Lets look at the different COMMISSIONS

[eph3Nine]

Judaism =

The Lord Jesus personally commissioned 12 men to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. These 12 men are better known as the 12 disciples aor 12 Apostles.

A detailed account of their commission is contained in Matthew 10:5-42:

1. They were to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and NOT TO THE GENTILES, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.

2. They were endowed with miraculous powers which were the Divine credentials of THEIR ministry.

3. After the Resurrection of Christ, He renewed and enlarged THEIR commission according to Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15-18, and in Acts 1:8.

4. The message still remained the SAME, as Peter well knew. (He preached this same message at Pentecost...NOT the forgiveness of sins by His Blood.)


Christianity =

The Lord Jesus Christ personally commissioned ONE man to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God. This man is better known as the Apostle Paul.

The message he preached concerned God's purpose for the GENTILES IN THIS AGE, and Paul called himself THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES (Romans 11:13)

God's COMPLETE purpose and will for this Age was revealed to Paul, and was written down in his epistles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16) WE , in turn, are commissioned to preach THIS MESSAGE, NOT the Kingdom Gospel.

Our marching orders are contained in 2 Corinthians 5:14-21...We ARE "Ambassadors for Christ with the world of Reconciliation"..and in Eph 3:9, to "make ALL men SEE what IS the Dispensation of the Mystery...)

 

[eph3Nine]

Can we agree that the commissions and the audiences were different?

 

[eph3Nine]

This is worth reviving......can anyone honestly say these two are the same? Comments?

 

[Dennis_Hogg]

I think that it is significant that the two groups of teachers met and discussed the differences in their messages. This is Acts 15. The question is set in Acts 15:1-2. The Bible records for us the testimony of Peter. He concludes with a very interesting phrase in verse 11. "but we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way as they are". He did not say "they shall be saved as we are". James concludes with a note that tha Prophets agree with a dispensational interruption. See verses 15-18. "... after these things I will return and rebuild"

Peter writes to the scattered Jews in 2 Pet 3 and confirms that there has been an interrruption in Israel's program.

Paul writes of this in Gal 2:1-10. His summary is that all parties agreed that there were two separate messages about circumcision and uncircumcision. He also mentioned that the agreement was that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles and that the others (the twelve Apostles) would restrict their message to the circumcision - he did not say "Jews". Had Paul said or meant Jews, then he didn't honor the agreement very long, for in Acts 17:1 he is back in a synagogue. The only way that the agreement was honored is if Circumcision in t his context means "already saved Jews" that were saved under the ministry of the twelve. Peter and the other 11 restricted their ministry to those already in the Kingdom program, and Paul evangelized both unsaved Jew and Gentile alike.

 

[eph3Nine]

You made some EXCELLENT points , Dennis. Thank you. I especially thot that this was significant:

He also mentioned that the agreement was that Paul and Barnabas would go to the Gentiles and that the others (the twelve Apostles) would restrict their message to the circumcision - he did not say "Jews". Had Paul said or meant Jews, then he didn't honor the agreement very long, for in Acts 17:1 he is back in a synagogue. The only way that the agreement was honored is if Circumcision in t his context means "already saved Jews" that were saved under the ministry of the twelve. Peter and the other 11 restricted their ministry to those already in the Kingdom program, and Paul evangelized both unsaved Jew and Gentile alike.