Israel and the church: a distinction?

MP, you are absolutely correct!

Indeed there is some point in Paul's epistles where he refers to the Jews wandering in the desert as the "church," but I can't find it now (It's different than the passage in 1Cor10.1-4). I hate it when I do this....

That view, unfortunately but true; conflicted with the endtime view of the Pharisees of Jesus day, who were looking for an ethnic, geo-political governmental kingdom established by the Messiah.

Christ corrected them too; and they rejected His teachings on the kingdom He was offering.

Sad that many today, as well; still prefer the endtime teachings and expectations that the Pharisees looked for; in opposition to the teachings that Jesus gave them to the contrary.

Some just refuse to accept 'one body' as being just that; and the ethnic distinctions being desolved; as the NT teaches over and over again.

I'm sorry, but isn't the belief that the church and Israel are the same group more synonymous with covenant theology? I thought dispensationalism was supposed to be made up of these important distinctions. I'm with Tracey on this one.

Tractor,

Why would you quote this statement:


Galatians 3:16 "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."

Then turn around and say this:
"The covenant was made with Abraham and his descendants, and it remains that way."

Can't you see that the comment you made, turned around and conflicted with the very scripture you quoted?

Why do that?

Paul makes it very clear in that verse, that it was 'one-seed(CHRIST)' that the promises were made; not to 'seeds as many' aka fleshly descendents.

Abraham's promises were completely fulfilled in Christ and no-one else. They were intended for Christ in Genesis (but few understood then) and they were re-explained in Galatians, so that no doubt could be left.

Do you think Christ has fallen short or is somewhat inadequate in fulfilling the promises made to Abraham? Surely Christ is very sufficient isn't He?

Dave Taylor said:

Tractor,

Why would you quote this statement:


Galatians 3:16 "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."

Then turn around and say this:
"The covenant was made with Abraham and his descendants, and it remains that way."

Can't you see that the comment you made, turned around and conflicted with the very scripture you quoted?

Why do that?

Paul makes it very clear in that verse, that it was 'one-seed(CHRIST)' that the promises were made; not to 'seeds as many' aka fleshly descendents.

Abraham's promises were completely fulfilled in Christ and no-one else. They were intended for Christ in Genesis (but few understood then) and they were re-explained in Galatians, so that no doubt could be left.

Do you think Christ has fallen short or is somewhat inadequate in fulfilling the promises made to Abraham? Surely Christ is very sufficient isn't He?

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Due to the fact there are promises having to do with national Israel, and promises that go beyond Israel and include all the nations of the earth. The Church belonging to the latter.

The assertion was made that the Church is the “Israel of God” and that brings with it the implication that God has abandoned Israel and has chosen to spiritually fulfill His promises with another party. I’m in disagreement with that position. National Israel will experience all that God has promised.

The argument that the Church is a spiritual fulfillment isn’t necessary as Gentiles are blessed as a literal fulfillment of (Gen. 12:3). The verse promises that in Abraham “all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Now that Abraham’s heir has appeared in the Person of Jesus Christ, they are, through Him (Gal. 3:26-29). Paul doesn’t argue that Gentiles are blessed because the promise in reference to seed has been spiritually fulfilled, he is arguing on the basis of identification with Christ through whom they are blessed. He identifies that particular blessing because they are now heirs of the promised given to Abraham in (Gen. 12:3). This is true because the promise to Abraham is now given to Christ (Gal. 3:16). The New Testament just specifies what was promised as blessing in the Old.

There’s no question that portions of the covenant have been fulfilled. Personal promises to Abraham have literally been fulfilled, but key portion haven’t and due to their unconditional nature await later fulfillment through the Davidic, Palestinian, and new covenants.

In Christ,
Tracey

Gal 3:15b though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or added there to 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 they seed which is Christ

gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed. and heirs according to the promise

question is to what promise?

