What does it mean to be "fallen from grace"?

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Every Roman Catholic and Church of Christ elder in America will tell you that to be "fallen from grace" means that you fell from salvation. They say that it means that you lost salvation. This is one of the most wild private interpretations you could ever hear come out of someone's mouth.

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

What the COC elder does it take the phrase "ye are fallen from grace" right out of the chapter and book of Galatians!

The problem is that COCs do not believe in the eternal security of the believer and so any time that they read a word or phrase in the Bible that sounds similar to this belief, they jump on it.

WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF GALATIANS?

Galatians 2:
[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
[18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
[19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:

[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
[4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
[5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[6] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
[7] Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
[8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
[9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
[10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
[11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
[12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
[13] 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:
[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
[15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
[17] And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
[18] For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
[19] Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
[20] Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
[21] Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
[23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[28] 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.

Galatians 4:

[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
[8] Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
[10] Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
[11] I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Galatians 4:

[21] Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
[22] For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
[23] But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
[24] Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
[25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
[26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
[27] For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
[28] Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
[29] But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
[30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
[31] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

In this allegory:
 

Hagar = the old covenant, the earthly Jerusalem in bondage

Ishmael = those born after the flesh

Sarah = the new covenant, the heavenly Jerusalem which is free

Isaac = those born after the Spirit

“mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, WHICH IS AGAR”

“But Jerusalem, which is above is free, WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF US ALL” (i.e. Sarah)

 

Now that we have read the contents of Galatians 2-4 we can now establish the context of Galatians 5.

 

1.) Nobody is justified by the works of the Law

2.) We are justified by the faith of Christ

3.) We are dead to the Law

4.) If we could be made righteous by the Law alone, Christ died in vain

5.) Trying to be justified by the faith of Christ and the Law frustrates the grace of God

6.) Paul says that the Galatians are foolish being bewitched by false doctrine

7.) The false doctrine of the Galatians was that they can begin in the Spirit made gradually be made perfect by the flesh

8.) Nobody is made perfect by the flesh, you are made perfect at once by the Holy Spirit

9.) You receive the Spirit by the hearing of faith and not by works

10.) Anyone who is under the works of the Law is under a curse

11.) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us

12.) The Law is not of faith, it is of performance and works ("doeth")

13.) The blessing of Abraham came to the Gentile through Christ

14.) The blessing is that we receive "the promise of the Spirit through faith" 

15.) This promise is by the faith of Jesus Christ to those that believe

16.) Before the faith of Christ came, people were kept under the Law shut up unto the faith that would later be revealed (the faith of Christ)

17.) The Law was a schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith

18.) Christ redeemed those that were under the Law

19.) Paul feared that since the Galatians were going back to the Law that he had bestowed labor on them in vain, that they did not really believe 

20.) We are not under the Old Covenant Law

Having read the text and established a context (without interpreting anything, simply looking at what it said) now let us look at Galatians 5.

Galatians 5:
[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
[2] Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
[3] For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
[4] Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

 

Now does Galatians 5:4 say that anyone lost their salvation? No. 

 

What does it say? That whosoever among the Galatians that are justified by the Law are fallen from grace. 

We are NOT under the Law anymore, that was God's program for man in the past, but now we are under grace!

 

Ephesians 3:2-6 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

 

Romans 10:1-4  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.

 

Galatians 3:
[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
[23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

 

Nobody is under the Law anymore. We are under grace. We have been called unto liberty in Christ. We are commanded NOT to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. The Law was God's OLD Covenant BEFORE faith came, but AFTER the faith of Christ came we are NO LONGER under the Law.

The problem with the Galatians is that they were not standing fast in the liberty that Christ gave them by the Spirit, they were going back to the Law....."But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years." (Gal. 4:9-11)

The Galatians had fallen from grace because some of them thought that you could be justified by the Law rather than Grace (Gal. 2:21). They had fallen from grace BECAUSE they turned again to the weak and beggarly elements. 

The Galatians fell from grace doctrine and went back to law doctrine, but not from salvation. Nobody can fall from salvation according to Romans 8:29-39 because if you are saved Christ predestinates you to be conformed to the image of Christ at the rapture (Rom. 8:29, Phil. 3:20-21). That means your destiny is pre-determined to be conformed to the image of Christ, your destiny is determined to be "good" (Rom. 8:28-29). 

Romans 8:

[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
[29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
[30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
[32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
[33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

When we trust Christ believing that He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the redemption of our body at the rapture (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30, 1 Cor. 6:20, Rom. 8:23-24). Nothing shall separate us from the love of God. Nobody can condemn us because it is Christ that purchased our salvation (Rom. 8:34). Our salvation is not of works (2 Tim. 1:9, Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, Rom. 3:27, etc.)

