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Twelve "In" or "Out"?
- Thread starter JerryShugart
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Markea,Markea said:
The "gospel" that is referred to in the following verse is not the "gospel" which we are to preach today:
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"(Mk.16:15).
Mark 16:15 is in regard to the following verse:
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth"(Acts1:8).
The witnessing is in regard to the "gospel of the kingdom".Since our commission for today is in regard to preaching an entirely different gospel then it is clear that Acts 1:8 is not in effect today.
Here is the problem in the discussion on when the Body of Christ started.
It was the Acts 2 dispensationalists who made the error of calling the "Body of Christ" a dispensation.The Body of Christ is not a dispensation.
But despite this the question as to the beginning of the present dispensation has been degraded into the question as to when the Body of Christ began.And despite the fact that there is no such thing as a dispensation of the Church the "ultra-dispensationalists" bought this false premise hook,line and sinker.
And now instead of discussing when the present "dispensation of grace" began we see people from both camps arguing when the dispensation of the Church began.
What is important is to determine when the present dispensation began so that we do not add things from past dispensations into our stewarrdship.
In His grace,--Jerry
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eph3Nine
Mid Acts, Pauline, Dispy to the max!
Markea said:
The gospel of OUR salvation is found in 1 Cor 15:1-4
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I (paul speaking here...his gospel, not Peters) preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1 Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved,(not saved by believing Peters gospel...cuz its NOT the gospel of OUR salvation) if ye keep in memory what "I" (here he is again...differentiating between whose gospel is being spoken of here) preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
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AMEN... I love how Paul says "according to the scriptures".. for in the volume of the book it is written of HIM..
These are perhaps my number one scripture verses for sharing the gospel.. although according to you, I'm an enemy of the cross of Christ.. isn't that right eph.. ?
These are perhaps my number one scripture verses for sharing the gospel.. although according to you, I'm an enemy of the cross of Christ.. isn't that right eph.. ?
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TheScottsMan,TheScottsMen said:OutIf they are in, who rules on 12 thrones?
Who rules with the Lord Jesus on His earthly throne (Rev.3:21)?
We will be with the Lord Jesus when He rules on the earth:
"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?"(1Cor.6:2).
If we can judge the world at the time the Lord Jesus will rule on the earth then why cannot the Twelve Apostles judge the Twelve Tribes of Israel?
In His grace,--Jerry
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PastorMikeJ
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Jesus is the only way to salvation!!!! We can only be saved by the Blood of Jesus...He is the Way The Light and the Truth....It is only through Him that we can reach the Father...nothing else can save us no matter what you call yourselves!!
Then we can start kingdom living....
Then we can start kingdom living....
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The "gospel" that I preach is centered on the "purpose" of the Lord Jesus' death on the Cross.Markea said:
"God hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation"(2Cor.5:18,19).
The heart and soul of the gospel we are to preach concerns the "purpose" of the death of the Lord Jesus upon the Cross.This gospel,unlike the gospel that was preach to the Jews,cannot be preached apart from the "purpose" of His death:
"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death"(Col.1:20-22).
"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son"(Ro.5:10).
The "word of reconciliation" is also referred to as the "gospel of the grace of God"(Acts20:24) and it declares that the believer is "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"(Ro.3:24).
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"(1Pet.1:18,19).
The "gospel" that was preached before Paul was converted was centered on the "identity" of the Lord Jesus Christ:
On the day of Pentecost Peter used the facts of the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in order to prove that He is their promised Messiah (Acts2:23-35).And then he summed up his argument by saying:
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ"(Acts2:36).
Later,after hearing the gospel preached the Ethiopian treasurer asked to be baptized with water: "And Philip said,If thou believeth with all thine heart,thou mayest.And he answered and said,I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God"(Acts8:37).
After Paul was converted,the first thing that he did was to preach this same gospel in the synagogues of the Jews: "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God...proving that this is the very Christ"(Acts9:20,22).
That was the same gospel which Paul continued to preach to the Jews: "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ"(Acts17:2,30).
That is the same message that Apollos preached to the Jews: "For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus is Christ"(Acts18:28).
Two different gospels and two different commissions.Unfortunately the Acts 2 dispensationalists refuse to see the difference and they go about mixing up the different dispensations.
