The New Testament Begins in Acts Not Matthew

[Ascetic X]

The New Testament Begins in Acts Not Matthew​

When you read the Gospels in the Bible, such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, do they sometimes seem to contradict other parts of the New Testament Scripture? For example, in Matthew 6:15, Jesus said, “If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Yet, in Colossians 2:13, the Apostle Paul wrote, “…God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.” How can there be two different perspectives written in the same New Testament?

But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Now, if we are unforgiving to others, that in itself is an unconfessed sin, thus unforgiven.

Many Christians experience confusion because they think all of Jesus’ teachings are part of the New Testament, also known as the “New Covenant.” However most of them are not. The New Testament, which is God’s New Covenant with mankind, actually starts in the book of Acts, not Matthew. How do we know this fact is true?

When reading the New Testament, ask yourself this question, “Had Jesus died yet when this was written?” If not, then those writings are part of the Old Covenant in most cases. If the writings are after Jesus died, then it’s part of the New Covenant.

I see the gospels as a transition from Old Covenant to New Covenant. I takes the rudimentary commandments and expands them, from Do Not Commit Adultery to Do Not Lust Mentally, moving from letter of the law obedience to spiritual transcendence.

When Jesus came to earth, He came directly to the Jews who were still under the Old Covenant with God. Want the gist of the Old Covenant? Deuteronomy 28 spells it out very clearly. If Israel obeyed God’s laws, there were 12 verses of blessings He would give them (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14). But, if Israel disobeyed God’s laws, there were 52 verses of curses He would give them. (see Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

Would you want to live in that kind of tension-filled relationship with God? No way! Unfortunately, many Christians today believe that is still how God treats them, even though we are under the New Covenant of grace. Therefore, Christianity feels more like a burden, instead of a blessing.

But Christianity is more strict than the Mosaic law, for outward obedience has been spiritualized by inward transformation empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is easier to avoid sinful acts, which are constrained by opportunities, than to avoid having sinful thoughts, which have no constraints.

Many of the things that Jesus taught in the Gospels was Old Covenant instruction to the Jews of His day. When He taught them, He was raising the bar of how perfect they needed to be accepted and blessed by God. Here are some examples:

• “Unless you are more righteous than the strictest religious leaders in Jesus’s day, the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will not go to heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
• “Calling someone an idiot or crazy because you are angry with them will send you to hell.” (Matthew 5:22)
• “Lust is adultery.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
• “You must live a perfect life exactly the way God does.” (Matthew 5:48)

These performance-based teachings were aimed to show the Jews and anyone who reads the Bible today that it’s impossible to get God’s unconditional acceptance by obeying the law. Jesus was preparing people to understand how much they needed Him to be their Savior.

The church epistles reinforce all these instructions. We are told to put on the mind of Christ. We have the benefit of the inborn Holy Spirit, and He empowers us to perform the godliness that is seemingly impossible.

God was about to bring into existence the New Covenant, and Jesus was preparing them and everyone else for it. But, here’s the key. The New Covenant did not begin until Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension were complete. For instance, Hebrews 9:15 says:

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a New Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the Old Covenant.”

Remember Jesus’ teachings we just listed from the book of Matthew? Let’s compare what the New Covenant says about you as a Christ follower:

• God has already forgiven you whether you forgive or not. (Colossians 2:13)

No. If we are unforgiving and do not confess that failure, we have unconfessed, unforgiven sin.

• God made you perfect in your identity in Christ. (Hebrews 10:14)
• God made you a holy person and not a lustful person in Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2)

No. Even though we are holy spiritually due to the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we can still think polluted thoughts and exhibit gross carnality, as the Corinthian church demonstrated. We can still be lustful, so we are told to flee fornication.

• God made you a patient person because you’re complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)

The Old Covenant was conditional based on mankind’s imperfect works. The New Covenant is conditional based on faith in Jesus’ perfect work. Do you see the amazing difference?

Not that big of a difference, because we still must struggle to exercise faith instead of doubts, worries, and fears. We are told to cast all our anxieties on Him, for He cares for us.

Read the New Testament with a lot more clarity now that you know the New Testament starts in Acts, rather than Matthew!

Instead of more clarity, your theology can tend to gnostic libertinism, making people think their sanctification is entirely internal and divorced from external behavior.

