Pentecost (Duane Gallentine)

Pentecost

“AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come,….”Acts 2:1a.

by Duane Gallentine

(Leviticus 23:1-2 KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {2} Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

Three times a year were the Israelite males commanded to appear before God in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (Deut 16:16). The occasions were:

1. The Passover–celebrating deliverance from Egypt and symbolized by the eating of unleavened bread and the offering of the Passover Lamb;

2. Pentecost, or the Feast Of Weeks–typified by the offering of two wave loaves made with leaven and the newly harvested wheat; and,

3. The Feast Of Tabernacles–symbolized by the booths, commemorating Israel’s wandering through the wilderness and final entrance into the Land of Promise.

The word Pentecost is Greek, meaning fifty. It was so designated because it was observed on the fiftieth day after the Passover Sabbath. The words of Scriptures concerning the institution of Pentecost are found in Lev 23:15-17. (See also Ex 34:22) Israel’s sustenance depended upon the produce of the land. They were promised a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex 3:8). Pentecost was a feast of in-gathering the firstfruits of the new wheat and making an offering to the Lord for the harvest. From every part of the country Jews would gather to Jerusalem to appear before God. Jews of the dispersion of Israel, who believed God’s command as found in their Book of The Law, would travel back to the Promised Land from the nations in which they dwelt.

A brief note concerning the subversion of the Truth might be appropriate. Over time, Pentecost lost its primary characteristic as being a harvest feast with thanksgiving, and became known as “The Feast of Giving the Law.” This was accomplished through the oral traditions of ancient rabbis, who by their calculations, concluded that God gave the Law to Moses on the Day of Pentecost. Being the traditional anniversary of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, Pentecost was/is considered as the birthday of Judaism.

One would note that Lev 23:2 states that these are “The feasts of the Lord” and yet the Lord, during His earthly ministry evaluates the traditions of the elders/men compared to the direct revelation of God through Moses, and at that time calls the feasts in Israel “the feast of the Jews” (Mark 7:6-13; John 5:1; 6:4; 7:2). The humanistic view point became predominate over the Divine view point. The Law had come to be viewed as the means to accomplish the end. Righteousness by the Law. Israel was tricked by false pastors/priests who scattered the sheep (Jer 23:1,2) in teaching them to follow the law of righteousness through the works of the law. The Law became an end unto itself, whereas in Israel’s New Testament Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness, as Paul writes about Israel in Romans 10:1-5.

The Law became the focal point of Pentecost instead of God, His faithfulness, and then, being thankful for His supply. They failed to recognize His faithfulness to complete His Promises to Israel, His Purpose for Her, and His Plan for Her redemption.

Returning to the Scriptural aspect of Pentecost, we find that according to Lev 23:11, the priest was to bring the sheaf of the wave offering into the Temple on the day after the Passover Sabbath. Here the symbolism of God’s redemptive calendar is outstanding!! Here we have the very “first-fruit” harvested and brought before God. Scripture reveals that the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Lord, is the very “first-fruit” of God. He was the very first One raised from the dead in victory over sin, death, the grave, and hell. (see 1 Cor 15:20-23). This offering of the “first-fruit” would be the beginning of the New Harvest. This sheaf was in type, the first of many to be harvested in thanksgiving, with a national feast 49 days later.

Then on the Day of Pentecost “two wave-loaves” were brought to the Lord by the Priest, loaves made of fine flour ground of the new wheat and baked with leaven (Lev 23:17–these two loaves “are the firstfruits unto the Lord”). Does not this seem strange? Leaven introduced to this one and only cereal (grain) offering unto the Lord when all the other meal offerings were without leaven?

Scripturally, leaven is symbolic of sin. The Passover bread was unleavened because it signified the sinless body of Christ, who being without sin, became sin for the sins of His People, Israel (Matt 1:21). But these two leavened loaves were symbolic of Israel in whom there was sin. Please remember, that Israel had been divided since Solomon’s day; a northern kingdom and southern kingdom. There was the House of Israel composed of 10 tribes living in the northern part of the land of Palestine (the Samaritans-John 4:5-20) and there was the House of Judah composed of 2 tribes living in the southern part of the land of Palestine (the Jews-John 4:22). These “two” were to be brought back into One Nation (Jer 31:31-34; Eze 37:11-22). This newly formed Nation was not a people before this Pentecostal Harvest, but they would become the Priests of God and A Holy Nation, thus fulfilling prophetic Scriptures (Isa 61:6; 1 Peter 2:5-10).

