Hello Dmpsip. There's not very much that is similar between the Sabbath and Sunday. The Sabbath Day was instituted by God for His chosen people Israel with the other Laws in the Ten Commandments plus hundreds of other Laws. Exodus 20:8; Exodus 31:13-17. As part of the Sabbath, the Israelite had to conform to rules about work, home activities, and travel. If these were broken, then punishment was certain. So Sabbath was a day of complete rest and of course, religious activities centered around the Tabernacle, Temple or Synagogue and they were more relevant on the Sabbath Day when folk ceased from their usual labors on the other six days.
Sunday, or first day of the week, was a day set aside by early Christians to come together to worship the Lord & learn from His Word ( Acts 20:7), separate from the Jewish Sabbath and probably in remembrance and inline with the Lord's Resurrection on the first day of the week. And of course, Sunday can be utilized as a day of rest, spiritual contemplation, and being of service to others. So, apart of this aspect of rest and spiritual exercises, not much else is similar to the Sabbath Day observance by Israel.
However, Hebrews 4:9,10 states: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." And this rest has been promised to all who place their trust in Jesus. We look not just for that one day of rest from physical activity, but a true abiding rest in our Savior; resting from our efforts we made previously to please God, and now finding perfect rest by the ministry of His Spirit in our hearts & lives seven days a week.
Paul's command (not a request) in 2 Timothy 2:15 - "rightly dividing the word of truth" - makes no sense if there is nothing to divide.
The Greek word translated "rightly divide" means to "cut straight" or "make a correct partition." Paul is instructing Timothy (and us) to handle God's Word carefully, recognizing distinctions God Himself has placed in it. The Bible is one unified revelation, but within it God deals with different people in different ways at different times (dispensations). For example:
Law vs. Grace: God gave Israel the Law through Moses ( Exodus 20), but through Paul He revealed salvation by grace apart from the Law ( Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16). If we blur these, we end up mixing works with grace.
Israel vs. the Church: Israel was promised an earthly kingdom ( Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 19:28), while the Body of Christ has a heavenly calling ( Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 3:20). If we confuse these, we misapply promises and commands not meant for us.
Gospel of the Kingdom vs. Gospel of Grace: (yes, there is more than one Gospel in the NT) Jesus and the 12 preached "the gospel of the kingdom" to Israel ( Matthew 4:23; Galatians 2:7-9), while Paul was given "the gospel of the grace of God" ( Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Both are true, but they serve different purposes in God's plan.
So Paul's point is: don't blend everything together as if it all applies in the same way to everyone. To "rightly divide" is to discern God's progressive revelation - prophecy vs. mystery, Israel's promises vs. the Church's hope, law vs. grace. If you don't divide, you end up in contradictions and confusion.
The King James Bible contains four Gospel books-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But while those four books record Christ's earthly ministry, we must not confuse the written accounts with the distinct gospel messages revealed through Scripture. A "gospel" simply means good news, and God has revealed different good news at different times for different audiences.
Christ and the twelve apostles preached the Gospel of the Kingdom ( Matt. 4:23; Matt. 9:35), the good news that Israel's promised kingdom was at hand. This gospel called Israel to repentance, baptism, and obedience, rooted in their covenants and prophetic hope. Peter continued this in early Acts ( Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19-21), offering Israel the kingdom if they would repent nationally.
But with Israel's rejection, the risen Lord revealed through Paul a new gospel for a new dispensation: the Gospel of the Grace of God ( Acts 20:24; Rom. 2:16). This was not tied to Israel's covenants but to the finished cross-work of Christ. Paul's message was that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Salvation was now apart from the Law and works, freely offered to Jew and Gentile alike, forming the Body of Christ.
Looking forward, Revelation 14:6-7 speaks of the Everlasting Gospel during the Tribulation, a message calling all nations to fear God and worship Him before His wrath is poured out.
So dispensationally, while the KJV Bible has four Gospel accounts as books, there are multiple gospels as messages: the Kingdom gospel for Israel, the Grace gospel for the Body of Christ, and the Everlasting gospel in prophecy. To mix these is to confuse God's distinct programs for Israel and the Church. Anyone who misses this simple division is overlooking the plain teaching of rightly dividing the Word of truth ( 2 Tim. 2:15).
In my last reply, which you made a reply to all, I mentioned one verse that Paul taught about the kingdom of God. We also see in Acts 19:8, Acts 20:25, Acts 28:23, Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 4:20, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:21, and Ephesians 5:5. I could list more.
As I mentioned earlier, I am not familiar with dispensationalism, a concept that didn't emerge until the 19th century. I also believe that the idea of the rapture of the Church isn't supported by Scripture. If you don't mind, what is the dispensationalist understanding of the kingdom of God? Is there no need for repentance and baptism? Will the Church be in heaven during the 1000 years?
I write with deep concern because God's Word makes it plain that without rightly dividing the word of truth ( 2 Timothy 2:15), one cannot come to a clear and saving knowledge of Christ in this present dispensation of grace. Right division is not an optional study method; it is God's command for how His Word is to be understood. Failure to make the distinction between Israel's prophetic program and the mystery revealed to Paul for the Body of Christ leads only to confusion, and confusion in the gospel is eternally dangerous.
Paul makes a bold statement in Galatians 1:11-12, declaring that the gospel he preached was "not after man," but received by direct revelation of Jesus Christ. This message, summarized in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. This alone is the gospel of salvation today. Yet if we blend this with Israel's gospel of the kingdom, which involved repentance, water baptism, and looking for the Messiah's earthly reign, we pervert the truth and trust in a message God is not offering in this age.
Paul warned soberly that any who preach another gospel are accursed ( Galatians 1:8-9). That is why right division is vital-it protects us from confusing law with grace, earthly promises with heavenly, and faith plus works with faith alone in Christ's finished work. God has only one gospel today, the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24). To miss this truth, or to mix it with another program, is to miss salvation itself.
I urge all to believe the message Christ gave to Paul for us. Trust completely in His finished work on the cross, apart from anything you can add. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works ( Ephesians 2:8-9). Without rightly dividing, the gospel becomes distorted, and distorted truth cannot save.
I appreciate your thoughts, and I agree with you that salvation has always been centered in Christ-"for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" ( Acts 4:12). Likewise, Paul rightly affirms that there is "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" ( 1 Tim. 2:5). These truths are universal and unchanging.
However, dispensationalism recognizes that while the Person of salvation is the same, the message and audience differ according to God's progressive revelation. Peter and the Twelve ministered under the kingdom program, proclaiming Jesus as Israel's promised Messiah and King. Their call was "repent and be baptizedfor the remission of sins" ( Acts 2:38), looking for the restoration of Israel's kingdom on earth ( Acts 3:19-21).
Paul, in contrast, received from the risen, glorified Christ the "mystery" gospel-not revealed to the prophets nor known to the Twelve ( Eph. 3:1-9; Gal. 1:11-12). His commission was to the Gentiles, preaching "the gospel of the grace of God" ( Acts 20:24), centered in the finished cross-work of Christ and received apart from law or ordinances. While both messages rest on Christ, they represent different programs: Israel's prophetic hope versus the Body of Christ's heavenly calling.
Regarding Paul persecuting "the church" ( Acts 8:3), dispensationalists distinguish the kingdom church in Jerusalem from the Body of Christ later revealed to Paul. The prayers of those saints were answered when God, in His wisdom, raised up Paul for a new ministry-not to continue their message, but to unfold the revelation of grace.
So yes, Christ is the one Savior and mediator. Yet God's Word shows different stewardships: the gospel of the kingdom to Israel through the Twelve, and the gospel of grace to all nations through Paul. Recognizing these distinctions keeps us from blending programs and helps us "rightly divide the word of truth" ( 2 Tim. 2:15).
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " ( Acts 20:35).
