
Do not divide the Church!!!!
Do NOT deny the validity of the very WORDS of Christ Jesus our Lord for ALL Believer.
To deny the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, Believer's Baptism, for the Body of Christ, and to teach such, does a grave disservice to Christ Jesus our Lord, and to any who would buy into such teaching.
I am not dividing or denying anything. I love every word of scripture, and the words of Christ are more precious than life. Nevertheless, did the Twelve know about the Book of Revelation? No. Did they know about the mystery revealed to Paul? No, not until later.
God's revelation to us is progressive. Why does this offend you?
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The teaching of the Cross is not a "WHAT", but a "WHO!!!
WHO was crucified.
WHO died.
WHO arose from the dead.
WHO is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
My Lord Jesus established a New Covenant separating His Church from Israel.
He paid for His Church on Calvary.
He commissioned His Church with the Eleven
He empowered His Church on the Day of Pentecost
He revealed the Mystery of His Church as His indwelling presence within His Body through the teaching of our Brother Paul
He will one day return for His Church.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From the very moment when Christ indwelt HIS CHURCH on the Day of Pentecost Christ was reigning from His Kingdom, in the hearts and lives of His Bride.
He will return and reign from His earthly kingdom following the Tribulation, as the Righteous Reign of the Root of Jessie.
DO NOT WRONGLY DIVIDE THE BODY OF CHRIST, INTO JEW AND GENTILE!!!
Gal.
3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Only a portion of the doctrine of Christ was made known during His ministry on earth. After His ascension He revealed many additional teachings to the apostles through the Holy Spirit. Shortly before His death He said: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:12,13). "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit revealed all truth to the apostles, He taught them all things, also things Jesus had not yet made known during his life on earth.
When people claim that the words of Jesus in the Gospels are authoritative but the words of the apostles are not, they are rejecting the words of Jesus in the Gospels because He says that we must obey the apostles or we reject both Him and the Father.
The church is built on the teaching of the apostles, which is nothing other than the teaching of Christ, made known through them and subsequently recorded in the New Testament. Together with Christ, the apostles and prophets form the foundation of the church: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:19,20).
Also in the first century there were false teachers who rejected the authority of the apostles. Paul warned: "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37).
"Another serious defect in dispensational teaching is its doctrine that many portions of the Bible are not meant for the Church age at all, that is, not for Christians, but that they are intended for a future Jewish-led kingdom. This follows from their belief that most of Christ’s ministry was taken up with preaching designed to prepare Israel for the Kingdom, but that when it became evident that the Jews would not accept the Kingdom the Church was substituted.
This means that the Lord’s prayer, the Sermon on the Mount, the Kingdom parables, the Great Tribulation, the Book of Revelation chapters 4 to 19, and some say, most of the New Testament except the Pauline Epistles, are "Jewish" and "legal" and therefore do not concern the Church. We point out, however, that Paul certainly did not make this distinction between the gospel of Grace and the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Rather, he identified the two, for late in his ministry he said to the elders from Ephesus: "Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more." (Acts 20:24, 25) (The Millennium pp. 244-245 by L. Boettner).
Do not divide the Body of Christ!!!!
Do not divide the Church!!!!
Do NOT deny the validity of the very WORDS of Christ Jesus our Lord for ALL Believer.
To deny the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, Believer's Baptism, for the Body of Christ, and to teach such, does a grave disservice to Christ Jesus our Lord, and to any who would buy into such teaching.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Matthew 16:
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
The Greek word used for rock (petra) is played against Peter (petros). Some use this passage to teach that Peter was the foundation stone of the church, that he had a primacy among the apostles, and that he became bishop of Rome. The verse will scarcely bear the first of these propositions, and certainly none of the others. Peter may be meant by the rock, but he was not the exclusive foundation.
