* The apostles carried on what was thought by Jesus
* The apostles introduced spiritual doctrine while keeping in mind that their primarily ministry was the Jews
* Thats the understanding that they had and they carried it up to the best of their ability
* They go by the best of their understanding (however the Holy Spirit moved)
* We have to look at this as not people but as God moves. When we go by how God moves and remember the historical understanding of what the apostles went through. When we combine these together, we find out a lot of things why they thought it that way, why their ministry was that way and why its not false doctrine too when we keep in mind about God behind the scenes.
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.
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.
* Noticed they were all blur for a moment on what to do?
* Noticed the giving of the Holy Spirit was going to based on water baptism and this is different us from Christians
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
* Noticed the giving of the Holy Spirit was going to based on laying on hands and this is different us from Christians
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
* They were speaking in tongues - audible language
* The Jews, they had to do a certain physical action first (like laying of hands or water baptism) then only able to receive the Holy Spirit
* Holy spirit was not given by laying of hands or water baptism
* believing first (faith), the physical things come after that
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
* This time period is transitional from Jews to Christians
* The Jews, they had to do a certain physical action first (like laying of hands or water baptism) then only able to receive the Holy Spirit
* The non Jews received the Holy Spirit by believing first (faith, spiritual) then only does the physical things
* Why? Because Jesus warned the Jews that pretty soon, He's going to switch from the Jewish nation to a non Jewish nation if they don't accept His teachings
* But notice that its gradually shifting.
* God does that because He is giving them chance after chance,
* God is merciful and He does not cut us off immediately like that
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
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:
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things,
whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
* They were many Jews saved by the apostles yet they still obeserve sacrifices, the law and circumcission but notice they kept the non Jews seperated from those Jewish physical things - see the next verse (verse 25)
* Gentiles which believe = saved gentiles
* we can see that for the saved Jews, there will be still some observing of some Jewish physical things that they need to do
* Non Jews (gentiles) are dealt differently. They don't have to observe those Jewish physical things
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
* Because for thousands of years before hand, thats what the Jews did. They were taught to do physical things to gain their own righteousness
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
* See who are the witnesses. The apostles, the elders etc
* many are confuse about doing physical Jewish things - Circumcision, to keep the law etc
* noticed this verse: we gave no such commandment:
* See who are the others who witness this event in the next verse
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
* See who are the witnesses. Barnabas & Paul, Judas & Silas and most important witness is The Holy Ghost
* Kingdom to Israel: that means the physical kingdom which the Jews were promised of in the old testament
* Restore again: that means they have it before
* They were expecting it to happen any moment: thats why there were a lot of end time Jewish doctrine being mentioned during the apostle's ministry
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.
* noticed verse 19: when the times of refreshing = restoration time shall come
* from the presence of the Lord = God is going to be present with them
* They were anticipating their king
* noticed verse 20: he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: = the Messiah which was preached by the old testament prophets which was saying about end times event, the physical messiah coming, the promised israel kingdom etc
* noticed verse 21: times restitution = restoration when their Messiah comes
* Book of Matthew mentioned so many times kingdom of heaven
* But we know God warned the Jews that if they reject, He's going to switch to another nation.
21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
* Noticed in the cities they went to
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
* Jesus not only warned them that they should expect the kingdom of heaven, but they should also seek ye first the kingdom of God (the spiritual kingdom)
* Because the Jews all their lifetime it was based on primarily the physical dealings of God but God wanted them to start focusing on the spiritual things
* But because the Jews kept rejecting them, that spiritual side is going to be taken from them and given to a different group of people
* Noticed the transition it had to go through
* When we understand this, we can understand why the verses said some of those things in the books and Acts, General Epistles or Matthew to John
* When we understand the transition, as we'll be able to tell that some Jewish things that would refer to end times thats their doctrine and other things that will apply to a Christian a spiritual church
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
* Apostles towards circumcission (Jews), Paul towards the gentiles
* When we read the apostles' writings since its going to the Jews, we got to keep in mind that there's going to be Jewish things mentioned
* That’s why Jewish leaders, pharasees etc cannot accept Paul's teachings and thinks he is teaching heresy because his teaching is towards non Jews
* Noticed the apostles could not deny the teachings that was given to Paul by God
* The apostle Paul is one who make the big change in Jewish physical teachings
* Because his teaching was focused on non Jewish Christian church where as the apostles were primarily focused on Jews
* That’s why when we read the apostle Paul's teachings, we will see that it directly matches up with our Christian church doctrine but when we read the General Epistles and the book of Acts we get confuse
* Remember, the apostles ministry was towards the Jews and the apostle Pauls ministry was toward non Jews
* If we we want to understand our Christian doctrine, Paul is the one to go to (Pauline Epistles = Romans to Philemon)
* If we keep on turning to the writings of the apostles, its no wonder we’re going to be confused and based our salvation on their teachings
* And most important is people who don't know the covenants about God's physical dealings with the Jews about their physical kingdom that’s going to happen in the end times
* If they have that familiarity, they will have second thoughts when they read the apostle’s writings
* If we read every single writing of the apostle Paul, its going to be referred to churches
* Then we will know those writings are going to apply to us
* Its just as obvious when we read James chapter 1 verse 1 to the 12 tribes of israel will definitely be Jewish
* We know Paul was then put into prison when he went there
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
* Paul was introducing a lot of things thats why his writings are dramatically different from the old testament, Jesus and the apostles
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
* His teachings was not revealed as clearly before until now
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
* Paul was given something that the other apostles were not given and that was the clearness of Christian spiritual doctrine
* Scripture he used was old testament (there was no new testament that time)
* He had to find every spiritual dealing of God in the old testament to prove that God's spiritual dealings were legitimate
* We saw those examples with Abraham, the law of Moses, blood sacrifices and David
* Many use those verses and automatically make a wrong assumption thats how the Jews were saved all this time
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
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.
