I ask that as we go through these lessons, that you get a Bible, read it, pray, study, and ask the Holy Spirit of the Living God, to help guide you into truth.
By comparing scripture with scripture, and comparing spiritual things with spiritual things, is the only way Christians are able to discern truth from error.
In our last lesson we saw the apostle Paul working special miracles, and sending out handkerchiefs or aprons which healed people at the start of his ministry, but later on in his ministry while Paul was still alive, he could no longer perform these special miracles.
In this lesson we will continue to contrast things that changed as the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (Jesus’s commission to Peter) was put on hold, and the dispensation of the grace of God (Jesus’s commission to Paul) was ushered in.
Acts.16 [1] Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: [2] Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. [3] Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Gal.2 [1] Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. [2] And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. [3] But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: [4] And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: [5] To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Now in keeping with comparing spiritual things with spiritual, lets compare these verses and look at some of the things we can learn from them.
In Acts 16 we see Paul have Timotheus circumcised because his father was a Greek. Paul wanted to take Timotheus with him and so he had him circumcised because of the Jews.
When we look at the verses in Gal. 2 we see Paul now has a different view of circumcision than he had in Acts. 16.
Notice the similarity in the verses, Acts 16 Timotheus was considered a Greek, thanks to his father being a Greek, in Gal. 2 we see Titus was a Greek.
In Acts 16 Paul wants to take Timotheus with him and because he is a Greek he circumcises him because of the Jews.
In Gal. 2 we see Paul take Titus, who was a Greek, up to Jerusalem to share the gospel that he was preaching to the Gentiles. Notice Paul’s attitude now when the false brethren want Titus to be circumcised, he says that Titus was not compelled to be circumcised, and they did not give “place by subjection, no, not for an hour”. When Paul makes this statement he was simply saying that he would not be subjected to, or forced by, these Jews to circumcise Titus.
Now as we continue to look at the verses in Galatians we see Paul goes up to Jerusalem by revelation to communicate or share the gospel which he is preaching among the Gentiles.
I have to ask this question to make you think, don’t you see that if the gospel that Paul preached was the same Gospel that Peter and the 11 disciples were preaching, there would be no need for Paul go up to Jerusalem to communicate/share his Gospel with them!
Surely Peter and the 11 disciples had not forgot the gospel they were preaching! Again these verses make no sense apart from the fact that Peter’s commission was wrapped up in the Old Testament Prophecies, and Paul’s commission was wrapped up in the mystery kept secret since the world began. It’s just that simple, read it, and believe it!
When we come to understand the book of Acts as a transition book from the Old Testament Prophecies, to the dispensation of the Grace of God and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the mystery, it clears up so many supposed contradictions and unsound doctrine.
Gal. 2 [6] But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: [7] But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; [8] (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
I thought I should also share with you that in verse 7, if you just read the verse Paul clearly calls his message the “the gospel of the uncircumcision” and Peter’s message the gospel of the circumcision. Unfortunately if you are using a modern day translation of the Bible you may not be able to see this, as the majority of the new translations have been so altered to change an easy to understand passage into obscurity.
Next set of verses we will compare, and spiritually discern, concerning one of the biggest draws of charlatans to the Christian Faith. What is that draw it is “Money”, “Filthy Lucre”, etc.
Now pay attention to this I have never heard a preacher in my forty two years as a Christian teach or preach the following rules on how to a Christian should give during the dispensation of grace.
Malachi 3 [8] Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. [9] Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. [10] Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
I have heard preachers spend more time on these Old Testament verses than teaching them sound doctrine out of the Pauline epistles, or how to win souls for the Lord Jesus Christ, or teaching the correct plan of salvation for the dispensation of the Grace of God.
There’s going to be a lot weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth by preachers who were in the ministry just as a career path!
When you will hear the word tithe be assured that you are hearing Old Testament rules concerning the requirement to give a tenth of all you have. I am going to tell you that is not how giving works in the dispensation of Grace of God.
Let’s look at what Paul says about giving in the instructions that he received of the Lord Jesus for the Body of Christ.
2Cor.9 [6] But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. [7] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Paul shares with us a principle in verse 6 about sowing and reaping, if you sow sparingly, you reap sparingly, if you sow bountifully, you reap bountifully. Doesn’t take a masters degree in Divinity to figure out what this means!
Then in verse 7 Paul gives this instruction, every man should purpose in his heart how much he wants to give, and he should give not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
We are to live our Christian life by the leading of the Holy Spirit and not by the ridged rules of the law!
I have seen churches target and steal widows houses, and money in the name of Christianity and it makes me think how sad that preachers and Christians would act this way, but Jesus confronted and accused the people of his day of the same thing.
Matt. 23 [14] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Eph.4 [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
As far as spiritual discernment when you know where to get your doctrine from, you will no longer be a confused Christian, or an easy target by the sleight of men to deceive you.
Romans 10 [8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
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.
Come join with us as we study 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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