The twelve-fold foundation of the apostles of the church:
Ephesians 2:
19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Rev. 21:
14
And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
This seems borne out by the fact that the words spoken unto Peter in Matt. 16:18, were spoken to all of the disciples in Matt. 18:
Matt. 18:
18
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
The rock or foundation of the church is the confession (ultimately the doctrine) of the apostles, which became normative for the true church.
The word church (Greek ekklesia), means literally “ a chosen or called out assembly”. Thus the use of the word as a technical term for an assembly or group of believers in Christ was quite natural. It was not viewed as an external organization, denomination, or hierarchical system. The New Testament Church is a local autonomous congregation or an assembly which is a church in and of itself. John writes to 7 churches, in His Revelation, not to one.
Scofield commentary:
16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Peter
There is the Greek a play upon the words, "thou art Peter petros-- literally 'a little rock', and upon this rock Petra I will build my church." He does not promise to build His church upon Peter, but upon Himself, as Peter is careful to tell us
(1 Peter 2:4-9)
2:4 Coming to Him, a living stone--rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God--
2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:6 For it stands in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and valuable cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!
2:7 So the honor is for you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected-- this One has become the cornerstone, and
2:8 A stone that causes men to stumble, and a rock that trips them up. They stumble by disobeying the message; they were destined for this.
2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
church:
2 (Greek - ajpovllumi (ek=="out of," kaleo =="to call"), an assembly of called out ones). The word is used of any assembly; the word itself implies no more, as, e.g., the town-meeting at Ephesus Acts 19:39 and Israel, called out of Egypt and assembled in the wilderness Acts 7:38. Israel was a true "church," but not in any sense the N.T. church--the only point of similarity being that both were "called out" and by the same God. All else is contrast.
Jesus is the Head of the Church.
It is the Apostolic confession of faith upon which the Church is built.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Carol Swenson
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quote:
I believe that there is a continuity and unity between the entire New Testament. That is my position. I am a dispensationalist, but I am not an ultra-dispensationalists. I believe that there is a distinction between the things that have been spoken to the church and things that were spoken to the nation of Israel. I try in my interpretation to divide those things correctly. But I also believe that there is a continuity in the entire New Testament including the gospels, the words of Jesus, Paul, Acts, James, Peter and John and all of the 12 apostles.
I absolutely agree, (The Scarlet Thread Of Redemption), but I maintain that God's revelation to us is progressive.
The only gospel is the gospel of Jesus the Christ. But the 12 presented it differently than Paul did, at least at first. The letters they wrote later were more like Paul's version.
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http://www.krowtracts.com/articles/ultra.html
"We must start with proper interpretation of Scripture and build our theology from there...Scripture is the only appropriate gauge by which we may ultimately measure the correctness of our doctrine" (Ibid., p. 232-233). In the light of that I want to say that you are going to have to work out in your own heart and mind these things. I have been thinking about this for a couple of years. I came from a totally Pauline prospective. The last 20 years of my life have been spent immersed especially in the book of Romans, Galatians and the Pauline epistles.
The last couple of years I had to wrestle with my own theology when I was confronted face to face with the words of Jesus. Because I have come from a Pauline prospective, everything that I saw was in a Pauline light. Therefore many of the words that the Lord Jesus would speak meant nothing to me. In fact the way I dealt with Christ's words was to basically ignore them.
In the last couple of years I have wondered in my own heart and my own understanding, is there really a distinction between Paul and Christ? Was the Apostle Paul preaching the same thing as the Lord Jesus Christ or was the Lord Jesus Christ speaking something different? These are real issues that I have had to wrestle with. I think they are issues today that you yourself may wrestle with.