 

The COC interpretation of Galatians 5:4 is nowhere in the context. They ignored that the context was those that supposedly had believed Paul's gospel of salvation by grace through faith without works were going back under the bondage of the Law. They fell from the grace doctrine that Paul had delivered, but not from salvation.

See these posts for more scripture on eternal security:

 

50 things that would have to happen for you to lose salvation.

http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/50-things-that-would-have-to-happen-for.html

 

More points/notes on eternal security
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/more-pointsnotes-on-eternal-security.html 

 

Salvation doctrine in Ephesians 
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/salvation-doctrine-in-ephesians.html 
 

--Eli Caldwell

 

Was water baptism "against us" (Col. 2:14)?

Some people believe that water baptism was not a Jewish-Israel thing (specifically) because it was to go to "all nations" (Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16).

The people that teach this use it as a basis for saying that water baptism was not "against us...contrary to us". (Col. 2:14)

Water baptism was a Law ordinance as we see in Numbers 8:7 and the "water of purifying". Water baptism is called water "purifying" in John 3:25-26. Water baptism was obviously a sprinkling....

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 10:19+22

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus...Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

John 3:25-26 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

Numbers 8:6-7 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.

In objection to the overwhelming Biblical support of sprinkling, most people use these arguments to try and prove immersion:

1.) The Greek word for baptism means immerse.

2.) John and Philip baptized in water (both the baptizer and the recipient)

Answer to #1: The Greek word does not mean immerse. I define Bible words with the Bible itself, not dictionaries. God will use a word however He wants and if you don't like it, tough cheese! There was no "immersion" when the Jews crossed over with Moses in the "baptism unto Moses" (1 Cor. 10:1-2). Baptism with the Holy Ghost was a "pouring" (Acts 2:17). Christ was not immersed with anything in His death baptism (Luke 12:50). And since we are talking about Greek, I will also point out that one of the Greek words for baptism is used in Mark 7:1-8 in regards to cups, pots, brazen vessels, and "of tables".....do you think that the Jews "immersed" their tables or sprinkled them? I will let you decide.

Answer to #2: While it is true that the Bible records baptisms in rivers and where there is "much water", it is also records of baptism taking place in the homes of Aninias (Acts 9:17-18, 22:16), Cornelious (Acts 10:47-48), jailer (Acts 16:33), and the households of Crispus and Justus (Acts 18:7-8). I doubt these people had enough water on their property to immerse anyone. Also, in Acts 2 three thousand people got baptized in one day (Acts 2:41). I doubt there was enough water there to immerse everyone. It makes sense to stand in the water to baptize many people (Matt. 3), even if it is by sprinkling, simply because nobody would have to keep refilling a bucket of water. I would say that baptism was done standing in the edge of the water. You can be "in Jordan" like John the Baptist was and only be in the "brink of the water" (see Joshua 3:8-15).

The pro-immersion argument can be summed up by this: "Well, uh, they baptized in Jordan and where there was much water. so ha."

So baptism was definitely part of the Law (Num. 8:7, Lev. 8:4-6, Exod. 40:12, etc.) and was part of the "handwriting of ordinances" as we see in Colossians 2:14.

Colossians 2:

[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Ephesians 2:

[11] 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;
[12] 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:
[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
[14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
[15] 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;
[16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
[17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Since the "dispensation of the grace of God" that was committed to Paul (Eph. 3:1-9, Col. 1:24-28) we do not have to follow the Law ordinances because we are not under the Law but under grace (Rom. 6:14, 7:4, 11:6, 15:16, 16:25, Gal. 3:1-25, 5:1-6, 5:11-23, 6:15, Col. 2:10-23, 1 Tim. 4:1-5). We are still commanded to keep good morals though (Gal. 5:11-23, Rom. 13:8-10).

In the dispensation of grace we are not "subject to ordinances after the commandments and doctrines of men"(Col. 2:20-22). We are warned, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Col. 2:8)

Now let's see, in the dispensation of the grace of God is water baptism "after Christ" or just a tradition of men? 