In His grace,--Jerry
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JerryShugart said:
The body of Christ has a heavenly hope and calling and that is where we will be as members of that body...in heaven.
That's one of the major differences between the hope of the kingdom church (that is the kingdom of heaven ON earth)....the hope of the church which is his body(ruling and reigning with Him IN heaven). We (the church which is His body) will judge and reign not ON earth but OVER the earth (from heaven)
We are positionally already in the heavenlies and someday it will be experiential...it's our hope.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ
hilippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
We are His ambassadors here...but our citizenship is in heaven...and that is our eternal home.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.2 Corinthians 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
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Jerry..
So youre basically saying that prior to Paul, nobody knew the purpose of Christs death..? Is that correct..?
So lets take the two on the road to Emmaus after the Lord is risen.. they tell Him that they thought that it was He (Jesus) who would have redeemed Israel.. (granted they didnt know His purpose then), and the LORD tells them that theyre foolish to have not believed all that the prophets have spoken..and how that He had to suffer in order to enter into His glory.. He then starts opening up the scriptures beginning with Moses and speaks of these things concerning Himself
AND you dont think that they understood that all of this foretold of Him within the context of what had just taken place there in Jerusalem..? How that He had to suffer to enter into His glory..?
You believe that they were still unaware of that..? ?
At Pentecost Peter preached CHRIST crucified and risen again.. declared HIM both LORD and CHRIST.. and with many other words he (Peter) testified and exhorted them to be saved.. He told them to be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of their sins
You dont think that those who believed understood the principle that CHRIST died for their sins? ? In accordance with all that the scriptures foretold pertaining to sacrifice etc..?
So youre basically saying that prior to Paul, nobody knew the purpose of Christs death..? Is that correct..?
So lets take the two on the road to Emmaus after the Lord is risen.. they tell Him that they thought that it was He (Jesus) who would have redeemed Israel.. (granted they didnt know His purpose then), and the LORD tells them that theyre foolish to have not believed all that the prophets have spoken..and how that He had to suffer in order to enter into His glory.. He then starts opening up the scriptures beginning with Moses and speaks of these things concerning Himself
AND you dont think that they understood that all of this foretold of Him within the context of what had just taken place there in Jerusalem..? How that He had to suffer to enter into His glory..?
You believe that they were still unaware of that..? ?
At Pentecost Peter preached CHRIST crucified and risen again.. declared HIM both LORD and CHRIST.. and with many other words he (Peter) testified and exhorted them to be saved.. He told them to be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of their sins
You dont think that those who believed understood the principle that CHRIST died for their sins? ? In accordance with all that the scriptures foretold pertaining to sacrifice etc..?
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Markea said:
They knew that the Messiah would redeem Israel but they did not know that redemption would be made possible by His death.
Yes,they should have known that He was to suffer,but they did not know the purpose of that suffering.
The Lord's Apostles did not even realize that He must die while they walked with Him.But you would have us believe that everyone else but those closest to Him knew that He was to die and that they knew the purpose of that death.
If the purpose of His death was understood and the dispensation of the Twelve was to preach the "purpose" of His death then why did they not preach that very thing?
It is not a matter of what they were aware of but instead of what they preached.If they were given the "dispensation of grace" to preach a gospel that is centered on the "purpose" of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ then why didn't they?
You prove my point.There was no mention that "Christ died for our sins" or that the sinner is reconciled to God by the death of His Son.
They were not preaching the "gospel of grace" or the "word of reconciliation" at that time.The present dispensation to preach the gospel of grace had not yet begun.
Again,if they were commissioned to preach a "gospel" that is entered in the "purpose" of His death then why did they not preach that very thing?
In His grace,--Jerry
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biblebelieve123,biblebeliever123 said:
Are you saying that those who received "Hebrews" did not have a "heavenly calling"?:
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus"(Heb.3:1).
The Lord Jesus will be sitting on the "throne of David",an eartly throne.And we who will be caught up together with Him in the clouds will be forever with Him (1Thess.4:17).That means that we will also rule with Him when He rules from the throne of David (Rev.3:21).
In His grace,--Jerry
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JerryShugart said:
Come on Jerry..
I didn't imply that His Apostles knew this beforehand.. that's why I used the two on the road to Emmaus.. and what they were told AFTERWARD..
