Through the Bible in 7 Hours: Session X

Through the Bible in 7 Hours Session X

Last week we started talking about Acts and how it is a transitional book from the Jews being the favored people to the Gentiles being put in a place to make the Jews jealous.

This week we are going to continue the transitional talks through Acts. We are going to look at the outline that Paul provides. The Scriptures themselves, through Paul, provide us an outline of the events covered in the Book of Acts.

[Rom 11:11-13 KJV] 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. 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? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Notice here that Israel stumbled but did not fall.

Because Israel was not walking by faith, she failed to recognize Christ as her messiah and “stumbled” - a reference to her rejection and crucifixion of Christ. Yet, although Israel stumbled she was not set aside at the cross.

What about Acts 2? Should we start there for our current church? No, the Pentacost described in Acts 2, where the apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in other languages, enabling them to share the gospel with diverse crowds are neither in the “but now” nor a record of the beginning of the Body of Christ.

One of the great mistakes that churches make is saying that the church of this dispensation, the Body of Christ, began on the Day of Pentacost in Acts 2.

Pentacost was a definite fulfillment of prophecy.

Let’s compare Acts 2:16 with Ephesians 3:5

[Act 2:16 KJV] 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

[Eph 3:5 KJV] 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

The difference here is that in the “time past” it was all about prophecy. In the “but now” it is all about the mystery. To say that something was spoken by or written by a prophet or really by anybody says that it wasn’t a mystery until it was made known to Paul. And a mystery that was first made known to Paul couldn’t be prophesied because nobody else knew it.

Let’s compare another one here in Acts 3:21, which is after Acts 2, and Romans 16:25.

[Act 3:21 KJV] 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.

[Rom 16:25 KJV] 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

We are comparing apples to oranges at this point. There is a very clear and obvious difference in these verses! We know that there is no way that Acts 3 is speaking of the same dispensation as we see in Romans. Prophesy and Mystery since the world began cannot coincide.

Finally, let’s look at Acts 3:24 and Colossians 1:26

[Act 3:24 KJV] 24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

[Col 1:26 KJV] 26 [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

I think we have beaten this one into the ground, and it just makes so much sense. There is no way to read these verses and believe that it could be in the same dispensation. When you properly divide the Word, it makes things so much clearer!

Pentacost is for the Jews. It is a Jewish feast associated with Israel’s redemption and kingdom calendar.

When the Day of Pentacost arrived, Israel was still God’s channel of blessing to the nations. They had not been cast aside at this point in time.

Look with me at

[Act 2:14, 22, 36 KJV] 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: ... 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: ... 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

What do we see here? We see Israel being addressed.

What do we NOT see here? The gentiles are not being addressed.

We are not Israel, we are not Jews. We are the Gentiles, the heathen.

[Gal 3:28 KJV] 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

What do we see here now? The Jews, greek, bond, free, male, and female are all the same in the eyes of Jesus! We are all the same to God! He sees us all as equally righteous to accept his free gift of salvation!

Is there another way to make sure we are all made equal? How can we be sure that this is what the scripture says? How do we know that those of us who were afar off are now made near, and that the wall of partition has been broken down between Israel and us? Well, let me see if I can prove that. Let’s look at:

[Eph 2:13-18 KJV] 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Proof after proof. How much do you need to start believing? How many times to we need to show you IN SCRIPTURE that the things we teach are true before you accept this amazing free gift? How many until you decide that we aren’t under the law and that we aren’t trying to be Israel or that they aren’t the chosen people during this dispensation?

I suppose I can keep going if you want to keep listening...

Look with me at Acts 2:17 and let’s see how the Pentacost was said to be the “last days” of Israel, not the “first days” of the Body of Christ. This is what the PROPHET Joel said:

[Act 2:17 KJV] 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:

These are the last days of Israel. Not the first days of the Body of Christ. Proof again!

And don’t forget, there was already an established church at this time, so there wasn’t a new church being formed yet. There wasn’t a new gospel yet.

[Act 2:47 KJV] 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The Pentacostal program is not the program for the Body of Christ or the dispensation of grace.

[Act 1:5 KJV] 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

And

[1Co 12:13 KJV] 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.

WE are baptized by one Spirit and not by water. There is no reason for baptism in this dispensation. We aren’t to be baptized by water, but by the Holy Spirit!

There are 2 different ways to salvation between Acts 2 and the current dispensation. Let’s see what Acts 2 has to say.

[Act 2:38 KJV] 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Now let’s look at Acts 16:31

[Act 16:31 KJV] 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Just believe! That’s all we have to do! Just believe!!!!!

It does say in verse 33

[Act 16:33 KJV] 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

This isn’t a salvation thing. Remember, this is still a transitional book. Not everything had been revealed at this point so they still had a couple of “habits” to break. There was no reason to baptize at this time. It tells you right there in Acts 16:31 that if you BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL BE SAVED! How great and honestly, how EASY!

Now let’s go back to

[Rom 11:11-13 KJV] 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. 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? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

SO they did ultimately end up falling. They didn’t fall at the cross, but they fell in Acts 7 when her blasphemy against the Holy Spirit culminated in the stoning of Stephen. This declaration of Israel’s leaders in Jerusalem is recognized as official.

Here Stephen is speaking at he says

[Act 7:51 KJV] 51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.

You do always resist the Holy Ghost, as your fathers did, so do you! Called out!

[Act 22:17-22 KJV] 17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. 21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. 22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and [then] lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a [fellow] from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

Here, Paul is telling what happened with the leaders in Jerusalem. This is them kicking Paul out of Jerusalem.

[Rom 11:25-32 KJV] 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. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

God might have mercy upon all! The Gentils are now come in! God kept this all a mystery so that Israel could have a chance on their own without being directed. Now, they are no more special than the Gentiles. We all have the same chance now, so take it! Snatch it up and be thankful!

Israel has fallen and WE have come in!

Starting in Acts 8, the Book of Acts demonstrates that Israel’s program is no longer going to continue. Rather, it is being replaced by “the reconciling of the world”.

[Rom 11:15 KJV] 15 For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world....

While the fall of Israel meant that God would no longer deal with the world through Israel, He did continue to deal with her in such a manner as to “provoke” lost jews to be saved into the new program being introduced through the ministry committed to Paul.

[Rom 11:13-14 KJV] 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and might save some of them.

Let’s look and see what Paul had to say about baptism right quick...

[1Co 1:14-17 KJV] 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Paul was not sent to baptize. He says it right there. Do you know what baptism was meant for? It was to make the Jews priests. It wasn’t for salvation. It was to make priests. We aren’t part of Israel, we aren’t Jews.

One more scripture to look up and then we will close it up.

[2Co 12:7-10 KJV] 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul is humbled. He knows that this gospel is not about him but told to him by Jesus Christ. God’s grace is sufficient for Paul. God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul takes pleasure in the struggles and persecutions that he goes through because he is doing it for Christ and he realizes that when he is weak, then he is strong.

With the ministry that was committed to Paul by our risen Lord from heaven’s glory we have reached the “but now”. In the next session we are going to be surveying what was written to us. Let’s all get together then and learn the Gospel of Grace!

Always remember, 2 Tim 2:15 [2Ti 2:15 KJV] 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.