Gen 22:17 is the only covenant that the seed is singular the other three covenants where plural....

where is this a covenant luke 1:68-72

tractor,
what promises do you believe are yet unfulfilled (except for His return, the resurrection, and the judgement?)

A Brethren IN CHRIST said:

Gal 3:15b though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or added there to 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 they seed which is Christ

gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed. and heirs according to the promise

question is to what promise?

Gen 22:17 is the only covenant that the seed is singular the other three covenants where plural....

where is this a covenant luke 1:68-72

Click to expand...

there are four different covenant with abraham

Dave Taylor said:

tractor,
what promises do you believe are yet unfulfilled (except for His return, the resurrection, and the judgement?)

Click to expand...

There are numerous provisions of the Abrahamic covenant that have yet to be fulfilled.

Scripture states: "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee" (Gen. 17:7).

Certain provisions of the covenant have been fulfilled literally throughout history. Promises of a great nation, a great name, personal blessings, God's claim that those who bless would be blessed and those that curse would be cursed, and finally, in him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Therefore, provision that remain will see their ultimate fulfillment in a literal sense also. They can be found in three covenants which are unconditional in nature and are an enlargement of the Abrahamic. The Palestinian (Duet. 28-30) which relates to the land aspect, the Davidic (2 Sam. 7) which relates to the seed aspect, and the new (Jer. 31: 31-34; 32:40; Ezek. 16:60-62; 34:25-31; 37:26-28; Rom. 11:25-27; Heb. 8:6-13) which relates to the blessing aspect. All three await their ultimate fulfillment at the second advent.

In Christ,
Tracey

Within the church there is no distinction made between Jew and Gentile. However, between the Nation of Israel as G-d's Covenant people and the Church there are clear distinctions made.

I put the following together for a class I teach on eschatology.

SOME BASIC DEFINITIONS
(for understanding studying prophecy)
*
ISRAEL—The most commonly accepted definition is those persons descended from Abraham through the lineage of Isaac, Jacob, and the sons of Jacob. The definition of Israel is so closely related with the purpose for which God called & established Israel, that the two can’t properly be separated.
“God chose Abraham to be the head of a special people (Gen. 12:1–3). He limited the line after Abraham to Isaac (Gen. 17:21), Jacob (Gen. 25:23; 27:27–29), and to the twelve sons of Jacob (Gen. 49). He chose Israel for Himself, to make them a nation of priests, and a holy nation (Ex. 19:4–6). It was not a decree to salvation in the first place, but to outward standing and privilege. This outward standing & privilege was, however, by means of His Holy law and divine institutions to lead them* to salvation and acceptable service. Included in the later was the solemn responsibility to be a spiritual blessing to the surrounding nations.”
—H.C. Theissen
Introductory Lecture in Systematic Theology
*
THE CHURCH—If the term church (Ecclesia) were to mean all the saints of all ages, then it would be evident that the church must go through the tribulation, as we are told that there will be saints in the tribulation. So it becomes necessary to define just what is meant by this Greek word that literally means, “the called out ones.” The church consists of all those who, in this dispensation, have been born of the Spirit of God, and baptized into the Body of Christ.
Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, said of the Church, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we all were made to drink of one Spirit.” I Corinthians 12:13.
The Church is composed only of those believers in Christ from the day of Pentecost until the Rapture of the Church. The purpose of the Church as stated by Scripture, is clearly different from that of any other group in Scripture. This purpose is seen as seven–fold:
1. To glorify God.
2. To edify itself.
3. To purify itself.
4. To educate it’s constituency.
5. To evangelize the world.
6. To act as a restraining and enlightening force in the world.
7. To promote all good.

Some distinctions between Israel & the Church

I Corinthians 10:32 “Neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God,” shows that Paul made a distinction between the Jewish people, the Church, and gentiles. There are many definite contrasts between Israel and the Church here are but a few:


ISRAEL

Promise of a nation, a land, and a citizenship in Canaan, Gen. 12:1–3; 13:15.

