Schroeder said:
Absolutly no way you can prove this wrong. all you have to do is read Acts 15:7-11
" After much discussion, PETER got up and adressed them: " Brothers,(the jews) you know that some time ago GOd made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from MY lips the message of the gospel and believe. God , who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the holy SPirit to them, just as he did us.(did they get it by way of the Spirit, nope) He made NO distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by FAITH. Now then, why do you try to TEST God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? NO! WE believe it is through GRACE of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
Well so much for PETER not teahing GRACE. he also mentiones it in 1 Peter 1:2 he says we are saved through the sanctifing work of the SPirit. he speaks of a INheritance, just as Eph 1:14 speaks of,(which Paul wrote about, that mystery spoke in 3:6) he also in 1:10 " concerning this salvation, the Prophets, who spoke of this GRACE that was to come to you,.." 1:13 "..;set your hope FULLY ON THE GRACE TO BE GIVEN YOU..."
cant reason why he would leave out water baptism, which according to your dispensation, was mandatory for salvation, in all of these two chapters. but he sure does NOT leave out GRACE FAITH AND THE SPIRIT.
That is quite a boast there Shroeder. You are giving a very one-sided account of the Council at Jerusalem by just going to Acts 15. What about the account of the same meeting in Galatians 2. So if you really want to understand what went on at the meeting,
STUDY both accounts.
Lets take a look at the primary participants, and their prominance. You have James, the Lord's brother, Peter, and John. Peter and John were both prominate disciples of Jesus, and spent their entire 3 years with Him during His earthly ministry. Even before Christ went back into heaven, He opened up their understanding of all the Scriptures. Not only that, at Pentecost they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance. So we are looking for some very knowledgable representives at that meeting. They had the commission to preach "the gospel of the kingdom" to the world.
Also, we find Paul at that meeting. He is the relatively "new kid on the block." After his conversion, he didn't even to up to Jerusalem to communicate with the disciples of Jesus for any type of instructions. Looks like he just went out by himself.
Galatians 2, 1 and 2 says that after 14 years he went up to Jerusalem, by revelation, to communicate with the disciples
that gospel which he preached. That indicates to me that to me that he was preaching a different gospel from the disciples. If it were the same gospel, then there would have been no reason for him to go there. Also, if they were preaching the same gospel, why would God sent him? He says in Galatians 1:11:1-2 "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."
When Jesus was upon the earth, His instructions to His disciples pertained to the fulfillment of all the earthly promises to Israel. That is why He instructed them "Go not in the way of the Gentile." Paul says in Romans 15:8 that Jesus came to confirm the promises made to the fathers. Jesus Himself said: "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24).
Paul got his commission from Jesus Christ from His heavenly position. It has nothing to do with the establishment of an earthly kingdom. Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 5:16 "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have know Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more."
Paul tells us in Romans 15:25 that we are established by his gospel "...and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery,
which was kept secret since the world began."
Now one would think at the meeting the disciples of Jesus would dominate, and show Paul a few things. They spent 3 years with the Master, and understood all the Scriptures.
But look what Galatians 2:6 and 7 says: "But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whosoever they were it maketh no matter to me; God accepteth no man's person
for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference
added nothing to me; But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me , as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter:" Looks like Jesus told Paul things from His heavenly postion that He kept secret from the 12.
Did the disciples update Paul, or did Paul update them? What Paul added to them was about the gospel that he preached. Did Paul preach "the gospel of kingdom"?
NO!! He preached the gospel "the gospel of the grace of God."
AH, here is where Peter learned about the grace of God that he is speaking of in Acts 15. Peter is learning that Paul's message of uncircumcision (unLAW/GRACE) was far different then the message of circumcision (LAW) that Peter was commissioned to preach.
Paul says in verse 9 "And when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, preceived that grace that was given unto me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship: the we should go to the heathen (Gentiles), and they unto the circumcision."
I appears to me that from this meeting; the disciples now understand that their "so called" great commission could not be carried out. That Israel is now in a set aside condition, and cannot be that nations of priests that was to be a blessing to "the families of the earth" that was promised Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, and what God promised in Exodus 19:3-7. Therefore, they stayed with the one who were saved under the preaching of "the gospel of the kingdom." IMHO, they were not out of the will of God in staying with the circumcision.
Now, I think we can understand the context Acts 15 a little better. I think Peter in verses 7-11 is summarizing the results of the meeting. He is speaking for "his side."
I do believe he now fully understands what happened in Acts 10. In Acts 10 when God told Peter he was no longer to consider the Gentiles "unclean"; he knows that God put the Jews on the same level as He did the Gentiles at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. "For God concluded them all (Jews and Gentiles) in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all" (Romans 11:32).
Previously he preached "repent and be baptized, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Those with Cornelius received the gift of the Holy Ghost with no sign of repentance and water baptism. No wonder Peter and those of the circumcision were so astonished.
From recalling the events of Acts 10, Peter now realizes that they were saved by
GRACE through FAITH. Peter is realizing that times have changed.
In verse 10 he now realized that the yoke of the Law is now set aside. In vers 11 he is saying "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they.
Now if Cornelius and his group, were saved in the same manner as those previously saved, Peter would have said: "They were saved just as we were." But he doesn't say they. He says that they were saved by the grace of God, and they are saved the same way as Cornelius and his group were saved.
Yes, Peter learned what is "the gospel of the Grace of God" at that meeting. Did he preach it prior to that meeting? I doubt it very much.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!