Given the right and left paradigm; we should realistically attest to the accusations that often the poor and charitable donations are ignored by today's political establishments; those who are helped no doubt are often ones who certain individuals are involved with often tangential to the political mainstream.
Given the anonymous nature of this site; I can discuss some things personally; and hopefully not have self-aggrandizing motives.
I brought up curbing my expenditures on certain investments which have granted limited success but have distracted me with quick gains at best; and at worst become a habitual "high" keeping me from the consistsant and whole hearted spiritual life and activities such as posting on this site.
I wanted to say that in giving to various missionaries; it is worth it-and that goes with a large sum given to missionaries recently (won't mention the country). My advice has always been to communicate personally with anyone we support; which I have done in all cases of those I support that have come to our church; asking about personal issues such as their children and if they know the Lord. Knowing when not to give is important also; I was hesitant to support one missionary whose older children are in this country and they are in S. America and I'm glad I did because now the man can't come home to visit as his VISA never came in the mail. I would also HIGHLY discourage financially aiding someone who will be away from their wives for extended lengths of time. An extreme example of this was with someone I knew before I moved here who was overseas for over a DECADE trying to do ministry; although it appeared it was not a biblically sound ministry I wanted to use it as a case study.
While it is true 'Meek and seek' that Sunday is never called the Lord's Day in the Bible, it is also true that the Sabbath is never referred to as the Lord's Day either - it has always been the Sabbath Day or the seventh day. This was the LORD's day of Rest (His ceasing of the Work of Creation) and thus enjoined His chosen people that they should do likewise.
And yes, the early Church first met in the synagogue on the Sabbath, but then began to meet in homes on the first day of the week as they came to break bread together ( Acts 20:7). So, if we must reject Sunday as the Lord's Day, we must also do to the Jewish Sabbath Day, for then neither conclusively prove its definition and practise. GBU.
Audience: Israel, under the covenants and promises.
Message: The long-promised kingdom, with Messiah reigning on David's throne, was "at hand."
Matthew 4:23 - "And Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom"
Matthew 10:5-7 - The Twelve were sent only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" with this gospel.
Luke 22:29-30 - The apostles are promised to sit on twelve thrones judging Israel in that kingdom.
Acts 3:19-21 - Peter still offers the kingdom if Israel repents, showing this program was continuing post-cross.
This gospel was prophetic, rooted in promises made "since the world began" ( Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21).
2. The Gospel of the Grace of God (Paul's Gospel)
Audience: Jew and Gentile alike, apart from Israel's covenants.
Message: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for sins, offering free justification by faith.
Acts 20:24 - Paul calls it "the gospel of the grace of God."
Romans 16:25 - This gospel was "according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - The content: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received it by direct revelation from Christ, not from the Twelve.
This gospel creates the Body of Christ ( 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:6), uniting Jew and Gentile in one new man.
3. Jews Responding to Both Programs
Some Jews believed Peter and the Eleven's message of the kingdom ( Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4). James writes to these scattered tribes ( James 1:1), exhorting them in kingdom-related works and endurance.
Other Jews believed Paul's gospel of grace and became part of the Body ( Rom. 11:13-14; 1 Cor. 9:20-22).
4. Dispensational Distinction
Kingdom Gospel = Israel's prophetic hope on earth.
Grace Gospel = Body of Christ's heavenly hope, revealed through Paul.
Both have Christ as center, but their scope and promises differ.
My final thoughts on the matter of Kingdom message compared to the Salvation through Faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, with heavenly blessings and a heavenly hope.
The "kingdom message" preached by Peter and the other apostles-particularly in the early chapters of Acts-was primarily directed to Israel and centered on the offer of the earthly Messianic kingdom promised in the Old Testament. This message called the nation to repentance and faith in Jesus as the risen Messiah and King, with the expectation that if Israel as a nation responded, Christ would return and establish His kingdom on earth ( Acts 3:19-21). Peter's sermons (e.g., Acts 2 and 3) emphasized Jesus' fulfillment of prophecy, His resurrection, and His role as the promised Davidic King. The apostles preached "the gospel of the kingdom," which was consistent with what Jesus proclaimed during His earthly ministry ( Matthew 4:17; Luke 9:1-6).
However, this message was rejected by the nation of Israel, culminating in the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. It is after this national rejection that God raised up Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles ( Acts 9; Romans 11:13). Through Paul, God revealed the "mystery" of the body of Christ-a previously hidden truth ( Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:24-27). The body of Christ is not a continuation of Israel's kingdom program but a new entity in which there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile ( Galatians 3:28). Paul's message was the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24), focused not on an earthly kingdom, but on salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, with heavenly blessings and a heavenly hope.
In summary, the kingdom message was not meant for the body of Christ. It was directed to Israel, offering a literal kingdom on earth. The body of Christ, a new creation revealed through Paul, operates under a different gospel and program-centered on grace, not law or kingdom promises.
Matthew 4:23 - Jesus preached "the gospel of the kingdom."
Acts 20:24 - Paul speaks of "the gospel of the grace of God."
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received his gospel by direct revelation from Christ.
Many assume the Bible presents one unified gospel throughout. But a closer reading reveals distinctions between the gospel of the kingdom (offered to Israel) and the gospel of grace (offered to the Gentiles and the Body of Christ).
Denominational tradition may attempt to blend these messages, creating theological confusion. But by removing those filters and taking Scripture slowly, we see that Paul's message of grace was a new revelation-a "mystery" ( Ephesians 3:1-6), hidden from past ages but revealed through him.
The Role of "Right Division" in Clarity
Paul commands believers to "rightly divide the word of truth" ( 2 Timothy 2:15). This doesn't mean dividing truth from error-it means dividing truth from truth, identifying what applies to Israel and what applies to the Church, the Body of Christ.
Right division isn't about rejecting parts of the Bible-it's about placing them in their proper context, understanding that God has dealt with humanity in different ways throughout time ( Hebrews 1:1-2). It honors the integrity of each passage and avoids blending programs that God intended to remain distinct.
When rightly divided, the Scriptures form a cohesive whole. God's dealings with Israel under the law (Exodus through Malachi) differ from His dealings with the Body of Christ under grace (Romans through Philemon). When we respect those distinctions, confusion clears.
Examples of Clarity Through Slow, Careful Study
The Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5-7)
Jesus' teaching here emphasizes law-based living, including commands like "cut off your hand" if it causes you to sin and a strict standard of righteousness exceeding that of the Pharisees.
Regarding Eph. 3-5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit
The Apostle Paul labored with many faithful co-workers to spread the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24) during the dispensation committed to him ( Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27). These individuals helped preach, teach, and establish churches among the Gentiles.
Barnabas was Paul's companion on his first missionary journey ( Acts 13-15) and helped him gain acceptance among believers.
Silas traveled with Paul on his second journey ( Acts 15:40), enduring persecution and planting churches in Macedonia and Greece. Timothy, Paul's "dearly beloved son" in the faith ( 1 Tim 1:2), served closely with him and was entrusted with important ministry tasks ( Phil 2:19-22; 1 Cor 4:17).
Titus, a Greek believer, was sent to Corinth and later to Crete to set church leadership in order ( Titus 1:5).
Luke, the physician, was a faithful companion and authored the Gospel of Luke and Acts ( Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11). Apollos, though not directly sent by Paul, was mighty in the Scriptures and preached effectively in line with Paul's message ( Acts 18:24-28; 1 Cor 3:6). Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's fellow tentmakers, taught Apollos and hosted churches in their home ( Rom 16:3-5).
Other trusted workers include Tychicus, a faithful messenger ( Eph 6:21), Epaphroditus ( Phil 2:25), Onesimus, a converted runaway slave ( Philemon 10-13), Aristarchus, Erastus, Sopater, and Gaius. Sadly, Demas abandoned Paul, loving this present world ( 2 Tim 4:10).
