This is a copy and paste, so I know some on here don't like it, but oh well. Get over it. Maybe it will help some understand the difference between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace.
Acts 9:19,20 "And when he had received meat, he was strengthened, Then was Saul certain days with the disciples (these believing Jews) which were at Damascus." "Straightway
Now watch the text again carefully he preached Christ in the (marketplace? among the Gentiles? No, that's not what it says. It says he preached Christ in the) synagogues,..."
So who is he preaching to? Jews! He preached Christ to the Jews. What did he preach? That he is the Son of God, Who died for him and rose from the dead? No!
Even Saul of Tarsus was saved under the Kingdom Gospel, believing Who Jesus was. And Who was He? The Son of God. The Messiah of Israel. The promised One out of the Old Testament as coming to the Jews under the Covenant promises. That's all he understood because that's as much as God had revealed to him this time. Remember, this man is not going to continue just preaching to the Jews in the synagogue. God's got a path for him among the Gentiles. So what is He going to have to do? Let's see what happened. Again, remember that verse 20 was the same confession that Peter spoke, Martha spoke and that all the others spoke, including the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 9:21a ""But all that heard him were amazed, and said, `Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem...'"
What did they place their faith in? His Name! And what did His Name indicate? Who He was! He was The Christ, The Son of God.
Acts 9:21b-22 "...and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews (he isn't going to Gentiles yet) which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this (Jesus) is very Christ."
This was the whole purpose of that miraculous three years of earthly ministry, to prove to the whole Nation of Israel Who He was. And to those Jews who could believe, they had Salvation and became disciples. This is as much as even Saul knows at this time - that Jesus was The Christ. But God's got greater things for him to understand. God has to get Saul out of town.
Acts 9:23-25 "And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:" There is a conspiracy about. Not from the believing Jews, but the orthodox, the ones who were still back where Saul was before he was converted.
"But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him." Saul found out about it. There's a bunch of Jews out to kill him. What does Saul do? He makes arrangement to get out of Damascus. "Then the disciples (those Jewish believers) took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket."
So Saul takes off, and God is going to lead him. Between verse 25 and verse 26 we've got a three-year gap in here. We have to go back to the Book of Galatians Chapter 1 to pick that up. If you have doubts or wonder about my approach to the difference between Peter and Paul, read Galatians Chapters 1 and 2 carefully and slowly, and with an open mind. Don't read a commentary. Don't listen to what I say, but just read these two chapters very carefully, and if that doesn't open your mind then I don't see how anything else can. Paul now many years later is writing this little epistle to the Gentile believers up there in Galatia.
Galatians 1:16,17a "To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen (Gentiles the non Jews); immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:" In other words, in Damascus after his conversion, there were several days involved, but time-wise it was short. "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me;...."
Paul didn't go back to Jerusalem and check in with the Twelve. He didn't go back and ask Peter to fill him in regarding the three years Peter was with The Lord, or the forty days after His Resurrection. Paul didn't say, "Fill me in so I can go out and preach with some authority." He makes it so plain that he did not do that. He did not have contact with the leadership in Jerusalem.
Galatians 1:17b "...but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."
From Damascus he made his way down to Mount Sinai in Arabia. The reason being because in Galatians Chapter 4, Paul is using the allegory of Ishmael and Isaac. Galatians 4:25a
"For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia,..."
We know that Mount Sinai was the place where God gave the Law to Moses. Isn't it appropriate to feel that this is the place in Arabia that God took Saul to reveal to him the doctrines of Grace? Three years he spent in a private seminary. No one except him and the Lord. That's a long time. But he had a lot to soak up and, consequently, from this three years of being alone with the ascended Lord, out of it comes this Apostle prepared to go to the Gentiles, not with Judaism and the Law, but with Grace. Not with just the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus was The Christ, but with the Gospel of Grace which is that Jesus is The Christ, The Son of the living God, Who died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead. Do you see the difference?
Peter is writing this little epistle just shortly before he is martyred. This would be about 66 or 67 A.D. or about 30 years after Saul's conversion. So at least thirty years have elapsed since Peter and Paul had their meeting in Jerusalem.
II Peter 3:15a "And account (understand) that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation;..."
That's what the whole Bible is about. Beginning in Genesis, as soon as man fell, God begins to put a plan of Salvation on the human race. He's not willing that any should perish. Moses and the Law didn't understand what we call the Gospel of our Salvation that Christ died for our sins. But they did what God told them to do.
II Peter 3:15,16 "And account (understand) that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him(by revelation from the Lord Himself) hath written unto you;" Do you see where Peter is putting Paul? Not as some heretic, but someone who has now been part and parcel of the very working of God Himself.
"As also in all his epistles(now what part of your Bible is that? Romans through Hebrews. That's the heart of our New Testament), speaking in them of these things (that's Salvation in verse 15); in which are some things hard to be understood,..."
Thirty years afterwards, Peter is still having trouble with Paul's message, and Paul's going to the Gentiles. But he has to agree. Paul is on the right track. Now why was it so hard for Peter to understand? He was steeped in Judaism, and legalism. You know this is what is so hard for people even today. It's like pulling teeth to see someone come out from under legalism, and step into the glory of God's Grace. They fight it tooth and nail. And Peter's no different. But Peter still couldn't quite comprehend that God would save those pagan heathen, without at least coming in to embrace the Mosaic system, keeping the Law, circumcision, and every other command that was demanded of a proselyte. But to save them by Grace plus nothing was hard for him to understand.
II Peter 3:15 again. "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (twist), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."
Are people twisting the scriptures? You'd better believe it. Peter is saying, "Look, if you want Salvation today read Paul's writings." He doesn't say go back to the Four Gospels, or Christ's earthly ministry or to Pentecost and his great sermon. Peter doesn't say to look at what he told the Nation of Israel, but rather to go to Paul's epistles. In them you will find Salvation, the Christian walk, and all the things that God expects of a believer today.
If you spent as much time Studying Christ you would be better of, IMO
You are almost worshiping Paul.
I think John Hagee is a heck of a preacher, but he is only a man.
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The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
פרץ
If you spent as much time Studying Christ you would be better of, IMO
You are almost worshiping Paul.
I think John Hagee is a heck of a preacher, but he is only a man.
Well my friend, I think more churchs should be preaching from Paul's espitles. That is were we are today.
Saul of Tarsus