When I was about 15 years old, I was involved with a Bible youth camp that I know today to be ultra-dispensationalists. At that time, I did not know what that was, but the concept of that teaching is basically this: that all of the words of Jesus which are the four gospels, were under the law. Everything that Jesus said was under the law. It only related to the law so therefore we can more or less ignore what Jesus said because he was under the law. The words that Jesus spoke basically don't really apply to us today, so let's leave those sayings alone. It was given to the apostle Paul to understand the mystery. As a result people like Peter, James, John and the 12 apostles didn't really understand the gospel. So therefore, what is done in ultra-dispensational thinking is to cut out the general epistles of Peter, James and John. Jesus was a man under the law, so we are not going to acknowledge the gospels. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, didn't understand grace so we can't put much emphasis on him. Therefore, we must cut out the first portion of the book of Acts because it relates to the ministry of the Apostle Peter.
There are two prominent people in the book of Acts, Peter and Paul. The first major emphasis in the book of Acts is the sermons of the Apostle Peter. Paul gets converted in Acts 9. In Acts 13, Paul is sent out and goes out on his first missionary journey. In Acts, chapter 13 we begin to focus on the Apostle Paul and his message. An ultra-dispensationalist will basically build his theology from about Acts, chapter 13 all the way through the rest of the Pauline letters. They won't say that what Jesus said was not true, but basically they wipe out most of the New Testament and focus on the 13 letters of the Apostle Paul. Because Hebrews may be written by Paul they emphasize this letter also.
I believe that there is a continuity and unity between the entire New Testament. That is my position. I am a dispensationalist, but I am not an ultra-dispensationalists. I believe that there is a distinction between the things that have been spoken to the church and things that were spoken to the nation of Israel. I try in my interpretation to divide those things correctly. But I also believe that there is a continuity in the entire New Testament including the gospels, the words of Jesus, Paul, Acts, James, Peter and John and all of the 12 apostles. Why do I say that? Luke 16:16 makes it plain that the law and the prophets in the Old Testament were until the time of John the Baptist. Since that time there has been only one message, one gospel that has been preached, it is the gospel of the kingdom of God. It was first taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark 1:14-15 states, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: Repent ye, and believe the gospel.'" Jesus' gospel was the gospel of God's kingdom. John the baptist said it was close, Jesus says it's here now in the person of Me. Jesus called people to repent, to change their minds and their attitudes, to turn a new direction, to come to Him for the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and to believe the gospel. That was the preaching of Jesus. Although at this time He was not crucified, the preaching, message and gospel of Jesus are basically the same except they lacked the redemptive work that He said he was going to do. Jesus began to preach the gospel of the kingdom, He then commissioned 12 apostles to preach that message, and then commissioned 70 others also to preach it as well. As we go into the book of Acts, there is no doubt a continuation of that same message. We can see this very plainly as we go through Acts. As an example, Acts 8:5 states, "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them." Verse 12, "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." So the preaching of the kingdom of God is accompanied by the preaching of Jesus Christ redemptive work throughout the book of Acts. The Apostle Paul preaches the same message (Acts 20:24-25; 28:23, 30-31). In his thirteen epistles, Paul also will use the phrase the kingdom of God. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." Paul is preaching the kingdom of God and it's King, Jesus Christ. In the Jewish mentality the kingdom of God produced the idea of a king...and the territory or people over whom a king rules (Vine's), in the Gentile world the word that was used was Lord. The concept is the same. Lord is a way of saying king and king is a way of saying lord. We also see Peter, James and John talking about the kingdom. John says unless a man is born again he shall not enter the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:3, 5). The kingdom of God is really the preaching and the basis of continuity between all the New Testament. It brings the gospels together, along with Acts, with Paul, with the general epistles, etc. The kingdom of God is the theme that brings unity to the entire teaching of the New Testament. Matthew 24:14 states, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." It's the gospel of the kingdom that Paul preached, that the apostles preached, that Jesus preached, and is going to be preached at the consummation of the end of the age, to all the world. We must ask, is Jesus Christ preaching the same thing as the Apostle Paul? I conclude that he is. Different individuals are going to teach the same message in a different ways because different personalities are expressed. But the message has to be the same.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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http://executableoutlines.com/gal/ga2_6.htm
CONCLUSION
1. The relationship between Paul and Peter illustrates the power of
Christ...
a. To turn persecutor and persecuted into coworkers for the gospel
b. To help brethren at odds work through their problems to become
brethren beloved
2. While Paul and Peter had a different focus in their respective
ministries...
a. They served the same Lord, preached the same gospel
b. One was not superior to the other, they were fellow-apostles in
the kingdom of God
Rather than trying to find some perceived 'rift' between two faithful
apostles, may we use their examples to motivate us in our service to the
Lord and to one another...