1 Corinthians 1: 
[14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
[15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
[16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Water baptism is not after Christ under grace (Rom. 6:14, Eph. 3:2). Water baptism was a commandment under the "gospel of the kingdom" that John the Baptist, Christ, and Peter preached (Matt. 3:6-10, 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, 28:19,  Mark 1:4-5, 1:14-15, 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, etc.), but not anymore now that we are "under grace" in the "dispensation of grace" preaching the "gospel of grace" and are "justified by...grace" (1 Cor. 1:14-21, 15:1-4, Acts 13:38-39, 16:31, 26:17-18, Eph. 1:7, 1:13, 2:8-9, Acts 20:24, Rom. 3-5, 11:6, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Tim. 1:11-16, 2 Tim. 1:9, Eph. 3:1-9, Rom. 6:14, etc.). 

1 Corinthians 1 proves beyond any doubt that water baptism is not for Gentiles in the dispensation of grace. Christ gave Paul no such commandment to baptize which means it is a commandment and doctrine of men and NOT after Christ (Col. 2:8). We are to follow Paul since he is who Christ appointed to be the teacher, preacher, apostle, and pattern for the Gentiles and those that would believe the new gospel of the grace of God after him. He was the one that was revealed "Christ according to the revelation of the mystery"  (Rom. 11:13, 15:16, 16:25, 1 Tim. 1:11-16, Gal. 1:11-12, 2 Tim. 1:9-11, 2:7, 2:15, 1 Cor. 11:1-2). Therefore we are not commanded to baptize converts under grace according to Christ (1 Cor. 1:17, 14:37). 

The commission of Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20, and Mark 16:15-16 is not the commission to preach the gospel of the grace of God. The gospel of the grace of God requires no works and was first revealed to Paul (Gal. 1:11-12, 2:2, 2:7-8, 1 Cor. 3:9-11, 15:1-4, 1 Tim. 1:14-16). 

In regards to the gospel of the kingdom that the 12 apostles preached, Christ said that the end would come when the gospel went to all the world and every creature:

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Peter said that the events in Acts 2 were in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy of the last days before the great and notable day of the Lord.

Acts 2:
[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 

However, Paul preached the "gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24) to "all the world" and "every creature" which absolutely proves that his gospel is not the "gospel of the kingdom".....

Colossians 1:5-6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

The commission of Matthew 28 and Mark 16 required water baptism, but Paul's commission did not (Acts 26:17-18, 1 Cor. 1:17).

Water baptism is "not after Christ" and is an "ordinance after the commandments and doctrines of men" (Col. 2:8, 2:20-23). 

1 Corinthians 1: 

[14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
[15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
[16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Christ did not tell Paul to baptize converts and we are to follow Paul (Phil. 3:17, 1 Cor. 11:1-2, 2 Tim. 2:7, Rom. 11:13, 1 Tim. 1:16). 

1 Corinthians 1:14 says "I thank God I baptized none of you...lest any should say that I baptized in mine own name". This is another verse that proves water baptism is not for Gentiles under grace. For the abuse of a doctrine does not effect the truth of a doctrine. 

If it is according to God's truth (John 17:17) then we should do it no matter what men may say, think, or accuse us of (Acts 5:29--"We ought to obey God rather than men"). We give an account of our self to God, not men (Rom. 14, 1 Cor. 3). We do not abandon truth to please men, or else we are not the servant of Christ (Gal. 1:10). 

If water baptism were a good thing, good doctrine, or practice that Christ wanted Paul to do, then Paul would not be thankful for NOT doing it just because he was afraid of what men might accuse him of! This is the same guy that said, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)

If Christ wanted Paul to baptize converts then he would not let the potential accusations and slanders of men discourage him from doing what the Lord told him to do. 

Therefore the only reason that Paul could say, "I thank God I baptized none of you...lest any should say that I baptized in mine own name" is because Christ could care less if a Gentile under grace was water baptized or not (1 Cor. 1:17). It means nothing. 

In response to this, some people say that water baptism was not a Jewish-Israel thing (specifically) because it was to go to "all nations" (Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16).

The people that teach this use it as a basis for saying that water baptism was not "against us...contrary to us". (Col. 2:14)

However, that logic falls apart in light of real study of the scriptures. For it is prophesied in Isaiah 2 and Micah 4 that in the earthly kingdom of Christ, the Law will go to all nations.

Isaiah 2:
[1] the word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
[2] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
[3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[4] And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Micah 4:
[1] But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
[2] And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[3] And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

The Law ordinances were against the Gentiles according to Colossians 2:8-23 and it was a "middle wall of partition" according to Ephesians 2:11-17. However, the Law WILL GO TO ALL NATIONS in the earthly kingdom of Christ. (see this post and the scriptures given on the kingdom for a more thorough look at that http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-gospel-of-kingdom.html)

Not to mention that the commission that Christ gave Peter in Matt. 24 and 28 to go to "all the world" and "all nations" also included the Law. 

