Well I have been posting biblical refutes to the Acts 28 position for awhile now because I recently corresponded with an Acts 28er whose arguments sounded very convincing for a little while. Then I talked to a fellow M.A.D. man and then I did my "homework" and now I am even more grounded in Mid-Acts Dispensationalism than I was before, but I have also gained a passion for refuting the Acts 28 position. There is just something particularly despicable about it. I am an anti-Acts 28er, in the since of it is one of my desires to completely refute it with the King James Bible RIGHTLY divided.
1 Corinthians 10 and 11 are passages that Mid-Acts and 28ers get goofed up on. To understand the passage we just need to let it say what it says and be careful not insert or takeout anything and just let it stand in context. (which is the key to understanding any passage in the Bible)
1 Corinthians 10:
[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
[3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
[5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
[6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Verse 6 is a problem for a lot of people, Mid-Acts or 28er. They say that this could not be talking to the body of Christ because God does not physically chasten us. I have no idea how you got that idea, but I know it was not out of a King James Bible. You may have got it from Chuck Belch (Charles Whelch), but you did not get it out of the Bible. All these "Pauline nuts" get there mind so fixed on "right" division that they forget about the things that are true in every age. There are some verses I do not care where they are at and who they are written to because they are just as true in this age as they were when they were written. Here is one of those things that are completely true for any dispensation.
Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
I do not care how "Pauline" you are or what age you live in, if God loves you and you are one of His sons then He is going to chasten you. Don't try and tell me there ain't chastening in this dispensation, Paul taught it in other places than this.
Galatians 6:
[7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
[8]
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but
he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
[9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Verse 8 is exactly what Paul is teaching in 1 Corinthians 10. In fact, Galatians 6 is probably the best cross reference to this there is in Paul's epistles.
Galatians 6:
[1] Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
[2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
[3] For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
1 Corinthians 10 lines right up with that.
[6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
[7] Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
[8] Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
[9] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
[10] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
[11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
[12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
[13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
[14] Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
Paul is teaching that those Hebrew people received chastening from God and that "all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition". Then in verses 12,13, and 14 Paul is saying that you need to be careful because you could backslide yourself, that is how I take "let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall". But Paul goes on to say that God is faithful and we can overcome any temptation and to flee from sin. That's not my opinion, that is just what the passage says.
[15] I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
[16] The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
[17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
That should have shut up the Acts 28ers right there. The Acts 28ers claim that what we call "The Lord's Supper" is actually some type of Jewish passover meal that is to be done till the 2nd advent, but that is a lie. It is a communion of the body and blood of Christ and Paul clearly says in verse 17 that we are "one bread, and one body". Paul is talking about something for the body of Christ.
[18] Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter?
[19] What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
[20] But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
[21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
[22] Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
That section talks about how we in the "one body" do not sacrifice like the Jews and we do not offer anything to idols like the Gentiles, but rather we "drink the cup of the Lord" and we cannot do that and drink "the cup of devils" at the same time. One of the things Paul is trying to get across is "flee idolatry" (see verse 14).
[23] All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
[24] Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
[25] Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
[26] For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
[27] If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
[28] But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
[29] Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
[30] For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
[31] Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
[32] Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
[33] Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
That is self explanatory. Read the previous chapter for good cross references.
1 Corinthians 9:
[19] For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
[20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
[21] To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
[22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
[23] And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Now we move into chapter 11. I already showed you that Paul is talking to those believers in the body of Christ, I showed you that God does chasten us, and I touched on what "communion" for the body of Christ represents.
1 Corinthians 11:
[1] Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
[2] Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
[3] But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
[4] Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
[5] But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
[6] For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
[7] For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
[8] For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
[9] Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
[10] For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
[11] Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
[12] For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of god.
[13] Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
[14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
[15] But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
[16] But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
That was self explanatory, look in the mirror and see if need to visit the barber shop.
[17] Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
[18] For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
[19] For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
[20] When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
[21] For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
[22] What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
That sets the stage for this section of the passage. The Corinthians were abusing the Lord's Supper and they were being divisive. In doing that, it was like they were taking the body and blood of Jesus Christ lightly.
[23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
[24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
[25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
[26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
This could not be the passover meal as the Acts 28ers suppose because Paul said "I have received of the Lord", Paul already knew about the passover because he was a "Hebrew of the Hebrews" (Phil. 3:) so what he received was something new. Not only was it new, but it was for the body of Christ (See 10:17).
Also, verse 26 shows that you do not have to have communion at a certain time, but whenever the church decides. This will show the Lord's death "till he come", which is found in chapter 15.
[27] Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
[28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
[29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
That is just how serious the Lord's Supper is and why there is strong chastening.
[30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
[31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
[32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
[33] Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
[34] And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
That is strong chastening, but it is a strong offense to take the body and blood of Christ that saved you lightly and getting drunk, etc.
Acts 28ers do not like it and some fellow Mid-Acts brothers do not like it, but Paul told saved people that you reap what you sow and to fear God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Galatians 6:
[7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
[8]
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but
he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
[9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
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