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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FF Bruce says: "Only one saving message is attested by the NT. The “gospel to the circumcision” preached by Peter and his colleagues did not differ in content from the “gospel to the uncircumcised” entrusted to Paul (Gal. 2:7), though the form of presentation might vary according to the audience. Paul’s testimony is, “Whether therefore it was I or they [Peter and his colleagues], so we preach, and so you believed” (1 Cor. 15:11). The basic elements in the message were these: 1. the prophecies have been fulfilled and the new age inaugurated by the coming of Christ; 2. he was born into the family of David; 3. he died according to the Scriptures, to deliver his people from this evil age; 4. he was buried, and raised again the third day, according to the Scriptures; 5. he is exalted at God’s right hand as Son of God, Lord of living and dead; 6. he will come again, to judge the world and consummate his saving work."
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Caretaker
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My Gospel: the Uniqueness of Paul’s Gospel - Presentation Transcript
1. My Gospel
The Uniqueness of Paul’s Gospel
2. Introduction
Paul is the only NT author to use the personal pronoun “my” or “our” in conjunction with the term “gospel.” (Rom. 2:16; 16:25; 2nd Cor. 4:3; 1st Thess. 1:5; 2nd Thess. 2:14; 2nd Tim. 2:8)
Paul was not afraid to take ownership of the gospel message that he was preaching.
Because of such pronouns, some scholars and higher critics have used this & other teachings of Paul to prove that he is preaching a gospel that is different from what the rest of the apostles proclaimed.
We know that Paul preached the same gospel as Peter and the other apostles, but let’s see the evidence from Scripture.
3. What did Paul preach?
What did Paul teach in his gospel?
1st Corinthians 15:1-11
Christ died for our sins (Rom. 3:25; 2nd Cor. 5:21; Gal. 1:4)
Christ was buried (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12)
Christ was raised on the third day (Acts 13:30; 2nd Tim. 2:8)
He appeared to people
4. What did Paul preach?
What did Paul teach in his gospel?
Other things Paul preached in his gospel
Eternal life (Rom. 6:23)
There would be a judgment (Rom. 2:16)
It’s the power of God (Rom. 1:16)
Not by works (2nd Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:9; Tit. 3:5)
Repentance (Acts 17:30; Rom. 2:4)
Kingdom of God (Col. 1:13; 1st Thess. 2:12; 2nd Thess. 1:5)
For Jews & Gentiles (Rom. 1:16; Eph. 3:6)
5. What did the others preach?
What did Scripture & the other apostles teach?
Christ died for our sins (Matt. 26:28; 1st Pet. 2:24; 3:18; 1st John 2:2)
Christ was buried (Isa. 53:9; Mk. 15:43-46)
Christ was raised on the third day (John 20:1-9; Acts 2:24, 32)
He appeared to people (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:36)
Eternal life (1st John 2:25; Jude 21)
Judgment (Eccl. 12:14; Matt. 16:27; Heb. 9:27; 1st Pet. 4:5; Rev. 20:11-15)
6. What did the others preach?
What did Scripture & the other apostles teach?
