Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Problems with the Acts 28 Position (part 1)

The "Acts 28ers" believe that the mystery of this age of grace and the mystery had not been revealed to Paul until Acts chapter 28 and that he knew nothing about the Body of Christ and it's heavenly calling and the fact that it was a mystery. 

They believe anything Paul preached before Acts 28 was prophecy and that they did not have a heavenly hope. Below is how they sort out scripture written by Paul. 
_______________________________________________________
Scriptures written to the Body of Christ:

Ephesians 
Colossians 
Philippians 
I Timothy 
II Timothy
Titus
Philemon
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Scriptures written to some type of remnant that is completely according to prophecy with an earthly hope.

Romans 
I Corinthians
II Corinthians 
Galatians
I Thessalonians
II Thessalonians
___________________________________________________________________________________

Problems with the Acts 28 position: Below I will point out all the times Paul talks about "post Acts revelation" in his Acts epistles.

1.) In II Corinthians 4:14-18 and II Corinthians 5:1-21 we read about a saved person having an "inward man" and an "outward man" and being a "new creature" in Christ., which matches Colossians 3. Also, II Corinthians 5 matches Colossians 3:1-4 when Paul talks about when Christ appears and we will appear with Him in a new glorified body. That also matches the mystery of the rapture of the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15. 

2.) Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:15 "your bodies are the members of Christ" and that we are "joined unto the Lord" in verse 17. In first 1 Corinthians 12:1-27 we read that the Corinthians "were Gentiles", but now have been baptized by one Spirit into one body where there is neither Jew nor Greek and that they are all "members in particular" of the "body of Christ". Also, Romans 12:5 says that the believers are "one body in Christ" and "members one of another".
This has to be the same "body of Christ" as Ephesians 1:22-23 and Colossians 1:18 because there is only "one Spirit", "one baptism", and "one body" (Ephesians 4:5-6). 

3.) Paul says that the Colossians knew about their heavenly hope when they heard the gospel, which was during Acts. (Colossians 1:5-6)

4.) Paul told the Ephesians that the prophets God gave them during Acts were for the "edifying of the body of Christ". (Ephesians 4:11-13) This is in accordance to 1 Corinthians 14.

[1] Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
[2] For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
[3] But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
[4] He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
[5] I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
[6] Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?


God made the mystery known to Paul first, (Ephesians 3:3), but He also made it known to other apostles and prophets after He revealed it to Paul (Ephesians 3:5, 1 Timothy 1:18 ). God apparently gave the spiritual gifts to the Gentiles to "provoke" Israel (Romans 11:11, 11:14), but also to "edify" the body of Christ and reveal new grace age, mystery truth (1 Corinthians 14:6, 2 Corinthians 12:1). Paul new these things would cease when we got the full revelation and knowledge of all grace age doctrine in the mystery age.

1 Corinthians 13:
[8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
[10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

[11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
[12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.


We no longer see "through a glass darkly" because "that which is perfect is come" and we have the full revelation of the mystery and there is no need for "that which is in part", which is the spiritual gifts.

How could these prophecies "edify" the body of Christ in Acts if the body of Christ did not exist, especially if the prophecies did not pertain to the body of Christ (like the Acts 28ers suggest). Prophecies/prophets in Acts could not "edify" the body of Christ if the body of Christ did not exist and the prophecies did not pertain to the body of Christ.

5.) How can a believer be a "new creature in Christ", "joined unto the Lord" with an "inward man" and being "baptized by one Spirit into one body where there is neither Jew nor Greek" and also be referred to as "the body of Christ" and it is also said that they are the "temple of the Holy Ghost", "Christ liveth in me" [referring to Paul], and that their "bodies are members of Christ" yet some how not be in the body of Christ of Ephesians and Colossians? 
( II Corinthians 4:14-18, II Corinthians 5:1-21, 1 Corinthians 6:15-17, 1 Corinthians 12:1-27, Romans 12:5, Galatians 2:20)

6.) Paul received his gospel not after man, but by revelation of Christ.

Galatians 1
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.


Paul's gospel that he received by revelation is according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began.

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,
[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:


The Acts 28ers do not like the "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets" part. They say this means it was not a mystery. Paul could make known "his gospel", which is "the preaching of Jesus Christ" using the Old Testament prophets.
What is Paul's gospel?

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:


That is Paul's gospel, which is the preaching of Jesus Christ. What about Christ? That He died, was buried, and rose again; all that is in the Old Testament. We see for the first time Paul preaching his gospel that he received by revelation in Acts 13, and guess what? He makes the preaching of Jesus Christ manifest by using the Old Testament prophets.

Acts 13
[28] And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.
[29] And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
 

There's the death of Christ, and Paul says "fulfilled all that was written of him".

[30] But God raised him from the dead:
[31] And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
[32] And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
[33] God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
[34] And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
[35] Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
[36] For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
[37] But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.


And there is the burial and resurrection with OT scripture.


[38] Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
[39] And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.


THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST......BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST, AND BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS.

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Those are just a few of the problems with the Acts 28 Position. 

Keep studying the KJB, RIGHTLY divided.
 

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