Post by Admin on Nov 30, 2018 21:59:17 GMT
This is in response to an article posted on a forum concerning a position presented by someone that is Mid Acts Dispensational. The issue before us is whether the Disciples were preaching the same Gospel Paul preached, the premise being that the Mystery of the Gospel was revealed to Paul and not the disciples at Pentecost. While there is much I would agree with concerning MAD, this isn't one of them, but, I can see how they might arrive at this conclusion. So I have presented a few points as to why I would disagree, and I hope this is interesting to those who read it:
POINT 1: Acts 11
In Acts 11 we see Peter recount the event of Cornelius (and his house) being saved. It is without controversy that we can say that Cornelius is saved in an exact manner that the Disciples were on Pentecost. So I will quote my text and then make a few points to consider:
Acts 11:13-18 King James Version (KJV)
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
First, we see that Peter will speak the words which save, and we know that is the Gospel. And that is what Peter preached to Cornelius and his house:
Acts 10:39-44 King James Version (KJV)
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Peter preaches Christ's death, His Resurrection, and that believing on His Name will bring about Remission of Sins, which is a promise of God as is the Promise of the Holy Spirit. So first we mark it down that "the words which save" is the very Gospel of Christ, and there is nothing different between this and the Gospel of Christ as preached by Christ.
Next we see that Cornelius and his house receive the Promise of the Spirit, even as the disciples did at Pentecost, and I want to just preface our current text by first quoting the Lord in Acts 1:
Acts 1:4-5 King James Version (KJV)
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Most teach the Baptism with the Holy Ghost as a subsequent event of "empowerment," particularly our Charismatic brethren, who have placed great emphasis on this teaching to support someone speaking in "tongues" as a later point in their salvation. However, that is not the case, and Peter wil define what happens to Cornelius and his house for us. Above, the Lord tells the disciples to await the Promise of the Father, and defines it as being Baptized with the Holy Ghost. SO we completely negate any association with water baptism, even if Peter seems to make a statement in Acts 2:38 which seems to imply it is necessary. So note above, the disciples will be Baptized with the Holy Ghost "not many days hence," and that this is the Promise of the Father (in the Old Testament, i.e., Ezekiel 36:27) that the disciples have been instructed by Christ about. This is of course a reference to the coming of the Comforter. John 14-16 give us our most comprehensive instruction about His coming, and Christ ties that coming with men receiving eternal life:
John 7:38-39 King James Version (KJV)
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (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.)
So let's go on to our next two verses:
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
So we have the "words which save," the Gospel (which we can clearly identify as the Gospel of Christ Paul preached, because Peter preaches Christ crucified and Resurrected, and the means of remission of sins) , being spoken to Cornelius, and Cornelius and his house receive the Holy Ghost. Peter states "...as on us at the beginning." In effect, "The same thing happened to them that happened to us, they received the Holy Ghost as we did," which is the fulfillment of Christ's Word, "John baptized with water but you will be Baptized with the Holy Ghost." John immersed people when he baptized. Christ, The Baptizer, immerses men into Himself. I read the article about the "difference between Christ in me and me in Christ," and agree there is a difference, but, we have to keep in mind that to be in Christ and to be indwelt by Christ is in fact speaking of the one event of...Reconciliation. Man's great problem is not that he has sin and is therefore separated from God, but, he is conceived and born separated from God therefore he sins.
At this point I will ask the question, if Cornelius is saved in an identical manner as the disciples, and the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, how can we make Peter's preaching anything but a matter that the Spirit of God revealed the Mystery of the Gospel to Peter. I will agree that men prophecy at times when they do not understand what they preach or teach about. We have an entire Old Testament of Prophecy in which all of the Prophets preached and taught about Christ yet were not privy to the Gospel. But, if we are to say that, it cannot be because Peter's Gospel is different from Paul's, because it isn't. The Gospel is defined by Paul as the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ, and that is precisely what Peter Preaches at Pentecost and for Cornelius.
Our last two verses in our text:
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Again we see that Cornelius and his house receive the same "Gift" as the disciples did at the beginning. We see they receive this gift through believing on Christ. And I might throw in here that Peter had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth, lol. We look at his sermon at Pentecost and some of us think he could have phrased things a little better. I speculate that the Lord has designed Scripture that those who refuse to listen to Him will look at His Word and see justification for the doctrines they want to promote, even though the concept of water baptism being a necessity is clearly refuted by Scripture, Peter himself denying this in his teachings in his Epistles.
Peter here sounds apologetic. Not exactly the form of Apologetics we engage in, lol. "I couldn't stop it from happening!" he seems to be saying, lol.
Now, in the last verse we see that what has happened is that God has granted repentance unto life. And I would suggest that the life in view is the same life He came to bestow on men. It might be thought controversial, but, I will state emphatically that no man had eternal life prior to Pentecost. Eternal Life is received when one is placed in Christ, and is indwelt by God. The Eternal Life we have is not a substance poured over us or into us, nor a positional declaration as the justification of the Old Testament Saint was, it is the very life of God in us. We are born of God by being in God, hence we are new creatures because we have the spiritual life that belongs to God.
Finally, for this point, I would point out that this event precedes Paul's ministry so we see the Gospel preached beforehand. I will be back in a bit with the next three points.