Christ taught the Law:

Matthew 5:
[17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:
[16] And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
[17] And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Matthew 23:
[1] Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
[2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
[3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Matthew 24:20-21 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Christ told the apostles to teach everything that He commanded them to the other nations...

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.

The Law was to go to all nations and all the world under the gospel of the kingdom (Isa. 2:1-4, Micah 4:1-3, Matt. 5:17-20, 19:16-17, 23:1-3, 24:20-21) and yet it was still against us and contrary to us (Col. 2:14, Eph. 2:11-17). So the point about water baptism not being against us does not hold water. The same commission that sent water baptism to all the world is the same commission that sends the Law to all the world, and it was against us.

Another thing, the gospel of the kingdom of Matthew 24, 28, and Mark 16 is also called "the gospel of the CIRCUMCISION" proving that water baptism is an association of Israel.

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,

Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

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

Galatians 2:1-2 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Galatians 2:7-8 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

The reason that the "gospel of the kingdom" that Peter preached is also called "the gospel of the circumcision" is because the kingdom is for Israel and the Gentiles have to come through Israel's rise and bless Israel in order to take part in it (see Isa. 60-61 and the scriptures given in my post "The Gospel of the Kingdom"). Water baptism was part of the gospel of the circumcision and an association with Israel, it was not part of the gospel of the grace of God (1 Cor. 1:14-17). 

For more information on the water baptism issue and the gospel of the kingdom, see these posts....

The Gospel of the Kingdom 
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-gospel-of-kingdom.html
 
Mid-Acts Dispensational water baptism debate.  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/01/mid-acts-dispensational-water-baptism.html
 
What is "baptism into Christ"?
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/02/what-is-baptism-into-christ.html


--Eli Caldwell

Colossians 1:14 manuscript evidence

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Modern perversions of the Bible omit the phrase "through his blood" from the verse! (see RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV, NASB, CEV, NLT, HCSB, etc.)

Here is the manuscript evidence for the reading:

cursives 35, 614, 630, 1912, 2464.

majority of miniscules from 9th-16th centuries

Old Latin codices C, dem, f, g

Old Harclein/Philoxenian Syriac

Armenian

Vulgate

Irenuaeus 180 AD

Theodoret 420 AD

Cassiodorus 580 AD

Oecumenius 6th century

 

It was in the 1545 Luther Bible

"an welchem wir haben die Erlösung durch sein Blut, die Vergebung der Sünden;" 

It was in the Geneva Bible (1557)

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, that is, the forgiveness of sins."

It was in the Tyndale Bible (1526)

"in whom we have redempcion thurow his bloud that is to saye the forgevenes of sinnes"

 

Paul obviously used the phrase (Eph. 1:7).

 

You should "trust" the word of God (KJB) rather than man's ideas about what should and should not be in the Bible.

 

Psalms 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

--Eli Caldwell

The Gospel of the Kingdom

The Kingdom

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

The first gospel in the New Testament is called the “gospel of the kingdom”. The word “gospel” simply means “good news” and so obviously the “gospel of the kingdom” is a reference to the good news of the kingdom. Notice the statements made in the gospels that “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.

Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 10:5-7 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.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

“Kingdom of Heaven”: Jesus said that many will come from the east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 8:11). Obviously this is in fact the kingdom that God promised throughout the Old Testament, a literal kingdom in Jerusalem where Christ will reign. Some folks contend that the “kingdom of heaven” is some type of spiritual-kingdom-floaty-make-believe-thing, but that is simply not true. No verse in the Bible says such a thing. Jesus said that a rich man cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23) and that statement can only make sense if the Kingdom of Heaven is literal, because spiritually speaking there is no such thing as a rich man or poor man (1 Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:28, Col. 3:11).

Of course God does have a spiritual kingdom, but He has promised to give Israel a physical kingdom. These prophecies or prominent in the Old Testament scriptures.

Jeremiah 23:

[3] And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
[4] And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
[5] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
[6] In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
[7] Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
[8] But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

This prophecy of Christ and the Kingdom in Jeremiah 23 plainly says that He will establish a Kingdom “IN THE EARTH”. Jesus will be the prosperous King reigning and executing judgement and justice in the earth. This is also when Israel is said to be saved (vs. 6) which is parallel with Jeremiah 31-33 and Ezekiel 36.