Power of God (Jer. 23:29; Heb. 4:12)
Not by works (Job 25:4; Isa. 57:12; 1st Pet. 1:3; 2:10)
Repentance (Acts 2:38-39; 3:19-20; Luke 24:47)
Kingdom of God (Heb. 12:28; Jas. 2:5; 2nd Pet. 1:11; Mk. 10:15)
For Jews & Gentiles (Acts 10)
7. Paul vs. Peter?!
Paul and Peter agreed that their gospel message was the same, yet to different audiences (Gal. 1:8-2:9)
Peter even affirms in his own writings that Paul’s teachings are Scripture (2nd Pet. 3:15-16)
8. Conclusion
The gospel message is the same, just with different emphases and styles, depending on who it is that is giving it.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Carol Swenson
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quote:
no not as applies to the Gospel Carol....the good news is the good news....no matter what point in time you live...
It isn't a matter of time. It's a matter of message. Peter wanted Jesus to come back.
Acts 3:17-21 (NASB)
17 "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
Peter's declaration is that, if the nation repented and believed, the Messiah would return and establish the promised kingdom.
Salvation always requires faith in God, but the message has not always been the same. Abraham did not know what Moses knew. Moses did not know what the prophets knew. The prophets did not know about the Apostles or the church age. The 12 Apostles did not know what was revealed later to Paul, and Paul did not know the Book of Revelation that was written by John after Paul's death.
There is no division implied, but rather a progressive revelation.
The nation of Israel did not repent, so the Messianic Kingdom was delayed and the Church Age was established.
quote:
Paul's Gospel is the same as Yahshua's and the other Apostles....
Peter said they murdered their Messiah. Paul said "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Peter's Message at Pentecost
Before his death, Jesus told the twelve that he had to die and that he would rise on the third day. Looking back upon this passage we see this as Jesus speaking of an event that would change the history of the world. However, it is unquestionable that the disciples were ignorant of its meaning.
“Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem,…And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.“ – Luke 18:31-34
After his crucifixion, instead of anxiously waiting his resurrection, the apostles were still ignorant, disheartened at the death of their redeemer, and did not even at first believe the testimony of his resurrection (Mark 16:14, Luke 24:19-24).
It was not until after his resurrection that Jesus appeared to the apostles and ‘opened their understanding’ to the scriptures regarding the necessity of His death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 24:44-47).
As we will see from Peter’s testimony, the apostles did not preach faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the means of salvation. Rather the necessity of the crucifixion was revealed as it pertained to the prophetic program of the Messianic Kingdom and the covenants.
Peter’s Murder Indictment
After their understanding was opened in Luke 24, forty days of teaching from the resurrected Jesus, and the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Ghost, surely the glories the atoning work of the blood of Christ would be expounded by Peter at Pentecost.
Yet, Peter did not preach the cross as a means of salvation, but as a murder indictment against the men of Judea and Israel. Peter testified how that Jesus was approved of God by his works.
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:“ – Acts 1:22
Yet it was to the shame of Israel that their long-awaited Messiah would come only to be crucified by their wicked hands.
“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” – Acts 1:23
Peter continues to explain how that God raised Jesus up to sit on the throne as a fulfillment of the promise given to David.
So, then Peter again summarizes by saying:
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
What an accusation and message of indictment presented against Israel! It is no wonder that many were ‘pricked in their heart’ (Acts 1:37)
‘Repent and Be Baptized’
Subsequent to the appeal of these frightened men at hearing their egregious mistake Peter tells them what to do.
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.“ – Acts 2:38
Suprisingly, Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost does not mention the free redemption by the grace of God as Paul does in Romans 3. Instead he gives them nothing new – repent and be baptized.
We may remember that this was the message that was taught by John the Baptist and the twelve while they were still ignorant of the cross.
“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” – Mark 1:4
To the message of the baptism of repentance, Peter simply adds the promised gift of the Holy Ghost that has now been sent from Christ in heaven.
Done In Ignorance
In the following chapter Peter again is preaching to Israel and again accuses them of murdering the Holy One. However, this time he drops the charge due to ignorant manslaughter.
