Acts 28er's: Jesus Christ and the headless horseman.

There is a heresy out there called "the Acts 28 position". It is an extreme take on "right division", however, it is actually wrong division. Someone who takes the "Acts 28 position" means that they believe that the body of Christ started in Acts chapter 28. These people who take this position believe that during the book of Acts, Paul preached the New Covenant and that he knew nothing about the "mystery", the "grace age", and that everything he taught can be found in the Old Testament. Therefore, the Acts 28er's reject 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans as scripture written directly TO the body of Christ.

Now I am what is called a King James Bible believing M.A.D. man, (M.A.D. = Mid-Acts Dispensational) I believe the body of Christ started in about the "middle" of Acts (chapter 9 with Saul's conversion). "Mid-Acts" is not numerically correct obviously, but that is what it is called. 

Let's examine the Acts 28 position by looking in Paul's Acts epistles and see if he is only teaching the Old Testament prophecies about the New Covenant. 

The Acts 28er's life verse is Acts 26:23, "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:"

The Acts 28er's say that Paul admits he has never spoken anything other than the Old Testament. Some 28ers have said,  "I realize some say that Paul's statement only refers to resurrection, but we must take it as it stands". REALLY? You can NOT snatch whatever verse of scripture you like and just do what you want with it, READ THE NEXT VERSE MAN!

Acts 26:24 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.

That is what the "prophets and Moses said should come"! I have no respect for VERSE SNATCHERS that know better. 

Next, Paul said in plain English that he preached the gospel "according to the revelation of the mystery". 

Romans 16
[25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
 
 OOPS! Somebodies in trouble........what does that look like to you? That does not sound like the "New Covenant" to me! The Acts 28ers say, "Oh yeah, well look at the next verse. It says that Paul's gospel is in the Old Testament". 
WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT AT???

[26] But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
[27] To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Verse 26 says, "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God". Okay, let's put all this together.

 "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" 

And what is Paul's gospel (i.e. "the preaching of Jesus Christ")

1 Corinthians 15
[1] 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:

Guess what? You can "make that manifest" by the Old testament scripture. In fact, Paul does that in Acts 13:16-47 when he preaches the gospel of the grace of God for the first time on record. He used the Old Testament scripture to prove to the Jews that were present at his revival meeting that Jesus was God, the seed of David, and that He died, was buried, and rose again. Even in a POST ACTS epistle, Paul says that we are built on the foundation of the the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2
[19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
[21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
[22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 Paul also said that he wrote about the "mystery" to the Ephesians BEFORE. 

Ephesians 3
[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
[2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

The Acts 28ers say that "the mystery" can only be found in post Acts epistles. Is that so? Let's look at the definition of "the mystery" and see if it is in Paul's Acts epistles. 

Ephesians 3
[3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
[4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
[5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
[7] Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

The "mystery" is defined in verse 6, that the Gentiles are fellowheirs and of the same BODY. So when did this body start?
Well you don't have to go far, look at Ephesians chapter 4.

[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Huh, apostles and prophets work signs, miracles, and prophecy. That all ceased at Acts 28:28, so this could not be something post Acts, it has to be something during Acts. (also note verse 11:"HE GAVE", that would be previously) Why did God give these things during Acts? "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:", the apostles and prophets could not edify the body of Christ in Acts if it was not present. Therefore, the body of Christ started BEFORE Acts ended. Can we find that in Paul's Acts epistles? We sure can.

Romans 12:
[4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
[5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

The Acts 28ers say that "one body in Christ" is not the same as the body of Christ. Let's keep going.

1 Corinthians 12
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[18] But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
[19] And if they were all one member, where were the body?
[20] But now are they many members, yet but one body.
[27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

The Acts 28ers say that the context of both passages is spiritual gifts and this is talking about a "body of gifts" and that "this is obviously not the body of Christ of Ephesians and Colossians because members are the head parts whereas the church which is His body has Christ as the Head" . 

REALLY, now you start worrying about context huh? The "body" is NOT a "body of spiritual gifts", Paul clearly says the members are the body of Christ. There has only ever been ONE body of Christ.

[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Paul says that as the [human] body is one body, but has different members, so also is Christ one body with many members. How did the members get there?

[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The members get into the body of Christ by being baptized BY the Holy Spirit. Not baptized WITH the Holy Ghost by Christ. (see Matthew 3:11)

[14] For the body is not one member, but many.
[15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

Verses 15-17 are an illustration of there being "one body" but with "many members". Paul is making an illustration for verse 14. When Paul says "eyes" or "ears" and all that, he is making illustration. This is a spiritual body, it does not have literal "eyes".

Just like there is no literal "joints" as mentioned in Col. 2:19.

[18] But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
[19] And if they were all one member, where were the body?
[20] But now are they many members, yet but one body.
[21] And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
[22] Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
[23] And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
[24] For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
[25] That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
[26] And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

[27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Okay, Paul says, "ye are THE BODY of Christ". There is no getting around that. Even though Paul is talking about spiritual gifts, that does not mean the passage can't contain other truths. 

The Acts 28ers say that there are two bodies of Christ, one is supposedly just a "body of spiritual gifts" and the other is the church that is the body of Christ with Jesus as the Head. That is in direct contradiction with Ephesians 4, and as a matter of fact, you can see a lot of Ephesians 4 in 1 Corinthians 12. 

 1 Corinthians 12
[1] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
[2] Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
[3] Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
[4] Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
[5] And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
[6] And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

 Ephesians 4
[1] I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
[2] With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
[3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
[5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
[6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
[7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

PUT THAT TOGETHER AND.......

[4] There is one body [1 Cor. 12:12], and one Spirit [1 Cor. 12:4], even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
[5] One Lord [1 Cor. 12:5] , one faith, one baptism [1 Cor. 12:13],
[6] One God and Father of all [1 Cor. 12:6], who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There is only ONE baptism by ONE Spirit that puts you in ONE body of Christ. The Acts 28ers create two of each, accept the result of one of the bodies of Christ is a headless horseman! 

Do not get sucked into WRONGLY DIVIDING the word of truth. The Acts 28ers throw out the doctrine of hell and they deny the absolute final authority in all matters of faith and practice, which is the King James Bible. They create their own system of "theology" that allows them to believe whatever they want as long as it is in the name of "right division" (falsely so called).