Promise of great blessing and satisfaction of physical needs as a reward for a Godly life, Deuteronomy 8:7–10.

Life is a thing earned by a certain line of obedience, Leviticus 18:.

Promise of the Restoration of Israel is an earthly blessing, Isaiah 11:11–12; 14:1; Jeremiah 23:5–6.

Blessings were conditional, Deuteronomy 28–30.

Chosen in Abram, Deuteronomy 7:6; Nehemiah 9:7.

Purposed to be a great* nation, a great blessing, and to dwell alone, Genesis 12:2; Numbers 23:9.

CHURCH

Promise of a citizenship in Heaven, Philippians 3:20.

Promise of great physical need, as a reward for a Godly service–filled life, I Corinthians 4:11–12.

Saved by faith, not through works, Ephesians 2:8–10.

Future of the Church has to do with Heaven, and heavenly blessings, I Thessalonians 4:16–17.

Blessings are unconditional.

Chosen in Him (Christ), Ephesians 1:4.


Purposed to build the Body of Christ—the Church, Ephesians 1:4, 22–23; Colossians 1:18.


THE TRIBULATION—(Thlipsis) This Greek word translated tribulation appears some 54 times in the New Testament, with many varied uses. Clearly some 24 times it’s meaning is only that of any time of suffering or testing, such as the persecution believers endure for their faith (Matthew 13:21; Mark 4:17). The remaining 30 occurrences it is used in a eschatological sense with reference to either: 1) the entire seven-year period known as the both “70th week of Daniel” (Daniel 9:27), and the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7); or 2) in it’s narrower sense as the last 3 1/2 years of this seven-year period commonly referred to as the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21).
The nature or character of this period can be discerned from several passages of Scripture as being: 1) of wrath (Zeph. 1:15, 18; I Thess 1: 10; 5:9; Rev. 6:16–17); 2) of judgment (Rev. 14:7; 15:4); 3) of trial (Rev. 3:10); 4) of destruction (Joel 1:15; I Thessalonians 5:3); 5) of darkness (Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18); and 6) of desolation (Daniel 9:27; Zeph. 1:14–15). It will be a time of such unsurpassed carnage and destruction that Jesus said, “…except those days should be shortened, there would no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24:22. The purpose of the Tribulation is stated in Daniel 9:24, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [the Jews] and upon thy holy city, to 1) finish the transgression, and 2) make an end of sins, and 3) to make reconciliation for iniquity, and 4) to bring in everlasting righteousness, and 5) to seal up the vision and prophecy, and 6) to anoint the Most Holy.” This prophecy was given to Daniel, a Jew, regarding the Jewish people, and the Jewish city of Jerusalem. In short, the primary purpose of the tribulation is to prepare, thru purging, the Jewish people for the Coming of their Messiah.
A secondary purpose for the tribulation is as an outpouring of the Wrath of God upon the unbelieving men and nations as “the Times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24) comes to an end.

“For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.” —Isaiah 26:21

“and for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
—II Thessalonians 2:12
Promises to The Church
regarding The Rapture & Wrath
1. I Thess. 5:9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Rev. 6:17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?
3. I Thess. 1:9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

I Thess. 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

4. Rev. 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

5. II Pet. 2:6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
II Pet. 2:7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men

II Pet. 2:8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

II Pet. 2:9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

The "roots" of ALL believers go back to Abram/Abraham.Read Romans 4:12 right along with verse 13. "And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcsion only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, WHILE HE HAD BEING YET UNCIRCUMICSED. For the promise, that he should be heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or his seed, through the Law, but through the righteousness of FAITH.

Those verses just tell us that justification/salvation is apart from the Law, even while Abram was still a Gentile and before his name was changed to Abraham and he became a Jew in the flesh.

The covenant to Abram was when he was still a Gentile and was unconditional. After his name was changed to Abraham and required to become a "Jew in the flesh" by being circumcised, the unconditional promise to Abram wasn't changed, but new conditions were added to receive the promise. Any Jew that refused to be circumcised, was "cut off from his people; he hath broken the covenant" (Genesis 17:14).

