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Continuing our discussion from part two, this leads us to our next point of discussion, and that is the following: While the core elements of the Gospel message which Jesus, the Apostles, and eventually the Apostle Paul, preached was the same -- as I have already amply and clearly demonstrated through a plethora of Scriptures -- nevertheless, there are a few differences which we should recognize. The biggest and most obvious difference between the Apostle Paul and other Apostles, was NOT in the context of the Gospel message they preached, but rather to whom their message was addressed. As you may know, when Jesus began instructing the Apostles, He told them that the message they were being given was to be shared with the people of Israel. At that particular time, it was not yet meant to be announced to the Gentiles. This point is evidenced by verses such as these:

"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, GO NOT INTO THE WAY OF THE GENTILES, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."


"And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I AM NOT SENT BUT UNTO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."


"Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS."


"Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, PREACHING THE WORD TO NONE BUT UNTO THE JEWS ONLY."


While the Gospel message was originally intended to be given only to the Israelites, we know from the Scriptures that it was in fact God's design and intention from the very start for that message to also eventually be taken to the Gentile nations, and that that is exactly what eventually occurred. In fact, as I have shared before, it was in Acts chapter ten where the Lord confirmed to the Apostle Peter that it was time to reach the Gentiles with the Gospel message. Please note that as I explain in the article entitled "Fifty Days Which Changed the World", from the time that the Lord was crucified during the Passover feast, to the Day of Pentecost when the Apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost, was only fifty days. How much time transpired between Acts chapter two and Acts chapter ten is hard to say. At any rate, please consider the following verses which are found in chapters ten and eleven:

"On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."


"And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the mans house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."


The fact of the matter is that even in the Old Testament, we find verses which confirm that Jesus was indeed prophesied to become a light to the Gentile nations. His message, and the Salvation which His own Death on the Cross would provide, was not meant to be restricted to the Jews alone forever. The day would arrive when the Gentiles would also trust in Jesus for their Salvation as well. Consider the following set of verses:

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."


"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: HE SHALL BRING FORTH JUDGMENT TO THE GENTILES. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, FOR A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."


"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and HE SHALL SHEW JUDGMENT TO THE GENTILES. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. AND IN HIS NAME SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST."


"And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST."


So, as I said, because in His divine wisdom, God the Father had designed a plan whereby the Israelites and Jews would be presented with the Gospel message first, followed later by the Gentiles as well, once the green light was given to the Apostle Peter, this is exactly what happened. With Peter's revelation, the Church in Jerusalem came to understand that it was now time for the Gospel message to be extended to the Gentiles too. Peter in fact led the way when he went to the home of Cornelius. Of course, this change in attitude is most noticeable in the writings of the Apostle Paul, as we can easily determine by the following group of verses:

"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."


"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for YE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS."


"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 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: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath BROKEN DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL OF PARTITION BETWEEN US; 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; And THAT HE MIGHT RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD [meaning Jew and Gentile] in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."


"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."


While in the Gospels, Jesus told the Apostles that they were only to preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, I am reminded of a verse where the Lord said something which suggests to me that He may have already been dropping a hint that while for the time being, they would all concentrate on reaching the Israelites, the day would eventually arrive when their mission would be greatly expanded to include the entire Gentile world. That verse is the following one:

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."


There are a number of other Scriptures which seem to support my notion that for whatever His reasons, Jesus simply wasn't ready to reveal the full missionary plan to the Apostles yet, even though He himself was fully aware of it. While it's just personal speculation on my part, maybe withholding the Gospel message from the Gentiles was meant to give the Lord time to properly train and equip the Apostles for the huge job which lie ahead, once the full Gospel message was presented to the Gentile world. For example, up until that point in time, the Apostles had not received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. That Jesus already did possess a vision for the world is clearly evident in the following group of verses:

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL MEN unto me."


"For God so loved THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that THE WORLD through him might be saved."


"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life UNTO THE WORLD . . . I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD."


"And he said unto them, Go ye INTO ALL THE WORLD, and preach the gospel to every creature."


"As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them INTO THE WORLD."


"Jesus answered him, I spake openly TO THE WORLD; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing."


"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH."


So as you can plainly see by the previous group of verses, the Lord's overall vision and ultimate goal was in fact for every single individual in the world to eventually hear the Gospel message, and as a result of hearing it, also have an opportunity to become a member of the Kingdom of God, and to be adopted into God's family. This matter of spiritual adoption is made clearly evident in verses such as these:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"


"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but YE HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together . . . For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION, to wit, the redemption of our body."