Even James when he pens James 1:18, written to the Twelve Tribes scattered abroad (Acts 8:1; 11:19), clearly states that, “Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” One should be careful to identify the pronoun ‘we’ that James is speaking about in this passage. These would be the redeemed within national Israel that are begat (born-again) with the word of truth….the word of truth committed unto James was not the Bible in a general sense, but the Words of Christ for the Prophetic Program of an earthly Kingdom.

Considering Acts 2, on this day of Pentecost, Peter addressed his countrymen from every part of the world who came to Jerusalem in faith to do the required work so they could get the blessing of God. But this Pentecost was going to be different! In verse one, the Scripture is very clear that Pentecost was fully come. What did happen was that God moved to free from the tradition of men and the perversion of humanistic view point, this rightful FEAST OF THE LORD. The shadow was to deliver the very image!!!

Like it was in Christ’s day with the meaning and purpose of Pentecost being hid by deceitful workers with religious shams, so it is in our day. The traditions of men through the cunning craftiness of The Adversary have tried to make Acts 2 Pentecost something that it is not; the beginning of the Body of Christ. As we obey 2 Timothy 2:15 one knows that the Church, which is His Body, is not in view during the first eight chapters of the Book of Acts…..the Scriptures are clear, so search daily to see if these things be so!

The shadow was GOOD….the very image, BETTER,
….BUT the Body is EXCELLENT–Col 2:17.

 

THE TRUE MEANING OF PREDESTINATION

Predestination is one of the most misunderstood terms in the Bible. The most common view in the religious world today is that God actively chooses who he wants to save and who he doesn’t want to save. They say it’s absolutely impossible to have faith; to believe, unless God steps in and gives it to you. Is this what predestination in the scriptures is all about?

Let’s see what our Apostle; Paul has to say.

Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Pay attention to the order: FOREKNOWN-PREDESTINED-CALLED-JUSTIFIED-GLORIFIED

FOREKNOWN: “Foreknow” is the greek proginōskō (G4267), which means to know beforehand or to foresee. God knew *something* about someone… Without jumping to conclusions, let’s move on to the next point.

PREDESTINATED: Those God foreknew *something* about, he did predestinate to to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he (Jesus Christ) might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Predestinate is the greek proorizō (G4309), which means to predetermine; determine/ordain before.

It’s obvious that Jesus Christ is the firstborn because he can’t be conformed to his own image…to himself, as that would make no sense. We also see that to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, has something to do with being related to and identified with Jesus Christ. Not only that, they’re also related to one another, as brethren.

So, what is God talking about here?! The body of Christ! Let’s take a look at a couple of verses:

Colossians 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:

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that

we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

So, we see that the body of Christ is today’s church. A spiritual organism of people who are identified with and joined to Christ (his body), as well as being joined to each other, as members of that same body. The only way God could make us into a representation (image) of Christ is to put us in Christ.

Now, we come to the really interesting part of this study: How does one get a member of the body of Christ?

Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

“By the gospel”-the gospel (good news) Paul preached; the gospel of the grace of God.

Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain

the enmity thereby:

Paul preached the cross work of Jesus Christ, and the accomplishmens of that cross work where our sins are concerned:

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

17 Therefore if any man bein Christ, he isa new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18And all things are ofGod, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

You see, sin is a done deal! God made Jesus Christ to be sin for the entire world. He was judged for those sins and died for them, taking them out God’s sight forever. God forgave us of our sins, and as a proof of that God raised him from the dead on the third day.

And yes, Jesus Christ did in fact die for ALL:

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died

for all, then were all dead:

1 Timothy 2:5-6

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

How are we saved?

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Faith is taking God at his word: taking your stand where God takes his stand. If you want to know that you have faith, simply take your stand where God takes his.

Salvation is freely given to us the moment we believe the gospel of the grace of God! It’s a gift, and no works are required or desired!

Ephesians 1:12-14

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

It should now be absolutely clear that God foreknew/foresaw who would believe the gospel of the grace of God. He then predestinated/predermined them to be conformed to the image of his Son Jesus Christ!

We’ve also covered parts of the next point, and that is how God calls people to salvation. We’ve seen that God does this by the gospel, which the next verse confirms:

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

It’s the gospel message itself, the word of God, that makes us believe. That’s what gives us faith.