After Abram's name was changed to Abraham, he is no longer referred to as Abram, even when they are talking about the times in which he lived before his name was changed.

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh (when he was still called Abram and prior to his name change and his circumcision), hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Paul is speaking of the time in Genesis 15:5,6. Verse 2 identifies to who God is speaking is Abram. Abram was call a friend of the Lord and was declared righteous (justified/saved). Abram was justified/saved just as members of the Body of Christ are today. By FAITH ALONE and not by any deeds/works of the Law.

In contrast to this, James tells us in his Letter 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God

James is talking about the time in Genesis 22 when circumcised Abraham, a Jew in the flesh, was justified by doing a work to demonstrate his faith.

So the roots of ALL BELIEVERS go back to Abram/Abraham and are called the children of God. Those that are the seed of Abram are saved by FAITH alone, just as members of the Body of Christ are today, and those that were required to perform deed/works of the Law were saved/justified by doing the deed/works of the law BY FAITH. Salvation/justification has always been on the basis of FAITH. Now read Galations in that light.

As a Gentile, I am a child of God, saved by GRACE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, and my roots go all the way back to Abram. All believers that were saved during the dispensation of the Law, are children of God, and saved by FAITH ALONE which was demonstrated by dong the deed/works of the Law by FAITH. Isn't Jesus the root in which the promise of salvation/justification is based for ALL mankind?

I, as a member of "the Body of Chirst" am not a Jew or "spiritual" Jew. My salvation/justifiction comes from Chirst through my FAITH ALONE in His Cross work, Just like Abram was saved/justified by just believing God.

All those that were saved/justified during the "dispensation of the Law" are saved by FAITH ALONE by demonstrating that faith by doing what the deed/works of the Law required.

Prior to the setting aside of Israel, and the formation of "the Body of Christ", There were different instructions addressed to Israel then to the Gentiles. If a Gentile wanted to serve the God of Israel, then the Gentile had to become a Jew (proselyte) and place themselves under the Civil, Moral and Ceremonial Laws of Moses.

Are the Instructions in righteousness to Israel, under the Laws of Moses, the same as the instructions of righteousness to the Body of Chirst? I don't think so.

I will follow the instructions that God gave to Paul for members of the Body of Christ. I will not mix them with the instructions that God gave to Moses for the children of Israel. You may if you wish.

When the gospel (good news) of the Law is mixed with the gospel (good news) of God's grace, you end up with confusion and denominations.

God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!

Bainecaileag86, (what on earth does that mean?),

You speak of "covenant theology" as if it's a bad word rolling out of your mouth...???

While it's true that covenant theology makes no distinction between the Israel to whom promises were made in the OT and the Church in the NT, this belief is not peculiar to covenant theology: the vast majority of Christendom holds this view, only dispensationalism is out of step with orthodoxy on this point.

Cheers,

Eric

R.J.S said:

Question one: “There was already a church in existence at Pentecost. The Scripture does not say that the believers at Pentecost were formed into the church. It says they were added to the church (Acts 2:41). A thing must first exist before anything can be added to it” (Baker, A Dispensational Theology, p. 483).

ANSWER: Baker fails to distinguish between two clear-cut groups that are found present on the day of Pentecost. First there was the group that was assembled in Acts 2:1 which was made up of the 120 disciples mentioned in Acts 1:15. It was on these that the Spirit was poured out in such a remarkable way as recorded in Acts 2:2-13. These 120 disciples were the first recipients of the Spirit and thus the first members of the church. The second clear-cut group at Pentecost was the multitude of unsaved Jews out of which about 3000 were saved as the result of Peter’s preaching (Acts 2:41). So it makes good sense to say that the 3000 were added to the saved body of 120 that already existed.

