The Gospels and the Mystery
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The actual, or if I may, literal replacement theology is any doctrine that replaces Christ with natural/carnal things. In other words, its interpretations replace spiritual realities with carnal realities. This happens because carnally-minded people who embrace these doctrines are unable to see spiritual realities. Therefore, their interpretations are soulish, not spiritual
So we have to ask ourselves, who is keenly interested in us interpreting scripture naturally rather than spiritually? Why that would be satan, of course, because he is able to control us when we are blinded to spiritual realities by being focused on natural, worldly things
Therefore, a good hermeneutical principle, or rule, is to expect and look for the spiritual interpretation of scripture., and if that cannot be realistically found, then assume a natural interpretation. That is because virtually everything in the old testament is a type or shadow of the spiritual reality of Christ. First the natural (or soulish) then the spiritual is a spiritual principle that is found throughout scripture:
First the natural,
But the soulish man doesn't receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Without spiritual discernment, soulish Christians see only carnal fulfillments of scripture, and slander Christians having spiritual discernment with the accusation of 'spiritualizing' scripture. As if the invisible spiritual realities of an invisible spiritual kingdom are somehow inferior to visible, carnal things. So we have to ask ourselves, who is keenly interested in us interpreting scripture naturally rather than spiritually? Why that would be satan, of course, because he is able to control us when we are blinded to spiritual realities by being focused on natural, worldly things
Therefore, a good hermeneutical principle, or rule, is to expect and look for the spiritual interpretation of scripture., and if that cannot be realistically found, then assume a natural interpretation. That is because virtually everything in the old testament is a type or shadow of the spiritual reality of Christ. First the natural (or soulish) then the spiritual is a spiritual principle that is found throughout scripture:
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:46
For example, natural Israel is a type or shadow of the true, spiritual Israel, which is Christ, who inherited all things, and through whom we and natural Israel receive the inheritance.First the natural,
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. Hosea 11:1
then the spiritualAnd [Jesus] was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet [Hosea], saying, Out of Egypt I called my son. Matthew 2:15
Those who claim Peter's initial gospel message was the same as Paul's Gospel received directly from Christ, I noticed that they don't post the verses in order to compare them directly, such as this:
Acts 2:38 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.
Paul, on the other hand, preached this:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The difference is night-n-day. Peter's gospel that he heard from Christ Jesus and that he was required to preach unto Israel, it was water baptism unto the remission of sins. Paul, on the other hand, who said nothing about water baptism unto the remission of sins, but rather preached FAITH in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on the third day, the differences are unmistakable.
The reasons for this have already been explained in this thread for your reading enjoyment.
MM
Acts 2:38 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.
Paul, on the other hand, preached this:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The difference is night-n-day. Peter's gospel that he heard from Christ Jesus and that he was required to preach unto Israel, it was water baptism unto the remission of sins. Paul, on the other hand, who said nothing about water baptism unto the remission of sins, but rather preached FAITH in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on the third day, the differences are unmistakable.
The reasons for this have already been explained in this thread for your reading enjoyment.
MM
I see no reason to think that Peter and Paul proclaimed different gospels. Peter said during the Jerusalem council that they were saved by grace, as the gentiles were.
Paul describes this same event in Galatians 2 and reveals that he went to Jerusalem to confer with Peter and other leaders in order to determine if he had the gospel right, and wrote that they had nothing to add to it. So the implication is that they were on the same page, and the proceedings of the Jerusalem council bear that out.
Peter was in fact the first to go to the gentiles, so the gospel he proclaimed to them was the same as what he proclaimed to Jews.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15:7-11
Paul describes this same event in Galatians 2 and reveals that he went to Jerusalem to confer with Peter and other leaders in order to determine if he had the gospel right, and wrote that they had nothing to add to it. So the implication is that they were on the same page, and the proceedings of the Jerusalem council bear that out.
Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. Galatians 2:1-2
But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: Galatians 2:6
for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: Galatians 2:6Peter was in fact the first to go to the gentiles, so the gospel he proclaimed to them was the same as what he proclaimed to Jews.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. Acts 10:34-48
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Furthermore, when Paul confronted Peter for his hypocritical behavior of living apart from the law when he was around gentiles, but pretending to be a law-observant Jew when Jews from Jerusalem were present, he stated that Peter was not living uprightly according to the gospel, which makes it quite clear that there was only one gospel between them. There would have been no reason for Paul to openly rebuke Peter in front of everyone if they proclaimed different gospelsBut when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Galatians 2:11-14
The doubters of scripture also ignore that Gentiles were, at one time, without God in the world except that they become proselytes into Judaism:
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Even Jesus referred to lost Gentiles as dogs:
Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
At that time, the only ones deemed by the Lord worthy of being called "the children" was Israel, and those who joined with Israel for salvation.
Oh, yes. Some, or many, ignore the ramifications of these very statements from our Lord and King, twisting them to their own ends steeped in doubt and conceit:
Romans 11:25 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.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
We all have much to learn, and rejecting what scripture says by trying to pit the word of God against itself, that is the nourishment of conceit and warped hermeneutics, we're left with nothing but blind and circular argument on the part of doubters.
