Posted on 09/01/2010 9:01:12 AM PDT by John Leland 1789
Your post is typical of one who has religious blinders on. You have taken Paul’s doctrine and created a pot of MUD=mixed up doctrine. You have taken Paul’s scriptures and added the Gospel of the Kingdom to the pot (Mathew-John), then you spice it up with (Gen-Malachi), then to really make the stew hot you throw in Heb-Rev, then you serve it up to the lost as, a gospel, something good to eat, when in fact it is poison. The whole bible from (Gen-Rev) is literally true, but when you try to apply the whole bible to yourself you find seemingly contradictions, so those parts that seem to contradict, you spiritualize them, most often this manifests into so called christians believing they are spiritual Israel, and they look for the establishment of the kingdom...the only similarity those who mix up doctrine have with Israel is blindness. You fail to separate (rightly divide) prophecy from mystery.
If you have gotten this far in my post, you may be already intensely offended, in my experience most who have been mixing up doctrine are, as was I when I believed as you, that the differences between Peter and Paul were not that great. The differences between Peter and Paul are the difference between light and darkness as pertaining to salvation. 2Tim2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Now to address those things in your post.
You said:
“But Peter came to realize that only preaching to Jews was not what God intended and Acts 4:10-12 sounds very much like The Gospel of Grace given to Paul by Jesus.”
First of all the Gospel of Grace at this point, Acts ch4, didn’t even exist it had not yet been given to Paul. Paul and the Gospel of Grace given to him had not come on the scene until Acts Chap 9. If Paul (Saul)at this point, knew anything of the gospel preached by Peter, I was that those who followed this way must be destroyed.
Secondly there are no doctrines in the Book of Acts...it is an historical and transitional book.
Thirdly Peter did learn of the Gospel of Grace from Paul and not until Acts 15, this is further detail in Gal 2 specifically... Gal2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Note: the gospel of the (uncircumcision) and the gospel of the (circumcision) are not the same gospel...things that are different are not the same. Peter never preached the gospel of the uncircumcision.
You said the gospel Peter preached and Paul preached are much the same...things that are much the same can be very different...a gardener snake is much the same as a rattlesnake, pick up the gardner in your right hand and the rattlesnake in your left...only the rattler in your left hand will poison you.
You said:
“Also, Acts 2:38 does not seem that far off. Repentance is recognizing your error and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”
It may not seem that far off but it is. The Gospel of the Kingdom for Israel preached by Peter for salvation required repentance, baptism, keeping the law, and enduring the end.
Further more: you said “Repentance is recognizing your error and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”
Nowhere in the Word are we told to: accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, ask Jesus into your heart, give your heart to Jesus, confess your sins, ask for forgiveness and receive Jesus etc, if this is how one professes to be saved, then he is lost...These things are an obomination, mere clichés, an invention of the religious machine, designed by the satanic policy of evil to corrupt the Word of God and deceive people from knowing the truth. These clichés cannot be found anywhere the bible as pertains to salvation they are a perversion.
The Gospel of Grace message is... you believe: 1Cor15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: In this gospel you will find, no repentance, no keeping law, no enduring to the end, no confessing your sins.
When one believes the gospel he is baptized, not (with the Holy Spirit), but baptized (by) the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ...saved and sealed, one baptism this happens the moment when we believe. We are not told to be baptized by a man in any way.
Now Peter never preached Christ died for our sins... he did preach their sin would be taken away...but that would not happen until they died or until Christ returned to this earth to vanquish the enemies and establish his kingdom (this is what is meant by enduring to the end). Those who died believing the gospel of the kingdom, the apostles and disciples will have their sins taken away when Christ returns to the earth and the (resurrection)occurs. (not to be confused with the catching away of the body of Christ) which is an entirely different event. We have our sins taken away the moment we believe the gospel.
You said:
“I think the differences between Peter and Paul were not as great as we might think” Already address above.
You said:
“The difference was to whom The Gospel of Grace was taken.”
As noted the Gospel of Grace is different than the Gospel of the kingdom.
The Gospel of the kingdom was a gospel to Isreal and required Faith plus Works to receive grace.