Jeremiah 31:

[31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
[32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
[33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah 32:

[36] And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
[37] Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
[38] And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
[39] And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
[40] And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
[41] Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
[42] For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

As we can see, God has promised to make a New Covenant with Israel in which He will write His law in their hearts, forgive them of their sins, and put them in their land forever. Israel will not depart from God and God will not leave them. All the people of Israel will “know the Lord” (Jer. 31:34) because He will be reigning over them in their land....

Jeremiah 33:

[2] Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;
[3] Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
[4] For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;
[5] They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.
[6] Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
[7] And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
[8] And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
[9] And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
[10] Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,
[11] The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
[12] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
[13] In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.
[14] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
[15] In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
[16] In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
[17] For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
[18] Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

Again we see several different aspects of the Kingdom promised to Israel. Some of the main things to know are that

#1.) it is literally “in the earth”

#2.) it has Christ as the King

#3.) it is in Israel

#4.) it involves a New Covenant between God and Israel

#5.) it involves Israel keeping God's Law perfectly

#6.) it involves a rapture of Jews that were scattered among the heathen nations by God's wrath

#7.) it is when Israel's sins are forgiven

Those are the facts that we have plainly stated in Jeremiah 23, 31, 32, 33, and Ezekiel 36. Further on point #6 and the scattered Jews, this is a specific time called “The Time of Jacob's Trouble” in which God is punishing Israel and bringing His wrath on them (Jer. 32:37). The entire chapter of Jeremiah 30 covers that.

After that “time of Jacob's trouble” Christ is going to gather all the believing Jews and establish His Kingdom. These Jews will be resurrected, given new bodies, filled with the Holy Ghost, and will keep the Law perfectly. All of that can be found in the references we just looked at plus Ezekiel 11:14-21, 37:1-14, 37:21-28, Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:1-12, Joel 2-3, Micah 4:1-7, Habakuk 3:1-17, Psalms 2:1-8, 68:1-35, Malachi 3:1-5, and many others. You can find references to Christ's reign on the earth in all of those passages and the restoration of Israel. (also see Gen. 49:10, Deut. 4:27-30, 15:6, 18:15-19, 30:1-10, Zech. 1:14-17, 2:1-13, 3:1-10, 6:12-13, 8:1-23, 14:1-21, Num. 24:17)

All that is about Israel, so what about the Gentiles? Where do they come into place during the reign of Christ on the earth? Well here are the facts about the Gentile nations during Christ's reign:

#1.) They will be judged by Christ on the basis of how they treated the Jews that were scattered among them

#2.) They will be drawn to Israel by its prosperity

#3.) They will get blessed through Israel's rise and power

#4.) They will come to Israel to keep the Law

#5.) The nation of Israel will be kings and priests over the Gentile nations

Isaiah 2:

[1] the word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
[2] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
[3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[4] And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Micah 4:

[1] But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
[2] And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[3] And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
[4] But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
[5] For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
[6] In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
[7] And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

Isaiah 60:

[1] Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
[2] For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
[3] And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
[4] Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
[5] Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
[6] The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
[7] All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.
[8] Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
[9] Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
[10] And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
[11] Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
[12] For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
[13] The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
[14] The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
[15] Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
[16] Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.
[17] For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
[18] Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
[19] The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
[20] Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
[21] Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
[22] A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Isaiah 61:

[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
[2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
[3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
[4] And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
[5] And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
[6] But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
[7] For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
[8] For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
[9] And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
[10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
[11] For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Exodus 19:

[5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
[6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

All of Zechariah 8 should be read, but specifically in regards to the Gentiles at the establishing of Christ's earthly kingdom it says in verses 22-23, “Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” According to prophecy the Gentiles would be blessed through Israel's rise and the establishing of the Kingdom on the earth. The Jews are the kingdom of priests in the kingdom (Exod. 19:5-6, Isa. 61:6)

There is no “one new man” “body of Christ” “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free” in the prophecies in the Old Testament. Those things were a mystery revealed to the apostle Paul (Eph. 3:1-9, 5:32, Col. 1:24-28) which I will mention later. Just know that according to the Old Testament the only way Gentiles would be saved is by coming through Israel's rise according to the scriptures I gave above. (also see Deuteronomy 7:6 and 1 Chronicles 17:21-22)

Deuteronomy 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

1 Chronicles 17:

[21] And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?
[22] For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.

Some people seem to believe and teach that when Jesus came to earth at His first coming that He was hear to establish the church which is the Body of Christ and welcome everyone (Jew and Gentile) to believe on Him for salvation. However, that is not the case. Christ came to confirm the promises made to Israel in the Old Testament that we just looked at.

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Christ came to the Jews only, not to help the Gentiles. He came unto His OWN, which were the Jews.

