‘Mid-Acts-ers’ emphasize that Paul was the apostle who received ‘further revelation’ from the ‘risen, glorified Lord’. Although it is an undeniable fact that he did .... it is also true that, so did the other apostles, for it was the 11 that Jesus appeared to after His resurrection. Jesus’ 11 apostles also received ‘further revelation’ from the ‘risen, glorified Lord’ (being the ‘same’ ‘risen, glorified Lord’ that blinded Saul):
Matt 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:14-20 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Although Paul was the last to see the ‘risen, glorified Lord’ .... he was, by far, not the ONLY one to see Jesus after His resurrection glory, as we will read in 1 Cor 15:8 below:
1 Cor 15:1-8 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:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas (that's Peter), then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
After giving the gospel Paul received (1 Cor 15:1,3),
the gospel he delivered (1 Cor 15:3),
the gospel he preached (1 Cor 15:1),
the gospel that the Corinthians received (1 Cor 15:1),
the gospel they stood in (1 Cor 15:1),
the gospel they were saved by (1 Cor 15:2),
and the gospel they believed (1 Cor 15:2),
(which was that Christ died for our sins (1 Cor 15:3),
was buried, and rose again the 3rd day --- according to PROPHETIC scriptures ALREADY written) ....
and after giving the list of more than 512 men who had seen the ‘risen, glorified Lord’ (1 Cor 15:5-7) .... Paul said he, lastly, saw Jesus also:
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ elevate Paul to a ‘different’ apostle with a ‘distinct’ gospel message of salvation .... but Paul himself testified that he was the ‘smallest’ of them (not in size or stature) because of his awful history of such damage against God’s church:
1 Cor 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (Notice: The church of God existed BEFORE Paul.)
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Paul testified that it made no difference .... if it was him or any of THEM .... they all preached the ‘D,B,R’ (Death, Burial, Resurrection) of Christ .... and the result was that folks were saved:
1 Cor 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’, listening to the Cunning Royal Jester and his Jokers, think Paul had a ‘unique’ gospel .... a gospel given solely to him by the ‘risen, glorified Lord’. They question (whether vocally or silently) anyone’s testimony if they claim to have been saved using scriptures other than the epistles Paul wrote. I shudder that I was deceived by ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine in ‘time past’, ‘but now’ I am so thankful that I am out of that mess. In ‘the ages to come’ I will try to prevent others from being ensnared by their paradigm. ‘Mid-Acts’ teaching can be defeated by believing the WORDS in the VERSES.
This is David Dowell saying, “Think about it!”
Monday, December 27, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Kingdom of Heaven or The Kingdom of God?
Before we begin this study, be advised that we will not hold church service on Sunday, December 26, in lieu of the Christmas holiday, as we spend time with our family and friends.
Examine the following 2 references together .... back and forth .... and notice all the SAME things. Especially see that they are the SAME account by 2 different men, but the same Spirit:
Matt 4:12-19 Now when Jesus had heard
that John was cast into prison,
he departed into Galilee;
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee,
saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother,
casting a net into the sea:
for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:14-17 Now after
that John was put in prison,
Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel.
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea:
for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me,
and I will make you to become fishers of men.
Comparing all the similarities in these 2 companion passages proves that the kingdom of heaven IS the kingdom of God. Realizing this fact may change your doctrine .... IF you believe the Bible and are not blindly following a man with a chart and a paradigm!
Since the time of John the Baptist, men have preached the kingdom of God:
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John:
since that time the kingdom of God is preached,
and every man presseth into it.
Jesus instructed a certain man to preach the kingdom of God:
Luke 9:57-60 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead:
but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Jesus’ 12 disciples preached the kingdom of God:
Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Paul (Acts 20:16) preached the kingdom of God:
Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Acts 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God,
and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Jesus spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Acts 1:1-3 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days,
and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Philip preached the the things concerning the kingdom of God:
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Paul disputed and persuaded the the things concerning the kingdom of God:
Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months,
disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Paul expounded and testified the kingdom of God:
Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging;
to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Paul worked unto the kingdom of God:
Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
The Thessalonians suffered for the kingdom of God:
2 Thess 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ believe the Cunning Royal Jester who teaches them that ‘the kingdom of God’ that Paul preached is different than the ‘kingdom of God’ that everyone else preached. What a disaster of confusion!
