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"Rightly Dividing" The Book of Acts
Aloha all,
I am starting a new Thread in regards to "rightly dividing" the Book of Acts because I believe the subject to be extremely import in understanding how to rightly divide the word of truth, and the Posts that were made in regards to this subject were "buried" in the Thread on "Water Baptism". When studying the Scriptures it is always necessary for us to rightly divide “the word of truth”. That means that we must always keep in mind the distinction that the Scriptures make between the JEW; the GENTILE; and the CHURCH {where there is neither Jew nor Greek (i.e. Gentile) – Galatians 3:28& Colossians 3:11}. In addition we must always keep in mind that the Bible is not only a Book about “Doctrine” and about “Spiritual” matters, it is also a Book about “History”; and in order to arrive at the “Truth” of Scripture we must always take the “historical context” into consideration when “rightly dividing the word of truth”. That simply means that we cannot “project” what we “know” NOW (as Christians) back into the “historical setting”. We must accept the written record WHERE, WHEN and HOW we find it, and not make it “say” or “mean” something other than what it says in the “historical context”. As you read - Ask yourself: WHO is speaking? And to WHOM is he speaking to? Quote:
As you read - Ask yourself: WHO is speaking? And to WHOM is he speaking to? Quote:
I shall “expound” on WHY verses 19 & 20 were NOT fulfilled; and WHY they WILL be FULFILLED in the FUTURE {later on} Quote:
Don’t forget – The Bible is not only a Book about “doctrine”, and “spiritual things”; it is also a Book on and about “history”. We must keep the “historical setting” in mind, if we are to “rightly divide” God’s words. Quote:
Quote:
Matthew 28:18 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. Let me ask you: If you have been baptized (in water) – were you baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins”? And did you receive the Holy Ghost AFTER you were baptized in water? This is what the “Cambellites” (“Church of Christ”) teach; is this “sound doctrine” for a Bible believing Christian? When I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and received Him as my personal Saviour in October, 1958 I instantly received “the remission of (my) sins” – WITHOUT getting a toe wet! And I instantly received the “gift” of the Holy Spirit - WITHOUT water Baptism - just exactly like ALL Gentile believers have since the Apostle Peter “opened the door” to the Gentiles long ago [Acts 10:34-48]. It should be clear to most people reading these verses that “something else” is going on here; and that clearly the water “Baptism” practiced here is NOT the “SAME” as the water “Baptism” practiced by the Apostle Paul; and the “message” (“gospel”) that the Apostle Peter is preaching here is NOT the “SAME Gospel” that the Apostle Paul preached. Quote:
Were they told the Apostle Paul’s “Gospel”? Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Or were they told Peter’s “gospel”? 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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. Since the words spoken by the two Apostles are NOT the SAME, it is obvious that the two “Gospels” clearly are NOT the “SAME”. In order for anyone to get “saved” today they MUST BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ and RECEIVE Him as their Saviour. In order for those Jews & Proselytes to get “saved” at Pentecost, they had to BELIEVE that “Jesus of Nazareth” was both their Lord & Messiah; and "REPENT" (for refusing to believe Christ (His words); for refusing to receive Christ as Lord and King; for delivering Him up; for denying Him; and for killing Him), and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. And if they OBEYED Peter’s command they received “the gift of the Holy Ghost”. A man’s Salvation (under any “covenant”) has always been dependent upon BELIEVING what God has said (at that time), and OBEYING (DOING) what he said. If we will just believe what is written and where it is written, and keep in mind - WHO is speaking, and to WHOM he is speaking, much of Scripture becomes understandable. |
#2
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Re: "Rightly Dividing" The Book of Acts Part II
Aloha all,
This is the second in a series of studies on "Rightly Dividing the Book of Acts": When studying the Scriptures it is always necessary for us to rightly divide “the word of truth”. That means that we must always keep in mind the distinction that the Scriptures make between the JEW; the GENTILE; and the CHURCH {where there is neither Jew nor Greek (i.e. Gentile) – Galatians 3:28& Colossians 3:11}. In addition we must always keep in mind that the Bible is not only a Book about “Doctrine” and about “Spiritual” matters, it is also a Book about “History”; and in order to arrive at the “Truth” of Scripture we must always take the “historical context” into consideration when “rightly dividing the word of truth”. That simply means that we cannot “project” what we “know” NOW (as Christians) back into the “historical setting”. We must accept the written record WHERE, WHEN and HOW we find it, and not make it “say” or “mean” something other than what it says in the “historical context”. As you read - Ask yourself: WHO is speaking? And to WHOM is he speaking to? Quote:
REPENT - of refusing to believe Christ (His words); REPENT: of refusing to receive Christ - as their Lord and King; REPENT: of delivering Him up; REPENT: of denying Him; and REPENT: of killing Him Quote:
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Christ’s return was predicated upon the nation of Israel’s “repentance”. IF they “REPENT” – God will send Christ back. IF they refused to “REPENT” and be “converted”, then God had “another plan”: Acts 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, {Only Jews} 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: {Only Jews} 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. {Only Jews} 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. {The “turning point” – God turns His back on Israel (because of their UNBELIEF) and turns to the Gentiles. This is WHY every where’s that the Apostle Paul went in his 3 missionary journeys – he always went to the JEWS “FIRST” and then to the Gentiles [Romans 1:16, 2:10]} Quote:
When studying the Bible we must – “rightly divide the word of truth”. If Christians do not “rightly divide”, they will seek to “HARMONIZE” the Holy Scriptures; they will have NO CHOICE. For the most part – the “lost” IGNORE the Bible, but sincere Christians must “study to shew themselves approved unto God”, and so basically they have two choices (i.e. “methodologies”) - either they can try to “HARMONIZE’ the Scriptures (i.e. try to make everything fit into ONE MOLD); or they can “RIGHTLY DIVIDE” the Scriptures and try to determine WHERE God wants things to “FIT”. The Holy Bible instructs us HOW we are to study; [2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.] so there should be no question as to which “methodology” is Scripturally sound and correct. |
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RE: "Rightly Dividing" The Book of Acts Part III
Aloha all,
This is the third in a series of studies on "Rightly Dividing the Book of Acts": When studying the Scriptures it is always necessary for us to rightly divide “the word of truth”. That means that we must always keep in mind the distinction that the Scriptures make between the JEW; the GENTILE; and the CHURCH {where there is neither Jew nor Greek (i.e. Gentile) – Galatians 3:28& Colossians 3:11}. In addition we must always keep in mind that the Bible is not only a Book about “Doctrine” and about “Spiritual” matters, it is also a Book about “History”; and in order to arrive at the “Truth” of Scripture we must always take the “historical context” into consideration when “rightly dividing the word of truth”. That simply means that we cannot “project” what we “know” NOW (as Christians) back into the “historical setting”. We must accept the written record WHERE, WHEN and HOW we find it, and not make it “say” or “mean” something other than what it says in the “historical context”. Here we are in the fourth Chapter of the Book of Acts and it should be obvious (at least to some) that what is taking place here (in the “historical context”) has NOTHING to do with individual salvation (for both Jew & Greek - as preached and taught by the Apostle Paul (i.e. MY “Gospel”), and everything to do with “all the people of Israel” (Jews/Hebrews/Israelites), that is specifically with the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and the Nation of Israel. As you read - Ask yourself: WHO is speaking? And to WHOM is he speaking to? Quote:
How many more times must we read these “specific” addresses (“to all the house of Israel”) before we realize that the words in the foregoing Chapters of Acts were ADDRESSED specifically BY JEWS and exclusively TO JEWS (“all the people of Israel” - i.e. the nation of Israel) and were in regards to the nation of Israel refusing to believe Christ (His words);refusing to receive Christ – as their Lord and King; and delivering Christ up to the Gentiles; and denying Him; and having Him murdered? If I “address” a specific Post on this Forum to brother Parish, others may read it – but I “meant” it to be only for him. If I address a specific Post on this Forum to brother Tony, others may “THINK” that I am addressing them, or they may “THINK” I am talking about them - but the fact remains that if I addressed that Post to brother Tony, I meant it to be ONLY for him! If the Apostle Peter used all of these specific addresses (“to all the house of Israel”) all of these times, where do Christians get the idea that these things apply TO them? With ALL of the SPECIFIC overtures, entreaties, pleas, and adjurations addressed exclusively to “all the house of Israel” by the Apostle Peter in Acts Chapters 2-4 it should be crystal clear to all, that those things spoken of by Peter, cannot possibly be the SAME, as that “Gospel” that the Apostle Paul received (by special “revelation” from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself) AFTER the nation of Israel had rejected Peter’s call (“to all the house of Israel”) to “REPENT” and be “CONVERTED”. Understanding what took place in these few Chapters should be a simple matter of basic reading comprehension in the English language, WHY is it so difficult to accept exactly WHAT was written; WHERE it was written; and WHEN it was written? |
#4
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Wow, Great stuff George. I am gonna hang on to this for teaching in the Bible college.
