Subject Matter:-
1) 'Paul was a different apostle'
2) 'Paul has new information'
Hello
@Victoria,
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this, and agree with what is said within it, except sadly for one thing, which is important, so cannot be overlooked.
[The Scriptures referenced were, Gal.2:7-9; Matt.10:5; Rom.11:13; Rom.15:20; Acts 15:1; Rom. 6:14 (Gal.3:24-25) Acts 21:20;
Eph. 3:1-5; [This is where my disagreement became apparent]1 Cor. 2:7-8; Matt.15:22, 26-27; Eph. 3:3,5; Acts 10:1,9,12-13, 16-17; Acts 10:44-45; Eph. 3:6-7; John 5:39; Eph. 3:8-9; Eph. 3:1-3; Gen. 1:1 & 1 Cor. 2-7-8; Eph. 3:9-10]
Even as I am typing this, what I want to say is fading from my mind, but I pray that God will enable me to explain why I disagree with what was otherwise a very good address.
My point of disagreement is in regard to the fact that it is not acknowledged by the speaker that Ephesians was written by Paul from his imprisonment at Rome, therefore at the end of the 35-40 years of the Acts period. At his conversion the ascended Lord told Paul that he would appear unto him again (Acts 26:16) concerning '
other things': and sent him out as a minister and as a witness both to '
the people' (Israel) and to
'the Gentiles'; and Paul went always to the Jew first throughout his Acts ministry; and we can read what his ministry consisted of in Acts 26, when he, beginning with the words of the risen Lord at his conversion, says:-
'Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins,
and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.'
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem,
and throughout all the coasts of Judaea,
and then to the Gentiles,
that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great,
saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead,
and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
(Act 26:17-23)
During the Acts period it was the repentance of Israel that was the main consideration, because of the words spoken by Peter in Acts 3:19-20:-
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;
And He shall send Jesus Christ,
which before was preached unto you:'
It was not until the quotation of Isaiah 6:10 in Acts 28:26-28, that the darkness of unbelief finally descended and Israel was laid aside (
temporarily) in unbelief, that salvation was sent to the Gentiles, independent of Israel, for they would hear it (Acts 28:28).
Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon, are the epistles which give instruction concerning the Church which is the Body of Christ. Written by Paul from his imprisonment, as the Lord's Prisoner for the Gentiles.
Only at Acts 20:24 when Paul was on his way to imprisonment at Jerusalem was, '
the gospel of the grace of God' mentioned, when Paul 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.'
I am aware that there is much more that could be said, but this is as far as I can go at present.
Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris
