Posted by Searcher
on 8/24/2009, 10:12 am, in reply to "Circa Acts 28"
99.197.64.56
Dear Ray,
Paul was justified to quote Gen 12:3 in Gal 3:8 because as long as Israel was the intended channel of blessing, the Jew was first. The same promises made to Abraham and unto the twelve tribes (Acts 26:6,7) did not change from Gen 12 to the end of Acts. Even though Paul was primarily the apostle for the uncircumcison (Gal 2:8,9), he always preached "for the hope of Israel" (Acts 28:20).
No change can take place without the Divine commission of God. Salvation is SENT. The changes are made clear in the Acts of the Apostles.
Salvation is Sent
1. First to Israel
Acts 3:25,26
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. UNTO YOU FIRST GOD, having raised up His Son Jesus, SENT HIM TO BLESS YOU YOU, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
2. Then to both Jews and Gentiles
Acts 13:26
MEN AND BRETHREN, CHILDREN OF THE STOCK OF ABRAHAM, AND WHOSOEVER AMONG YOU FEARETH GOD, TO YOU IS THE WORD OF SALVATION SENT.
3. To the Gentiles
Acts 28:28
Be it known therefore unto you, that THE SALVATION OF GOD IS SENT TO THE GENTILES, AND "THEY" WILL HEAR IT.
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Miracles and Gifts of the Spirit
Pentecost was the partial fulfillment of the prophecy found in Joel. "This is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel." (Acts 2:16) Then Peter immediately quotes Joel 2:28-32. Peter never finishes the last verse in 32. Why? Because the last words of the verse were:, "for in Mt. Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."
There is no way to understand the meaning of Pentecost without first studying the full scope of Joel.
ex. "I will restore to you [Israel] the years the locust hath eaten...And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and My People shall never be ashamed." (Joel 2:25-27)
And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh...
This is why the apostles asked the question in Acts 1:16, "Wilt Thou at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel?" These things were not supposed to happen UNTIL the restoration and the kingdom when Israel and her King will be a blessing to the whole earth.
Peter's inspired words to the people of Israel in Acts 3:12-16 were spoken because they had crucified their Lord and were even now continuing to reject Him as their risen Savior. Other than a remnant of believers, which there has always been, the nation as a whole was turning away and were not repenting.
The importance of Acts 3:19-21 cannot be overemphasized. Christ did not come. The kingdom has not been restored. Gifts have ceased. There is now no place for them in this age of grace. The reason He did not come and the reason a new calling was ushered in is simple. From the OT, through the gospels, and through to the end of Acts, everything hinged on one thing: Israel as a nation had to repent.
"REPENT THEREFORE AND BE CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; AND HE SHALL SEND JESUS CHRIST, which before was preached unto you, WHOM THE HEAVENS MUST RECEIVE [keep] UNTIL THE TIME OF RESTORATION.
"Repent"... was the insistent message from John the Baptist and then from the Lord Jesus to His earthly People, Israel. "Convert" means yo turn and this was the continual OT command to Israel for restoration of His favor. Deut 4:30,31, "When thou art in tribulation, and all these things come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou TURN to the Lord thy God, He will not forsake thee."
The Gentiles grafted in to Israel's hope during Acts were but small pictures of what will come when Israel and her King will be a true light to the nations during the promised kingdom. During Acts, Gentiles blessing was through Israel and associated with Israel, but never APART from Israel. This is all now past.
Eph 2:11
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, and having no hope, and without God in the world.
But now, Gentiles have been sent salvation and have a hope and calling in the highest of heavens. No signs or miracles or gifts or ordinances are needed. All are equal in the church which is the body of Christ. There is no one above another. We are all joint heirs together of one body, unified with a unity made by the Holy Spirit. (Eph 2:18-22; Eph 3;6-12; Eph 4:1-6)
Searcher
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