Ah! You pegged me with your slurring remark. I believe that is the way the word “Christian” came into being. They smugly said, “There goes Paul, that “Chrissstian”.
The claim that the Gospel preached by Jesus and the Apostles is different than the Gospel preached by the Apostle Paul is a grevious error. Paul tells us in Galatians 1:8, 9
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Can we both be accursed for preaching the living Word of God, that of salvation by the grace of God through faith. Why if we just believe on His name we can be saved. I believe that, and that is the message of the One heavenly Apostle of Christ Jesus from heaven. Paul tells us fairly early on – Acts 16:28-31, ” 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Isn’t that what you teach? I believe we both are on that safe foundation if that is what we believe.
We are after the individual and his house, not a nation. We all have our own separate pew up there.
In the Gospel according to Mark we read in chapter 1:
1.The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
14. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Yes I believe Jesus preached the kingdom to His people.
In the Gospel according to John we read in John 3:3:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Yes, I believe Jesus preached the kingdom gospel of John to His people.
In the Gospel of Luke Jesus Christ tells the two disciples on the road to Emmaus [Luke 24:25-27]:
25. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Yes, I believe what the Bible has to say about God’s people, their law of ordinances, religion and rituals that had to perform, and I believe all that the prophets said for they were repeating what God told them to say as they prophesied. He brought them up to date to that point in time.
In Acts the Apostle Paul tells us:
Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
Let’s see if we can make any sense out of this and begin at verse 21 first. ”For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.” What causes is Paul talking about? If I remember correctly Christ told Paul face to face that he would be the Apostle to the Gentile, and to the Jew. This is a good place to show that Paul was following and obeying Christ Jesus.
Paul had first told King Agrippa about the Gentile in verses 17 and 18, ” Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
From the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee – To open their eyes, turning them to the light (this repentance for us comes as synonymous with our believing) and by our faith in Him we are made Holy in Him having received forgiveness of our sins. This is what the Baptists believe if I am not mistaken.
Then to 19 and 20 for his preaching to the Jew that Peter said they had better listen to. ” 19. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:20. But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”
Paul wants to make it plain to the King that he obeyed God and went and preached first to those of Israel, the Kings subjects. Paul first went to the Jew in Damascus (the very ones who sometime before he was going take back to Jerusalem to prison), and then he went to Jerusalem and the coasts of Judaea, before he went to the Gentiles (To the Jew first and then to Gentile), and to the Jew preached that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance.
This without a doubt shows that there were two gospels being preached while the Apostles lived. They are not mixed, and blended together.
Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Paul is talking to only Israelites here. Read verse 17 through 27. Then going to verse 28 and 29 we see Paul finally understands and obeys Christ. ”Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 29. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.”
After Paul arrived in Rome, I believe the Power of the Holy Ghost was withdrawn from all, for now the Gentiles are officially made the main target and Once Saved Always Saved becomes more clearly shown, and understood. Also God had plans for Paul to do some heavy writing, so that Christian’s everywhere could read and hear what Christ revealed to Paul on the subject of the world now being reconciled to God.
Of course Satan fought all the way, and it took many years, lives, tribulations and sorrow for this Book of God to finally become finalized and taken out of hands that would attempt to hide forever His Word. The war continues with Satan, but it shouldn’t be too much longer before Christ will have all of His inheritance in us, and then the “fireworks” will start.
We also read from the Book of Acts, chapter 28:
30. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Yes, it seems very plain to me that Paul received both Jew and Gentile, preaching the kingdom to the Jew, and those things that concern the Christian that is in the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, here are two gospels.
Finally Paul tells us in Romans, chapter 1
16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
After the destruction of the Temple, some 5 or so years after the death of Paul, those of the line through Jacob have been thrown in with we Gentiles, and we are today all saved the same.
Aren’t we today made righteousness, being in the Body of Christ. Isn’t this what we as Baptists believe? Surely it is, and we must believe the gospel of Paul as Christ from heaven gave to him what we are to believe to be saved in this dispensation. Noah believed God in his day; as did Abraham, Moses, David, and all the others as they lived. The message was not always the same.
Jesus the Son of man in the flesh died; was placed in the tomb just as the clock was to strike at 6PM that Wednesday, just before the dawning of a new day for Israel. After three full nights and days, He arose from the earth and is now the Son of God. Who are we today to believe? We that are destined for the heavenlies?
Are we to believe Man of the flesh or the Son of God? II Corinthians 5:16:21, ” Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
I repeat on the basis of Scripture: The claim that the Gospel preached by Jesus and the Apostles is different than the Gospel preached by the Apostle Paul is a grevious error. [/QB]</font>