What did Barnabas see?

[JD731]

Ok. Just so we are clear, there are some dispensationalists who claim that people (Jew and Gentile) were saved by obeying God's law (Moses's Law for the Jews and resident aliens) prior to Christ's advent. Are you of that persuasion? That is what my question was more or less, I should have been more specific.

If you are asking if one can be saved by keeping the law the answer is no. My logic here is that Jesus Christ was a perfect man without sin but he was never a man who needed to be saved to attain that perfection. though he was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. He was an innocent man from his birth and never became guilty though he willingly accepted the guilt penalty of sin for every man, which is death. Because he had no personal guilt God raised him from the dead and has promised to pardon every one who will receive the pardon by faith from him who raised him from the dead and who is also the Judge of all the earth. This is stated emphatically.

Ro 4:20 He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he (God the Father) had promised, he (God the Father) was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it (Abraham's faith) was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 ¶ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it (righteousness) was imputed to him;
24 But for us (now since the cross) also, to whom it (righteousness) shall be imputed, (what is the condition?) if we believe on him (God the Father) that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Ga 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Ga 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Abraham could not have been saved by believing what God said to us about his son and resurrection from the dead. Neither could anyone living today be justified by God, the Judge, by believing what Abraham believed that justified him. The text of Romans 4 says clearly what Abraham believed.

So faith itself is non dispensational. It, faith in what God says, is the principle of justification throughout all the ages. It is not, one and the same message from God fits all, that justifies, it is believing what God says to us. In this age God has said this to the whole world. This is what everyone must now believe to be justified.

Acts 17:16 ¶ Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22 ¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; BUT NOW commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32 ¶ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

I hope you can understand this. No one before the resurrection could be justified by believing it because it was not a literal fact until then. Now, since it has actually happened, no one on the planet can be justified and counted righteous on the merits of Jesus unless they believe his gospel and the promise of God that he will save all who come s to him through Jesus Christ.

One must believe the words of God that are given to him.

 

[Van]

Consider this dilemma in Jerusalem, a place and time when Barnabas (who was one of the 70 elders chosen by Jesus Christ in Lk 10) would without question be present. SNIP

Dead sure Barnabas would not have witnessed Jews preaching salvation to the gentiles in Jerusalem, especially since Jesus had sent the apostles and prophets out first to those only who were "bidden" with the announcement that all things are now ready and they should come to the marriage supper. Remember the parable of Jesus I quoted earlier?

My dilemma is that I addressed the grace of God seen by Barnabas in Antioch.

 

[JD731]

My dilemma is that I addressed the grace of God seen by Barnabas in Antioch.

We are on the same page.

Ac 13:1 ¶ Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Salvation is of the Jews.

What he saw was the Grecians and the Jews in the same brotherhood as equals,, bound together by their common testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.

Acts 11:19 ¶ Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

I personally think this is the 4th part of the field of the parable in Mt 13 where the seed was sown.

Mt 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Thank God for the Grecians, eh? Antioch is in the lands of the gentiles. The other three places are not.

1) Jerusalem
2) Judaea
3) Samaria
4) The uttermost part of the world

Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

MT 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

[Van]

The phrase,"salvation is of the Jews," John 4:22 is better translated as "salvation is brought by the Jews" by means of the blessing promised to Abraham and fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

 

[JD731]

The phrase,"salvation is of the Jews," John 4:22 is better translated as "salvation is brought by the Jews" by means of the blessing promised to Abraham and fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

I cannot say the truth any better than this; Read it carefully and understand that honesty demands we all follow the logic.

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time (58AD) also there is a remnant (of believing Israelites) according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7 What then? Israel (the nation, the family) hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election (the remnant of Israel) hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

What was it that the nation/family sought after and did not find but the remnant (individual Jews) according to the election of grace did?

Here;
Rom 9:30 ¶ What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness (in AD 58).
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

<THE ANSWER IS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND IISRAEL DID NOT ATTAIN TO IT BY REASON OF HOW THEY SOUGHT IT>

Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

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?

Note: this is the wisdom of God. God sent his gospel to gentiles because he knew he would take his people out of their land and cut them off from their covenants by doing so and essentially counting them as gentiles in the lands he would drive them, thus giving individuals Israelites the very best opportunity to be saved as the gentiles Christians preached the gospel to them during this age of grace. It is amazing at the wisdom of God and his love for his people.

Since Rom 7:1 he had been speaking to those who were submitted to the law of Moses.

Rom 11:13 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.

15 For if the casting away of them (the nation/family, those kinsmen of Paul) be the reconciling of the world (can you pause and think about that line), what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (a national resurrection)
16 For if the firstfruit (Jesus is the firstfruit and the lump is the remnant in AD 58)) be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off This would be unbelieving Israel), and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest (partakers, that is what gentiles are - salvation is of the Jew) of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches (the Jews who were broken off). But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

Why fear? See the reason below.

21 For if God spared not the natural branches The Israelites he cut off because of unbelief), take heed lest he also spare not thee (the gentile tree).
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (sadly, we have the Bible telling us this will happen soon)

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

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. (see note below)
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.

I quoted the parable of the stewards earlier in my thread from Luke 14 where Jesus said that those who were bidden would not come to his supper that he had prepared and he sent out the servants to the hedges and highways and to the streets and by ways to get enough guests to fill his house. The object was to fill his house. That is the purpose of this age. The family of Israel/Jacob would not come so he filled his house with gentiles and when God reckons it filled Jesus Christ will come for it and he will then graft the natural branches into the olive tree.

14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

I think we are on the same page but I wanted to say it myself. Praise the Lord for letting me get in on this wonderful plan of salvation.

 

[JD731]

THE GENTILE CHURCH IS THE GRACE OF GOD

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the Good News that he has, through his death., burial, and resurrection, reconciled God to all men having taken away sin, the separator.

The gospel of God is that God the Judge is so reconciled to all men through Christ that he commands all sinners to be reconciled to him while he will receive all men who comes to him through Christ.

Here is the most concise definition of the gospel of God given in the scriptures and it is to the Roman church, in the city of the seat of gentile world power.

Rom 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Christians must understand this doctrine in order to have full knowledge because it, the gospel of God, is the theme of this entire age wherein the church is being formed through the new birth.

Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Paul was separated from the other apostles but unto the gospel of God.

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
A side note: If I were Reformed, this would concern me, having been erroneously taught that faith is a gift of God.

ACts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Here is the most comprehensive definition of the grace of God in the scriptures and how Paul is associated with it.

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

So, the definition given by the scriptures for the grace of God is the gospel of God that is world wide and a promise of the Spirit from God the Father to all men through Christ. Barnabas saw Jews preaching the gospel of Christ to gentiles. That is what he saw .All of us are commanded by God the Father to believe and be saved.