First the Question: Stephen saw Christ standing in Heaven. Was Christ, STANDING, ready to come back as King then, at that moment. Yes or No?
Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 9-13-2011
Question: Acts 3:25 says, "Ye are the children of the covenant". Should this be preached to Gentiles? Yes or No?
Answer: NO! Certainly NOT! On this question, out of 742 responses, 68.8% got it right. Therefore…
Today let us consider, Super Bible Facts for Super Bible Study, part 8 of 10
Tonight we present the next TEN Super Bible Facts for Super Bible Study, but first, once again, here are the very important FIVE different groups or classes of people who are addressed from the first chapter of Matthew to the last chapter of Revelation:
1) To unsaved Israelites who were under the Law.
2) To saved Israelites who were under the Law before they became members of the Body of Christ.
3) To unsaved Gentiles who were aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, and not under the Law.
4) To carnal saints and babes who were members of the Body of Christ.
5) To those who were of full age, called “the faithful in Christ Jesus.”
Remember, for an in-depth explanation of these five different groups I urge you to read “Super bible Facts for Super Bible Study, part 1”. Keep these five different groups in mind, and you will derive both blessing and benefit as you carefully study this seventh set of 10 Super-Facts.
Ok, here we go:
1) In Philippians 1:10, the Holy Spirit writes (Greek) “test things that differ.” Christ certainly was NOT the Head of the joint-Body in Acts 5:29-32. Therefore Acts 5:29-32 was NOT in any way connected with “The Mystery” FOR WHICH the Apostle Paul was in jail. Colossians 4:3-4. In this connection note carefully, in Acts 2:26-32, that the Apostle Peter declared to devout Jews from every nation under heaven, to all the house of Israel, that Christ was raised from the dead to sit on David's throne. On David's throne Christ will be Israel's King. On the Father's throne He is now Head of the Body. The Israel’s prophets foretold the reign of Christ on David's throne, but said NOTHING concerning the Headship unto the Church which is His Body, during this present reign of Grace.
2) The slogan of some Christians is, “back to Pentecost”, for the pattern Church and the ideal Christian program. If we are to follow that program twelve men would stand up before the congregation. Read Acts 2:14, “But Peter standing up WITH THE ELEVEN, lifted up his voice and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words.” Why was it necessary for twelve men to stand up that day and only one is sufficient for today? Because in all the house of Israel there were 12 tribes. AND why not insist that believers sell their houses and lots and bring their money to the treasurer? Acts 2:45 and Acts 4:34.
3) Should we preach to Gentiles, “Ye are the children of the covenant” of Acts 3:25? Should we say concerning this period of Grace and the Body of Christ, “yea' and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days?” Acts 3:24. CERTAINLY NOT!! God tells us, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12. And God's purpose in this age was not made known to Israel's prophets. Colossians 1:24-26. Should we preach to Gentiles “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?” “This is God's promise to you and all who are far off?” Acts 2:38-39. Again, CERTAINLY NOT!! This was NOT the Gospel of Grace which the Apostle Paul received from the RISEN Christ and preached to Gentiles who were declared righteous WITHOUT A CAUSE by God's grace. Romans 3:24. Compare Acts 2:39 with Daniel 9:7, and note that the “far off” of Acts 2:39 were “far-off” Israelites. The “far off” of Ephesians 2:13 were NOT the “far off” of Acts 2:39. The first were Gentiles and the second Israelites.
4) In this connection compare Peter's message to Cornelius, the Gentile, in Acts 10:34-35, with Paul's message in Romans 4:4-5. First Acts 10:34-35, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respector of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ACCEPTED WITH HIM.” Acts 10:34-35. And now Romans 4:4-5, “Now to him that WORKETH IS THE REWARD NOT RECKONED OF GRACE, but of debt. But to him THAT WORKETH NOT, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5. Test things that differ. Read Titus 3:4-7 for Paul's clear message of Grace, “NOT by works of righteousness.” There is a difference between Grace in a dispensation and the “Dispensation of Grace.” Ephesians 3:1-3. Surely we should know the difference between a sinner praying for mercy and seeking salvation and the Ministry of Reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, in which the Lord and His Ambassadors are seeking the sinner and beseeching him to be reconciled to God.