JUSTIFIED: As members of the body of Christ, we’re identified with Jesus Christ. We’re IN Christ and we have put on Christ. That’s how God sees us today. We’re rigtheous/justified, because he’s righteous/justified. Well done, God!

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

The baptism here is the spiritual (dry) baptism performed by the Holy Spirit the moment a lost soul believes Paul’s gospel (1 Corinthians 12:13)

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed IN Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

It’s all about the faith OF Christ; HIS faith, and HIS righteousness!

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

GLORIFIED:

We’re glorified IN Christ, both in this life and the life to come! We’re God’s representatives on earth.

Galatians 1:24 And they glorified God in me.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Conclusion…

In other words, Romans 8:28-29 can be read like this: Those he foreknew (that would believe the gospel), God also determined (at that time when he foreknew) that he would conform those (who believe) to the image of his Son, so that Christ would be the firstborn among many brethren.

God didn’t predestinate us to believe. He predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son, because He knew who would believe! God has given everyone the opportunity to be saved, but only he knows for sure who will accept that opportunity. God has foreknowledge of faith 😉

 

2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,300 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

 

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (3)

Daniel/romansthruphilemon
December-06-2011-3. edition

Added some more about 1 Corinthians 15:2, as requested by one of my blog readers.

An in-depth study of 1 Corinthians 15_1_4-3 .PDF (click it to open it in your browser, or right-click: “save as” if you wanna download it)

The Apostle Paul went on 3 apostolic journeys to Asia, Greece-Macedonia, and Rome. During this time covered in the book of Acts, he wrote Romans, Corinthians, Galatians and Thessalonians, or in chronological order: Thessalonians, Galatians, Corinthians and at last Romans. In each area he visited he went to the Jews first. Each time the Jews rejected him, he turned to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46, 18:6, 28:28). The book of Acts is God’s everlasting account of the fall and partial blindness that had come upon Israel, nationally, after their rejection of God the Father thru the prophets, The Son: Jesus Christ and at last the Holy Spirit thru Stephen in Acts 7. God set the kingdom program (associated with the nation Israel), or the bride of Christ program, aside, in favor of a brand-new program called the dispensation of the grace of God, or the body of Christ program. This program/dispensation, and the church; the body of Christ, started with the conversion of Saul/Paul, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9, 1 Timothy 1:15-16). Jesus Christ spoke from heaven, and started revealing the mystery to Paul, and he made him the Apostle to and of the gentiles.

The book of Acts should be read as what it is; a history book. It tells us WHAT happened, not WHY it happened.

It’s very important to understand that Paul went to religious unbelieving Jews, NOT already saved Jews (kingdom saints; those who were saved during the kingdom program). The Jews who believed his Gospel/good news (the good news Jesus Christ became members of the church; the body of Christ, and the grace assemblies Paul and his “converts” were establishing.
After the Acts period, Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, or or in chronological order: Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians, Titus and Timothy.

So, what does this have to do with 1 Corinthians 15:1-4? Let’s read it:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
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:

“According to the scriptures”?! Is Paul implying that Jesus Christ’s death for sin, burial and resurrection is in the Old Testament of the Bible?! Yes, he is! That was no mystery. It was prophesied (a spoken word), and the Jews knew very well about their Messiah: Jesus Christ, but they didn’t understand the prophecies. Let’s take a closer look at some relevant bible passages:

Isaiah 53:5-12 KJV
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Who are the “we”, “our” and “my people” mentioned in Isaiah 53? Israel! God’s favored nation/people at that time. They were to be a peculiar treasure unto God above all people/the gentiles , “a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation”:

Exodus 19:5-6 KJV
5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

…and the gentiles would come to Israel for salvation; to Israel’s light/”thy light”:

Isaiah 60:1-3 KJV
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

A ransom for MANY:

Matthew 20:28 KJV Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45 KJV For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Again, who are the “many” spoken of here? Israel! Matthew-John covers Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry to the nation Israel, and not to the gentiles (Matthew 10:1-8, 15:22-28, Luke 12:32, Acts 1:21-26, 2:5, 2:14, 2:22, 2:36-38, Romans 15:4, 15:8). Where are the gentiles in all of this?