Continued...
Hello, thanks for posting this, as it helps to better understand how the conclusion is made. And I hope you don't get upset with me, but, I don't see that a presentation has been made that supports the intent, that is, that Peter wasn't preaching the Gospel of Christ. So I will present two points (to begin) as to why we would view Peter as preaching the Gospel here. On second thought, let's make that four, because a few more just occurred to me and if I don't go ahead and post it I might forget, lol.
POINT 1: Acts 11
In Acts 11 we see Peter recount the event of Cornelius (and his house) being saved. It is without controversy that we can say that Cornelius is saved in an exact manner that the Disciples were on Pentecost. So I will quote my text and then make a few points to consider:
Acts 11:13-18 King James Version (KJV)
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
First, we see that Peter will speak the words which save, and we know that is the Gospel. And that is what Peter preached to Cornelius and his house:
Acts 10:39-44 King James Version (KJV)
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Peter preaches Christ's death, His Resurrection, and that believing on His Name will bring about Remission of Sins, which is a promise of God as is the Promise of the Holy Spirit. So first we mark it down that "the words which save" is the very Gospel of Christ, and there is nothing different between this and the Gospel of Christ as preached by Christ.
Next we see that Cornelius and his house receive the Promise of the Spirit, even as the disciples did at Pentecost, and I want to just preface our current text by first quoting the Lord in Acts 1:
Acts 1:4-5 King James Version (KJV)
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Most teach the Baptism with the Holy Ghost as a subsequent event of "empowerment," particularly our Charismatic brethren, who have placed great emphasis on this teaching to support someone speaking in "tongues" as a later point in their salvation. However, that is not the case, and Peter wil define what happens to Cornelius and his house for us. Above, the Lord tells the disciples to await the Promise of the Father, and defines it as being Baptized with the Holy Ghost. SO we completely negate any association with water baptism, even if Peter seems to make a statement in Acts 2:38 which seems to imply it is necessary. So note above, the disciples will be Baptized with the Holy Ghost "not many days hence," and that this is the Promise of the Father (in the Old Testament, i.e., Ezekiel 36:27) that the disciples have been instructed by Christ about. This is of course a reference to the coming of the Comforter. John 14-16 give us our most comprehensive instruction about His coming, and Christ ties that coming with men receiving eternal life:
John 7:38-39 King James Version (KJV)
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (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.)
So let's go on to our next two verses:
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
So we have the "words which save," the Gospel (which we can clearly identify as the Gospel of Christ Paul preached, because Peter preaches Christ crucified and Resurrected, and the means of remission of sins) , being spoken to Cornelius, and Cornelius and his house receive the Holy Ghost. Peter states "...as on us at the beginning." In effect, "The same thing happened to them that happened to us, they received the Holy Ghost as we did," which is the fulfillment of Christ's Word, "John baptized with water but you will be Baptized with the Holy Ghost." John immersed people when he baptized. Christ, The Baptizer, immerses men into Himself. I read the article about the "difference between Christ in me and me in Christ," and agree there is a difference, but, we have to keep in mind that to be in Christ and to be indwelt by Christ is in fact speaking of the one event of...Reconciliation. Man's great problem is not that he has sin and is therefore separated from God, but, he is conceived and born separated from God therefore he sins.
At this point I will ask the question, if Cornelius is saved in an identical manner as the disciples, and the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, how can we make Peter's preaching anything but a matter that the Spirit of God revealed the Mystery of the Gospel to Peter. I will agree that men prophecy at times when they do not understand what they preach or teach about. We have an entire Old Testament of Prophecy in which all of the Prophets preached and taught about Christ yet were not privy to the Gospel. But, if we are to say that, it cannot be because Peter's Gospel is different from Paul's, because it isn't. The Gospel is defined by Paul as the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ, and that is precisely what Peter Preaches at Pentecost and for Cornelius.
Our last two verses in our text:
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Again we see that Cornelius and his house receive the same "Gift" as the disciples did at the beginning. We see they receive this gift through believing on Christ. And I might throw in here that Peter had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth, lol. We look at his sermon at Pentecost and some of us think he could have phrased things a little better. I speculate that the Lord has designed Scripture that those who refuse to listen to Him will look at His Word and see justification for the doctrines they want to promote, even though the concept of water baptism being a necessity is clearly refuted by Scripture, Peter himself denying this in his teachings in his Epistles.
Peter here sounds apologetic. Not exactly the form of Apologetics we engage in, lol. "I couldn't stop it from happening!" he seems to be saying, lol.
Now, in the last verse we see that what has happened is that God has granted repentance unto life. And I would suggest that the life in view is the same life He came to bestow on men. It might be thought controversial, but, I will state emphatically that no man had eternal life prior to Pentecost. Eternal Life is received when one is placed in Christ, and is indwelt by God. The Eternal Life we have is not a substance poured over us or into us, nor a positional declaration as the justification of the Old Testament Saint was, it is the very life of God in us. We are born of God by being in God, hence we are new creatures because we have the spiritual life that belongs to God.
Finally, for this point, I would point out that this event precedes Paul's ministry so we see the Gospel preached beforehand. I will be back in a bit with the next three points.
Continued...