Your studies are such a blessing. Last edited by chette777; 05-30-2009 at 01:36 AM. |
#5
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Re: "Rightly Dividing The Book of Acts"
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Aloha brother Chette, Here is a partial list of the different “terms” used by the Apostle Peter (in the first 5 Chapters of Acts) to address "the people”. Notice how only one of them (the last one) might be “ambiguous” – ALL of the others (14 out of 15) are clearly addressed to “all the people of Israel”. Men and brethren = 3 Times Ye men of Israel = 3 Times the God of our fathers = 2 Times Ye men of Judaea = 1 Time Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel = 1 Time Ye are the children of the prophets = 1 Time all the people of Israel = 1 Time all the house of Israel = 1 Time unto you, and to your children = 1 Time all ye that dwell at Jerusalem = 1 Time It is incredible (to me) that Christian men (pastor/elders/teachers) do not understand the importance of WHO is speaking and to WHOM they are speaking - when "rightly dividing the word of truth". Last edited by George; 05-30-2009 at 07:41 AM. |
#6
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you know that was one of the first things I was taught was to always ask who. who is speaking to whom is he speaking. It may be for us but it is not addressed to us. the basic Bible study method is Observation which includes asking who, what, where, when and why. How is also good at times. after those questions are answered then interpret the passage. then get an application if possible for today. Like you said to another person in another thread. there may be a spiritual application for the church but doctrinally it is not for the church.
I pray some of the other guys catch on to this method of Bible study because when they do lots of things fall into place with no conflict or problem. it doesn't put everything into a neat little box or answer all the questions but it makes everything a lot simpler. |
#7
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Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? {Men and brethren = Only Jews}Greetings Brother George. I see the division between the Apostle Peter's Gospel and the Apostle Paul's in Acts. That indeed is obvious when we simply examine the words and receive them as written. Something, by the way, I did not see the importance of doing until joining this Bible forum. Like many, I've always heard that Acts 2:38 means repent and then be baptized for [because] your sins have been remitted. I must confess, I have always been uneasy in my inner man with that explanation. Rightly dividing the book of Acts is, in my opinion, provides a better and clearer explanation. But what was the significance of baptism in order for the [Jew, Hebrew, Israelite] to have their sins remitted? I understand receiving "the gift of the Holy Ghost" after repentance. But why was baptism significant in order for their sins to be remitted? I realize the simple answer is because that's what the word says. But is there a Biblical connection made elsewhere for repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins specifically for the Jew? |
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Re: ""Rightly Dividing" The Book of Acts"
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Dear brother Forrest, I love you in the Lord - BUT you sure make it "hard" on a fellow brother in Christ! WHY is it - that you ALWAYS ask the toughest questions? I've been "cogitating" on the very same thing that you have asked - WHAT is the "significance" in the differences in water Baptism (BEFORE the cross; AFTER the death, burial, and resurrection - but before the Nation of Israel's "rejection" of the Apostles & their "message"; and AFTER God's "rejection" of the nation of Israel and His turning to the Gentiles?) I believe that they are all "different", but the SIGNIFICANCE of that "difference" - that's another matter for another time, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I know the answer. But, since it is always a "challenge" to try to answer your most perceptive questions - I will attempt to answer these questions also, but NOT today. I have been fighting a cold (or flu?) since Tuesday and need to store up some "energy" for my next challenge. |
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Grace and peace and keep an eye on it brother. Tony |
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