Ephesians 2:11-13 KJV
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision [the Jews] in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

We know that Jesus Christ, and the 12 disciples, preached the gospel/good news of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:13-14, Mark 1:14-15). Did the 12 know about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Luke 18:31-34 KJV
31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

Matthew 16:18-23 KJV
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.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Clearly they did not! “They understood none of these things”, and Peter even rebuked Jesus Christ for saying that he was going to “be killed, and be raised again the third day.”

In Acts 1, Jesus Christ ascends up into heaven. We see Peter in Acts 2 & 3, continuing where Christ left off, telling the Jews to change their minds about the source of their righteousness, never being the law (Leviticus 26:40-46, Deuteronomy 6:25).

Acts 3:19-21
19 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;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Notice when their sins were going to “be blotted out”: “the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord “. His second coming. He was going to be their High Priest and King, sitting on the throne of David, ruling and reigning over the nation Israel. God raised Him up in order for him to sit on that throne:

Acts 2:29-32 KJV
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

The Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat as the authority (religious/governmental) over the Nation.

Matthew 23:1-3 KJV
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Had they repented in Acts 3, it would’ve started the next events on the prophetic calender, namely the time of Jacob’s trouble; the Great Tribulation, followed by „the day of the Lord“; the second coming of Christ. This is what Jesus Christ meant when he said he gave Peter the “keys” to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19). Peter had the ability to “unlock” and “open the door” to the Kingdom; he proclaimed the message they had to believe. However, an open door does no good if no one walks through it, and that’s exactly what happened… The leadership of the Nation didn’t walk through it.

When Israel had possessed the land (Canaan), God set up judges to rule over them. God was King, but their physical ruler ship was facilitated by judges. In the Kingdom yet future, the judges come back. It is not the Pharisees that will sit in authority, it is the 12 disciples – those who were given the authority in Acts 1 to operate under the New Covenant.

Matthew 19:28 KJV And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

It didn’t happen, but it certainly will in a day yet future, when God resumes the kingdom program, and sets that nation at the forefront again.

Let’s review what we’ve discovered so far.
According to prophesy the Messiah: Jesus Christ was going to:
Die for sins, be buried and rise again from the dead.
Give his life a ransom for MANY: Israel.
Forgive their (national) sins at his second coming.
Raised up Christ to sit on his throne.

Let’s take a closer look at Paul’s gospel/good news (also referred to as the gospel of Christ/the gospel of the grace of God); the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Romans 16:25-26), and what makes it unique and distinct.

According to mystery, Jesus Christ gave himself a ransom for ALL (Mankind: Jew and Gentile), not just MANY:

1 Timothy 2:3-7 KJV
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

We have all forgiveness up-front:

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their [the world’s] trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [God’s only begotten Son, the God Man Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Colossians 2:13-14 KJV
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Romans 5:6-10 KJV
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Reconciliation is the Greek word katallagē, it simply means a change in status or restoration to favor. That’s what forgiveness is all about. Reconciliation and forgiveness, where God is concerned, is of God: God accomplished it. Today it isn’t something we work for or wait for…it isn’t a future event, nor does it happen at the point of belief. It is something the world already has—Past, present,future. So, the issue where salvation is concerned isn’t sin, but righteousness. Belief or unbelief: believing what the cross-work of the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished on our behalf.

It’s man who needs to be reconciled to God, not the other way around. God is already reconciled to us, where our sins are concerned.

Ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) still believe that sin is the issue, almost 2000 years after God took care of it! In their mind, God is waiting for man to make a decision, so He can forgive them of their sins. Is Christ going to be crucified again for every lost person who makes that decision? Of course not, but that’s what they really believe!

Romans 6:9-10 KJV
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Colossians 1:21 KJV And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

The Colossians thought that their wicked works were making them the enemies of God, but Paul is telling them that God is already reconciled where their wicked works are concerned.

What about those who believe that Jesus Christ didn’t die for all, just many or a distinct few?

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 KJV
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

If Christ did not die for all, then all were not dead (or separated from God). We know that’s not the case:

Romans 3:22-24 KJV
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Or they believe that sin will be the issue at the judgment seat of Christ (for the saved) and the great white throne judgment (for the lost). If that would be true, God is going to judge sin all over again, which means that God is hiding the sins of the world behind his back for future judgment. What do they believe happened to the sins Christ died for?! Nothing! Either God didn’t accept the payment of the sin debt Christ paid for, or the payment Christ paid for wasn’t sufficient. It really is as simple as that.