Not only that .... but they deny that the kingdom of heaven is the same as the kingdom of God .... in spite of the scriptures (Matt 4:12-19 and Mark 1:14-17).
For all the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ who claim ‘grace’ to do whatever they want to do, but secretly celebrate the holidays for fear of what ‘each other’ might think if they knew .... I will say (without it being "Christ-Mass"), "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Examine the following 2 references together .... back and forth .... and notice all the SAME things. Especially see that they are the SAME account by 2 different men, but the same Spirit:
Matt 4:12-19 Now when Jesus had heard
that John was cast into prison,
he departed into Galilee;
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee,
saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother,
casting a net into the sea:
for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:14-17 Now after
that John was put in prison,
Jesus came into Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand:
repent ye, and believe the gospel.
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea:
for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me,
and I will make you to become fishers of men.
Comparing all the similarities in these 2 companion passages proves that the kingdom of heaven IS the kingdom of God. Realizing this fact may change your doctrine .... IF you believe the Bible and are not blindly following a man with a chart and a paradigm!
Since the time of John the Baptist, men have preached the kingdom of God:
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John:
since that time the kingdom of God is preached,
and every man presseth into it.
Jesus instructed a certain man to preach the kingdom of God:
Luke 9:57-60 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead:
but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Jesus’ 12 disciples preached the kingdom of God:
Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Paul (Acts 20:16) preached the kingdom of God:
Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Acts 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God,
and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Jesus spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Acts 1:1-3 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days,
and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Philip preached the the things concerning the kingdom of God:
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Paul disputed and persuaded the the things concerning the kingdom of God:
Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months,
disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Paul expounded and testified the kingdom of God:
Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging;
to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Paul worked unto the kingdom of God:
Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
The Thessalonians suffered for the kingdom of God:
2 Thess 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ believe the Cunning Royal Jester who teaches them that ‘the kingdom of God’ that Paul preached is different than the ‘kingdom of God’ that everyone else preached. What a disaster of confusion!
Not only that .... but they deny that the kingdom of heaven is the same as the kingdom of God .... in spite of the scriptures (Matt 4:12-19 and Mark 1:14-17).
For all the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ who claim ‘grace’ to do whatever they want to do, but secretly celebrate the holidays for fear of what ‘each other’ might think if they knew .... I will say (without it being "Christ-Mass"), "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Saturday, December 18, 2010
2 or 3 Breastplates? How Many Helmets?
According to ‘mid-Acts’ heresy, the apostle Paul has a ‘distinct’ ministry that sets him APART from all the other prophets of the holy scriptures. The Cunning Royal Jester is a pied piper, teaching that Paul has a ‘unique’ message (see Acts 26:22). He is leading unsuspecting followers into an abyss of apostasy. For example, consider the armour of God:
Eph 6:13-17 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on
the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take
the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
In ‘mid-Acts’ wrested understanding, this means that Isaiah’s armour must be ‘different’ than Paul’s armour:
Isa 59:17 For he put on
righteousness as a breastplate,
and
an helmet of salvation upon his head;
and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
Even though the words are essentially the same in Isaiah and Paul, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ must maintain separation between them to keep up their paradigm. Dare no one question them about the ‘other’ breastplate Paul described? Is this yet ‘another’ breastplate to be ‘distinguished’ from the breastplate of righteousness, notwithstanding the helmet is still salvation?
1 Thess 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on
the breastplate of faith and love;
and for
an helmet, the hope of salvation.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ completely ignore the twisted mess their perverted doctrine makes.