The context of Acts 2:41 concerns those “…who received his (Peter’s) word….” This would be the multitude (Acts 2:5-6) not those in the house (Acts 2:2). The Body of Christ or church was born in Acts 2:1-4 and later in the day “three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41) were added to the church (added to the core group of 120).

The Scriptures clearly teach that the believers at Pentecost were formed into the church. The proof is found in a correct, Biblical understanding of the doctrine of Spirit baptism.

The key passage on Spirit baptism is found in 1 Corinthians 12:13—“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” The “ONE BODY” spoken of in this verse refers to the CHURCH (see 1 Cor. 12:27-28; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:30-32; Col. 1:18), the Body of which Christ is the Head. Spirit baptism is defined in 1Corinthians 12:13 as that work of God whereby believers are baptized (immersed, placed) into Christ’s body, the church. How then does a believer become a member of the body of Christ? It is by Spirit baptism. (SNIP)

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Being I haven't read every post in this thread, I would like to respond to one of the first ones by R.J.S.

There was a Church at Pentecost and it was the Jewish Church. Those that were "added" to the Church were added to the Jewish Church.

It is my contention that the Church (the Body of Christ) was not formed until AFTER the stoning of Stephen, in Acts 7 and the raising up of Saul/Paul in Acts 9.

The Body of Christ consists of believing "set aside" Jews and Gentiles. Also, they on equal footing and without distinction, and no longer under the Law. This condition never existed until revealed to the Apostle Paul. Therefore, the Church, the Body of Christ was not present at Pentecost; neither was it started at Pentecost.

In his web-site on Acts 2 Problems, Robert C. Brock wrote the following article:

PROBLEM NO. 9 --THAT THE DAY OF PENTECOST IS THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST. THIS INCLUDES THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD

This is the doctrine that gives Acts 2 brethren their name - Acts 2 Dispensationalists. This is the most popular form of Dispensationalism.

Their main argument for starting the Church in Acts 2 is the baptism of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Acts 2:4 and in Acts 11:15-16. They say that this 'baptism' places believers into the Body of Christ, thereby equating this with the 'baptism' of 1 Cor. 12:13 (Dispensationalism Today by C.C. Ryrie, pages 136,137; Moody Press; 1965).

They also point to the word 'church' in Acts 2:47 of the King James Bible. Of course, they believe that Peter preached Christianity on this day and that he presented the death, burial and resurrection of Christ for salvation; in other words, Peter preached the Gospel of the grace of God.

THE TRUTH

The only way and the Scriptural way to solve the many problems that Acts 2 causes is to move over from Acts 2 to Acts 9 (just7 chapters), and begin the Church and this Dispensation of grace with the salvation of Saul/Paul. In making this simple little move, one's whole outlook and perspective changes in how to view and understand the Word of God, especially in the book of Acts. Instead of starting things on a very controversial Jewish festival day and dream up human interpretations to defend it, it is best to start things when God did something different. And certainly the salvation of Saul was different from anything that had happened before it or after it. It was unique (1 Tim. 1:15-16).

In making this move, the doctrines of the Bible are enhanced rather than lost or given up. Truth about the Church becomes clearer. This move allows the Holy Spirit to work in us according to His teaching ministry to believers. And most of all, our RISEN Lord and Head, Christ Jesus, is honored and glorified when we preach Him according to His heavenly ministry for this Age of grace.

Charles F. Baker, in his 'A Dispensational Theology,' pages 483-486, gives 12 Scriptural reasons why the Church, the Body of Christ, could not have begun on the Day of Pentecost. Instead of quoting from his theology, we will look at the more obvious reasons taken from Acts 2 and 3. The Day of Pentecost covers two whole chapters - Acts 2 and 3.

1. The Day of Pentecost was one of the important feast days in Israel's calendar (Lev. 15:22). This religious feast day belonged to Israel alone. It was one of the three great annual festivals, the other two being the Passover and Tabernacles.