So in your estimation.. nobody had a clue what the death and resurrection of Christ meant until Paul..? Even those who were told all things pertaining to Christ suffering in order to enter into His glory.. in the very context of what had just taken place at Calvary.. as they walked with Him on the road after His resurrection..
So they knew that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.. as He was declared both LORD and CHRIST.. as all the scriptures foretold.. but they didn't have any clue that HE DIED for their sins..
Paul also proved that Jesus was the Christ from the scriptures.. when He spoke with Jews... it seems to me that they (Jews) would be a little more in tune with what was being suggested.. whereas a Gentile may not have had any prior knowledge.. etc.. although that's just an opinion..
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______________________________________________________Markea said:
Rather than responding to each point, I thought perhaps the following would be more productive.
Perhaps Markea's mind-set best is summarized by her statement:
"What I hinder is YOUR ULTRA DISPENSATIONAL program.. and gladly so.."
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Below are a sample of a few of her doctrinal points, with a "my comment" by the undersigned on my understanding of her premises. And "my comments" within this post are not intended to be an answer to counter her premises(this has already been done/is being done-although I do raise a few issues in my comments), but merely to hopefully "clear the fog" why the disagreement between "Acts 2" proponents,such as Markea(if I understand her position-correct me if I/we are wrong), and "Mid Acts" proponents such as myself(and Eph3Nine, Dispy, Jerry.....-again, correct me if I am wrong!), and also hopefully "put on the table", so to speak, as to the underlying areas/points of "contention". Perhaps this will serve as a "base" for further discussion/arguments.
"So according to YOU John, if anyone disagrees with your opinion, then it's just spinning wheels.. that's fine.."
My "spinning our wheels" analogy was not, in any way, a judgment of you in the sense of "You are a waste of time...it will not do any good....", i.e., I meant it not in a deragatory sense. I apologize if you "took it" this way. However, my experience in the art of "arguing"(arguing is good!) has taught me that, for example, no amount of persuasion("arguing") in an argument is effective, if you do not first examine the premises(and "knock them" down, if necessary) of your opponent. With this also comes the fact that no amount of persuasion will be effective if your opponent continues to hold to a premise, despite the evidence presented to them.
Specifically, I made a judgment call that if you cannot see that there is more than one "the church" in the Holy Bible(after myself and others presented the evidence), I concluded that you were thus you were set on holding on to this premise, and further discussion would be unprofitable, i.e., "spinning our wheels". I made the same call with regards to the "prophetic program" vs. "the mystery program."
Now, to your statements:
"although I see the church of God as beginning here at Pentecost.. with Israel already placed aside nationally.. ie, the gospel going to the JEW first.. Etc"
..
My comment
Premise: 1. one continual "the church" from Mt-Revelation, and 2."the gospel" in early Acts was the same "the gospel" Paul preached.
(Are "the churches" in Revelation(Chapter 2) one continuous"the church"? The body of Christ in view in Revelation?/the gospel of the uncircumcision = the gospel of the uncircumcision?)
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"Then Acts begins... the GOSPEL going to the JEW first.. then to the Gentiles.. and to the uttermost part of the earth"/"The GOSPEL goes to the Jew FIRST.. starting in JERUSALEM.. then to Judaea, Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth..".../ the GOSPEL went out starting in Jerusalem and then abroad, just as the Bible teaches"/" This is exactly what happened.. the GOSPEL went to the JEW first.. then it spread to entire planet.. JEWS and GENTILES being added to the body by the SPIRIT.."
My comment:
Premise:."the gospel" in early Acts was the same "the gospel" Paul preached.
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"..that it's the spiritual baptism that places us into CHRIST.. which began at Pentecost.. ie.. "/"JEWS and GENTILES being added to the body by the SPIRIT.."