God can’t dwell with someone less righteous than He (perfect righteousness). That’s why the lost will spend an eternity apart from God. The lost go to hell/the lake of fire with their sins paid for!

Many believe, in order to be saved, that man has to do some kind of work, ritual/ordinance (water baptism, communion/the Lord’s Supper etc.), abstain from doing certain things, endure to the end, keep the faith, you name it. Salvation is by grace, through faith, apart from any works, and has always been by grace, through faith:

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Faith is simply taking God at His word, taking your stand where God takes His. If God would tell you to do some kind of work to be saved, like he did during the kingdom program, it wouldn’t be the work itself that saved you, but the faith you had which resulted in you doing that work. Big difference!
Today he’s telling us:

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

Then, there are those who reject the deity of Christ. They don’t believe that he was the only begotten Son of God; the sinless God-man (fully man, fully God). They believe he was simply a man. Most of them will also reject the resurrection of the dead, which was one of the issues at the Corinthian assembly, so Paul writes the whole fifteenth chapter to correct this false teaching:

1-11: Documentation/proof of the resurrection.
12-19: The importance and reasoning of the resurrection.
20-28: Triumph and order in the resurrection.
29-34: The witness and suffering for the resurrection.
35-50: What type of body we shall have (the resurrection bodies), and the nature of that resurrection.
51-53: The mystery of the resurrection; the catching away of the body of Christ prior to the Great Tribulation. Also labeled the rapture.

1 Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Paul is reminding them of the Gospel he preached unto them, at a previous point in time, and the fact that it saved them, unless they didn’t believe it. The context of v2 is found in v12-14:

1 Corinthians 15:12-14
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

What’s the point of us being identified with a dead man? It would be of no benefit to us whatsoever. Paul’s preaching (which incl. his gospel), as well as their and our faith would be vain and pointless. Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again, in order for us to be identified with and joined to himself: having his test score (his righteousness, his faith) written on our paper. None of that would be a reality without the resurrection! Not including the resurrection in Paul’s gospel makes it another gospel, and another gospel does NOT save. The idea in 1 Corinthians 15:2 isn’t having to believe steadfastly, until the second you do, in order to obtain or maintain/keep your salvation, else you might loose it. NO! The moment a lost person believes the gospel of the grace of God, that person is sealed with the holy Spirit unto the day of redemption: they day when eternity awaits:

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Ephesians 1:12-14
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Once sealed, always sealed. No one breaks what God has sealed. Also read Romans 5:5, 8:38-39, 2 Timothy 1:13-14, 2:13, 2:19.

Our faith (the faith IN Christ) enables God to justify us by the faith OF Christ (the faith belonging to christ-his faith):

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed IN Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith OF Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Also read Romans 3:22-24, Galatians 3:22, Ephesians 3:11-12, Philippians
3:9, Colossians 2:12.

So you see, once we’re saved our faith means nothing. It’s all about the faith of Jesus Christ, and his faith is perfect, because he is God!

Romans 6:3-8 KJV
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Colossians 3:4 KJV When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with him in glory.

Another major difference between prophecy (God’s earthly program) and mystery (God’s heavenly program) is that, according to mystery, Christ “was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification”:

Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our
justification.

Not raised again to sit on a physical throne, ruling over a physical nation called Israel, in a physical kingdom here on earth. The kingdom of heaven isn’t heaven, it’s a kingdom designed in heaven, brought down to earth (Revelation 21). That’s according to prophecy, and has nothing to do with the revelation of the mystery Jesus Christ revealed to Paul. Our conversation, or citizenship, is in heaven, not earth.

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Let’s review what we’ve discovered thus far. According to mystery Jesus Christ:
Died for the sins of the whole world, was buried and rose again the third day.
Gave himself a ransom for ALL.
We have all forgiveness up-front, lost or saved, makes no difference.
Raised again for our justification.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 KJV
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

So, just because someone says that they believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again, doesn’t mean that they believe Paul’s gospel, and are saved. Most Catholics, Pentecostals, Baptists, Jehovah’s witnesses, Mormons, you name it, say they believe that. Are they saved? Sadly many aren’t! What do they believe about what the cross work of Jesus Christ accomplished, where their sins are concerned?! That’s the issue!