These men and women formed the core team Paul used to carry the grace message throughout the Gentile world.
With the exception of Luke I find none of the Disciples of Christ preaching faith without works.
Here are scriptures where Peter preached a message of repentance, faith in Jesus as Messiah, plus works (obedience, water baptism, etc.)-mainly directed to Israel as part of the "Kingdom Gospel" ( Matthew 4:17), distinct from Paul's "Gospel of the Grace of God" ( Acts 20:24).
Peter's Kingdom Gospel - Repentance, Faith, and Works
1. Acts 2:36-38 - Pentecost sermon
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
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."
Repentance
Water baptism required for remission of sins
Holy Spirit as a result of obedience
2. Acts 3:19-21 - Second temple sermon to Israel
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord"
Repentance = condition for forgiveness
Tied to future kingdom blessings
3. Acts 5:32
"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."
Obedience (works) as a condition to receive the Holy Ghost
4. 1 Peter 1:2
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ..."
Election tied to obedience
Sprinkling of blood = cleansing, yet connected with obedient response
According to the New Testament, the Church, the Body of Christ will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Greek: Bma), and that judgment will be based on the gospel committed to Paul - what he calls "my gospel."
1. The Judgment Seat of Christ
Romans 14:10
"for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
This judgment is not for salvation, but for reward or loss of reward ( 1 Cor. 3:13-15). It applies only to believers - the Body of Christ.
2. What Gospel Will Be the Standard?
Romans 2:16
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
Here, Paul states plainly that God will judge according to his gospel - the gospel of grace revealed to him ( Gal. 1:11-12).
3. What Is "Paul's Gospel"?
Paul's gospel is centered on:
Salvation by grace through faith, without works ( Eph. 2:8-9)
The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the basis of salvation ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4)
The heavenly calling and spiritual blessings in Christ ( Eph. 1:3; Phil. 3:20)
Conclusion
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Church - the Body of Christ - will be judged:
Not by the Law of Moses
Not by the Gospel of the Kingdom ( Matt. 4:23; Gal. 2:7)
But "according to Paul's gospel" - the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24)
This judgment evaluates how believers lived and served in response to the grace they received, not whether they are saved. Salvation is secure ( Rom. 8:1), but rewards are at stake ( 1 Cor. 3:14-15).
The Bible speaks for itself, no dictionary or man's concordance needed.
The apostle Paul is uniquely identified in Scripture as the chosen vessel through whom God revealed the mystery of the Body of Christ. In Romans 11:13, Paul declares, "I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office." Unlike the Twelve Apostles, who were sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ( Matthew 10:5-6), Paul was sent by the risen, glorified Christ from heaven ( Acts 9:15; Galatians 1:11-12) to proclaim a new message-not the Gospel of the Kingdom, but the Gospel of the Grace of God ( Acts 20:24). Paul alone speaks of the "Church which is His Body" ( Ephesians 1:22-23), a new creation made up of both Jew and Gentile, united by faith and baptized by the Holy Spirit into one Body ( 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:14-16).
The Body of Christ was a mystery "kept secret since the world began" ( Romans 16:25) and not revealed until Paul. He was given this revelation by Christ directly ( Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:24-27) and is the only apostle who teaches its doctrines-such as salvation by grace through faith without works ( Ephesians 2:8-9), the heavenly position of believers ( Colossians 3:1-4), and the rapture of the Church ( 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Paul calls himself the "wise masterbuilder" who laid the foundation for this present dispensation of grace ( 1 Corinthians 3:10). The other apostles, including Peter, recognized Paul's distinct apostleship and agreed to confine their ministry to the circumcision, while Paul went to the Gentiles ( Galatians 2:7-9).
No other apostle is identified in Scripture as the apostle of the Body of Christ. Only Paul received the full revelation of the mystery, the doctrines, and the heavenly calling of the Church. Therefore, Paul stands alone as the God-appointed apostle to the Body of Christ.
In Scripture, Jesus Christ initially sent His twelve disciples only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. In Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus commanded them, "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." This directive limited their early ministry strictly to the circumcision, the Jewish people. Even after Christ's resurrection, Peter and the other apostles continued ministering primarily to the Jews in Jerusalem and surrounding regions ( Acts 1-7). Their ministry was rooted in the hope of Israel and the promised earthly kingdom.
Although the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15 includes the phrase "go ye into all the world," there is no biblical record of Peter, James, John, or the other original apostles ever launching widespread missions to the Gentile nations. Their continued presence in Jerusalem and their focus on the Jewish believers is affirmed in Galatians 2:7-9, where Paul writes that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to him, while the gospel of the circumcision was committed to Peter. The Jerusalem apostles gave Paul and Barnabas the "right hands of fellowship," agreeing that Paul should go to the Gentiles while they remained with the circumcision.
Only Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles ( Romans 11:13), is recorded in Scripture as taking multiple missionary journeys to distant lands-Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Rome. These travels are thoroughly documented in the Book of Acts (chapters 13-28). Paul uniquely preached the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24), revealing the mystery of the Body of Christ and salvation by grace through faith alone ( Ephesians 3:1-9), distinct from the kingdom gospel preached to Israel.
Thus, Scripture consistently shows that the twelve apostles remained focused on Israel and never carried out global missionary work, while Paul alone fulfilled the calling to take the gospel to the nations.
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
Romans 15:19
"Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."
Acts 20:25
"And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more."
Matthew 24:35
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Yes, Paul does mention these things also. You can sort of sense Paul's compassion in Acts 20:31. I notice in this section of scripture that you mention ( Acts 20:29-31) that they (wolves in sheep clothing) will be coming from both directions, both inside the church, and outside the church. And this is the theme of Peter's letters, warning believers of both of these threats.
We start with the Gospel of Grace that was revealed to Apostle Paul for the Gentiles to believe the finished work of the cross. Jesus Christ died for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
There is no repentance for sin in the gospel of grace , we believe only . 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Acts 20:24
But noneofthese things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have receivedofthe Lord Jesus, to testify thegospelofthegraceofGod.
The Twelve Apostles agreed to let Apostle Paul spread the gospel of grace to the Gentiles.
Galatians 2:9
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived thegracethatwasgivenunto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
The gift of the gospel of grace was given to Apostle Paul from God.
Ephesians 3:7
Whereof Iwasmade a minister, according to the gift of thegraceof Godgivenunto me by the effectual working of his power.
Apostle Paul labor more than anything with the gospel of grace.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by thegraceof God I am what I am: and hisgracewhich was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but thegraceof God which was with me.
7We start with the Gospel of Grace that was revealed to Apostle Paul for the Gentiles to believe the finished work of the cross. Jesus Christ died for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
There is no repentance in the gospel of grace.
Acts 20:24
But noneofthese things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have receivedofthe Lord Jesus, to testify thegospelofthegraceofGod.
The Twelve Apostles agreed to let Apostle Paul spread the gospel of grace to the Gentiles.
Galatians 2:9
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived thegracethatwasgivenunto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
The gift of the gospel of grace was given to Apostle Paul from God.
Ephesians 3:7
Whereof Iwasmade a minister, according to the gift of thegraceof Godgivenunto me by the effectual working of his power.
Apostle Paul labor more than anything with the gospel of grace.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by thegraceof God I am what I am: and hisgracewhich was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but thegraceof God which was with me.
Apostle Peter explained how the prophets searched for the grace of God but couldn't find it and here God gave it to Apostle Paul to write.
1 Peter 1:10
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of thegracethat should come unto you:
Jude warns the believing Jews to be careful with false brethren with fake grace.
Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning thegraceof our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Philippines are partakers of Apostle Paul's grace. That means we are to take notice of Paul's grace given to him.
Philippians 1:7
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Apostle Paul only wanted to spread the Gospel of Grace to the Jews first and then the Gentiles.
Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of thegraceof God.
Apostle Paul's epistle is where we find grace for today.
Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by hisgracethrough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
May we enjoy our free grace from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ in the third Heaven.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Grace is free by just believing the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ only .
Father in Heaven, please send your Spirit upon there hearts and open there understanding to the gospel of grace.
The bright light has shined in the hearts of the humble and faithful people that wants to know the gospel of grace.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
May God bless us with the gospel of grace in Christ Jesus.
Acts 20:24
But noneofthese things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have receivedofthe Lord Jesus, to testify thegospelofthegraceofGod.
Apostle Paul's gospel is free from Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Ephesians 2:8
Forbygraceare ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
It's really all bout the gospel of grace for Salvation and to live by the doctrine in Apostle Paul's epistle.
2 Timothy 3:10
But thou hast fully known mydoctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
God bless....
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Thank you Jesus Christ for my free Salvation by believing only.
There are many verses in the Bible that show the human nature of Jesus. But also there are many verses that show the divine nature of Jesus. Some of them are many parts of John's gospel (especially the begining) such as John 1:30, John 2:19, John 3:13, John 8:58-59, John 10:30-33, John 14:9-10, John 14:23, John 20:28, Acts 20:28, Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1, Hebrews 1:8, Matthew 1:22-23, 1 Cor 10:9, Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Zechariah 11:12-13, Romans 9:1-5, and many other that I can not recall now. Jesus also accepted people to kneel infront of Him, something that is only permitted for God. Also compare Psalms 102:25-27 where it talks about God to Hebrews 1:10 where it talks about Jesus. Also compare Joel 3:5 to Acts 9:13. Compare Jeremiah 17:9 to Rev 2:23, etc.
So we have two kinds of scripture. One says that Jesus is human, the other says that Jesus is God. So what do we make out of these two? The obvious, that Jesus is the God, one person of the Godhead, who became man.
Lets think it in another way. We know that God loved people so much so that He sacrificed His own son for us. Now lets use another example. Suppose I love my brother and want to help Him. and the only way to help him is to give my own life for him. How does it seem to you that I would sacrifice instead of my own life, my son's life for Him to help Him? Why my son? And not myself? The most sensible thing is that I would sacrifice my own life for him, not somebody's else. That would be very egoistic. Somebody else to suffer for my intention to help somebody that I love? I think you can understand what I trying to say. So what did God do? He sacrificed Himself for us, one person out of the Godhead took on Him our nature, became a man and gave His life for us. So it is God's love that attracts people to Him. It wouldn't be love if He sacrificed somebody else, an innocent person's life, for his intention to save us. I hope I haven't done it so complicated to understand. GBU
Here's what I have on how many of each type of animal went into the ark with Noah,
In Genesis 6:19 it reads "And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Genesis 7:2-3 reads "Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
So, was there two of each animal or seven of each animal that were to be brought to the ark?
The seven of each animal were clean animals-to be used for sacrifice as well as for food.
The remainder of the animals that went to the ark included a male and a female.
This is explained in Genesis 7:8-9. "Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah."
This is what I've gathered from Scripture and the only way I have heard it explained.
Preconceived notions doesn't always come from denominations and man's tradition passed down over the years. It can come from self ambition and bad hermeneutics.
However you can certainly hinder your spiritual growth and understanding if you solely rely on clippings of the early church and internet findings. (NOT SAYING IT'S ALL BAD) But that's not feeding and studying the word. It's studying history.
AGAIN, It's not bad to know the history but it's not to be a substitute or an atlas to the truth in the word of God.
There has been division in the church on several topics since the Apostles. Paul speaks of this in Acts 20:39-30.
Without debating the actually day of Christ's crucifixion (whether Wednesday, Thursday or Friday), the point here is if Jesus was resurrected on the Sabbath (the 7th day) then Sabbath-keepers might be emboldened to honor that day (i.e. in rest & worship). But if Jesus was resurrected on the Sunday (as the Scriptures tell us), then it shows that the Church was not bound to the Old Law but to the New Covenant, and was free to worship on any day. And Sunday, the Lord's Day, was set aside for these followers of Christ to gather together aligning with their Savior's resurrection & victory over sin & death.
The fact that the Church, in its infancy, still attended the synagogue ( Acts 2:46) is important, until the formation of 'house-type Churches' meeting on a Sunday, the first day of the week, of which we read in Acts 20:7,8 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.
Acts 20:32 - And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God. The word commend is a banking term. It is the word used for when you go make a deposit at the bank. This is a very, very important word. Paul laid down his life for his brothers.
But there came a time when he had to deposit those converts into the hands of God and physically, he would see them no more.
There comes a time that we can no longer be there for one another. And there might be some people that we would have to just pray with them and commend them to God. I'm not going to see you anymore.
Acts 21:1 - And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them. The King James reads "gotten." They are trying to make emphasis. This is a special Greek word emphasizing very difficult to part.
It's almost like they had to be forced apart from these people because of how difficult it was. They did not want to let Paul go. In fact, the Greek word actually means to tear apart.
Acts 21:20 - And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. The word glorified is in the Imperfect Tense which means that they were continually glorifying the Lord in their expressions about what Paul was saying.
Acts 20:22 - And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
The word bound is what is called the Perfect Tense in Greek. It would literally read "And behold, I go having been bound."
Acts 20:24 - But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
It says, "But none of these things move me."
I'll give it to you literally. This is literally what it says in the Greek. "I do not make an account of any one of these things."
The word account has to do with a ledger. He says I don't sit down and make a list of pros and cons, the good and the bad. He says I don't even think about what's going to happen. If God wants me to go, He wants me to go! But none of these things move me.
He says, "Neither do I count my life dear to myself." The word dear is the word valuable. So now I find out what my problem is whenever I am in rebellion to Christ, it's because I think I am valuable to me.
Paul says I don't value my life, to hold onto it like it's something you have to hold on to. I don't take any of these things into account. "Hey, you know if you go to Jerusalem, they might even kill you!" Yea, they might!
Acts 20:18 - And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
He says, "You know," and right away we have a technicality. It is not the word know (GNOSKO), that's usually used in Greek. It is the word for understand. You understand from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons.
The term "I have been" is the main verb in this section and it literally means what I became amongst you. So, before he even talks about preaching or what his doctrine was, it's what I became amongst you. And that's what he's going to list for us.
The first expression is what I became with you at all seasons. In the Greek text, it's literally "all the time that I was there." He's there for three years. He was the same, day in and day out, constant, faithful!
Acts 20:19 - Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
What did he become? Serving! That's a participle describing his ministry. It's the word DULOS which is the word for slave.
Paul is mentioning his commitment. He says "I'm a slave of Christ, in full time service to Him, the Master. I'm the slave; He's the Master." The participle shows that he has a lifestyle of being a slave of Jesus Christ.
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, a very special word, TAPEINOPHROSUNE in Greek, and it's literally a humble frame of mind, or a lowly frame of mind. It's Paul's way of saying I condescended down. I'm not proud. I'm not pushing myself. I am the lowest form of slave within the household!
When Paul came amongst them, he didn't present himself as being someone other than to say I am your slave. He didn't come for them to support him or that they had things he wanted. He came as a slave. He sometimes lived as a slave so that he wouldn't take money from them.
Acts 19:28 - And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
A technical point about the word Artemis because we have two Diana's, and we would have to pick which goddess we were going to use. It's not Diana. It is not used in the bible at all. It is Artemis. She is the goddess of fertility.
People began to shout out "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians" and the whole city was filled with confusion, and they caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, and they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
Acts 20:9 - And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
The Greek text paints some mind pictures for us. The word sat is a Present Participle. This young man was sitting. These are all participles that describe him because it describes a process. While Paul is preaching, he is sitting, and he's being overcome by the smoke and the stuffy room, and it gives you a picture that this is a process that's taking place.
