Acts

Bible Study

Lesson 19

 

The Big Picture

¥ Before we move on we I feel we need to step back and look at the big picture.

¥ If we can see how everything fits together now, it will be much easier to interpret the events that happen later in Acts.

¥ I'm going to concentrate on the Acts 9 and Acts 13 positions. Both positions have valid points but I feel one is easier to justify.

 

A Comparison

¥ Comparing and showing the ramifications of each belief system is probably the best way to come to an understanding of what you believe. (I will use Paul to refer to Saul or Paul)

 

   Acts 9 position                                                         Acts 13 Position

Paul was saved into the Church, the Body of Christ.

Paul was saved into the Kingdom.

Those saved under PaulÕs preaching were saved into the Body of Christ.

Paul preached a Kingdom message until his first missionary journey. At that time he became the first member of the Body of Christ.

Some believe Kingdom saints stayed Kingdom saints (12 out)

Since Paul was brought into the Body of Christ from the Kingdom, all kingdom saints will also eventually became a part of the Body of Christ. (12 in)

1, 2 Peter; 1, 2, 3 John; Jude are written to Kingdom saints.

Since they all became part of the Body of Christ, 1, 2 Peter; 1, 2, 3 John; Jude are written to the Body of Christ.

Hebrews was written to tell the Kingdom saints to put aside the Mosaic Law.

Hebrews was written to tell the Kingdom saints to put their Mosaic Law aside and come outside the camp of Judaism to meet Christ. This is when they would have become a member of the Body of Christ.

 

PaulÕs salvation

Acts 13 position

¥ Paul was saved under the Kingdom program as evidenced by the giving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17) and baptism to wash away sins (Acts 22:16).

¥ God was still dealing with Israel and until they fell, there would be no Body of Christ. Therefore IsraelÕs fall occurred sometime before the Holy Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.

¥ It was when God first separated Paul and Barnabas for His work that the Body of Christ was formed.

¥ Paul was saved in Acts 9 but was brought into the Body of Christ in Acts 13.

¥ The other Kingdom believers were probably brought into the Body with the writing of Hebrews when the Kingdom saints are told to come to Christ outside the camp of Judaism.

¥ The picture of a blinded Jew and a believing Gentile in Acts 13 point to God cutting off national Israel from the Kingdom and blessing the Gentiles through their fall.

 

Acts 9 position

¥ Paul was separated from his mothers womb (Galatians 1:15) This has been called preparatory sanctification.

-Positional Sanctification—we are declared holy at the point of or salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:2

-Progressive Sanctification—we need to become holy so our life matches our position. It is the process of the Holy Spirit working in our lives to make us Christ-like.

    (Colossians 3:1—3; Philippians 3:12—13; Ephesians 4:24)

-Perfect (Ultimate) Sanctification—When were are called home we will be perfectly sanctified.

(Romans 8:29; Philippians 3:20—21)

- If we are completely sanctified, we are holy and are thus completely set aside for GodÕs use.

¥ At the  point of his salvation he became a member of the Body of Christ. Israel had fallen and was cut off of the olive tree (Romans 11:17) and God was introducing a new dispensation.

- This new dispensation was undetectable to man because God had not yet reveled it.

 - Even though no one yet knew of GodÕs plan, Paul was the first as a pattern for the rest of us. (Philippians 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:15—16)

- God would shortly take Paul to Arabia and start training him about things concerning the Body of Christ. (Galatians 1:17)

¥ All those saved after Paul became members of the Body of Christ.

¥ If God was still dealing with Israel and giving them an opportunity to come into the Kingdom, why were there poor saints in Judea in 11:29. In Acts 4 the Jews were sharing everything and in need of nothing.

 

Preaching Content

Acts 13 position

¥ Paul immediately went onto Damascus and preached Jesus Christ. Since the Body of Christ has not yet been formed, those saved under Paul must have become a part of the Kingdom.

¥ Since Paul was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, it was only natural of him to proclaim Jesus as Christ (Acts 9:22).

¥ In Joppa, Peter was called to raise Tabitha from the dead. This was a miracle showing God was still working with Israel (Acts 9:36—43).

¥ Cornelius was saved into the Kingdom by Peter and is an example of Gentile salvation in the Millennial Kingdom. The Holy Spirit fell on him just as He did upon the Jews in Acts 2 and he was baptized in obedience to Peter (Acts 10).

¥  When a number of Gentiles were saved in Antioch, Barnabas was sent to encouraged them to remain true to the Lord. Barnabas was a Kingdom believer and would have encouraged them to stay true to things of the Kingdom.

 

Acts 9 position

¥ He immediately went into Damascus and preached Jesus Christ. Since Paul was a member of the Body of Christ, those saved after him also were saved into the Body.

- Since God had not yet revealed anything about the Church, the Body of Christ, Paul preached what he knew which was Jesus is Lord and Messiah (9:20, 22).

- He also seemed to be preaching only to Jews (9:22).

¥ Peter was still ministering to Israel because God had not yet completely cast them off. This is why we see miracles, signs and wonders throughout Acts.

¥ Cornelius was saved into the Body of Christ. Even though Peter knew nothing about the Dispensation of the Grace of God. God had not yet revealed all these details but will through Paul as we go through the book of Acts.

- The change was made in heaven and would be revealed to man over the next 30 years.

¥ ItÕs interesting and significant to note that Cornelius, like Paul received the (gift of the) Holy Spirit before being baptized. This was a striking departure from what was commanded in Acts 2 and points to a change in how God is dealing with man. (10:44—48)

¥ The Gentiles saved in 11:19—23 were also part of the Body of Christ. Barnabas knew from Peter that God was now dealing with the Gentiles (11:1—18) and was desirous to encourage them to grow in faith.

 

 

Originally taught at Bethesda Sunday School February 22, 2009

For previous notes and additional mid-Acts materials please visit http://www.MidActsTruths.com