Now I realize that believers today in this Age of grace can learn a lot from the Old Testament. This is one thing that the Apostle Paul wrote about to the assembly at Rome (Romans 15:4 - "For whatsoever things were written aforetime [before] were written for our learning ... " 'learning' refers to 'teaching,' indicating that the Old Testament is important for the Christian. But please notice that this verse DOES NOT SAY that the Old Testament Scriptures are for our obedience.. To 'obey' the Old Testament Scriptures is impossible in the light of the cross of Christ (Col. 2:14).

Therefore, to bring this major Jewish festival of the Old Testament into Christianity and make it a major doctrine of Christianity, causes believers to become inconsistent in their doctrine and walk before the Lord. Bringing Pentecost into Christianity mixes Judaism with Christianity. It is-this part of the Word of God that causes all the problems that the Acts 2 position teaches. Acts 2 brethren NEED to remove the Church from Acts 2 and place it in Acts 9 where it belongs. Then they will be able to rightly divide the Word of truth consistently.

2. The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16) was administered by the Lord Jesus Christ just as John the Baptist said He would do, as recorded in Matt. 3:11, "...He [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit..." This baptizing ministry of our Lord was done on the Day of Pentecost. This baptism was NOT performed by the Holy Spirit like we read about in 1 Cor. 12:13, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body..." Acts 2 Dispensationalists cannot understand that the two baptisms mentioned here are DIFFERENT BAPTISMS performed by two different members of the Godhead. The verse in 1 Cor. 12:13 does not relate to the Day of Pentecost. They confuse the ministry of Christ with the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Their arguments for putting 1 Cor. 12:13 into Acts 2 are very weak.

3. Peter's two messages in Acts 2 and 3 are related to the DAY OF THE LORD (Acts 2:17-21; 3:19-23). This particular period of time is part of the LAST DAYS of Israel rather than to the first days of the Church, the Body of Christ. The Day of the Lord covers the Tribulation Period and the Millennium, not this Dispensation of the grace of God.

4. The gospel message that Peter used to close his two messages was the Gospel of the Kingdom, the only gospel Peter knew, as seen in Acts 2:38-39 especially (also Acts 3:19). They were to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and then the Holy Spirit would be given to those who believed. Repentance was NATIONAL as well as INDIVIDUAL, and had to take place FIRST before any of God's blessings would come (Joel 2:12-17).

How did Peter proclaim the death and resurrection of Christ?

First of all, the Apostle Peter accused the Nation of murdering their Messiah. He told them twice that they killed Him (Acts 2:23), and they killed the Prince of life (Acts 3:15).

Second, in relation to the resurrection, Peter said that God raised Him from the dead in order to sit on David's throne (Acts 2:30). This is one of the reasons for the resurrection of Christ.

The Apostle Paul did not teach about the death and resurrection of Christ like Peter did.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is NOT God's message for this Age of grace. Acts 2 brethren know this but do not know what to do with it. They do not like what Peter taught about being baptized in water MR the forgiveness of sins. They realize that this is not the same thing that Paul wrote in Eph. 1:7 and in Col. 1:14, that forgiveness of sins is NOW by the blood of Christ.

One of America's greatest Greek scholars, A.T. Robertson, a very strong Baptist teacher, strongly disliked Acts 2:38. He taught that the 'for' in the phrase 'be baptized ... FOR the remission of sins' means 'because of.' The Greek preposition for 'for' is EIS. He used Matt. 12:41 as the proof, where it is stated 'they repented at [EIS] the preaching of Jonah.' He also said in his book 'A Grammar of the-Greek New Testament' on page 592 in relation to Acts 2:38, that the right translation of this verse depended on the interpreter instead of the grammarian (translator). In a list of meanings for EIS, he left out 'for,' a legitimate meaning that the Greek lexicons recognize. The meaning of 'because of' is not recognized by the lexicons for EIS.