My comment:
Premise:1. one continual baptism from Pentecost through Philemon(and perhaps from Mt-Philemon, given the previous premise of one continual "the" Church" from Mt.-Rev-we discussed).2. One body in early Acts, with no distinction between Jews and Gentiles(despite the evidence that there were no Gentiles present at Pentecost, a Jewish feast-the Gentiles present were proselytes, the middle wall was still standing )
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"John, your mistake is failing to acknowledge that Israel had already been set aside (their house was left DESOLATE) and that the GOSPEL was going to go out to the Jew first, starting in Jerusalem, then Judaea, then Samaria.. and ultimately to the utter part of the earth.. the gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ.. to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.. for there is no difference.. for all have sinned and are fallen short of the glory of God.. although ALL may be justified freely by the redemption that is IN CHRIST JESUS.. as His grace extends unto ALL and is upon ALL those that believe. "
My comment:
Premise:1. "their house is left desolate" is a reference to both the apostate Jewish leadership, and "the little flock" kingdom church(which of course follows from her premise that there one continuous "the church", 2." the GOSPEL was going to go out to the Jew first, starting in Jerusalem, then Judaea, then Samaria", i.e., the gospel of Romans 1:16(" to the Jew first") was the "the Gospel" that started at Jerusalem, then went to Judea, then Samaria, and it was the same "the GOSPEL" that "eventually went out to and ultimately to the utter part of the earth"(which Paul preached-the 12 never "got out "of Jerusalem)=same "the Gospel", just different people preaching it, and thus no. 3 follows, 3. The message "the gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ.. to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.. for there is no difference.. for all have sinned and are fallen short of the glory of God.. although ALL may be justified freely by the redemption that is IN CHRIST JESUS.. as His grace extends unto ALL and is upon ALL those that believe. ", as contained in Romans-Philemon, was also preached starting at Pentecost.
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"Who knows.. maybe He changed His mind and gave them another chance..? ?
Although I tend to doubt it.. and again.. they ASKED Him of He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel and He told them that it's not for them to know that time.. but that they will receive power and be witnesses of ME.. the LORD JESUS CHRIST.. starting in Jerusalem.. then Judaea, Samaria..and to the uttermost part of the earth... This is exactly what happened.. the GOSPEL went to the JEW first.. then it spread to entire planet.. JEWS and GENTILES being added to the body by the SPIRIT.."
"No kidding.. IT WAS to the Jew first.. exactly as the LORD established it.. STARTING IN JERUSALEM.. then Judaea, then Samaria.. and ultimately to the uttermost part of the earth.. "
"Israel was ALREADY set aside... their house was left DESOLATE.. they didn't get another chance in the book of Acts.. and it wasn't for them to know the times concerning the Lord restoring the kingdom to Israel.. but that they would be witnesses of CHRIST..
"Again, you're reaching.. ISRAEL has been set aside.. their house is left desolate.. and the GOSPEL is going out.. although the LORD will save ISRAEL and they will be the head of the nations again in the future.. for the times of the Gentiles will come to a close eventually..
My comment:
Premise:1. Israel, and her prophetic program, was set aside in early acts, 2. "their house is left desolate" is a reference to both the apostate Jewish leadership, and "the little flock" kingdom church(which of course follows from her premise that there one continuous "the church", 3." they didn't get another chance in the book of Acts"=the kingdom was offered prior to the cross(despite Hebrew 9:16), 4. " restore the kingdom to Israel they will receive power and be witnesses of ME.. the LORD JESUS CHRIST.. starting in Jerusalem.. then Judaea, Samaria..and to the uttermost part of the earth... This is exactly what happened.. the GOSPEL went to the JEW first.. then it spread to entire planet.. JEWS and GENTILES being added to the body by the SPIRIT.." is equivalent to what Paul preached later in Acts, i.e., "restoring the kingdom to Israel"/same "the GOSPEL" ...
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"The context of my comments pertains to ISRAEL being RESTORED Jerry.. not that they have no chance to do that...but given another chance and then having their house made DESOLATE AGAIN..
The Lord told them that their house was left desolate.. and when His disciples asked Him if He was going to RESTORE the nation of Israel again.. He told them that it is not for them to know that time.. but that they shall be witnesses of CHRIST starting in Jerusalem.. then Judaea, Samaria.. and to the uttermost part of the earth...