Matthew 15:

[21] Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
[22] 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.
[23] But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
[24] But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
[25] Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
[26] But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
[27] And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Jesus said that the Gentiles were “DOGS” and that He was not sent to help them. He said that if He were to help Gentiles rather than the Jews that He would be casting the children's bread and casting it to dogs. What did Christ mean by calling the Jews “children”? Not all Jews as individuals were sons of God (John 1:11-12), but as a nation Israel was God's first born son.

Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Deuteronomy 14:1-2 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 32:

[18] Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
[19] And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.

Israel will be born again at the establishing of the Kingdom on the earth when the Lord forgives them of their sins.

Isaiah 66:7-8 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Christ only sent the 12 apostles to give the gospel of the kingdom to Jews at the start of their ministry (though it will eventually go to all the world—Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20)

Matthew 10:

[5] 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:
[6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
[7] And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The purpose of Christ's first coming was to offer the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel. That is why His gospel was called “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Mark 1:14-15) and that is why they preached that the kingdom was “at hand” (Matt. 3:1-2, 4:17, 10:5-7, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 21:31). They were offering the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel to “confirm the promises made unto the fathers”.

Luke 1:

[30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
[31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
[32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
[33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

There were some mysteries not in the Old Testament that Christ taught in His earthly ministry (Matt. 13:11, Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10) and these were about “the kingdom of heaven”.

Christ told His apostles to pray for the establishing of the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth.

Matthew 6:

[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us this day our daily bread.
[12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
[14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
[15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Luke 11:

[2] And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
[3] Give us day by day our daily bread.
[4] And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

God's plan in the Gospels was “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”.

The plan of salvation in the Gospels had several requirements:

#1.) Believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God (John 1:12, John 3:18). This was believing on Christ's “name” as Lord.

#2.) Get water baptized (Matt. 3:6-10, Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:3, Luke 7:29-30).

#3.) Sell all that you have and have all things common with your fellow christians. Those that have riches would not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 6:19-34, 19:16-24, Mark 6:7-9, 10:17-23, Luke 9:1-4, 12:15-34)

#4.) Forgive others as they sin against you, if you do not then God the Father will not forgive you of your sins (Matt. 6:12-15, 18:21-35, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:37)

#5.) Do good works and keep good morals (John 5:29, Matt. 19:16-19).

#6.) Do not deny the true Christ during the Great Tribulation. There will be many antichrists and the son of perdition that will pretend to be the true God/Christ and will force people to worship them. You cannot deny Christ or He will deny you before the Father (Matt. 10:16-34, 24:1-34, Mark 13:4-37, Luke 21:7-32, 2 Thes. 2:3-4, Rev. 13:15, 14:9-11, 20:4).

Those are the requirements that Christ gave when He offered the Kingdom to Israel.

After the death, burial, and resurection of Christ, He sent His disciples to preach the gospel to every creature and the whole world:

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

The apostles were told to begin preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the Jews before they went on to the Gentiles. Since the Kingdom would be established with Israel for them to be a kingdom of priests (Exod. 19:5-6, Isa. 61:6) and Israel is the one that would be brought under a New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34, 32:36-42) , it makes sense why Jesus instructed the apostles to begin at Jerusalem. For if the Jews did not receive the gospel of their own kingdom, it would do no good to preach it to the Gentiles.

So here we see Christ's orders for the apostles to get the gospel to the Jews first, and that the end will not come until the gospel of the kingdom goes to the whole world beginning at Jerusalem.

Matthew 10:22-23 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Matthew 24:13-14 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Luke 24:

[46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
[47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
[48] And ye are witnesses of these things.
[49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:

[1] The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
[2] Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
[3] To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
[4] And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
[5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
[6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
[8] 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.

The apostles began carrying out Christ's orders immidiately in anticipation of the Kingdom....

Acts 2:

[1] And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
[2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
[5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

[6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
[7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
[8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
[9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
[10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
[11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
[12] And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
[13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

The apostles were baptized with the Holy Ghost just as John the Baptist and Christ said would happen (Matt. 3:11, Luke 24:49, John 7:39, 14:17, 15:26, 16:13). This baptism gave the apostles “power” to speak in forgein languages so that all the Jews could understand the message preached by the apostles. Some of the audience mocked the apostles accusing them of being drunk. Here is Peter's reply:

Acts 2:

[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
[15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
[17] And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

There were “strangers of Rome” and other Gentiles present when Peter gives his sermon, but Peter declares that his message is for the men of Judea and those that dwell in Jerusalem.