Our Gospel of Grace today is for jew and gentile alike and can only be received by faith and faith alone.
You said:
“Peter was looking for the imminent return of the warrior Messiah,” TRUE
You said:
“but I think both were preaching Faith Alone in Jesus Christ Alone to be saved.” NOT TRUE... as noted above.
I know that without a the proper foundation these things are hard to understand, even Peter acknowledge this...2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles(Paul’s epistles), speaking in them of these things; (in which are some things hard to be understood), which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Paul said: 2Tim2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Paul refered to the Gospel of Grace as MY GOSPEL three times...Ro2:16,Ro16:25,2Tim2:8 this was to emphasize there is only one gospel of salvation (the gospel given to Paul by Jesus)today, no other.
Paul wrote: Gal,1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Paul knew men would pervert, mix up. and forsake his doctrines as they were already doing in his time... 2Tim4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
As always check these things for your self, try not to go to some man to teach you, men will lead you astray. STUDY to shew THYSELF approved unto God.
I apologize for weak typing abilities, what would take a fair typist minutes takes me it seems hours...I wish to learn html so that I could highlight, italicize, underline, and bold print etc, so points here could be more clearly emphasized.
Paul is my pattern: 1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
1Cor4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1Cor11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Acts 2:38Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Where is declaration that works are required?
I apologize for weak typing abilities, what would take a fair typist minutes takes me it seems hours...I wish to learn html so that I could highlight, italicize, underline, and bold print etc, so points here could be more clearly emphasized.
I'm not great myself, but here's what I know.
If you want to italicize you enter i at the start and /i at the end of the sentence. To make something bold b then /b. If you underline u then /u.On the sides of the letter you need < >
The very people to whom Peter was preaching, through the entire first querter of the Acts of the Apostles, were the ones (that generation) who were guilty of the murder of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:13-15; etc.).
None of Peter's preaching in these chapters is to any kind of church as we have known New Testament churches since Acts 16.
Every sermon in these chapters is to a generation that had ultimately regected the preaching of John Baptist, Christ, and the Apostles---they were being told, in effect, that they must start over---hence, Acts 2:38, which was commanded to Israelites, not to Gentiles, and not to the Body of Christ.
When you believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ as your only remedy for sin (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and only hope of justification with God and eternal life, you received the Holy Ghost at that very moment, whi indwelt you, circumcized you and baptized you (Col2:11, 12), and sealed you until the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30; etc.).
If you have been baptized in water subsequent to being regenerated, the only affect it had upon you was to get you wet.
Those Jews in Acts 2, in effect having to return to John's baptism, and having to repent---REPENT OF THE MURDER OF THEIR KING---could in no way receive the gift of the Holy Ghost without being baptized in water as prescribed by Peter, for the reasons in the context itself.
Actually, everything after the Cross was directed to Israel as well. For the first full seven chapters of Acts -- a quarter of the book.
It is also evident that there is not one mention of Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and raised the third day, for our sins. The Gospel of the Grace of God.
"NOW to him that is power to stablish you according to MY GOSPEL, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the REVELATION of THE MYSTERY, which was KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN, But NOW is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." (Romans 16:25,26). Paul calls it MY GOSPEL. And what is MY GOSPEL?
"For I declared unto YOU FIRST of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Cor. 15:3,4).
"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is NOT AFTER MAN, For I neither RECEIVED IT OF MAN, neither was I TAUGHT IT, but by REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST." (Gal. 1:11,12).
Paul did not receive the gospel he preached from any man, Peter included. He received MY GOSPEL directly by revelation of Jesus Christ. Peter and the 11 did not preach the same gospel that Paul preached. If it had been the same, there would have been no reason for Jesus Christ to give it to Paul through direct revelation.
There was a two-fold purpose in the preaching of the cross. Peter knew one purpose and he preached that purpose. Paul was given the other purpose. As the Good News of the cross. And he preached that good news.
Thank you for the instruction on html. I will try this.
Now as to your question.
