Is Acts 3 to Jews and Proselytes only ?
- Thread starter throughfaith
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I would think that after 3.5 years living day and night with the greatest teacher of the universe, Peter would have had an understanding. I would not go so far as to say that he had the same understanding as Paul, but in Matthew 13, after our Lord Jesus gave the seven Parables on the Kingdom, He asked His disciples if they had understood. They said "yes" and our Lord did not contradict them. But the interesting thing is, I would be so bold as to say that the majority of Christians on this Forum do not understand one or more of these parables. We have the Bible, we have the sayings of Jesus Christ, Peter and Paul, PLUS 1900 years of theological study, and we cannot comes to a consensus. Added to this, remember that everything that happened to the primitive Church in Acts, happened for the first time in history. We've got to give them a break. We have had two Millennia to study these events. Peter, Paul and Barnabas saw them for the first time.
I asked you what your doctrine would be? Acts 2:38 is the reason why the Holy Spirit is given as it was given on Pentecost - not a gospel.
My answer to my question would have been; I do NOT have a doctrine for preaching the gospel. To the Jewish scientist I would argue that the very science he studies proves that Evolution is a hoax, and I would show him ten prophecies that Messiah fulfilled that are recorded in HIS book, the Tanakh. If I did the same with the African teenager who had no formal education, he would take a long look at me and put an Mamba in my bed that night. The man who stubbornly sets forth what the gospel has to be, will have very limited success. The bespoke suited Lawyer must be met in his territory, and the eskimo in his. That is why there are so many records of the gospel. The core is always the same, but to get one man to that core takes a different approach to another.
My answer to my question would have been; I do NOT have a doctrine for preaching the gospel. To the Jewish scientist I would argue that the very science he studies proves that Evolution is a hoax, and I would show him ten prophecies that Messiah fulfilled that are recorded in HIS book, the Tanakh. If I did the same with the African teenager who had no formal education, he would take a long look at me and put an Mamba in my bed that night. The man who stubbornly sets forth what the gospel has to be, will have very limited success. The bespoke suited Lawyer must be met in his territory, and the eskimo in his. That is why there are so many records of the gospel. The core is always the same, but to get one man to that core takes a different approach to another.
I don't think we should share Acts 2 as the Gospel to anyone today. All the understanding of the Gospel we share today is in Paul's letters. Now the knee jerk response to this is to assume I'm saying we only read Paul's letters . No I'm saying that the Gospel we share today is explained in Paul's letters not in Acts . Not that we don't need the book of Acts ,we do . We need the whole Bible to arrive at our understanding. But to share the wrong message at the wrong time is obviously wrong.
-
1
- Show all
S
The foundational presentation of the Gospel in Acts 2 is a law of first reference in the history of the Church. It is connected with the empoweing of the Holy Spirit after conversion, the power from on High to be a witness and to carry out the great commission.
This mandate to preach the Gospel to every nation and then shall the end come is our current mission. You can use Peters presentation as a good example but there are others in the book of Acts as well and they all say the same thing and are not different as you attempt to suggest. Even if Peter did think that Jesus meant only Jews in every nation Jesus did not mean that. We know from the rest of scriptures.
It does not matter that He started with the Jews, the message continues and has not changed. To apply it to your current location it would be that after you are born again and empowered with the Holy Spirit you should preach the Gospel in your town, in your neighboring town and get engaged in efforts to help spread it to the uttermost parts of the earth. To every tribe, tongue, people and nation, and the fact that it started with Jews does not mean you have been given a different mission or that you cannot receive the mandate from the initial mission
So yes, Acts 2 does apply to me.
This mandate to preach the Gospel to every nation and then shall the end come is our current mission. You can use Peters presentation as a good example but there are others in the book of Acts as well and they all say the same thing and are not different as you attempt to suggest. Even if Peter did think that Jesus meant only Jews in every nation Jesus did not mean that. We know from the rest of scriptures.