5) Test the difference in the Gospels in Galatians 2:7, “But contrariwise, when they saw that THE GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION was committed unto me, as THE GOSPEL OF THE CIRCUMCISION was unto Peter.” Some say this should read “TO” the uncircumcision and “TO” the circumcision, but the Greek is “OF”.
6) Let us learn a very important lesson: that the word “GOSPEL” is a very indefinite term unless it is qualified. There is a difference between the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 9:35), the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24), and “the Mystery of the Gospel” of Ephesians 6:19 to 21. Moreover, the Gospel includes every spiritual benefit and blessing which the believer enjoys. The Apostle Paul was NOT in jail for preaching salvation by the blood of Christ but for “the MYSTERY of the Gospel.” Ephesians 6:19-20.
7) The Gospel, by which sinners are saved, as declared in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, is the fact that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose the third day. NOW PAY ATTENTION! Note the reaction when Christ preached this the first time to the twelve apostles, “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. But note, that although they were wholly ignorant of this particular Gospel, they HAD been preaching the Gospel for months. Luke 9:6. Meditate prayerfully on this statement. The 12 apostles were preaching the Gospel before they knew anything about the Gospel declared by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. So do not be guilty of the folly of stating that there is only ONE GOSPEL IN THE BIBLE.
8) Concerning the Reign of Grace, 6 things had to take place before God could inaugurate His Reign of Grace WITHOUT ANY RELIGION or preference for the Jews.
1. Christ had to put away sin.
2. Christ had to abolish death.
3. Satan's power had to be destroyed by Christ's death and resurrection.
4. The law had to be taken out of the way.
5. Christ had to go back to heaven to send the Holy Spirit.
6. The Nation Israel had to be set aside.
As Israel was not set aside until AFTER Saul became Paul and proclaimed the truth of Romans 11:15, it is a serious blunder to begin the Dispensation of the Grace of God on the day of Pentecost. But most assuredly the Dispensation of Grace began with the Ministry of Reconciliation before the proclamation of Acts 28:25-28. Ever keep in mind Romans 11:15, and then note the words of Ephesians 3:2, “if ye have heard.” It seems that right down to the present date most Christians have not heard.
9) Let us compare John 7:39 with Acts 1:5. “(But this spake He of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given: because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” John 7:39. AND, “For John truly baptized with water: but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5. From these Scriptures we learn WHY the disciples of Christ, who were saved during the days of the Son of man on earth, had to wait for the advent of the Holy Spirit, and for Holy Spirit baptism. HOWEVER, after Paul went out with the Gospel of the Grace of God, NO ONE was EVER told to tarry, or wait, for Holy Spirit baptism. “After that ye believed”, is what it says in Ephesians 1:13 and is translated from the Greek participle “Pisteusantes” and should be translated “on believing”, that is, on believing the Gospel of their Salvation, they received the Holy Spirit and became members of the Body of Christ by the ONE Divine baptism, (not of water), of Ephesians 4:5. No Gentiles in Asia and Europe were told by the Apostle Paul to tarry for Holy Spirit baptism. Understand this, there is a difference between “back to Pentecost” and “on to perfection.” Hebrews 6:1-3.
10) IF members of the Body of Christ today receive the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, Joel 2:28-32 (which they do not), then the Body of Christ and Israel's Messianic Kingdom are one and the same, and “the first days” of the Body of Christ and “the last days” of the Body of Christ began on the day of Pentecost, (which they did not), when Peter said, “this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel.” “And it shall come to pass “in the last days”, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” So, was the Apostle Peter mistaken when he preached “this is that”? NO! Was the Apostle Paul mistaken when he declared Joel knew NOTHING of The Mystery that was revealed to him by the RISEN Christ? (Paul was NOT mistaken!) IF Peter on the day of Pentecost and Paul under the Reign of Grace both presented the program prophesied by Joel and Amos, then we are in error when we teach the postponement of the Kingdom, AND Paul was deluded when he wrote concerning the Dispensation of the Mystery that it was hid in God. Ephesians 3:9. Now note: We DO GREATLY err when we make “the last days” of Acts 2 “the first days” of The Mystery of Ephesians 3:6.
More Super Bible Facts for Super Bible Study coming up quick!
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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