And a certain young man was sitting in a window. Later, he uses the word PAIS to describe this young man (Eutychus). The Greek word PAIS is the designation for people between 7 and 14 years of age. So, we get some kind of indication when it says, "young man," that he is between the ages of 7 and 14.
He was sitting in a window, being fallen into a deep sleep: Again, it shows process much like you see sometimes in church. You can call it "nodding off!" Being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, and there's your participle again. He sunk down with sleep, again that's an Aorist Participle. It shows the suddenness of this event happening. And then the main verb, the young man fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
Sunday, or first day of the week, was a day set aside by early Christians to come together to worship the Lord & learn from His Word ( Acts 20:7), separate from the Jewish Sabbath and probably in remembrance and inline with the Lord's Resurrection on the first day of the week. And of course, Sunday can be utilized as a day of rest, spiritual contemplation, and being of service to others. So, apart of this aspect of rest and spiritual exercises, not much else is similar to the Sabbath Day observance by Israel.
However, Hebrews 4:9,10 states: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." And this rest has been promised to all who place their trust in Jesus. We look not just for that one day of rest from physical activity, but a true abiding rest in our Savior; resting from our efforts we made previously to please God, and now finding perfect rest by the ministry of His Spirit in our hearts & lives seven days a week.
Paul's command (not a request) in 2 Timothy 2:15 - "rightly dividing the word of truth" - makes no sense if there is nothing to divide.
The Greek word translated "rightly divide" means to "cut straight" or "make a correct partition." Paul is instructing Timothy (and us) to handle God's Word carefully, recognizing distinctions God Himself has placed in it. The Bible is one unified revelation, but within it God deals with different people in different ways at different times (dispensations). For example:
Law vs. Grace: God gave Israel the Law through Moses ( Exodus 20), but through Paul He revealed salvation by grace apart from the Law ( Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16). If we blur these, we end up mixing works with grace.
Israel vs. the Church: Israel was promised an earthly kingdom ( Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 19:28), while the Body of Christ has a heavenly calling ( Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 3:20). If we confuse these, we misapply promises and commands not meant for us.
Gospel of the Kingdom vs. Gospel of Grace: (yes, there is more than one Gospel in the NT) Jesus and the 12 preached "the gospel of the kingdom" to Israel ( Matthew 4:23; Galatians 2:7-9), while Paul was given "the gospel of the grace of God" ( Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Both are true, but they serve different purposes in God's plan.
So Paul's point is: don't blend everything together as if it all applies in the same way to everyone. To "rightly divide" is to discern God's progressive revelation - prophecy vs. mystery, Israel's promises vs. the Church's hope, law vs. grace. If you don't divide, you end up in contradictions and confusion.
G&P
The King James Bible contains four Gospel books-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But while those four books record Christ's earthly ministry, we must not confuse the written accounts with the distinct gospel messages revealed through Scripture. A "gospel" simply means good news, and God has revealed different good news at different times for different audiences.
Christ and the twelve apostles preached the Gospel of the Kingdom ( Matt. 4:23; Matt. 9:35), the good news that Israel's promised kingdom was at hand. This gospel called Israel to repentance, baptism, and obedience, rooted in their covenants and prophetic hope. Peter continued this in early Acts ( Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19-21), offering Israel the kingdom if they would repent nationally.
But with Israel's rejection, the risen Lord revealed through Paul a new gospel for a new dispensation: the Gospel of the Grace of God ( Acts 20:24; Rom. 2:16). This was not tied to Israel's covenants but to the finished cross-work of Christ. Paul's message was that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Salvation was now apart from the Law and works, freely offered to Jew and Gentile alike, forming the Body of Christ.
Looking forward, Revelation 14:6-7 speaks of the Everlasting Gospel during the Tribulation, a message calling all nations to fear God and worship Him before His wrath is poured out.
So dispensationally, while the KJV Bible has four Gospel accounts as books, there are multiple gospels as messages: the Kingdom gospel for Israel, the Grace gospel for the Body of Christ, and the Everlasting gospel in prophecy. To mix these is to confuse God's distinct programs for Israel and the Church. Anyone who misses this simple division is overlooking the plain teaching of rightly dividing the Word of truth ( 2 Tim. 2:15).
G&P
In my last reply, which you made a reply to all, I mentioned one verse that Paul taught about the kingdom of God. We also see in Acts 19:8, Acts 20:25, Acts 28:23, Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 4:20, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:21, and Ephesians 5:5. I could list more.
As I mentioned earlier, I am not familiar with dispensationalism, a concept that didn't emerge until the 19th century. I also believe that the idea of the rapture of the Church isn't supported by Scripture. If you don't mind, what is the dispensationalist understanding of the kingdom of God? Is there no need for repentance and baptism? Will the Church be in heaven during the 1000 years?
I am only trying to understand.
God bless,
RLW
I write with deep concern because God's Word makes it plain that without rightly dividing the word of truth ( 2 Timothy 2:15), one cannot come to a clear and saving knowledge of Christ in this present dispensation of grace. Right division is not an optional study method; it is God's command for how His Word is to be understood. Failure to make the distinction between Israel's prophetic program and the mystery revealed to Paul for the Body of Christ leads only to confusion, and confusion in the gospel is eternally dangerous.
Paul makes a bold statement in Galatians 1:11-12, declaring that the gospel he preached was "not after man," but received by direct revelation of Jesus Christ. This message, summarized in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. This alone is the gospel of salvation today. Yet if we blend this with Israel's gospel of the kingdom, which involved repentance, water baptism, and looking for the Messiah's earthly reign, we pervert the truth and trust in a message God is not offering in this age.
Paul warned soberly that any who preach another gospel are accursed ( Galatians 1:8-9). That is why right division is vital-it protects us from confusing law with grace, earthly promises with heavenly, and faith plus works with faith alone in Christ's finished work. God has only one gospel today, the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24). To miss this truth, or to mix it with another program, is to miss salvation itself.
I urge all to believe the message Christ gave to Paul for us. Trust completely in His finished work on the cross, apart from anything you can add. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works ( Ephesians 2:8-9). Without rightly dividing, the gospel becomes distorted, and distorted truth cannot save.
In Christ's grace...
I appreciate your thoughts, and I agree with you that salvation has always been centered in Christ-"for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" ( Acts 4:12). Likewise, Paul rightly affirms that there is "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" ( 1 Tim. 2:5). These truths are universal and unchanging.
However, dispensationalism recognizes that while the Person of salvation is the same, the message and audience differ according to God's progressive revelation. Peter and the Twelve ministered under the kingdom program, proclaiming Jesus as Israel's promised Messiah and King. Their call was "repent and be baptizedfor the remission of sins" ( Acts 2:38), looking for the restoration of Israel's kingdom on earth ( Acts 3:19-21).
Paul, in contrast, received from the risen, glorified Christ the "mystery" gospel-not revealed to the prophets nor known to the Twelve ( Eph. 3:1-9; Gal. 1:11-12). His commission was to the Gentiles, preaching "the gospel of the grace of God" ( Acts 20:24), centered in the finished cross-work of Christ and received apart from law or ordinances. While both messages rest on Christ, they represent different programs: Israel's prophetic hope versus the Body of Christ's heavenly calling.
Regarding Paul persecuting "the church" ( Acts 8:3), dispensationalists distinguish the kingdom church in Jerusalem from the Body of Christ later revealed to Paul. The prayers of those saints were answered when God, in His wisdom, raised up Paul for a new ministry-not to continue their message, but to unfold the revelation of grace.
So yes, Christ is the one Savior and mediator. Yet God's Word shows different stewardships: the gospel of the kingdom to Israel through the Twelve, and the gospel of grace to all nations through Paul. Recognizing these distinctions keeps us from blending programs and helps us "rightly divide the word of truth" ( 2 Tim. 2:15).