What can be said about this? The answer is that if the meaning of 'because of' was the intended meaning in Acts 2:38 and in Matt. 12:41, then the Holy Spirit would have guided Luke and Matthew to use the Greek preposition DIA in the accusative case, for DIA in the accusative case means 'because of.' But it is EIS that is used instead, and so we must accept the meaning of 'for' as making more sense than the other meanings of EIS. Besides, the meaning of 'for' is consistent with its use in describing the work of John the Baptist (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Matt. 26:28) and our Lord's teaching.

Another problem that Acts 2 brethren have is that they believe in only one gospel. Hence, they have to change the obvious meaning of Acts 2:38 so that it fits into the Gospel of the grace of God. And they do this by attacking the Greek preposition EIS.

5. All the Jewish believers on the Day of Pentecost had everything in common (Acts 2:44-45). They shared everything they had with one another so that no one lacked anything.

Had not the Lord told His disciples earlier to sell all that they had and to follow Him? (Luke 12:1,29-34). Matthew's record of this teaching is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:31-34). On another occasion the Lord had said the same thing to a rich young ruler (Mark 10:21). Could it have been possible that this rich young ruler was born again on the Day of Pentecost and shared all his possessions with the Jewish believers? The Lord had sown the seed in his heart, and after thinking about it for some time, he could have accepted Peter's invitation of Acts 2:38-39 and been saved. Many thousands were born again back then (at least 5,000 men - Acts 2:41; 4:4), and it would have taken a lot of earthly possessions in order to meet everyone's needs.

Is this condition of 'sharing' going on now? Absolutely not! As a matter of fact, it didn't last too long in the book of Acts, just a few years, maybe 10-20 at the most. Paul wrote in Rom. 15:26 about the POOR SAINTS that were in Jerusalem. He and sanefrom the Gentile churches in Greece wanted to help them out, which they did. Something had happened in the book of Acts that led to their being poor - probably the unbelief of the Jewish Nation, and the beginning of God's heavenly purpose through the Apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul (Rom. 11:13).

6. In Acts 3, the Apostle Peter said that their Messiah would come back if they would repent and be converted (Acts 3:19-21).Peter did not offer the earthly Kingdom of God to the Church. He offered it to the Nation of Israel! This was an honest, genuineoffer of the Kingdom to Israel. He went to Moses and to all the prophets from Samuel onwards, and even back to Abraham, showing them that this was God's plan for them IF they really believed it. But we know that they did not believe it.

The Body of Christ is not a part of Old Testament prophecy or history. The Body of Christ was kept secret in God, hidden in Him until revealed to the Apostle Paul (Ran. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 3:9).

So then, here are six very good reasons why the Body of Christ did not begin on the Day of Pentecost. There is just no reason to put it in Acts 2 under those circumstances. And believe me, it becomes a wonderful blessing when you do get it OUT of Acts2 and place it in Acts 9 where it belongs.

This Dispensation of the grace of God was given to the Apostle Paul, as is so clearly stated in Eph. 3:2, "If [Seeing that] you have heard of the Dispensation of the grace of God which is given to me for you." Peter did not write this! John did not write this! Paul wrote it, but Christendom does not want to accept it. If Christendom would sincerely accept the truth of this verse, it would start a world-wide revival with millions of people saved. But until it does, confusion will abound among believers because of unbelief.

God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!

Israel is the type of the Church, the church is the antitype of Israel.

Mayflower Pilgrim said:

In Romans and Galatians Paul is redefining the meaning of Israel. The matter seems to hinge upon Galatians 3:16 "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."

This plainly teaches that the seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ and that there is only one seed, that is Jesus Christ. Therefore "if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal 3:29). Therefore I believe that the church is the 'true' Israel or the "Israel of God" (Gal 6:16)

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In context of Galation

Gal 3:27b For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ 28 There is neither Jew or Geek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male or female: for ye are all one in Christ

states different

A Brother In Christ said:

In context of Galation

Gal 3:27b For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ 28 There is neither Jew or Geek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male or female: for ye are all one in Christ

states different

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How does that undermine the claim that the church is the true Israel?