Sunday, March 4, 2012

LLM Question for 3-4-2012, and, THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE: Beginning and Ending, part 2 of 3

First the Question: The LORD committed the Dispensation of the Grace of God to Peter for Gentiles when He gave him the kingdom keys. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 3-2-2012

Question: After Acts 13:2, the mention of ANY of the 12 Apostles in the Book of Acts is ONLY when they had dealings with the Apostle Paul. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Note The Commission of Acts 13:2, “As they ministered to the LORD and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” After that, the only mention of any of the twelve Apostles in the Book of Acts is when they had dealings with the Apostle Paul. Paul is the chief human actor in the last sixteen chapters of Acts. Now, out of the 768 responses we received to this question, 77.3% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE: It's Beginning and Ending, part 2 of 3

Let's read the following verses:

1. “AND ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD. WHO HATH RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF BY JESUS CHRIST, AND HATH GIVEN TO US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION” 2 Cor. 5:18.

2. “THAT I SHOULD BE THE MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE GENTILES, MINISTERING THE GOSPEL OF GOD THAT THE OFFERING UP OF THE GENTILES MIGHT BE ACCEPTABLE, BEING SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY GHOST.” Romans 15:16.

3. “AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT WHEN I WAS COME AGAIN TO JERUSALEM, EVEN WHEN I PRAYED IN THE TEMPLE, I WAS IN A TRANCE.” “AND HE SAID UNTO ME, DEPART; FOR I WILL SEND THEE FAR HENCE UNTO THE GENTILES.” Acts 22:17-21.

4. “FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES INASMUCH AS I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, I MAGNIFY MINE OFFICE” Romans 11:13.

5. “WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL. TO BE TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME. 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” 1 Timothy 2:6-7.

6. “. . . THE GOSPEL WHICH YE HAVE HEARD, AND WHICH WAS (PREACHED TO EVERY CREATURE WHICH IS UNDER HEAVEN WHEREOF I PAUL AM MADE A MINISTER.” Colossians 1:23.

7. “FOR THIS CAUSE I PAUL, THE PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST FOR YOU GENTILES, IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN ME TO YOU‑WARD; HOW THAT BY REVELATION HE MADE KNOWN UNTO ME THE MYSTERY; (AS I WROTE AFORE IN FEW WORDS).” Ephesians 3:1-3.

The keys of the kingdom of heaven were given to the Apostle Peter with whom eleven other men were associated. In Acts 2:14 we are told that eleven other men stood up with Peter. Why twelve men? Only eleven were present when the so-called “great commission” was given. Matthew 28:16. But the number had to be increased to twelve before the keys of the kingdom could be used. Therefore, Matthias took the place of Judas. Acts 1:26. Twelve Apostles for Israel for the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve men were to go over the cities of Israel, Matthew 10:23. The Twelve remained at Jerusalem. Acts 8:1. They agreed to go to the circumcision. Galatians 2:9.

It is believed that Peter used a key to let Cornelius and his household into the kingdom of heaven. At that time there were still twelve Apostles in the original group. After that the number was reduced to eleven, for James was killed. Acts 12:1-2. Then the record of the spiritual activities of the twelve in the Book of Acts ceased.

But let’s never forget that The Twelve have a future ministry with the twelve tribes, “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That you 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” Matthew 19:28.

But now again Romans 11:13, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch AS I AM THE APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES, I magnify mine office

Note The Commission of Acts 13:2, “As they ministered to the LORD and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” After that, the only mention of any of the twelve Apostles in the Book of Acts is when they had dealings with the Apostle Paul. Paul is the chief human actor in the last sixteen chapters of Acts. The Holy Spirit through Paul wrote thirteen Epistles which have been called Gentile Epistles. In these thirteen Epistles, and in the Book of Acts, Paul used the first person pronoun more than one thousand times.

Note what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:10, “According to the Grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereupon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

1 Timothy 2:16, “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting’

Colossians 1:24-25, “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, Whereof I am made a minister...

Now read carefully what the Holy Spirit says through the Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ

If the Child of God cannot see the difference between the Gospel of the circumcision committed to Peter, and the Gospel of the un-circumcision committed unto Paul, certainly they cannot know the difference between “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” committed unto Peter, and “the dispensation of the Grace of God,” committed unto Paul. What a great difference between “the Gospel of the circumcision” and “the dispensation of the Mystery”!

In order that we might recognize this great difference, we must keep in mind that “the Gospel of the circumcision” was given to Peter AFTER the resurrection of Christ. All of the message of Peter on the day of Pentecost to devout Jews from every nation under heaven, was in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy and David’s prophecy. He preached in the third chapter of Acts concerning days prophesied by all of Israel’s prophets. Acts 3:24.

All of this is SO VERY different from THE DISPENSATION OF THE MYSTERY concerning the Gentiles, about which all of Israel’s prophets were both silent and ignorant. Why did the LORD instruct Peter to continue with the Gospel of the circumcision on and after the day of Pentecost? Because, He had not yet cast away (temporarily) His CIRCUMCISED Nation Israel!

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

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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