The New Covenant begins with the gospels, where the more demanding rules are introduced, and the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus occurs. Acts contains the unfolding and implementation of this New Covenant that was extended to Gentiles without them needing convert to Judaism.

 

[Psalty]

The New Testament Begins in Acts Not Matthew​

When you read the Gospels in the Bible, such as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, do they sometimes seem to contradict other parts of the New Testament Scripture? For example, in Matthew 6:15, Jesus said, “If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Yet, in Colossians 2:13, the Apostle Paul wrote, “…God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.” How can there be two different perspectives written in the same New Testament?

Many Christians experience confusion because they think all of Jesus’ teachings are part of the New Testament, also known as the “New Covenant.” However most of them are not. The New Testament, which is God’s New Covenant with mankind, actually starts in the book of Acts, not Matthew. How do we know this fact is true?

When reading the New Testament, ask yourself this question, “Had Jesus died yet when this was written?” If not, then those writings are part of the Old Covenant in most cases. If the writings are after Jesus died, then it’s part of the New Covenant.

When Jesus came to earth, He came directly to the Jews who were still under the Old Covenant with God. Want the gist of the Old Covenant? Deuteronomy 28 spells it out very clearly. If Israel obeyed God’s laws, there were 12 verses of blessings He would give them (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14). But, if Israel disobeyed God’s laws, there were 52 verses of curses He would give them. (see Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

Would you want to live in that kind of tension-filled relationship with God? No way! Unfortunately, many Christians today believe that is still how God treats them, even though we are under the New Covenant of grace. Therefore, Christianity feels more like a burden, instead of a blessing.

Many of the things that Jesus taught in the Gospels was Old Covenant instruction to the Jews of His day. When He taught them, He was raising the bar of how perfect they needed to be accepted and blessed by God. Here are some examples:

• “Unless you are more righteous than the strictest religious leaders in Jesus’s day, the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will not go to heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
• “Calling someone an idiot or crazy because you are angry with them will send you to hell.” (Matthew 5:22)
• “Lust is adultery.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
• “You must live a perfect life exactly the way God does.” (Matthew 5:48)

These performance-based teachings were aimed to show the Jews and anyone who reads the Bible today that it’s impossible to get God’s unconditional acceptance by obeying the law. Jesus was preparing people to understand how much they needed Him to be their Savior.

God was about to bring into existence the New Covenant, and Jesus was preparing them and everyone else for it. But, here’s the key. The New Covenant did not begin until Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension were complete. For instance, Hebrews 9:15 says:

“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a New Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the Old Covenant.”

Remember Jesus’ teachings we just listed from the book of Matthew? Let’s compare what the New Covenant says about you as a Christ follower:

• God has already forgiven you whether you forgive or not. (Colossians 2:13)
• God made you perfect in your identity in Christ. (Hebrews 10:14)
• God made you a holy person and not a lustful person in Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2)
• God made you a patient person because you’re complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)

The Old Covenant was conditional based on mankind’s imperfect works. The New Covenant is conditional based on faith in Jesus’ perfect work. Do you see the amazing difference?

Read the New Testament with a lot more clarity now that you know the New Testament starts in Acts, rather than Matthew!

The New Testament Begins in Acts Not Matthew

www.gracelifeinternational.com

Got it, Get it, Good.

Respectfully disagree because of scripture:

“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
— Luke 16:16

John was the end of the Law and Prophets, Jesus is the start of the New Covenant. Edit: Cool to note that John was a Levite and Aaronic priest while Jesus was from Judah and a Melchezedekian priest. What an amazing hand-off from John to Jesus!

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
— 1 Timothy 6:3

Paul validates that NC teaching should align with Christs words

Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
— Galatians 3:15

Jesus’ life and teaching were the New Covenant, the cross ratified it.

I think these three suffice for now, but open to hearing your responses.

Edit: I should ask, are you a hyperdispensationalist? Which NT writings do you believe are under the Law? Some hyperdispensationalist folk would agree with you and also not think that several letters apply

 

[Psalty]

The new covenant was and is only intended for all of God's elect.

Anyone can be Gods elect, both in the OT and the NT.

In the OT: Israel was Gods elect. Didnt mean you were saved, even though you were chosen. Any alien could become part of Gods elect.

In the NT: Israel and Gentiles who are in Christ are now Gods elect because they are IN CHRIST, Gods chosen one. Anyone can become part of God’s elect today.

Nothing has changed in regards to election being open to everyone, its just easier now.