Let’s get back to…

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
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:

It’s crucial to understand that Paul was talking to a mixed bag assembly of believers. The previously unbelieving Jews who were in the assembly could relate to what Paul was saying. He had shown them that Christ’s death for sins was in ‘their’ scriptures. According to the revelation of the mystery (Romans 16:25-26), Christ died for the sins of ALL, so Paul was not speaking contrary to the mystery. Paul is teaching Jews and Gentiles, which explains why Paul seems to speak contradictorily at times. Even though he was addressing the Jews at times, the Gentiles at times, and both at times during the Acts period, he was always speaking to those who he had won to his gospel; the gospel of the grace of God.

Have you ever seen or heard the term “the word of truth” (singular, distinctiv) being used? ‘The word of truth’ is the gospel/good news, and it appears in all of the 3 time periods in your Bible: time past-but now-ages to come.

Time past: Psalms 119:43.
But now: 2 Corinthians 6:7, Ephesians 1:13, 2 Timothy 2:15.
Ages to come: James 1:18

As we’ve seen, there hasn’t just been 1 gospel messages, but several. Keeping these gospels, and the doctrine/teaching associated with each gospel, separated is what ‘rightly dividing the word of truth’ is all about:

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

God made it easy, man makes it hard! This is not rocket science, so grab your Bible and do a good old bible study to shew thyself approved unto God 🙂

 

Some things to think about…

            From Scott Foust’s twitter channel: https://twitter.com/#!/Scott_Foust

Check out his blog: paulsthepattern.wordpress.com

Some things to think about .PDF

• Faith is simply taking your stand where God takes his stand.
• Faith doesn’t come in gallonage or tonnage. Faith is simply taking God at his word.
• Thankful that the sin question was answered at Calvary. God is not holding the world accountable for their sin! II Corinthians 5:19
• Paul’s Gospel is not the fact of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is what those transactions actually accomplished for us.
• Rejoicing that I’ve been made righteous, the very righteousness of God, in the person of His Son. II Corinthians 5:21.
• Thankful that my fellowship with Christ is not based on my performance. It was all based on His at Calvary!
• Justification is nothing more than God gifting you with His own righteousness.
• God wrote Christ’s test score on our paper.
• The religious world focuses on the word “do”. Through Christ’s all-sufficient cross work, God is focused on the word “done”.
• Your Old Man is dead, crucified with Christ. You, however, are identified with Christ’s resurrection Life!! Romans 6:1-6
• God will never meet man on Law ground. He will only meet him on Grace ground.
• The Holy Spirit doesn’t move in to clean us up. He moves in to renovate.
• Doctrine is the fuel. Emotion is the exhaust. Never the other way around.
• Doctrine should never take a back-seat position to tradition.
• We should separate ourselves to truth, not unite in error.
• God gave us a method to study his word, and it is by “rightly dividing” it. II Timothy 2:15
• Matthew 20:28 and I Timothy 2:6. Why would Jesus say “many” but Paul say “all”? And, why would Paul say “to be testified in due time”?
• Prayer changes us, not our circumstances. God has already appointed us unto affliction in this life. I Thessalonians 3:3
• Paul says our infirmities allows God to show himself strong. Don’t pray away that opportunity! II Corinthians 12:7-10
• Don’t let your spiritual wallet get fat – gladly spend and be spent

 

Dispensational Time Chart Explained [Ron Knight + hedied4unme65]

Presented by Ron Knight at Twin Cities Grace Fellowship

Edited by: hedied4unme65

Also take a look at some other dispensational time lines and charts (see “Category”, then “Charts” in the sidebar to the right, or click the link(s) below:

https://romansthruphilemon.wordpress.com/category/charts/

https://romansthruphilemon.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/charts-dispensational-timelines/

 

Definitions from A-Z in the right sidebar

Hey!

In the sidebar to your right, you’ll see a list of definitions from A-Z, in case you’re wondering what some of the words you might read on this blog mean. I hope they might make things easier for you! And as always, feel free to contact me thru e-mail or Youtube (see “Contact” in the upper right corner of the right sidebar.) Tell me if you want me to add other definitions to that list.

Have a nice day!