All of this you're well aware of I'm sure.. although again, the very critical point in all of this is that ISRAEL was NOT RESTORED and the therefore the GOSPEL went out starting in Jerusalem and then abroad, just as the Bible teaches"
My comment:
Premise 1. "their house is left desolate" is a reference to both the apostate Jewish leadership, and "the little flock" kingdom church(which of course follows from her premise that there one continuous "the church, 2. " restore the kingdom to Israel they will receive power and be witnesses of ME.. the LORD JESUS CHRIST.. starting in Jerusalem.. then Judaea, Samaria..and to the uttermost part of the earth... This is exactly what happened.. the GOSPEL went to the JEW first.. then it spread to entire planet.. JEWS and GENTILES being added to the body by the SPIRIT.." is equivalent to what Paul preached later in Acts, i.e., "restoring the kingdom to Israel"/same "the GOSPEL" 3. Paul merely continued the same message as the 12, since you say " the very critical point in all of this is that ISRAEL was NOT RESTORED and the therefore the GOSPEL(my emphasis) went out starting in Jerusalem(early Acts-my note) and then abroad(Paul, and not the 12, preached abroad-my note), just as the Bible teaches", since Paul was the only one who got out of Jerusalem.
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The obvious question, to use a western idiom: "Why the heck" was Paul needed? After all, "Same body. Same baptism. Same church. Same "the gospel".Same message(no mystery) " Why not just "come home to Rome" and follow Peter?
I apologize to the board. Have you ever "scribbled down" a note from something you had read from another teacher/writer, that you found is very profound, and that reflects/mirrors your own thoughts, but in a much more effective way? I did this recently in my statement "are either woefully ignorant or intentionally dishonest", which is from the below link that I feel more effectively answers objections to those who have a "Mid Acts" viewpoint(such as myself), and who are otten termed "hyper dispensationalists(even though I consider Bullinger, Welch, et al "hyper dispensationalists!), and addresses(in many of its points) the issue at hand:
http://members.aol.com/bereansteward/believe.html
"Why the heck Paul?"
In Christ,
John M. Whalen
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Thanks for sharing your opinion John.. I don't have time to go through it all now.. I'll try to summrize some more thoughts later perhaps.. and perhaps you'd try to manage smaller more focused posts in the future.. although this is simply a suggestion..
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OK. But you did not answer my question.If the Twelve were given the commission to preach a "gospel" that is centered on the "purpose" of His death then why did they not?Markea said:
Again,the point is not what the welve might have known or not known,but instead if they were given a commission to preach a gospel centered on the purpose of His death then why didn't they?
In His grace,--Jerry
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________________________________Markea said:
There is legitimate debate as to how much the 12 knew regarding the doctrine/ramifications of substitionary atonement during the early Acts period, i.e., your question "nobody knew the purpose of Christs death..? Is that correct..?", and " You dont think that those who believed understood the principle that CHRIST died for their sins? ? In accordance with all that the scriptures foretold pertaining to sacrifice etc..?" I am skeptical they knew, for Peter indicted the Jewish leadership 3 times for crufifying the Saviour: Acts 2:23, 2:36, 3:15. Would not this be "good news"? Conversely, Paul says we are to "glory... in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"(Galatians 6:14)-good news!
What is certain, is that the 12 knew nothing of 1 Cor. 15:1-4 prior to the death, burial, and resurrection, and they were not preaching it prior to its ocurrence, if we assume people can read and can arrive at reasonable, logical conclusions, as follows.
Regarding the term "gospel"-the term "THE GOSPEL" needs to be qualified within its dispensational setting.
Paul was commissioned to preach the gospel of the grace of God, the gospel of Christ, that was revealed to him from the risen, ascended, glorified, Lord Jesus Christ from heaven by revelation. This was his calling from the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is the only "good news that will save you from the penalty, power, and presence from sin(salvation and justification, sanctification, glorification). This gospel is summarized in 1 Cor. 15:1-4. But this is not "the gospel of the kingdom"-these are not equivalent or synonymous.
The Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry, the apostles, and the disciples all preached "the gospel of the kingdom"(including Judas). "Gospel" means "good news", but there is more than one "gospel" in scripture, and the confusion in Christianity results from the failure to understand the absolute necessity of "rightly dividing the word of truth"(2 Tim. 2:15), mainly failing to distinguish between the prophetic program as revealed in the Old Testament, and the Mystery Program that was revealed to Paul.
Nowhere in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John will you find 1 Cor. 15:1-4 being preached as the "good news", the basis for our salvation and justification. Nowhere.
Consider this. You cannot preach what you do not know. You cannot believe that which you do not know.