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
* Paul did not make this all up. He find God's spiritual dealings in the bible to prove its legitimacy
* Paul knows the non Jews are dealt by spiritual dealings and a lot of things is going to be different as how god dealt physical with the Jews
*Paul was given something by God that was going to be very different from other the other Jewish apostles
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission
* He realised one receive forgiveness of sins thru animal sacrifice which is different with the Christian church
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:
* Paul recognises that back then it was different from us Christians - it was based of law and they had to live in them, that was their life
5 For /u>Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
* Paul sees that there is a distinction and difference between these
* With this understanding that there is a distinction, then only we can find the right doctrine
* Paul did not make this all up. He find God's spiritual dealings in the bible to prove its legitimacy
* Paul knows the non Jews are dealt by spiritual dealings and a lot of things is going to be different as how god dealt physical with the Jews
* Paul was given something by God that was going to be very different from the other Jewish apostles
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
* If they believed, they should have received the holy Ghost but these are Jews (somebody need to give them physical water baptism or laying of hands to receive the holsy)
* Some churches take advantage of this verse to say that believing is not enough
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
* John the baptist baptism is to prepare the way for Jesus as the Messiah
* That baptism had physical confessing of their sins, physical baptism and physical works of repentance that is required for the Jewish salvation * These people are Jews from the Jewish system
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
* The way Paul ministers with Jews matches the same ways the physical dealings of God with the Jewish people and not the same with the non Jewish Christian church
* Jews received the Holy Spirit through physical water baptism and physical laying of hands and not done through spiritual (just by faith in Jesus Christ) like we christians today
* Physical laying of hands, physical water baptism was required for them to receive the Holy Spirit - why? - because they are Jews, not gentiles
* Transitional still going on, God deals with Jews different from gentiles
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:49-56 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
* 1st order = Christ the firstfruits: this is talking about when Jesus resurrected from the dead and He brought the old testment saints together out of Abraham’s Bossom
* 2nd order = they that are Christ's: this is talking about our rapture (rapture of the church) because we are part of Christ body
* 3rd order = cometh the end: this is about the rapture for the Jews
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
* Noticed verse 9: Paul told us we are not appointed to wrath
* Noticed verse 4-7 Paul told us we are not part of the people overtakes us unawares and part of the drunken
* Noticed verse 11: Paul tells us to to be comforted
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people
* Noticed verse 22: these be the days of vengeance
* Noticed verse 23: in those days, great distress in the land and wrath
* Luke 21 = Matthew 24 = Jews in tribulation & their physical kingdom & rapture
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
* The rapture Paul talks about has to be before the tribulation
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
* Non Jews partook in physical signs because God was not done with the Jews yet
* Jews saw gentiles receiving the gift and Peter (a Jew) was also there
* When there are non Jews participating in signs and wonders, its only because a physical Jew is involved
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
* Paul minister to a lot of non Jews and he does signs and wonders among them because he himself is a Jew and God was not done with the Jews yet * God's physical operation was still on going
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
* All these wouldn’t be a problem if he just healed them
* Its by God's mercy (same as Christians today) that we are able to have good health and its God that heals us and not through healers
* that’s why we pray for to God to heal people but we don't go seeking for healers
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Galatians 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
Galatians 6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
* Seems to show that they don't have it anymore
* Unclean spirits were immediately cast out, all sickness were immediately healed
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.