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Daniel

 

The fall/partial blindness of Israel (Paul’s 1st apostolic journey) [Curt Crist]

Curt Crist, pastor/teacher of ‘Welcome To Grace Ministries’: Welcometograce.com

Source: #116 Jews, Paul and the Law 1 [Curt Crist] (28:39-43:25 min.):

PLAYLIST: 116-119 Understanding the book of Acts [Curt Crist]

What we have to understand about the book of Acts, is that Paul was trying to reach individual Jews and Gentiles, and the Jews were associated with those customs. The Jews had been God’s favored nation, the Jews were Paul’s kinsman after the flesh, he desired greatly to reach these folk. Paul himself was Jewish and it was the Jewish religious leadership that had the Jews dispersed in the first place, so Paul always went to Jews first and God intended him to do so. Not only would unbelieving Jews be given an opportunity to believe through grace, God would also prove through the acts account that for the most part the Jews would remain in unbelief. The book of acts is God’s everlasting account validating the partial blindness that had come upon that nation.

We want to look at Paul’s visit to the Jews during the acts account, and we want to watch God validate having set Israel aside nationally with the stoning of Stephen, while he now completes his program and plan for the body of Christ. Paul began the first of his apostolic journeys with the pronouncement of blindness on Barjesus. Paul was on his way to Asia, that was the area he would first visit, when he ran across what Scripture calls a false prophet, a Jew, so this is not a believing Jew, this is an unbelieving Jew. God could not give us a more clear picture of the blindness Paul tells us in the book of Romans that happened to Israel nationally. This is a picture of it.

Acts 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Now we are going to see God, through Paul’s acts ministry, validate the blindness upon unbelieving Jews as Paul goes to the Jews first, in every area he visits. This is area number one. From Pathos in Cyprus Paul sets sail for Asia, again this is his first apostolic journey, he enters Antioch and Pisidia, where he visits the Jewish synagogue:

Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Jesus Christ] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Great news to these unbelieving Jews, wouldn’t you say? At least it should’ve been the greatest news they would ever hear, but here is the warning given in light of the fact that Israel nationally had already been set aside in blindness:

Acts 13:40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

Acts 13:41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

That’s precisely what had already come upon Israel nationally, earlier on. Would the Gentiles be interested in Paul’s message?

Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Sounds like the Gentiles were extremely interested in what Paul has to say to these Jews. Of course were the Gentiles not supposed to be coming to Israel to learn about God? They were! Were they not supposed to be coming through Israel’s rise as prophecy had proclaimed? Sure, they were, but Israel had not risen! Israel had fallen. Israel had been blinded in part.

Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Acts 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Does it sound like everything is wonderful up to this point? Sounds pretty good to me, sounds like Paul should have great success, everything is going wonderfully so far. Gentiles are extremely interested. Paul’s continuing to try to persuade the Jews to stay with that message he’s preaching, but trouble is brewing in Antioch city. Starts with t, rhymes with p, stands for Paul. Notice the tempest in the teapot that is brewing here:

Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Were the Jews embracing Paul’s message? I think it is very easy to see they were not, and they were not embracing Paul either. Paul had gone to the Jews of Asia first, that was his intent, I believe that’s what he was instructed to do, and they didn’t like him or his message. They were envious of the attention the apostle Paul was getting, and that envy had led to a rejection of not only Paul, but of Paul’s message. That’s a profound truth to understand; that envy will lead to a rejection of not only you but your message. While some believe Paul’s message, the vast majority rejected it; a validation of why God had set Israel aside nationally in the first place, and why God had called this new apostle who would be sent to the Gentiles. Paul was free at this point in time. He had spoken to the Jews of Asia and they had rejected, he’s now free to encounter Gentiles in Asia separately, separate from the Jews. God called out this new apostle in order to complete his plan and program through the Gentiles, and he did it through an apostle of grace. Here is Paul’s response to the Jewish rejection of his message in Asia:

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Did Paul turn to the Gentiles in Asia at this point? You bet he did, because he had already gone to the Jews first in Asia before he went to anyone else. He held their unbelief up in front of them and he said “now I’m free to go to the Gentiles in Asia” and he did so. The rejection Paul and Barnabas faced here wasn’t about to get any better:

Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

Did they want Paul or his message? They didn’t… Paul was certainly free to go to the Gentiles with his message of grace. That is precisely what Paul began to do because now he was free to do that in Asia. The Jews were proving themselves blind, perhaps it would go better for Paul at Iconium; Paul’s next stop in Asia.