“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.“ – Acts 3:14-15
“And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.“ – Acts 3:17
Just as Jesus prayed to God to ‘forgive them they know not what they do’, Peter offers this forgiveness by the mercy of God towards Israel (Luke 24:34).
So then, Israel has a second-chance opportunity to believe Jesus is the Christ as Peter continues:
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:” – Acts 3:19-20
Peter and Paul
We have read where before Peter offered the baptismal remission of sins through repentance (Acts 2:38). Here Peter says that their sins will be blotted out at the future times of refreshing. In neither instance does he offer faith in the blood for righteousness. Nor is his offers of salvation unconditional or free, but are accompanied with baptisms and repentance.
In contrast Paul preaches the cross ‘according to the revelation of the mystery’ not revealed or known to Peter (Rom 16:25, Eph 3:4). Paul preaches salvation to a man who ‘worketh not’, receives atonement immediately, and is separate from the message of baptism taught by John the Baptist (Rom 4:5, Rom 5:11, 1 Cor 1:17).
Whereas Peter preaches the cross as a murder indictment, filled with shame and guilt, Paul preaches glory in the cross.
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” – Gal 6:14
It was this glorious message of salvation based upon the necessary death of Jesus by the cross that was kept hidden from the foundation of the world until revealed to Paul.
“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
If it were revealed or made available to the evil princes of this world or the Prince of darkness, he would not have plotted the death of the promised Messiah.
Peter’s Teaching
Peter testified to what was revealed to him as far back as Mathew 16 – that Jesus was the Christ. It was this same Christ that was crucified, and would return to seek vengeance. For salvation, Peter taught belief in the name of Jesus as the Messiah, repentance, and baptism for the remission for sins.
What is left hidden from Peter at Pentecost is the glory of the cross as a redemptive act necessary for the salvation of us all. It is this manifold wisdom of God that was kept hid in God until revealed to us through Paul.
“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” – Eph 3:9-10
http://graceambassadors.com/midacts/did-peter-preach-pauls-gospel-at-pentecost#top
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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becauseHElives
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no not as applies to the Gospel Carol....the good news is the good news....no matter what point in time you live...
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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Carol Swenson
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Oh, so we aren't going to talk about repentance.
You see no difference between the earthly Millennial Kingdom promised to Israel, and Heaven promised to the Church?
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body...." Philippians 3:20
Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007
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becauseHElives
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the word stands against the perverted message of another Gospel....
Paul's Gospel was taught to him by Yahshua.
Paul's Gospel is the same as Yahshua's and the other Apostles....
you can accuse me and curse me but I will not stop exposing the false teachings of the Bearen Bible Society...
if I can save one soul from the lies of this group , I will rejoice.
many things look and sound good about the Bearen Bible Society...which make them all the more deadly and dangerous.....
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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WildB
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Member # 2917
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By Cornelius R. Stam
No careful student of the Scriptures will deny that the salvation of a sinner is impossible apart from repentance, for the simple reason that repentance, in the New Testament sense, signified simply a change of mind (especially morally).
When the sinner is convicted by the Holy Spirit of the seriousness of sin and of judgment, and cries to the Lord to save him, he has, of course, repented, or changed his mind.
Many of God's servants, however, considering only the fact that sinners need such a change of mind, conclude that the way to produce the greatest results in their ministry is to stress repentance.
Those who make repentance their theme today do so because they have failed to learn the lesson which God has demonstrated historically. They cry to men to change their minds and hearts, forgetting that the goodness of God leads to repentance (Rom. 2:4). God has demonstrated, historically, the fact that when men are given holy laws to keep they only break them, and when they are called upon to repent of their transgressions they only become angry. What man therefore needs is the grace of God, not only to accomplish his salvation for him, but also to touch his heart and make him willing to receive it. This is why we contend that in every dispensation man has been saved essentially by grace through faith,1 though this was not "manifested" until "due time," through the Apostle Paul (I Tim. 2:6,7).