G&P
Given the right and left paradigm; we should realistically attest to the accusations that often the poor and charitable donations are ignored by today's political establishments; those who are helped no doubt are often ones who certain individuals are involved with often tangential to the political mainstream.
Given the anonymous nature of this site; I can discuss some things personally; and hopefully not have self-aggrandizing motives.
I brought up curbing my expenditures on certain investments which have granted limited success but have distracted me with quick gains at best; and at worst become a habitual "high" keeping me from the consistsant and whole hearted spiritual life and activities such as posting on this site.
I wanted to say that in giving to various missionaries; it is worth it-and that goes with a large sum given to missionaries recently (won't mention the country). My advice has always been to communicate personally with anyone we support; which I have done in all cases of those I support that have come to our church; asking about personal issues such as their children and if they know the Lord. Knowing when not to give is important also; I was hesitant to support one missionary whose older children are in this country and they are in S. America and I'm glad I did because now the man can't come home to visit as his VISA never came in the mail. I would also HIGHLY discourage financially aiding someone who will be away from their wives for extended lengths of time. An extreme example of this was with someone I knew before I moved here who was overseas for over a DECADE trying to do ministry; although it appeared it was not a biblically sound ministry I wanted to use it as a case study.
And yes, the early Church first met in the synagogue on the Sabbath, but then began to meet in homes on the first day of the week as they came to break bread together ( Acts 20:7). So, if we must reject Sunday as the Lord's Day, we must also do to the Jewish Sabbath Day, for then neither conclusively prove its definition and practise. GBU.
Here's a more detailed breakdown for you.
. The Gospel of the Kingdom
Audience: Israel, under the covenants and promises.
Message: The long-promised kingdom, with Messiah reigning on David's throne, was "at hand."
Matthew 4:23 - "And Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom"
Matthew 10:5-7 - The Twelve were sent only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" with this gospel.
Luke 22:29-30 - The apostles are promised to sit on twelve thrones judging Israel in that kingdom.
Acts 3:19-21 - Peter still offers the kingdom if Israel repents, showing this program was continuing post-cross.
This gospel was prophetic, rooted in promises made "since the world began" ( Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21).
2. The Gospel of the Grace of God (Paul's Gospel)
Audience: Jew and Gentile alike, apart from Israel's covenants.
Message: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for sins, offering free justification by faith.
Acts 20:24 - Paul calls it "the gospel of the grace of God."
Romans 16:25 - This gospel was "according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - The content: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received it by direct revelation from Christ, not from the Twelve.
This gospel creates the Body of Christ ( 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 3:6), uniting Jew and Gentile in one new man.
3. Jews Responding to Both Programs
Some Jews believed Peter and the Eleven's message of the kingdom ( Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4). James writes to these scattered tribes ( James 1:1), exhorting them in kingdom-related works and endurance.
Other Jews believed Paul's gospel of grace and became part of the Body ( Rom. 11:13-14; 1 Cor. 9:20-22).
4. Dispensational Distinction
Kingdom Gospel = Israel's prophetic hope on earth.
Grace Gospel = Body of Christ's heavenly hope, revealed through Paul.
Both have Christ as center, but their scope and promises differ.
see pg2
My final thoughts on the matter of Kingdom message compared to the Salvation through Faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, with heavenly blessings and a heavenly hope.
The "kingdom message" preached by Peter and the other apostles-particularly in the early chapters of Acts-was primarily directed to Israel and centered on the offer of the earthly Messianic kingdom promised in the Old Testament. This message called the nation to repentance and faith in Jesus as the risen Messiah and King, with the expectation that if Israel as a nation responded, Christ would return and establish His kingdom on earth ( Acts 3:19-21). Peter's sermons (e.g., Acts 2 and 3) emphasized Jesus' fulfillment of prophecy, His resurrection, and His role as the promised Davidic King. The apostles preached "the gospel of the kingdom," which was consistent with what Jesus proclaimed during His earthly ministry ( Matthew 4:17; Luke 9:1-6).
However, this message was rejected by the nation of Israel, culminating in the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. It is after this national rejection that God raised up Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles ( Acts 9; Romans 11:13). Through Paul, God revealed the "mystery" of the body of Christ-a previously hidden truth ( Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:24-27). The body of Christ is not a continuation of Israel's kingdom program but a new entity in which there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile ( Galatians 3:28). Paul's message was the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24), focused not on an earthly kingdom, but on salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, with heavenly blessings and a heavenly hope.
In summary, the kingdom message was not meant for the body of Christ. It was directed to Israel, offering a literal kingdom on earth. The body of Christ, a new creation revealed through Paul, operates under a different gospel and program-centered on grace, not law or kingdom promises.
Blessings to all!
2. The Gospel Messages: Same or Different?
Matthew 4:23 - Jesus preached "the gospel of the kingdom."
Acts 20:24 - Paul speaks of "the gospel of the grace of God."
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received his gospel by direct revelation from Christ.
Many assume the Bible presents one unified gospel throughout. But a closer reading reveals distinctions between the gospel of the kingdom (offered to Israel) and the gospel of grace (offered to the Gentiles and the Body of Christ).
Denominational tradition may attempt to blend these messages, creating theological confusion. But by removing those filters and taking Scripture slowly, we see that Paul's message of grace was a new revelation-a "mystery" ( Ephesians 3:1-6), hidden from past ages but revealed through him.
The Role of "Right Division" in Clarity
Paul commands believers to "rightly divide the word of truth" ( 2 Timothy 2:15). This doesn't mean dividing truth from error-it means dividing truth from truth, identifying what applies to Israel and what applies to the Church, the Body of Christ.
Right division isn't about rejecting parts of the Bible-it's about placing them in their proper context, understanding that God has dealt with humanity in different ways throughout time ( Hebrews 1:1-2). It honors the integrity of each passage and avoids blending programs that God intended to remain distinct.
When rightly divided, the Scriptures form a cohesive whole. God's dealings with Israel under the law (Exodus through Malachi) differ from His dealings with the Body of Christ under grace (Romans through Philemon). When we respect those distinctions, confusion clears.
Examples of Clarity Through Slow, Careful Study
The Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5-7)
Jesus' teaching here emphasizes law-based living, including commands like "cut off your hand" if it causes you to sin and a strict standard of righteousness exceeding that of the Pharisees.
The Apostle Paul labored with many faithful co-workers to spread the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24) during the dispensation committed to him ( Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27). These individuals helped preach, teach, and establish churches among the Gentiles.
Barnabas was Paul's companion on his first missionary journey ( Acts 13-15) and helped him gain acceptance among believers.
Silas traveled with Paul on his second journey ( Acts 15:40), enduring persecution and planting churches in Macedonia and Greece. Timothy, Paul's "dearly beloved son" in the faith ( 1 Tim 1:2), served closely with him and was entrusted with important ministry tasks ( Phil 2:19-22; 1 Cor 4:17).
Titus, a Greek believer, was sent to Corinth and later to Crete to set church leadership in order ( Titus 1:5).
Luke, the physician, was a faithful companion and authored the Gospel of Luke and Acts ( Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11). Apollos, though not directly sent by Paul, was mighty in the Scriptures and preached effectively in line with Paul's message ( Acts 18:24-28; 1 Cor 3:6). Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's fellow tentmakers, taught Apollos and hosted churches in their home ( Rom 16:3-5).
Other trusted workers include Tychicus, a faithful messenger ( Eph 6:21), Epaphroditus ( Phil 2:25), Onesimus, a converted runaway slave ( Philemon 10-13), Aristarchus, Erastus, Sopater, and Gaius. Sadly, Demas abandoned Paul, loving this present world ( 2 Tim 4:10).
These men and women formed the core team Paul used to carry the grace message throughout the Gentile world.
With the exception of Luke I find none of the Disciples of Christ preaching faith without works.
