09-04-23
In The Word
with R.D.
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The disciples going to the whole world with the gospel:
(Matthew 28:19 KJ) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
The disciples only going to the "circumcision" (Jews) now, and Paul going to the "uncircumcision" (Gentiles), which, effectively (Gal 3:28 KJ), becomes the whole world, as there is neither Jew nor Gentile in the age of grace.
(Galatians 2:9 KJ) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
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....The book of 'Acts'...
....God diminishing Israel, for a season, away from the program that God had talked about since the world began, ie., of Israel being His "kingdom of priests" (Exod 19:5,6 KJ) in the earth, who taught obedience to God's Laws, as His way of justifying man,
....to His un-prophesied, unspoken since the world began, Grace (mystery) program, (Jews and Gentiles in one body) program, for His way of justifying man.
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The Lord Jesus teaching obedience to the Mosaic Law for His acceptance of man:
(Luke 18:20 KJ) Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
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Paul showing in the dispensation of grace, that God gave to him to give to the world, that we are no longer under the law as a means of acceptance with God:
(Romans 6:14 KJ) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
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The book of (Acts) is a book of transition: from Law to grace, as God's operating program (ie., dispensation), for man to be reconciled back to Him.
Notice the difference in what Pete says at Pentecost to those of Jerusalem, and subsequent to that to Cornelius in (Acts 10)....
(Acts 2:38 KJ) 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.
Pete speaking to Cornelius and to his family members and friends:
(Acts 10:43 KJ) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
What did Pete 'not' say in (Acts 10:43 KJ), that is, not get a 'chance' to say, because the Holy Spirit of God fell on those whom Pete was talking to, before he could say it ...ie., whether they should be 'also' baptized, (as he had previously, at Pentecost said, in Acts 2:38 KJ), along with believing on Jesus Christ, in order to be saved:
What Pete did not say BEFORE they received the Holy Ghost was:
(Acts 10:47,48 KJ) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
(48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
God, through this event concerning Pete and Cornelius, was alerting the Jews back in the kingdom church at Jerusalem, that He, God, was 'changing' His commission that He had earlier given to His 11 Apostles before He ascended to His Father. That is, God was now going to 'allow,' command, rather, the Jews, that the food laws (Lev 11 KJ) were null and void, meaning, God's 'law' program that Israel dispensed, taught etc., as His way of justifying man, was over,....for the time being (Rom 11:25 KJ).
God sent the leader of the kingdom church of Jerusalem, Pete, to a Gentile, ie., to Cornelius (whereas, going to the Gentiles was going to be the commission that God gave, had already given, to Paul - Acts 9; Eph 3), changed the Mosaic 'food' Law, to where the Jews were now allowed to eat those animals God had, for hundreds of years prohibited them to eat (Lev 11 - KJ), and all through 'Acts,' transition His program for dealing with man from being one of Law to one of Grace. Cephas, James and John recognized this immense change in God's will, as is clearly seen in:
Paul said:
(Gal 2:9 KJ)
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
In sum: The 'Great Commission' was superseded (there is still time to learn this baptists and pentecostals) by God Himself,
...from the commission that He gave the 11 disciples..ie., go to the whole world and He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved....to....
He that believeth on Jesus Christ shall be saved.
There is a reason that God told the disciples that they would not have gone over all the cities of Israel before He returned (Matt 10:23 KJ). It's waaaaay past time for the Body of Christ to connect the Scriptures, rightly divided them, and to understand that God has all authority over all things, including His right and choice, ie., His 'will,' to change His commissions.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.