Peter declares that the events happening are what was spoken by the prophet Joel in regards to the “last days” before the “day of the Lord come”. We read of this in Joel 2:28-32. Which means that the events in Acts chapter 2 are covering doctrine for “the time of Jacob's trouble” (Jer. 30) before the Lord comes to set up His earthly kingdom. That is the context of Acts 2.

Acts 2:

[22] Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
[23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
[24] Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
[25] For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
[26] Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
[27] Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
[28] Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
[29] Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
[30] Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
[31] He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
[32] This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
[33] Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
[34] For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
[35] Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

Again, there were “strangers of Rome” and Gentiles in the crowd, but Peter's message is directed at “Ye men of Israel”. The message is about the Jews, the events occuring are in fulfillment of prophecy concerning Israel, and the apostles are anticipating the Kingdom to be restored to Israel (Acts 1:6).

Notice that Peter's message about Jesus is not that He died for anyones sins or that He purchased salvation with His own blood. Up to this point the apostles have never preached the cross or gloried in the cross, that doctrine was “hid from them” according to Matthew 16:21-23, Mark 9:31-32, Luke 9:44-45, Luke 18:31-34, and John 20:6-10. The gospel that the 12 apostles preached was indeed the “gospel of Christ” (Mark 1:1) but at that time it only included the fact that He was the Son of God and Lord. Nobody preached the cross as good news and nobody linked the cross with redemption, look at Luke 24:19-21....

Luke 24:

[19] And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
[20] And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
[21] But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Notice that these two guys made no connection whatsoever with the crucifixion of Christ and the redemption of Israel. That is because Israel's sins will not be blotted out until Christ returns to establish His kingdom as we already saw. The problem is that nobody realized that the only way Christ could blot out sins when He returns is by His sacrificial death that we read about in Psalms 22 and Isaiah 53.

Peter and the apostles did not glory in the cross and they did not consider the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to be good news. Notice that Peter gives a murder indictment to the Jews and does not preach the cross as good news: “ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23) This is the message of the apostles to the Jews throughout Acts.....

Acts 2:36-37 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 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?"

Acts 3:12-15 "And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."

Acts 3:16-18 "And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled."

Acts 4:8-10 "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. "

Acts 5:28-31 "Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

Acts 7:51-52 "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:"

The message of the apostles during Acts is undeniably a murder charge to the Jews and the cross is certainly not spoken of as a good thing.

Acts 2:

[36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
[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.
[39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Again, Peter's message in Acts 2 is directed at “all the house of Israel” and not the Gentiles. The message is not that Christ died for sins and that He purchased salvation for Israel by His death, the message is that YOU MURDERED the Lord but He was raised from the dead.

Some of the Jews believed Peter and felt bad for crucifying their King (vs. 30). In light of realizing their mistake and being guilty of this murder, the Jews ask “what shall we do?” The answer is “repent” for the murder, be baptized with water for the remission of sins, and sell all that you have. This promise of salvation is for “you” (the Jews present), “your children” (the present Jews children), and “to all that are afar off” (the non-present Jews).

Acts 2:

[41] Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
[42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
[43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
[44] And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
[45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
[46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
[47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Three thousand Jews accepted Peter's message and “were baptized” “and had all things common”. “They sold their possesions and goods, and parted them to all men”.

The apostles and believers worshipped in the TEMPLE. The Law of Moses is still in place, it has not been done away with. God's program for Israel under the New Covenant is not for the Law to be done away with, but rather for them to keep it perfectly by the power of the Holy Ghost. Look at these passages of scripture: the Law is in place in the Tribulation and in the Kingdom under the New Covenant.....

Jeremiah 31:

[31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
[32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
[33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah 32:

[36] And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
[37] Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
[38] And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
[39] And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
[40] And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
[41] Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
[42] For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

Ezekiel 36:

[24] For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
[25] Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
[26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
[27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
[28] And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Jesus clearly taught the Law in His earthly ministry. He clearly said that Sabbath observance will be done in the Great Tribulation (“time of Jacob's trouble”) and that nobody will be allowed to break it, even if it is to run from the antichrist. (context of Matthew 24)

Matthew 5:

[17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 24:20-21 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Christ clearly taught the apostles to obey the Law according to those that sat in Moses's seat.

Matthew 23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

The Old Testament clearly teaches that the Law is in place during the earthly Kingdom of Christ (Isa. 2, Micah 4) just as Jesus did.