During the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, the apostles and disciples had no knowledge of his impending, death, burial, and resurrection:
"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee" Mt. 16:21,22
"And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him." Mark 8:31,32
Comment: Obviously, Peter was attempting to prevent the Lord's death! If the death, burial, and resurrection was the grounds for Peter's salvation and justification(as Paul expounds on in his epistles), why was Peter trying to prevent the very thing that would be the basis for his justification? See also John 18:10. Did he ever preach 1 Cor. 15:1-4? If he had, his rebuke of the Lord would be a non-sensical reaction!
"For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him." Mark 9:31,32
"Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." Luke 18:31-34
"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day...." Luke 24:45,46
"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." John 20:9
Comment: Notice they did not know it or understand it prior to His death! They were not preaching 1 Cor. 15:1-4.
Even after the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection, they intially did not believe it:
"And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted." Mt. 28:17
"And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." Mark 16:11
"And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not." Luke 24:9-11
" And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?" Luke 24:41
It is a prevalent but erroneous view that there is only one gospel in scripture. The fact that the message of the cross is not part of the "gospel of the kingdom" does not mean that the Lord Jesus Christ's death was not the critical event. And no one has ever been, nor ever will be, saved apart from the death, burial and resurrection. But it is an entirely different matter to say that it was the contents of one and the same gospel of all time. Christ's death was the central event, but that fact was not always part of the content or message(a discussion of progressive revelation would be beyond the scope of this message). Indeed, during the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, the "gospel of the kingdom", the good news" of the approaching Davidic, Messianic kingdom("...as the days of heaven upon the earth...." Deut. 11:24), which was the subect of Old Testament prophecy concerning the restoration of earth with Jesus Christ ruling in righteousness, was preached:
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." Mt. 4:23
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Mt. 10:5-8
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15
This was the "good news" of the the ideal conditions that will exist in forthcoming , and promised, millennium kingdom, a time the scripture refers to as the times of "refreshing"(Exodus 31:17, Isaiah 28:12, Acts 3:19), and of the "restitution of all things"(Acts 3:21)-that which was lost in Genesis Chapter 3 would be restored. This is the enfolding of the promise that the Lord Jesus Christ shall rule from David's throne(2 Sam. 5-"the Davidic Covenant"-the covenant which God made with David at the time he revealed to him that Solomon would build the Temple, of which the reign of Solomon pre-figures the millennium reign-a type). Is this not what the Lord had in mind when He states that "...thou shalt see greater things than these...."(John 1:50)? And this was the focus of the prophetic program expounded throughout the OT and "the gospels"(Mt.-John)-"...which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets since the world began"(Acts 3:21).
This 1000 year reign will be characterized by the righteous reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, and, as J. Dwight Pentecost summarized , a time of peace, joy, comfort, justice, the removal of the curse, no sickness, healing of the deformed, no immaturity, economic prosperity, and Holiness. This holiness will be manifested through the King and the King's subjects, the JEWS. This holiness, this trait of Jews("an Israelite"-John 1:47) having "...no guile", is realization of the promise of the New Covenant, and this is what the Lord Jesus Christ was alluding to in John Chapter 1.
Indeed, the millennium kingdom will be the fruition, the display, and the fulfillment of 3 covenants promised in The Old Testament-the Abrahamic, the Davidic, and the New Covenant. The Lord Jesus Christ was prophesizing partial fulfillment of the New Covenant in John 1:47. Part of the promise of the New Covenant was that the Jews would be given a new heart, and a new spirit:
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." Jeremiah 31:33
"At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: NEITHER SHALL THEY WALK ANY MORE AFTER THE IMAGINATION OF THEIR EVIL HEART(emphasis mine)." Jeremiah 3:17
"Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: THAT THEY MAY WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND KEEP MINE ORDINANCES, AND DO THEM: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." Ezekiel 11:17-20.
And yet, as shown previously, the disciples and apostles understood absolutely nothing of the cross and resurrection. Any honest read of scripture must come to this conclusion. So, how can anyone say that they "...preached Christ crucified...." 1 Cor. 1:23), or 1 Cor. 15:1-4, as Paul did? Impossible. Only later, through Paul's apostle ship, was the cross revealed as the central theme of the gospel(again, the discussion for the reasons for this are beyond the scope of this article).
In Christ,
John M. Whalen
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