Peter's Kingdom Gospel - Repentance, Faith, and Works
1. Acts 2:36-38 - Pentecost sermon
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
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."
Repentance
Water baptism required for remission of sins
Holy Spirit as a result of obedience
2. Acts 3:19-21 - Second temple sermon to Israel
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord"
Repentance = condition for forgiveness
Tied to future kingdom blessings
3. Acts 5:32
"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."
Obedience (works) as a condition to receive the Holy Ghost
4. 1 Peter 1:2
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ..."
Election tied to obedience
Sprinkling of blood = cleansing, yet connected with obedient response
see page 2
Thus says the scripture...
According to the New Testament, the Church, the Body of Christ will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Greek: Bma), and that judgment will be based on the gospel committed to Paul - what he calls "my gospel."
1. The Judgment Seat of Christ
Romans 14:10
"for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
This judgment is not for salvation, but for reward or loss of reward ( 1 Cor. 3:13-15). It applies only to believers - the Body of Christ.
2. What Gospel Will Be the Standard?
Romans 2:16
"In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."
Here, Paul states plainly that God will judge according to his gospel - the gospel of grace revealed to him ( Gal. 1:11-12).
3. What Is "Paul's Gospel"?
Paul's gospel is centered on:
Salvation by grace through faith, without works ( Eph. 2:8-9)
The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the basis of salvation ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4)
The heavenly calling and spiritual blessings in Christ ( Eph. 1:3; Phil. 3:20)
Conclusion
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Church - the Body of Christ - will be judged:
Not by the Law of Moses
Not by the Gospel of the Kingdom ( Matt. 4:23; Gal. 2:7)
But "according to Paul's gospel" - the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24)
This judgment evaluates how believers lived and served in response to the grace they received, not whether they are saved. Salvation is secure ( Rom. 8:1), but rewards are at stake ( 1 Cor. 3:14-15).
The apostle Paul is uniquely identified in Scripture as the chosen vessel through whom God revealed the mystery of the Body of Christ. In Romans 11:13, Paul declares, "I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office." Unlike the Twelve Apostles, who were sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ( Matthew 10:5-6), Paul was sent by the risen, glorified Christ from heaven ( Acts 9:15; Galatians 1:11-12) to proclaim a new message-not the Gospel of the Kingdom, but the Gospel of the Grace of God ( Acts 20:24). Paul alone speaks of the "Church which is His Body" ( Ephesians 1:22-23), a new creation made up of both Jew and Gentile, united by faith and baptized by the Holy Spirit into one Body ( 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:14-16).
The Body of Christ was a mystery "kept secret since the world began" ( Romans 16:25) and not revealed until Paul. He was given this revelation by Christ directly ( Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:24-27) and is the only apostle who teaches its doctrines-such as salvation by grace through faith without works ( Ephesians 2:8-9), the heavenly position of believers ( Colossians 3:1-4), and the rapture of the Church ( 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Paul calls himself the "wise masterbuilder" who laid the foundation for this present dispensation of grace ( 1 Corinthians 3:10). The other apostles, including Peter, recognized Paul's distinct apostleship and agreed to confine their ministry to the circumcision, while Paul went to the Gentiles ( Galatians 2:7-9).
No other apostle is identified in Scripture as the apostle of the Body of Christ. Only Paul received the full revelation of the mystery, the doctrines, and the heavenly calling of the Church. Therefore, Paul stands alone as the God-appointed apostle to the Body of Christ.
Although the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15 includes the phrase "go ye into all the world," there is no biblical record of Peter, James, John, or the other original apostles ever launching widespread missions to the Gentile nations. Their continued presence in Jerusalem and their focus on the Jewish believers is affirmed in Galatians 2:7-9, where Paul writes that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed to him, while the gospel of the circumcision was committed to Peter. The Jerusalem apostles gave Paul and Barnabas the "right hands of fellowship," agreeing that Paul should go to the Gentiles while they remained with the circumcision.
Only Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles ( Romans 11:13), is recorded in Scripture as taking multiple missionary journeys to distant lands-Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Rome. These travels are thoroughly documented in the Book of Acts (chapters 13-28). Paul uniquely preached the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24), revealing the mystery of the Body of Christ and salvation by grace through faith alone ( Ephesians 3:1-9), distinct from the kingdom gospel preached to Israel.
Thus, Scripture consistently shows that the twelve apostles remained focused on Israel and never carried out global missionary work, while Paul alone fulfilled the calling to take the gospel to the nations.
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
Romans 15:19
"Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."
Acts 20:25
"And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more."
Matthew 24:35
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Blessings
Yes, Paul does mention these things also. You can sort of sense Paul's compassion in Acts 20:31. I notice in this section of scripture that you mention ( Acts 20:29-31) that they (wolves in sheep clothing) will be coming from both directions, both inside the church, and outside the church. And this is the theme of Peter's letters, warning believers of both of these threats.
Blessings to you also in Christ!
It seems Paul and Peter warned of these false teachers and destructive heresies woulld be creeping in right after the Apostles departure!
You see Paul mentions something similar in Acts 20:29-31
"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Thank again and God bless.
We start with the Gospel of Grace that was revealed to Apostle Paul for the Gentiles to believe the finished work of the cross. Jesus Christ died for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
There is no repentance for sin in the gospel of grace , we believe only . 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Acts 20:24
But noneofthese things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have receivedofthe Lord Jesus, to testify thegospelofthegraceofGod.
The Twelve Apostles agreed to let Apostle Paul spread the gospel of grace to the Gentiles.
Galatians 2:9
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived thegracethatwasgivenunto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
The gift of the gospel of grace was given to Apostle Paul from God.
Ephesians 3:7
Whereof Iwasmade a minister, according to the gift of thegraceof Godgivenunto me by the effectual working of his power.
Apostle Paul labor more than anything with the gospel of grace.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by thegraceof God I am what I am: and hisgracewhich was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but thegraceof God which was with me.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
7We start with the Gospel of Grace that was revealed to Apostle Paul for the Gentiles to believe the finished work of the cross. Jesus Christ died for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
There is no repentance in the gospel of grace.
Acts 20:24
But noneofthese things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have receivedofthe Lord Jesus, to testify thegospelofthegraceofGod.
The Twelve Apostles agreed to let Apostle Paul spread the gospel of grace to the Gentiles.
Galatians 2:9
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived thegracethatwasgivenunto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
The gift of the gospel of grace was given to Apostle Paul from God.
Ephesians 3:7
Whereof Iwasmade a minister, according to the gift of thegraceof Godgivenunto me by the effectual working of his power.
Apostle Paul labor more than anything with the gospel of grace.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by thegraceof God I am what I am: and hisgracewhich was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but thegraceof God which was with me.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Apostle Peter explained how the prophets searched for the grace of God but couldn't find it and here God gave it to Apostle Paul to write.
1 Peter 1:10
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of thegracethat should come unto you:
Jude warns the believing Jews to be careful with false brethren with fake grace.
Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning thegraceof our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Philippines are partakers of Apostle Paul's grace. That means we are to take notice of Paul's grace given to him.
Philippians 1:7
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Apostle Paul only wanted to spread the Gospel of Grace to the Jews first and then the Gentiles.
Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of thegraceof God.
Apostle Paul's epistle is where we find grace for today.
Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by hisgracethrough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
May we enjoy our free grace from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ in the third Heaven.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Grace is free by just believing the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ only .
The bright light has shined in the hearts of the humble and faithful people that wants to know the gospel of grace.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
May God bless us with the gospel of grace in Christ Jesus.
Acts 20:24
But noneofthese things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have receivedofthe Lord Jesus, to testify thegospelofthegraceofGod.
Apostle Paul's gospel is free from Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Ephesians 2:8
Forbygraceare ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
It's really all bout the gospel of grace for Salvation and to live by the doctrine in Apostle Paul's epistle.