Acts 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they [Paul and Barnabas] went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

It looks better in Iconium, does it not? This looks much better than where he was, again things are looking up, at least so far they are, but is there trouble brewing in Iconium?

Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Unbelieving Jews stirring up trouble all over again, and that trouble starts with T rhymes with P, stands for Paul.

Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Signs for the folks of that nation that God had dealt with according to signs, isn’t that interesting? Would those signs do the trick when it came to these Jews of the dispersion?

Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

So now we’ve got a teeter totter effect going on, this is a see-saw here. Which way will it go? Will go up or will it go down?

Acts 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

Are they rejecting the Apostle of grace? You bet they are!

Acts 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

Acts 14:7 And there they preached the gospel.

Guess one of “the regions that lieth round about” Lystra and Lycaonia? Galatia!
Paul had already proven blindness when it came to the Jews in Asia, and rest assured he was indeed going to Gentiles as he was going to the regions that lieth round about Lycaonia. The assembly of Galatia was established during this time, and Paul had met young Timothy, his mother and his grandmother on this journey. It was by way of Paul’s ministry that Timothy came to faith in Christ, and the all sufficiency of the cross work of Jesus Christ, but as we stay with the story in acts 14, we find Paul healing a man in Lystra. The man that was impotent in his feet, he had been a cripple from his mother’s womb. With that healing, the people of that area thought the apostle Paul and Barnabas were Gods. ‘If they can do this, these guys are gods’. They couldn’t contain themselves they wanted to worship at the feet of Paul and Barnabas, because the feelings that had taken place. Seems like Paul should’ve been able to make great progress with his message of grace to these folks, wouldn’t it? If you were being worshiped as a god, don’t you think you would get your message across to those worshiping you as a god?

Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing [deeming, judging, fully believing] he had been dead.

Aren’t these people at Iconium supposed to be coming through Israel’s rise? She had fallen! She had not risen, she had already fallen. Paul had already pronounced blindness before he really got underway on this journey, and it’s simply being proven to us folks; no one’s coming through the Jews, that’s not happening.
Paul relates the same account in;

2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

The unbelieving Jews were not happy campers, no matter where Paul went. When it came to Paul, they didn’t want him or his message. God is indeed validating the blindness that he had brought upon that nation nationally, with the salvation of Saul, and that Paul had declared with the blindness brought upon Barjesus. Here they’ve stoned the apostle Paul. He’s approaching the latter portion of this first journey to Asia. How many listening today would want to continue on if the same thing would happen to you? You moved into a town, and some folks said “we want to hear you out, we would like to hear what you have. Let’s meet at the community center next week” and you meet at the community center and these folks are really interested. Their ears are wide open and they’re listening, and in through the door comes some folks from the first, or second or third of whatever and they say, ‘no you’re preaching heresy, you’re preaching damnable heresy, let’s stone you to death’. Would you want to continue? Paul did! He’d make three additional journeys, if we include the Rome trip!

Curt Crist on Youtube:
Youtube.com/romansthruphilemon
Youtube.com/graceaboundedmore

e-Sword (free Bible software)

 

Chart: The ministry of reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 KJV
18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21  For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ: God’s only begotten Son, God in the flesh] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Jesus Christ took the sins of the world (past, present, future, for all times) on himself, and he was judged for those sins. He then died, was buried and rose again the third day. The resurrection proves that God the Father accepted, and was pleased with the payment His Son made for our sins.

*FAITH*: Once we believe this we have Jesus Christ’s test scores written on our paper; His righteousness and His faith (the faith OF Christ)…in the fact that the cross work would settle the sin question once and for all, and that God the Father would raise him from the dead.

Galatians 2:16 KJV  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ, even we have believed IN Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Our faith in the good news of Christ enables God to impute us with the faith OF His Son. Once we believe, and are saved, it’s not about us; our faith, but Christ’s! 🙂 You see, the issue today isn’t forgiveness of sin…but believing that we’re already forgiven of our sin..lost or saved…makes no difference. Simply being forgiven of our sin, doesn’t make us as righteous as God. That’s the issue, and the reason why we have to believe the good news of Christ, in order to dwell eternally with God in heaven!

Romans 1:16-17 KJV
16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Grace and peace,

Daniel

 

Chart: (Water) baptism dispensationally considered

Source: http://paulsthepattern.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/water-baptism-breakdown/

More charts, maps and pictures: https://romansthruphilemon.wordpress.com/category/charts/