Lesson 10 Acts the Transition Book

There is a question that has perplexed me since the day I became a Christian 41 plus years ago, and I would like discuss it in this lesson, before we continue in the book of Acts.

Why are there so many different Christian Churches?

Disclaimer: Please be assured that I am not trying to offend anyone, nor am I poking fun at anyone, nor am I not making fun of any one’s beliefs, but simply want to demonstrate why and help you understand that we can learn from all of the Bible, but all of the Bible does not doctrinally apply to the Christians living in the year of our Lord 2015.

Now I share the information  contained below with you as my Christian resume to be able to speak to you on the subject of why I believe the current condition of the Christian faith is so divided, and has lost it’s impact in the United States of America, and the world!  

Surely every Christian when they stop and think, just a little bit, must wonder why there are so many different denominations, including those claiming to be non-denominational, with all kinds of different Christian beliefs, doctrines, and practices when supposedly we are all using the same book as our guide, the Bible.

These different Christian groups all claim to all have the same Holy Spirit, and all believe their particular brand of the Christian faith, each with their individual distinctive beliefs, is the only one with the truth.

I have been to quite a few different Christian churches during my life in Port Orange, Daytona Beach, Harbor Oaks, Cottondale, Holly Hill, Ormond Beach, Gainesville, Edgewater, Oak Hill, Lakeland, Plant City, Miami, Orlando, Deland, as well as New Smyrna Beach, FL where I live.

I have attended Christian churches in different states as far away as Hawaii, California, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Colorado, as well as Alaska.

I have been in Southern Baptist, Independent Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Free Will Baptist, Nazarene, Christian Missionary Alliance, Plymouth Brethren (open and closed), Episcopalian, Lutheran, and Grace Churches, not to mention Pentecostal Churches with varying degrees of the sign gifts being displayed.

(A side note, in the Pentecostal Churches I have seen them pass out supposed healing handkerchiefs like Paul did in the book of Acts, and other sign gifts, but one must ask are these sign gifts for us today?)

Now all these different Christian groups like to pretend that they get along with each other, and love each other in the name of Jesus at public events.

But my experience when you approach these Christian groups alone outside of a public meeting place to try and discuss “Sound Bible Doctrine” verses “Unsound Bible Doctrine” this spirit of  getting along, and loving one another, and being one in Jesus quickly disappears.

Also, although I have not necessarily been in all their meeting places, I have had many Bible discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventist, Christian Scientist, and Mosaic Unitarian Universalist.

I have shared all of this with you to let you know, that I did not just come to these views flippantly, but have been studying the things I am about to share with you for decades.

Why Paul? I want you to keep this question in your mind “Why Paul”? Why did the Lord Jesus meet with Paul on the road to Damascus to make him the Apostle to the Gentiles?

After all the Lord Jesus gave the 11 disciples in Matt. 28 and Mark 16, the supposed Great Commission with instructions to go into all the world to teach and preach, wouldn't you think that included the Gentiles, they were in the whole world? Lets bump that number of disciples back up to 12 now, in Acts Chp. 1 verses 15-26 we have the 11 disciples now choose the replacement for Judas!

So again I want you to ask yourself the question Why Paul? Do you have a good answer?

When you go and look at all the great missionary journeys that the 12 disciples made to evangelize the world, guess what you find, you will find they failed in their mission and were not able to go into all the world with the Gospel of the Kingdom that they were preaching to the Nation of Israel, per the instructions given to them by the Lord Jesus!

When you go and do a google search of the “missionary journeys of the Apostles”  verses a google search of the “missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul”, what you will find is an overwhelming number of maps, and images of the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys without fail, and very little on the 12 Disciples Journeys, in fact most of what you find about the missionary journeys of the 12 disciples, is only supposition, superstition, or rumors.

“Why Paul” If you don’t get anything else, get this the Kingdom Gospel that was being preached in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the first 8 Chapters of Acts was rejected by the Jewish nation, and in Acts Chp 7 with the stoning of Stephen, we see the Jews complete the rejection of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit!

In Acts Chapter 9 we see Paul get converted, and a new program begins when Paul is saved into the Body of Christ by Grace, for a pattern to those that should come after him.

1Tim. 1  [16] Howbeit for this cause I (Paul) obtained mercy, that in me (Paul) first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them (us) which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Why are there so many different Christian Churches?

Answer to the Question;   It is the direct result of the failure of Christians to use one Bible as the standard, rightly divided, and following the instructions that belong only to the Body of Christ, given to only one person, the Apostle Paul who the Lord Jesus sent to the Gentiles, after he placed the Prophetic Kingdom program on hold, and instituted the mystery program which had been kept secret from the foundation of the world! Its that simple.  

Prophetic Program

Mark 1   [14] Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Acts. 3  [20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: [21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (All the Jewish Nation knew about this program and was looking forward to the Kingdom being established on Earth)

Mystery Program

Galatians 1  [11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Romans 16  [24] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. [25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Only God knew about the mystery, the Body of Christ, as it had been kept secret since the world began and then was revealed to the Apostle Paul, after the Jews rejected their Messiah)

If  the individual members of the Body of Christ, could bring themselves to get back to searching the scriptures for themselves, and not believe the lie that Satan has perpetrated on the Christians, that people with special training are the only ones that can understand the Living Words of the Living God, the Christians once again could make an impact on their neighborhoods, cities, states, and the world!

Our Apostle, the Apostle Paul gave the following instructions, let us strive to get back on the right road!

Phil.1  [27] Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Phil.2  [2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  [3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Phil.3  [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  [16] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  

Phil.4  [2] I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Surely when you evaluate all the different Christian Churches, you can see the Christians really are not of the same mind! Let’s work together to change this.

The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Help stamp out Bible ignorance, by studying God’s Holy Word!

Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.

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