One thing is certain: that evangelists who would bring us back to the gospels and to Pentecost; who insist that repentance is the message for the hour, should cease talking only in generalities and should dare to preach it as it was preached when it was in order.
When John the Baptist preached repentance, he was specific. He dealt with the particular sins of the publicans, the soldiers, and the common people. He drove the Pharisees and Sadducees away from his baptism, calling them a "generation of vipers" and demanded "fruits meet for repentance." He faced even Herod the king, rebuking him for living with his brother's wife and "for all the evils which he had done."
When our Lord preached repentance He too was specific, warning the people against the very leaders of His day and pronouncing woes upon them to their faces, listing the particular sins of which they were guilty (Matt. 23).
When Peter preached repentance at Pentecost he also was specific, charging Israel, and especially her rulers, with the crucifixion of Christ.
This is all in striking contrast to what some of our most popular evangelists are doing today as they preach a little grace and a little repentance; neither with true spiritual power. Those who are supposed to be "calling America to repentance" are very careful not to be too specific. One of them, speaking in Washington, D.C., said: "We do not point our finger at anyone." If it is God's plan today to call the nations, and this particular nation, to repentance, Washington would surely be one place to be specific.
We do not deny that some who stress repentance are getting people saved, but we insist that they are not getting them saved by preaching repentance, but by whatever of the gospel of grace their message may contain.
Let us then take our place with the Apostle Paul, to whom the twelve, through their leaders, turned over their Gentile ministry (Gal. 2:2-9) and who said by divine inspiration:
"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles; I magnify mine office" (Rom. 11:13).
Satan would, of course, oppose and oppress us for preaching God's message for sinners today, the undiluted, unadulterated gospel of the grace of God, but when he does, let us again join Paul in saying with all our hearts:
"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).
And, as we do this faithfully, sinners will repent; they will change their minds, not because we demanded it of them or even exhorted them to do it, but because, as we preached the glory of Christ's finished work and the wonder of God's love and grace, the Holy Spirit opened their eyes to see it, and their hearts to receive it.
Endnote
1. See the author's book: "Things That Differ."
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When the sinner is convicted by the Holy Spirit of the seriousness of sin and of judgment to come, and cries to the Lord to save him, he has, of course, repented, or changed his mind, as the Greek word signifies. Many of God's servants, however, considering only the fact that sinners need such a change of mind, conclude that the way to produce the greatest results in their ministry is to stress repentance.
Such should take note of the response to the three great calls to repentance by which the dispensation of the Law was brought to a close: John the Baptist called Israel to repentance but was beheaded as a result (Matt.3:1-12; 14:3-10). The Lord Jesus took up the cry where John had left off (4:17), but was crucified for it. After the resurrection He sent His disciples to preach "repentance and remission of sin...in His name" (Luke 24:47) but Jerusalem refused to repent and it was not long before blood again flowed, as Stephen was stoned to death and a great persecution followed (Acts 8:3).
The guilt of Israel's impenitence increased too, as the call to repentance was intensified, for while John's murder was permitted by the people, Christ's was demanded by them, and Stephen's was actually committed by them. Thus the so-called "Great Commission" was bogged down at the very start, for if Jerusalem and the covenant people refused to repent, what hope was there that the "nations" (Luke 24:47) would do so?
"But where sin abounded, GRACE did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might GRACE reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom.5:20,21).
After calls to repentance had failed, the ascended Lord stooped down to save Saul, the chief of sinners, on the road to Damascus, in anything but a repentant mood. Not by threatening or dealing with him in judgment, but by speaking to him in the tenderest tones He showed him the glory of His grace. This "trophy of grace" was then sent forth to proclaim "the gospel of grace", and the merits of his crucified, glorified Lord.
This is why repentance was emphasized, indeed was the theme of God's message, from John until Paul, while grace, proclaimed through the cross and received by faith, gradually displaced it as the theme of God's message for "this present evil age" (Acts 20:24).
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That is all.....
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