Paul was saved from apostate Judaism Mike McGlathery Paul was saved from apostate Judaism directly into the body of Christ in Acts 9, verse 6. Paul never preached the gospel of the kingdom, or that believers in the gospel by which Christ saved him should wait for a kingdom from heaven with Christ reigning with the overcomers in the body of Christ. That was for Israel. Israel had been told to endure to the end to be saved. That is never told to the body of Christ. The kingdom of God coming to earth was promised to Israel, never to the body of Christ. The kingdom of God in heaven will be extended to earth when Christ returns all the way to touch down on the Mount of Olives to bring an end to Jacobs Trouble, and fulfill Jeremiah 30, verses 7 to 11. But before that happens, Israel has their 70th week of Daniels prophecy triggered as is revealed by Paul in Romans 11:25. As soon as God has saved the last Gentile to be saved into the body of Christ, Israels blindness will end and their prophecy will begin to be fulfilled again starting where it left off at the beginning of Daniels 70th week of years, 7 years of trouble and chastening for their apostasy. but that will be mild compared to the destruction of the nations coming against Israel in that tribulation time. Fortunately for us, we in the body of Christ will all have been caught up to meet the Lord in the air before the re-start of Israels prophecy fulfillment, in fact the absense of the body of Christ in the world, who shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15) will trigger Israels prophecy fulfillment as you can see from: 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. Once the body of Christ has been caught up, and the world is in spiritual darkness, and Israels prophecy fulfillment has resumed, those last 7 years of the Daniel 9:23-27 prophecy procede until the return of Christ to the earth, as a thief in the night, brings the kingdom of God out of heaven to earth, with those Jews who endured to the end, reigning with Christ as a kingdom of priests in a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-8). So, if Paul was not preaching Israels kingdom, then what was he preaching, AND TO WHOM was he preaching it? As we read through Acts, we find Pauls first preaching of the gospel of salvation in Acts 13, verses 16 to 52, especially in verses 26 through 39, and 46. Paul began teaching to the Jews and Jew-blessers in the synagogues and meetings of the Jews, that now there is a different way to be justified with God. not by the law of Moses (13:39), but by believing on (Acts 13:39) the slain (13:28), raised from the dead (13:30) Son of God (13:33), the Holy One (13:35) there is forgiveness of sins (13:38), and believers ARE (present tense) justified from ALL things (not just past sins, like Israel had been) (13:39). It was a new thing for those Jew-blessing Gentiles in the synagogue to hear that word ALL, that ALL who believe on Christ ARE justified, not just Jews as in the synagogues. Back then Gentiles could only hope to get some kind of a blessing (Genesis.12:3) by blessing Israel. But this was altogether different. Now, Paul was preaching that ALL that believe ARE justified, and they are justified from ALL things. Later, Paul had a vision in the temple in Jerusalem in which Jesus Christ told him that at a future time, Jesus would send Paul to preach to Gentiles that were far hence. He said they were far off (Ephesians 2:13,17) doctrinally, by not having ever blessed or even cared about Israel or the God of Israel (Ephesians 2:12). Later Paul said that he had received a ministry of the Lord, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. That was in Acts 20:24. Well, what about Pauls message after he was saved in Acts 9:6, but before he was sent to all the Gentiles as he called us in 2 Timothy 4:17. That is the period between Acts 9 and Acts 20. The Bible account of Pauls ministry during that period shows it was divided into 2 ministries. during which he had several revelations (Galatians 1:11-12; 2 Cor.12:7) and much time with the Lord (Acts 9:22-23,30; Galatians 1:15-17). Acts 13:1 is the division verse between the two phases of Pauls ministry. From Acts 9 to Acts 12, Paul was separated unto the gospel of God facts about who Jesus is (Romans 1:1-4). Romans 1:1-4 defines the gospel of God as Gods good news concerning his Son Jesus being the Christ, the Lord, and resurrected from the dead, but it does not say anything about how to be saved. During that early time, we cannot ever find Paul preaching to anyone, the gospel of salvation by which he had been saved, or any other salvation. Paul was learning from Christ and from the scriptures he learned as a child. He also spoke out as one separated unto the gospel of God. We can see that in at least these 4 verses: Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. Acts 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Mike McGlathery Then, without that separation to the gospel of God ending, we see the addition of another ministry in Acts 13:1-4, and commission in 1 Corinthians 9:16-18. Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 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. Acts 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 1 Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. From reading Acts 13:1 through Acts 20:5, we find what Paul knew to be the work, to which he had been called and the commission to which he had been sent (Acts 13:2-4; 1 Corinthians 9:16-18). Paul even tells what his mode of operation was during that time. In Acts 17:1-3. Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Acts 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. Paul would go to a town, find the synagogue or meeting place of the Jews, and for 3 Sabbath meetings he would preach the gospel of God, that Jesus is the Christ, risen again from the dead. Then Paul would gather those who believed his gospel and teach them the gospel of salvation as in Corinth in Acts 18:4-11, but behind it all, Paul had a strong motivation working in him. Romans 10:1 Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. We can understand why Paul had this strong motivation. Paul was also a Jew and had violently resisted the gospel. But after he was saved, one of Christs later revelations to him revealed that although Israel had already fallen in Acts 7, by committing the unforgivable sin of Matthew 12:31-32, when they stoned holy Ghost filled Stephen, Israel would continue to diminish until they would finally be totally blinded and cast away spiritually, no longer Gods people. So, with that heart wrenching information, Paul states his motives to save some, by preaching the gospel of salvation.to apostate Israel which contained the remnant according to the election of grace until Israel would be fully blinded. Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 1 Corinthians 9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Romans 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? So, as well as going to the Jews, and kings (Acts 9:15), Paul went to the Gentiles who were in a position to provoke Israel to jealousy, and save some of the remnant according to the election of grace into the body of Christ, by the gospel of Christ. That brings us up to the time when Paul received his sending to preach the gospel of the grace of God to all people. That is when he wrote his last 7 epistles all to people like us who never blessed rising Israel, but we know that we need as Saviour
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 15:29:27 +0000
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