Ariel said:
God gave the book of Acts to the Church as a pattern for what the Church should look like. Has another covenant come into effect since Jesus died? No. Then everything we see in the book of Acts is for today.
Everyone always wants the "good stuff" and nobody wants the bad:
Romans 9 remind us that everything still belonged to Israel and:
Rom 15:27
27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
Here we are reminded that we are still
not in covenant relationship with God, Israel Is. Even after the cross. We were made partakers of their spiritual things; we had not received our own YET. Let me ask you this: Do you minister to Israel in carnal things (financial donations) as the verse above describes? Why not? If the book of Acts is for us today we all better start giving $$ to the nation of Israel.
Remember; whenever God is dealing on this earth with the nation of Israel, they will always be in first place.
Deut 28:13
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
This explains why the Jew was first
and then also to the Greek.
Amos 3:1-3
1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
When God is in covenant relationship with someone, a lot of responsibility follows; Therefore I will punish you. God has never punished people today like he has done with Israel, NOR has He ever blessed anyone
on this earth like the chosen nation of Israel. When we are in a covenant relationship with God, there is consequence for our sins, even after the cross Im afraid. Throughout the timeline during the book of acts, there was consequence for sin:
· Anannias and Sapphira were judged for their sins and fear came upon all the church Acts 5:1-10
· If you were unworthy and partook of the Lords Supper, you might be made weak, sick, or even worse, fall asleep. 1 Cor. 11:24-30. If you are unaware of what sleep this is see John 11:11.
· If you commit fornication your body is to be handed over to Satan. 1 Cor. 5:1-5
Some try to spiritualize the judgment on fornication but death was certainly the sentence, just like Ananias and Saphirra:
1 Cor 5:1-5
5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
A man was sleeping with his mother.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
Pride kept them from doing what they knew they should.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
Paul judged this person, through the spirit.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
This one is self explanatory: In the name of the Lord, gather together (Paul would be there in spirit) and with the power of the Lord:
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Deliver this person to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh (death), that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord (the first resurrection).
I should say that if this ordinance was still in place, we would not have the population problem we do today.
Do you still want to trade your spiritual blessings in heavenly places for a covenant relationship with God?
Do you have to be baptized to wash away your sins?
Act 2:38 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.
Act 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Are you under any ordinances or decrees today?
(Act 15:20 KJV) But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
(Act 16:4 KJV) And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
(Act 21:25 KJV) As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
And just incase that is not enough; God in His almighty wisdom said He also wished it.
Act 15:28-29 KJV
(28) For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
(29) That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
And Paul reminds US again to keep these ordinances:
1Co 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
Are we today in second place to Israel?
(Rom 1:16 KJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
(Rom 2:9 KJV) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
(Rom 2:10 KJV) But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
I could go on forever!
What exactly was the gentiles purpose during acts?
(Rom 10:19 KJV) But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
(Rom 11:11 KJV) I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
So if Acts is for you today:A. your sole purpose in life is to provoke Israel to jealousy. AND all we were given was salvation...
Act 26:6-7 KJV
(6) And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
(7) Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
Paul was not judged for giving salvation to the Gentiles, his purpose was for Israel. For their HOPE, their promise, which the twelve tribes hoped to come! It does not get any plainer than that.... It was not for the hope of the church, or this glorious body.... It was ALL israel..
(Act 28:20 KJV) For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
I truely mean this with all love and respect, the book of acts was not written to us today...