"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."


"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."


"Having predestinated us UNTO THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY JESUS CHRIST to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"


"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"


"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."


Of course, when the Apostle Paul first began preaching the Gospel message, he too only approached those of his own nation. That is to say, the Jews. However, as I have pointed out before, once the unbelieving Jews rejected that message, Paul turned to the Gentiles, and thus became the Apostle to the Gentiles, who the self-righteous Jews referred to as the Uncircumcision, because they were uncircumcised, and did not abide by Jewish laws and customs. Consider the following set of Bible verses which confirm this point:

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, LO, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I HAVE SET THEE TO BE A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth."


"And he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: FROM HENCEFORTH I WILL GO UNTO THE GENTILES."


"And he [the Lord] said unto me [Paul], Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles."


"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: 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."


"For I [Paul] speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, I magnify mine office:"


"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, THAT I SHOULD BE THE MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE GENTILES, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."


"For I [Paul] am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."


"For I [Paul] think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men."


"Whereunto I [Paul] am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) A TEACHER OF THE GENTILES in faith and verity."


"Whereunto I [Paul] am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and A TEACHER OF THE GENTILES."


As we have seen, while the central Gospel message which was preached by Jesus, by the Twelve Apostles, and lastly by the Apostle Paul was the same -- meaning that Jesus died for the sins of the world and was buried and resurrected -- the time came when the audience to whom that message was directed was divided into two: the original Apostles to the Circumcision -- meaning the Jews -- and the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles, who the legalistic Jews self-righteously referred to as the Uncircumcision.

While some of the Jews outright rejected the Gospel message entirely -- which, as we have seen, was why the Apostle Paul ultimately turned to the Gentiles -- there were other Jews who accepted the new doctrine concerning Christ, but yet who still had some reservations regarding Salvation being made available to the Gentiles. This becomes quite evident by two verses I shared with you earlier where Peter confronts the legalistic Jewish brethren in Jerusalem following his vision where the Lord told him to extend the Gospel to the Gentiles. Please consider the following:

"And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them."


As you can see, they were not the least bit happy regarding this new development. Those pompous, sanctimonious, very self-righteous religionists not only thought that they were better than the Gentiles, but they were offended that Peter would even dare to sit down and eat with them. However, this was NOT the end of it. As I more amply explain in some of my other articles, while they may have embraced Christ, at the same time, just like the Apostle Paul haters I described for you at the beginning of this series, they also believed that they were still required to adhere to the Laws of Moses, to follow Jewish kosher laws, to celebrate all of the Jewish feast days, to be circumcised, etc.

In other words, similar to the modern Apostle Paul haters of our own day -- and sadly, to many other modern Christians as well -- while they accepted Christ, those Jews also believed that they had to do all of these legalistic things in order to help Christ to save them, and to keep themselves saved. In other words, they had one foot firmly on the Law, while their other foot stood upon Grace. They were trying to mix God's Grace through faith in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, with their own self-righteous works.

In short, those legalistic Jews just were NOT prepared to let go entirely of their own futile endeavors in the flesh. They were not willing to leave behind their schoolmaster -- that is, the Laws of Moses -- and embrace Jesus Christ fully by faith, and trust in Him alone for their Salvation. In the case of those Jews who rejected Christ entirely, they still believed that they could establish their own righteousness before God without the need for Jesus. As the Apostle Paul so elegantly wrote:

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."


As I point out in a number of other articles, some of which are listed at the end of this same series, we either believe that we are saved by God's Grace alone through our faith in the atoning Sacrifice of His dear Son, or else we trust in our own works of the flesh. There is simply no mixing of the two. The Apostle Paul makes this quite clear in verses such as the following:

"And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."


"For BY GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast."


"NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"


"Therefore we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED BY FAITH without the deeds of the law."


"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."


"For CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that believeth."


"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN."


"But that NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith . . . CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"


"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; YE ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE."


My friends, honestly, can the truth be any clearer than that? Please notice that in Ephesians 2:8-9, the Apostle Paul says "lest any man should boast." You see, if we can really trust in our own works and our righteousness to save us, not only did Christ die in vain, as Paul writes, but it also gives us opportunity to get the big head, become lifted up in pride, pat ourselves on the back, and boast about how good and holy we are, and how great we are. It sounds very much like the unbelieving Scribes and the Pharisees, doesn't it?

Please go to part four for the continuation of this series.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

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