It does not matter that He started with the Jews, the message continues and has not changed. To apply it to your current location it would be that after you are born again and empowered with the Holy Spirit you should preach the Gospel in your town, in your neighboring town and get engaged in efforts to help spread it to the uttermost parts of the earth. To every tribe, tongue, people and nation, and the fact that it started with Jews does not mean you have been given a different mission or that you cannot receive the mandate from the initial mission
So yes, Acts 2 does apply to me.
Only when we get an apostle to the gentiles does the transition change .
Peter is saying nothing about faith, nothing about eternal life . Acts chapter 2 and chapter 3 show a dramatic difference to how we would share the gospel today . Read Roman s 10,9 and 1cor 15 1-4 and see the difference. You assume that Acts 2 is the pattern, when it's a message to ISRAEL . We are not ISREAL
Peter is saying nothing about faith, nothing about eternal life . Acts chapter 2 and chapter 3 show a dramatic difference to how we would share the gospel today . Read Roman s 10,9 and 1cor 15 1-4 and see the difference. You assume that Acts 2 is the pattern, when it's a message to ISRAEL . We are not ISREAL
if your referring to mat 24
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This is also not the Gospel of 1cor 15.1-4 .
This is during the tribulation. Notice its the " Gospel of the kingdom " Not the Gospel of grace .
Nor is luke 9.6 the Gospel we preach today either.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This is also not the Gospel of 1cor 15.1-4 .
This is during the tribulation. Notice its the " Gospel of the kingdom " Not the Gospel of grace .
Nor is luke 9.6 the Gospel we preach today either.
-
1
- Show all
Its easier than that . Read luke 9.6
Ok there preaching the Gospel right?
Then read luke 18 to find out that Gospel is not the death , burial and resurrection.
31¶Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34¶And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
So the ' Gospel ' they were preaching in luke 9.6 is not the death, burial and resurrection.
Now ask your self can anyone be saved today by not hearing , understanding, and believing the death , burial and resurrection?
Ok there preaching the Gospel right?
Then read luke 18 to find out that Gospel is not the death , burial and resurrection.
31¶Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
34¶And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
So the ' Gospel ' they were preaching in luke 9.6 is not the death, burial and resurrection.
Now ask your self can anyone be saved today by not hearing , understanding, and believing the death , burial and resurrection?
S
Go back further to Isaiah. How beautiful are the feet of them upon the mountains that proclaimed the gospel...etc
This was about the messengers that reported the release of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity by the decree of Cyrus, but Paul says it is also about the Gospel to the gentiles. So if Paul takes what was written to the Jews and applies it to Gentiles so can you.
They did not understand in Isaiah's day how it would be fulfilled but it was still prophecy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul taught to both Jews and Gentiles the same Gospel.
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is not saying Greek Jews in this context and if you think that he is then I can only suggest that you google it. There are plenty of free resources to help you figure out that he means gentiles in this context. I will assume that you will agree that in the context of Acts 20:21 he means gentiles. Saying Jews or Greeks is another way of saying Jews or Gentiles, since he was evangelizing in Greek towns. It would be like saying Jews and Polynesians if he was in those countries. But we would interpret it as Jews and Gentiles and be on the same page as to what Paul was communicating.
This was about the messengers that reported the release of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity by the decree of Cyrus, but Paul says it is also about the Gospel to the gentiles. So if Paul takes what was written to the Jews and applies it to Gentiles so can you.
They did not understand in Isaiah's day how it would be fulfilled but it was still prophecy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul taught to both Jews and Gentiles the same Gospel.
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is not saying Greek Jews in this context and if you think that he is then I can only suggest that you google it. There are plenty of free resources to help you figure out that he means gentiles in this context. I will assume that you will agree that in the context of Acts 20:21 he means gentiles. Saying Jews or Greeks is another way of saying Jews or Gentiles, since he was evangelizing in Greek towns. It would be like saying Jews and Polynesians if he was in those countries. But we would interpret it as Jews and Gentiles and be on the same page as to what Paul was communicating.