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Eph 6:13-17 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on
the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take
the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
In ‘mid-Acts’ wrested understanding, this means that Isaiah’s armour must be ‘different’ than Paul’s armour:
Isa 59:17 For he put on
righteousness as a breastplate,
and
an helmet of salvation upon his head;
and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
Even though the words are essentially the same in Isaiah and Paul, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ must maintain separation between them to keep up their paradigm. Dare no one question them about the ‘other’ breastplate Paul described? Is this yet ‘another’ breastplate to be ‘distinguished’ from the breastplate of righteousness, notwithstanding the helmet is still salvation?
1 Thess 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on
the breastplate of faith and love;
and for
an helmet, the hope of salvation.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ completely ignore the twisted mess their perverted doctrine makes.
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Who Was Preaching Peace?
When Peter preached the ‘first’ recorded sermon to the Gentiles at Cornelius’ house .... he described the word God sent as preaching PEACE by Jesus Christ:
Acts 10:34-43 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: (also see Acts 15:9, 1 Pet 1:17)
35 But in every nation he that feareth him,
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, (The gospel of Christ was sent to Israel first, as Paul also testified in
Rom 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.")
preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 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.
(Peter preached about Jesus’ death and resurrection on the 3rd day.
This was the gospel of Christ.
This was preaching peace by Jesus Christ, as Paul also testified in
Rom 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:")
39 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:
40 Him God raised up the third day,
and shewed him openly;
41 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. (Jesus was then the ‘risen, glorified Lord’ that gave His disciples the command to preach what the prophets had written concerning salvation through faith in Him):
42 And he (the ‘risen, glorified Lord’) 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.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
That was the same good news that Paul preached (also see 1 Cor 15:3-4):
Acts 26:22-23 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer,
and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead,
and should shew light unto the people,
and to the Gentiles.
Even at Pentecost, Peter reminded his audience of Jews (Acts 2:5,36) that God’s promise also included the Gentiles:
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you,
and to your children,
and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Peter was not the only prophet to preach peace, to the near and the far.
Isaiah also prophesied peace to both the Gentiles and the Jews:
Isa 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips;
Peace, peace to him that is far off,
and to him that is near,
saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
A favorite passage of ‘mid-Acts-ers’ is Eph 2:11-18, which they try to make be ‘the mystery given only to Paul’ .... but comparing Isa 57:19 with Eph 2:17 shows ‘this message’ was previously taught by Isaiah in prophecy:
Eph 2:13-18 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, (He is the Prince of Peace, see Isa 9:6) who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off (that would be the Gentiles),
and to them that were nigh (that would be Israel).
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Paul taught that the gospel of peace is part of the whole armour of God (Eph 6:13-17), which believers are to wear:
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Paul also testified that Isaiah wrote about the gospel of peace:
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ezekiel also prophesied the covenant of peace .... for Israel ....
but Paul extended it to also include the Gentiles:
Ezek 37:26-27 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them:
yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (That is the same promise that Paul applied to the church of God, in
2 Cor 6:16 "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.")
Jesus prophesied peace for His disciples (John 13:35), who are called ‘Christians’ since Antioch (Acts 11:26):
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Yes, both Paul and Peter preached peace by the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity.
Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Acts 10:34-43 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: (also see Acts 15:9, 1 Pet 1:17)
35 But in every nation he that feareth him,
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, (The gospel of Christ was sent to Israel first, as Paul also testified in
Rom 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.")
preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 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.
(Peter preached about Jesus’ death and resurrection on the 3rd day.
This was the gospel of Christ.
This was preaching peace by Jesus Christ, as Paul also testified in
Rom 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:")
39 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:
40 Him God raised up the third day,
and shewed him openly;
41 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. (Jesus was then the ‘risen, glorified Lord’ that gave His disciples the command to preach what the prophets had written concerning salvation through faith in Him):
42 And he (the ‘risen, glorified Lord’) 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.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
That was the same good news that Paul preached (also see 1 Cor 15:3-4):
Acts 26:22-23 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer,
and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead,
and should shew light unto the people,
and to the Gentiles.