MM
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Even Jesus referred to lost Gentiles as dogs:
Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
At that time, the only ones deemed by the Lord worthy of being called "the children" was Israel, and those who joined with Israel for salvation.
Oh, yes. Some, or many, ignore the ramifications of these very statements from our Lord and King, twisting them to their own ends steeped in doubt and conceit:
Romans 11:25 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.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
We all have much to learn, and rejecting what scripture says by trying to pit the word of God against itself, that is the nourishment of conceit and warped hermeneutics, we're left with nothing but blind and circular argument on the part of doubters.
MM
I don't see how you think this supports your false doctrine because all of that ended at the cross. That was life before the beginning of the dispensation in which living waters, ie the holy spirit, was poured out on mankind at Pentecost from the house of God; slowly at first, but the trickle eventually turned into a flood of living waters that covered the earth and brought forth a great multitude that no man can number.
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Ezekiel 47:1
And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. Ezekiel 47:3-5
And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. Ezekiel 47:9-10
And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. Zechariah 14:8
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this he spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) John 7:37-39
And when the day of Pentecost was fulfilled completely, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
And Jesus said unto them, Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Mark 1:17
What kind of bizarre nonsense are you teaching that it can't even conform to a broader reading of scripture than what you selectively provide? The baptism verses provided above by @GWH clearly show that water baptism was indeed part of Paul's ministry.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. Acts 16:14-15
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. Acts 16:33
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. Acts 18:8
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 19:4-5
I was curious this morning about the Bible's choice for the word "commonwealth." Thayer's Greek Lexicon had this to say as the definition according to the grammatical and contextual construct:
"spoken of the theocratic or divine commonwealth, Ephesians 2:12. "
That leans in the direction of Divine sourcing and contact, given that the Lord established covenants with no other nation or people on the earth apart from Israel. However, Israel's rejection in getting the Romans to crucify the Lord of Glory was the one thing that brought about their cutting off from the Vine, except that it was delayed slightly:
Luke 13:6-9
6 He spake also this parable; A certain [man] had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
This very much has the appearance of an inner counsel within the Godhead, and that one year coincides with Stephen's stoning about a year after the ascension of Christ...almost like the last straw (so to speak) before the Lord set aside Israel for a time, and that time being the Mystery that remained hidden in God from creation, as is evidenced in the fact that the body of Christ was unknown to any created being until revealed to Paul, as is somewhat evidenced in this:
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The princes, the chief demons perpetrated something if which they knew nothing about. When they pushed the people to crucify Christ, as was prophesied and therefore NOT a mystery, within the outflow from that very act was the hidden wisdom of what was to come, which is the benefit we all enjoy today, which is faith alone for salvation rather than having to join with Israel and perform works for salvation. This does indeed go against the many works-based systems of assumed salvation today, as well as replacement theology. The Lord works in His own ways that are not defined by what many believe, for the majority failing to read the scriptures for themselves renders them subject to any and all systems of thought that appeal to the pride of flesh...thinking that we can add to assurances for salvation with the efforts we put forth. That falsehood has many floundering around in confusions beyond counting never considering that it is impossible to earn a gift. The irrational defiance of reason in the belief systems of so many leaves them in darkness, ever fighting against these truths that the flesh simply doesn't want to accept. Riding the bandwagon has always offered the warm fuzzies of comfort, deadening the intellectual prowess of critical thinking...proving ALL things!
MM
"spoken of the theocratic or divine commonwealth, Ephesians 2:12. "
That leans in the direction of Divine sourcing and contact, given that the Lord established covenants with no other nation or people on the earth apart from Israel. However, Israel's rejection in getting the Romans to crucify the Lord of Glory was the one thing that brought about their cutting off from the Vine, except that it was delayed slightly:
Luke 13:6-9
6 He spake also this parable; A certain [man] had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
This very much has the appearance of an inner counsel within the Godhead, and that one year coincides with Stephen's stoning about a year after the ascension of Christ...almost like the last straw (so to speak) before the Lord set aside Israel for a time, and that time being the Mystery that remained hidden in God from creation, as is evidenced in the fact that the body of Christ was unknown to any created being until revealed to Paul, as is somewhat evidenced in this:
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The princes, the chief demons perpetrated something if which they knew nothing about. When they pushed the people to crucify Christ, as was prophesied and therefore NOT a mystery, within the outflow from that very act was the hidden wisdom of what was to come, which is the benefit we all enjoy today, which is faith alone for salvation rather than having to join with Israel and perform works for salvation. This does indeed go against the many works-based systems of assumed salvation today, as well as replacement theology. The Lord works in His own ways that are not defined by what many believe, for the majority failing to read the scriptures for themselves renders them subject to any and all systems of thought that appeal to the pride of flesh...thinking that we can add to assurances for salvation with the efforts we put forth. That falsehood has many floundering around in confusions beyond counting never considering that it is impossible to earn a gift. The irrational defiance of reason in the belief systems of so many leaves them in darkness, ever fighting against these truths that the flesh simply doesn't want to accept. Riding the bandwagon has always offered the warm fuzzies of comfort, deadening the intellectual prowess of critical thinking...proving ALL things!
MM