S
Yes, sometimes almost the same way they would have and sometimes with more details than they had at the time.
They were preaching from a perspective of the Kingdom that was prophesied in the prophets and they were correct, even though they thought those prophesies were going to be fulfilled in every detail right away. They were still preaching that Jesus had come to heal the sick, cast out demons etc.
I also preach this full Gospel message that the kingdom of God has come nigh unto you and the power of the Holy Ghost is present when I do. People are healed, people are born again, demons are cast out of people and the Kingdom of God is manifest before peoples eyes that the Kingdom Rule of Christ is greater than the kingdom of satan.
People are translated out of the Kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ as a result of faith when I preach.
So yes I do preach the same Gospel. Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
I can preach Jesus Christ and His power to set people free from their sins if they repent and believe on Him and people will repent and believe on Jesus and call upon Him and be delivered and saved before they even understand all the details about death burial and resurrection.
Multitudes have been saved by repentance toward God and Faith in Jesus Christ before they understood how the cross figured into God's eternal plan of redemption or why blood had to be shed, or why a resurrection.
If you think people have to have a doctrinal class on the meaning of the cross before they are saved you would be mistaken. Many have been saved by repenting and believing on Jesus and learned about the meaning of the cross afterwards.
You seem to be building your understanding about the Gospel Paul preached, or the Gospel we preach requiring an doctrinal presentation on all the theological points of soteriology and that is why you are thinking that it is a different Gospel because they did not have all those details before the cross. But you don't have to have all those details to preach that Jesus will save his people from their sins do you? You are obsessing over a problem that does not exist except in your own mind. You have created a contradiction when there is none. You have to go back to your original thesis and recognize that Preaching that Jesus will save you from your sins (without explaining how) is in itself the Gospel.
They were preaching from a perspective of the Kingdom that was prophesied in the prophets and they were correct, even though they thought those prophesies were going to be fulfilled in every detail right away. They were still preaching that Jesus had come to heal the sick, cast out demons etc.
I also preach this full Gospel message that the kingdom of God has come nigh unto you and the power of the Holy Ghost is present when I do. People are healed, people are born again, demons are cast out of people and the Kingdom of God is manifest before peoples eyes that the Kingdom Rule of Christ is greater than the kingdom of satan.
People are translated out of the Kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ as a result of faith when I preach.
So yes I do preach the same Gospel. Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
I can preach Jesus Christ and His power to set people free from their sins if they repent and believe on Him and people will repent and believe on Jesus and call upon Him and be delivered and saved before they even understand all the details about death burial and resurrection.
Multitudes have been saved by repentance toward God and Faith in Jesus Christ before they understood how the cross figured into God's eternal plan of redemption or why blood had to be shed, or why a resurrection.
If you think people have to have a doctrinal class on the meaning of the cross before they are saved you would be mistaken. Many have been saved by repenting and believing on Jesus and learned about the meaning of the cross afterwards.
You seem to be building your understanding about the Gospel Paul preached, or the Gospel we preach requiring an doctrinal presentation on all the theological points of soteriology and that is why you are thinking that it is a different Gospel because they did not have all those details before the cross. But you don't have to have all those details to preach that Jesus will save his people from their sins do you? You are obsessing over a problem that does not exist except in your own mind. You have created a contradiction when there is none. You have to go back to your original thesis and recognize that Preaching that Jesus will save you from your sins (without explaining how) is in itself the Gospel.
-
1
- Show all
Tell me what is so complicated about this :
1¶Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2By 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;
4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This is what PAUL means when he says about another Gospel will be condemned .
preaching luke 9.6 at the wrong time is another Gospel.
You think if they had preached 1 cor 15 . 1-4 before it actually happened people would have been saved ?
1¶Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2By 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;
4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This is what PAUL means when he says about another Gospel will be condemned .
preaching luke 9.6 at the wrong time is another Gospel.
You think if they had preached 1 cor 15 . 1-4 before it actually happened people would have been saved ?