Even at Pentecost, Peter reminded his audience of Jews (Acts 2:5,36) that God’s promise also included the Gentiles:
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you,
and to your children,
and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Peter was not the only prophet to preach peace, to the near and the far.
Isaiah also prophesied peace to both the Gentiles and the Jews:
Isa 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips;
Peace, peace to him that is far off,
and to him that is near,
saith the LORD; and I will heal him.
A favorite passage of ‘mid-Acts-ers’ is Eph 2:11-18, which they try to make be ‘the mystery given only to Paul’ .... but comparing Isa 57:19 with Eph 2:17 shows ‘this message’ was previously taught by Isaiah in prophecy:
Eph 2:13-18 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, (He is the Prince of Peace, see Isa 9:6) who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off (that would be the Gentiles),
and to them that were nigh (that would be Israel).
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Paul taught that the gospel of peace is part of the whole armour of God (Eph 6:13-17), which believers are to wear:
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Paul also testified that Isaiah wrote about the gospel of peace:
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Ezekiel also prophesied the covenant of peace .... for Israel ....
but Paul extended it to also include the Gentiles:
Ezek 37:26-27 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them:
yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (That is the same promise that Paul applied to the church of God, in
2 Cor 6:16 "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.")
Jesus prophesied peace for His disciples (John 13:35), who are called ‘Christians’ since Antioch (Acts 11:26):
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Yes, both Paul and Peter preached peace by the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity.
Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Unto Who? Unto You!
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ have made a big deal out of Paul’s use of the little phrase "unto you" in Gal 1:8-9, to try to defend their ludicrous position that Peter preached a different gospel than Paul preached, and still not be cursed. They have said things like, "He was just saying that to the Galatians .... Look at the "unto you" .... He was only talking to them about what someone was preaching to them, and Peter didn’t take the gospel to them."
Gal 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Peter did, in fact, write to the strangers scattered throughout Galatia (1 Peter 1:1).
Was the message of Christ dying and rising from the dead that Paul preached in a synagogue of the Jews .... "unto you" .... ONLY for THEM?
Acts 17:1-3 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging,
that Christ must needs have suffered,
and risen again from the dead;
and that this Jesus,
whom I preach unto you,
is Christ.
Paul testified that the SAME Jesus that died at the end of His earthly ministry .... was the SAME Jesus that rose from the grave .... and was the SAME Jesus that he preached .... "unto you".
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ need to re-think their "unto you" exemption:
1 Cor 15:1-11 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:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, (that is, Peter)
then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once;
of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James;
then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they,
so we preach,
and so ye believed.
The plain and simple truth is: If Peter .... or the 12 .... or James .... or any of the apostles .... or more than 500 other brothers, preached a different gospel than Paul preached to ANYONE .... then, according to the scriptures .... they would be accursed.
Like it or lump it .... but don’t try to change it!
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
Gal 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Peter did, in fact, write to the strangers scattered throughout Galatia (1 Peter 1:1).
Was the message of Christ dying and rising from the dead that Paul preached in a synagogue of the Jews .... "unto you" .... ONLY for THEM?
Acts 17:1-3 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging,
that Christ must needs have suffered,
and risen again from the dead;
and that this Jesus,
whom I preach unto you,
is Christ.
Paul testified that the SAME Jesus that died at the end of His earthly ministry .... was the SAME Jesus that rose from the grave .... and was the SAME Jesus that he preached .... "unto you".
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ need to re-think their "unto you" exemption:
1 Cor 15:1-11 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:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, (that is, Peter)
then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once;
of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James;
then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they,
so we preach,
and so ye believed.
The plain and simple truth is: If Peter .... or the 12 .... or James .... or any of the apostles .... or more than 500 other brothers, preached a different gospel than Paul preached to ANYONE .... then, according to the scriptures .... they would be accursed.
Like it or lump it .... but don’t try to change it!
This is David Dowell saying, "Think about it!"
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