Isaiah 2:

[1] the word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
[2] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
[3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[4] And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Micah 4:

[1] But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
[2] And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[3] And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Of course the Law that will be observed in the earthly kingdom of Christ will not be exactly the same as it was in the Old Testament. Hebrews 7:12 makes it clear that with a change in priesthood that there was also a change of the Law. Ezekiel 40-46 speaks of the temple, priests, and ordinances that will be observed in the earthly kingdom of Christ. Though the sacrifices then will be memorial ordinances and not for the forgiveness of sins.

The apostles clearly followed the Law as the prophecies of the Old Testament and Jesus instructed.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Acts 10:

[9] 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:
[10] And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
[11] 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:
[12] Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
[13] And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
[14] But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
[15] And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
[16] This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
[17] Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Acts 22:12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

The apostles were not just keeping the Law out of tradition, it was a direct command from Christ (Matt. 5:17-20, 23:1-3, 24:20). The apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost and were being given direct revelations and instruction by God, they were not mistaken by observing the Law. They were fulfilling prophecies of the last days before the 2^nd coming of Christ (Acts 2:14-21) looking for the establishment of the Kingdom (Acts 1:6) and the Law was part of all of that (Isa. 2:1-4, Micah 4:1-3).

The apostles still worshipped in the temple (Acts 2:46, 3:1), they kept the dietary laws (Acts 10:9-17), would not keep company with Gentiles (Acts 10:28), and certain believers declared that circumcision was a requirement for salvation (Acts 15:5). The apostles were described as devout men according to the Law (Acts 22:12) and their followers were said to be “all zealous of the Law” (Acts 21:20).

Now let's take a look at Acts 3.

Acts 3:

[1] Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
[2] And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
[3] Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
[4] And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
[5] And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
[6] Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

[7] And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.
[8] And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
[9] And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
[10] And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
[11] And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Again, we see that the apostles were following the Law and were abiding by the gospel of the kingdom which required you to have all things common and selling all that you have (Matt. 6:19-34, 19:16-24, Mark 6:7-9, 10:17-23, Luke 9:1-4, 12:15-34, Acts 2:44-45, 3:1-6, 4:32-37, 5:1-11).

Now look at Peter's sermon.

Acts 3:

[12] And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
[13] The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
[14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
[15] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
[16] And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
[17] And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
[18] But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Like the sermon in Acts chapter 2, this message is directed at the Jews (“Ye men of Israel”) per instruction from Christ (Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8, Acts 11:19). Also like the message in Acts 2, this sermon is a murder charge against the Jews (vs 13-15+17). The cross is not preached as good news.

Now look at the “plan of salvation” that these Jews are supposed to receive.

Acts 3:

[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:
[21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
[22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
[25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
[26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

This is a perfect presentation of the plan prophecied of in Jeremiah 31-33 and Ezekiel 36. Peter plainly states that if these Jews repent and be converted then their sins will be blotted out WHEN THE TIMES OF REFRESHING SHALL COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. Israel's sins do not get blotted out until the presence of the Lord comes. When Christ comes to reign on the earth He will forgive Israel's sins and “restore” Israel. This is what the apostles are looking for according to Acts 1:6, “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 3:19 is the message that Christ gave the 12 apostles in Matthew 19. The “regeneration” is when Christ is on the throne of His glory and the apostles are judging the 12 tribes of Israel in the Kingdom. It is not until then that the disciples inherit everlasting life and have their sins blotted out.

Matthew 19:

[28] And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
[29] And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
[30] But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Peter says that the Father will send Jesus Christ, and when He comes the “restitution of all things” will occur. This is when Deuteronomy 18:15-19 will be fulfilled, when Christ is in Israel and they are obeying His word (Deut. 18:15) and if they do not obey they are in big trouble to say the least (Deut. 18:19).

That is when Peter says that their sins will be blotted out. Not before that. Until Christ and the apostles are on thrones in Jerusalem, Israel's forgiveness will not happen. Check it!

Jeremiah 31:

[31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
[32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
[33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah 32:

[36] And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
[37] Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
[38] And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
[39] And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
[40] And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
[41] Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
[42] For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.

Jeremiah 33:

[2] Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;
[3] Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
[4] For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;
[5] They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.
[6] Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
[7] And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
[8] And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
[9] And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
[10] Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,
[11] The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
[12] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
[13] In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.
[14] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
[15] In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
[16] In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
[17] For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
[18] Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

THAT is the doctrine that Jesus taught in His earthly ministry and THAT is “the gospel of the kingdom”. I gave you no assumptions, religion, or opinions, I just gave you scripture. I didn't even interpret any of it, all I did was show you what the text SAID. 

--Eli Caldwell