2 Timothy 3:10
But thou hast fully known mydoctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
God bless....
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Thank you Jesus Christ for my free Salvation by believing only.
There are many verses in the Bible that show the human nature of Jesus. But also there are many verses that show the divine nature of Jesus. Some of them are many parts of John's gospel (especially the begining) such as John 1:30, John 2:19, John 3:13, John 8:58-59, John 10:30-33, John 14:9-10, John 14:23, John 20:28, Acts 20:28, Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1, Hebrews 1:8, Matthew 1:22-23, 1 Cor 10:9, Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Zechariah 11:12-13, Romans 9:1-5, and many other that I can not recall now. Jesus also accepted people to kneel infront of Him, something that is only permitted for God. Also compare Psalms 102:25-27 where it talks about God to Hebrews 1:10 where it talks about Jesus. Also compare Joel 3:5 to Acts 9:13. Compare Jeremiah 17:9 to Rev 2:23, etc.
So we have two kinds of scripture. One says that Jesus is human, the other says that Jesus is God. So what do we make out of these two? The obvious, that Jesus is the God, one person of the Godhead, who became man.
Lets think it in another way. We know that God loved people so much so that He sacrificed His own son for us. Now lets use another example. Suppose I love my brother and want to help Him. and the only way to help him is to give my own life for him. How does it seem to you that I would sacrifice instead of my own life, my son's life for Him to help Him? Why my son? And not myself? The most sensible thing is that I would sacrifice my own life for him, not somebody's else. That would be very egoistic. Somebody else to suffer for my intention to help somebody that I love? I think you can understand what I trying to say. So what did God do? He sacrificed Himself for us, one person out of the Godhead took on Him our nature, became a man and gave His life for us. So it is God's love that attracts people to Him. It wouldn't be love if He sacrificed somebody else, an innocent person's life, for his intention to save us. I hope I haven't done it so complicated to understand. GBU
I agree in all that you have said.
Here's what I have on how many of each type of animal went into the ark with Noah,
In Genesis 6:19 it reads "And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Genesis 7:2-3 reads "Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
So, was there two of each animal or seven of each animal that were to be brought to the ark?
The seven of each animal were clean animals-to be used for sacrifice as well as for food.
The remainder of the animals that went to the ark included a male and a female.
This is explained in Genesis 7:8-9. "Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah."
This is what I've gathered from Scripture and the only way I have heard it explained.
Preconceived notions doesn't always come from denominations and man's tradition passed down over the years. It can come from self ambition and bad hermeneutics.
However you can certainly hinder your spiritual growth and understanding if you solely rely on clippings of the early church and internet findings. (NOT SAYING IT'S ALL BAD) But that's not feeding and studying the word. It's studying history.
AGAIN, It's not bad to know the history but it's not to be a substitute or an atlas to the truth in the word of God.
There has been division in the church on several topics since the Apostles. Paul speaks of this in Acts 20:39-30.
And John in 1 John 4:3.
Blessings.
Without debating the actually day of Christ's crucifixion (whether Wednesday, Thursday or Friday), the point here is if Jesus was resurrected on the Sabbath (the 7th day) then Sabbath-keepers might be emboldened to honor that day (i.e. in rest & worship). But if Jesus was resurrected on the Sunday (as the Scriptures tell us), then it shows that the Church was not bound to the Old Law but to the New Covenant, and was free to worship on any day. And Sunday, the Lord's Day, was set aside for these followers of Christ to gather together aligning with their Savior's resurrection & victory over sin & death.
The fact that the Church, in its infancy, still attended the synagogue ( Acts 2:46) is important, until the formation of 'house-type Churches' meeting on a Sunday, the first day of the week, of which we read in Acts 20:7,8 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.
Acts 20:32 - And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God. The word commend is a banking term. It is the word used for when you go make a deposit at the bank. This is a very, very important word. Paul laid down his life for his brothers.
But there came a time when he had to deposit those converts into the hands of God and physically, he would see them no more.
There comes a time that we can no longer be there for one another. And there might be some people that we would have to just pray with them and commend them to God. I'm not going to see you anymore.
Acts 21:1 - And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them. The King James reads "gotten." They are trying to make emphasis. This is a special Greek word emphasizing very difficult to part.
It's almost like they had to be forced apart from these people because of how difficult it was. They did not want to let Paul go. In fact, the Greek word actually means to tear apart.
Acts 21:20 - And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. The word glorified is in the Imperfect Tense which means that they were continually glorifying the Lord in their expressions about what Paul was saying.
(Acts Part 46):
Acts 20:22 - And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
The word bound is what is called the Perfect Tense in Greek. It would literally read "And behold, I go having been bound."
Acts 20:24 - But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
It says, "But none of these things move me."
I'll give it to you literally. This is literally what it says in the Greek. "I do not make an account of any one of these things."
The word account has to do with a ledger. He says I don't sit down and make a list of pros and cons, the good and the bad. He says I don't even think about what's going to happen. If God wants me to go, He wants me to go! But none of these things move me.
He says, "Neither do I count my life dear to myself." The word dear is the word valuable. So now I find out what my problem is whenever I am in rebellion to Christ, it's because I think I am valuable to me.
Paul says I don't value my life, to hold onto it like it's something you have to hold on to. I don't take any of these things into account. "Hey, you know if you go to Jerusalem, they might even kill you!" Yea, they might!
Acts 20:18 - And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
He says, "You know," and right away we have a technicality. It is not the word know (GNOSKO), that's usually used in Greek. It is the word for understand. You understand from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons.
The term "I have been" is the main verb in this section and it literally means what I became amongst you. So, before he even talks about preaching or what his doctrine was, it's what I became amongst you. And that's what he's going to list for us.
The first expression is what I became with you at all seasons. In the Greek text, it's literally "all the time that I was there." He's there for three years. He was the same, day in and day out, constant, faithful!
Acts 20:19 - Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
What did he become? Serving! That's a participle describing his ministry. It's the word DULOS which is the word for slave.
Paul is mentioning his commitment. He says "I'm a slave of Christ, in full time service to Him, the Master. I'm the slave; He's the Master." The participle shows that he has a lifestyle of being a slave of Jesus Christ.
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, a very special word, TAPEINOPHROSUNE in Greek, and it's literally a humble frame of mind, or a lowly frame of mind. It's Paul's way of saying I condescended down. I'm not proud. I'm not pushing myself. I am the lowest form of slave within the household!
When Paul came amongst them, he didn't present himself as being someone other than to say I am your slave. He didn't come for them to support him or that they had things he wanted. He came as a slave. He sometimes lived as a slave so that he wouldn't take money from them.
Acts 19:28 - And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
A technical point about the word Artemis because we have two Diana's, and we would have to pick which goddess we were going to use. It's not Diana. It is not used in the bible at all. It is Artemis. She is the goddess of fertility.
People began to shout out "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians" and the whole city was filled with confusion, and they caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, and they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
Acts 20:9 - And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
The Greek text paints some mind pictures for us. The word sat is a Present Participle. This young man was sitting. These are all participles that describe him because it describes a process. While Paul is preaching, he is sitting, and he's being overcome by the smoke and the stuffy room, and it gives you a picture that this is a process that's taking place.
And a certain young man was sitting in a window. Later, he uses the word PAIS to describe this young man (Eutychus). The Greek word PAIS is the designation for people between 7 and 14 years of age. So, we get some kind of indication when it says, "young man," that he is between the ages of 7 and 14.
He was sitting in a window, being fallen into a deep sleep: Again, it shows process much like you see sometimes in church. You can call it "nodding off!" Being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, and there's your participle again. He sunk down with sleep, again that's an Aorist Participle. It shows the suddenness of this event happening. And then the main verb, the young man fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.