Where is declaration that works are required? ref: Acts 2:38
First: CONTEXT... In Acts 2:38, was a reference to bJews/b (ref: the gospel of the kingdom) not to you in this dispensation of grace (which at this point has not even begun yet)...iActs 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem bJews/b, devout men, out of every nation under heaven/i. Gentiles were not there...gentiles did not celebrate pentacost.
Secondly: repentace is something the Jews did to gain exceptance with God. uRepentance is a work/u (plus they had to do much more) as has already been discussed.
Thirdly: remittance of sin is not the same as having your sins taken away...remittance is conditional on the Jew enduring until the end...as well as other things they needed to do...as previously discussed. In the gospel of the kingdom sin was only remitted...In the gospel of grace our sin is taken away.
Basically from Gen-John is all addressed to Israel and has nothing to do with your salvation...your salvation is found in Romans thru Philemon...Hebrews-Revelation is also addressed to Israel, we will not even be here for Heb-Rev if you are saved.
By citing Acts 2:38 you are mixing up doctrine...even worse nothing in Acts is doctrine, the book of Acts is historical and transitional (I think I already said that in previous post).
I tried to implement what you said about html...lets see how it works.
Your post #16
Yes exactly...Acts 1-8 is essentially a murder indictment on the nation of Isreal...a total and complete rejection of Christ and the gospel of the kingdom.
On the cross Jesus prayed...forgive them father for they know not what they do...God answered that prayer by giving Israel an extension of mercy which ended with the stoning of Steven...at that point Israel had committed the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit and God set Israel aside and is no longer dealing with Israel as a nation. Since the gospel of Grace, God no longer deals with nations...salvation is for individuals...not nations. I know you understand this, I’m just ratteling on. It’s like I get on a roll and can’t stop.
Your post #25
Amen...Amen...Amen
And then this mystery, hid in God from the foundation of the world is revealed to Paul. And everything changes. Although until Acts 28, Israel is still being offered the promises and prophecies concerning the return of Christ and the setting up of the Kingdom.
Once understood that the gospel of the circumcision would stay with Peter and the gospel of the uncircumcision would be preached by Paul, there was a real time of uncertainty in Israel's program. By the end of Acts, it is apparent that a change in dispensations had taken place. And that Israel had been temporarily blinded and set aside for another purpose that had never been revealed before Paul.
Thanks for the further explanation on the first seven chapters in Acts. Wonderful!
Did you notice Part Two is posted?
Your Post smvoice #29
Yes and Amen!
Back at ya! :)
Every sermon in these chapters is to a generation that had ultimately regected the preaching of John Baptist, Christ, and the Apostles---they were being told, in effect, that they must start over---hence, Acts 2:38, which was commanded to Israelites, not to Gentiles, and not to the Body of Christ.
I don't disagree with you on the historical background and to whom Peter is speaking. But the point I'm trying to examine is how distinctive is The Gospel Peter preached from THe Gospel Paul preached.
In Acts 2:38 the key word is Repent. I agree that this is for those who were guilty of the murder of Jesus Christ , but it also goes deeper. If these Jews were to Repent they not only had to recognize there terrible sin, but would have to accept who Jesus Christ is.
IOW, they would have to have Faith Alone in Jesus Christ Alone for their salvation. Is this so dramatically different than the Gospel Paul preached?
Back at ya! :)
Every sermon in these chapters is to a generation that had ultimately regected the preaching of John Baptist, Christ, and the Apostles---they were being told, in effect, that they must start over---hence, Acts 2:38, which was commanded to Israelites, not to Gentiles, and not to the Body of Christ.
I don't disagree with you on the historical background and to whom Peter is speaking. But the point I'm trying to examine is how distinctive is The Gospel Peter preached from THe Gospel Paul preached.
In Acts 2:38 the key word is Repent. I agree that this is for those who were guilty of the murder of Jesus Christ , but it also goes deeper. If these Jews were to Repent they not only had to recognize there terrible sin, but would have to accept who Jesus Christ is.
IOW, they would have to have Faith Alone in Jesus Christ Alone for their salvation. Is this so dramatically different than the Gospel Paul preached?
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