WHY I CAN’T BE AN ACTS 28’ER (Part 2)

By: Bishop Albert B. Gran

There were roads of different paths where grace believers in our times are swayed by different religious positions and beliefs which had been taken in effect after narrow perception through which there’s having lacked of consideration to rightly dividing principle on the basis how God dispensed the truth of His will and wisdom from ages to ages. This part 2 studies denoting similar issue, greatly conforms to what was adhered from among many grace circles suffice as they supposed enough to find consolation and comfort by having that epitaph of branch form of knowledge in the grace movement.

Point of view 1: God’s purpose to Paul for the Body of Christ was not singled out to just one specific group of people, the Gentiles.

PURPOSE OF GOD FOR PAUL:

Acts 9: 11-15
 

¹¹ And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

¹² And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
¹³ Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
¹⁴ And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
¹⁵ But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name BEFORE the GENTILES, and KINGS, and the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

Ever since from the start of God’s mercy and grace given to Paul (2 Tim.1:11-17) God had purposed for him to be His chosen vessel before the Gentiles and Israel. Now, if the purpose of God for Paul after his conversion is to bear the name of both Jews and Gentiles without distinction, then what can we say about the Jews and Gentiles who were saved and inclined to the preaching of Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy , etc. during his Acts journey? If we also say that Paul’s ministry in the early Acts missionary journey appertains to the hope of Israel (as they implied not with the Gentiles as well for the ONE NEW MAN), why there were many other GENTILES in his time besought the preaching of Paul and how they appreciated his teachings teaching the Jews and Gentiles to forsake Moses and declare to them how CIRCUMCISION is no longer necessary?        

BEFORE ACTS 28 ACCOUNT WITH PAUL’S MINISTRY TO BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES:

Acts 13:41-43

King James Version (KJV)

⁴¹ Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
⁴² And when the JEWS were gone out of the synagogue, the GENTILES besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
⁴³ Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, PERSUADED THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD.

Let’s take simple observation and assessment in the account of Paul’s missionary journey prior Acts 28 account. I would briefly appeal to your understanding, and let’s make observation, if it’s true, that Paul solely appeal to the Jews and Gentiles with the hope of Israel. As they claimed, he was bound to preach the hope of Israel and strongly imply that the entirety of His ministry prior Acts 28 was purely based on the hope of Israel, and thus, not qualify to be for the ONE NEW MAN or Body of Christ.

“PERSUADED THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD”. Let’s attest the veracity of truth if indeed this statement was purely only for the HOPE OF ISRAEL as they claimed. The audience participation in the context of this passage speaks in wise for two groups of people WITHOUT DISTINCTION. How come the two-body theory emerged in their mind –setting after concluding  their sole "hope of Israel", as they thought, the preaching condition prior the account of Acts 28?

The audience relevance  (as in the context both Jews and Gentiles)denotes something without an implication of dividing the church to make “churches” or “bodies”of people and also stressed what church, how,  where, and which church they ascribe their membership AFTER THEY HEARD THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GRACE OF GOD delivered by Paul to them. Is the sole HOPE OF ISRAEL theory strengthens the idea that the saints who were saved before Acts 28 were not members of the ONE NEW MAN called the BODY OF CHRIST? Have they not known that the message of Paul here which is the grace of God is the newest message in consonance to the truth of the gospel preaching for salvation in this dispensation of grace? ( Read Acts 20:24) Let’s ask our Acts 28er friends if they thought there’s no existence of body of Christ prior Acts 28 account. If they thought there’s already a church where Paul was the bearer of this gospel, then let’s ask them if it’s only inclusive to Israel or with the Gentiles too? If they agreed that these Gentiles who besought Paul’s message were recipient of God’s salvation, then, are they not the same Gentiles who were also recipients of God’s message after Acts 28 accounts and the latter part following hereafter? Why there’s no mentioned about the hope of Israel when Paul delivered this gospel to both Jews and Gentiles instead he established the truth about the GRACE OF GOD? Do you beieve that Paul's declaration of His testimony prior Acts 28 scene was in view as CHRIST CRUCIFIED? As a soldier of God we need to become wise observer and keen to observe by posing such of these lengthy questions for our Acts 28er friends questioning their views and theories as the supposed claims .

Try to consider these things and the Lord will add more understanding in light with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.

 I believed with strong conviction that there’s already equal message of Paul prior in his Acts 28 ministry with that of the message declared in his post-prison epistles which I considered unique from that of Peter’s gospel presentation. It declares about the mercifulness of God with His compassionate love and mercy for ALL the people may it JEWS AND GENTILES. After Paul’s conversion, they’re ALL IN ONE BODY, though it was gradually dealt by God up to the point of formation and making of THE ONE NEW MAN. Ask yourself if that “ONE NEW MAN” after it was conceived, as it was so, could be logically A MAN without undergoing CHILDHOOD? Could we also develop a theory to separate that which was in the childhood stage to the adult stage (man) in the process of our body’s growth? There’s only one body that grow and the fact of its growth underwent A PROCESS. The gradual operation of God to convey His wisest plan and wisdom is a process and it was significant when Paul undergo his receiving activity of the revelation of the mystery when Christ himself communicated to him directly.   

Acts 21:20-22

King James Version (KJV)

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:

²¹ And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
²² What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

Ask yourselves: If Paul was preaching relevant to the hope of Israel in view of seeming status and standards for those who called themselves circumcision or Jews, and having received with an equal message of salvation, hope and destiny with those of the 12 disciples, (as the Acts 28er claimed) then why in this prior Acts 28 account Paul was charge of being against and violating the circumcision gospel as something that which was also accord in the law of Moses? Without presumption, we can find the truth that there’s really a strange, unique, and distinct gospel Paul had in his mouth when he communicated the truth of God’s word to his real and actual audience who were both Jews and Gentiles. This is really evident in this context. Take note, it happened before Acts 28. Could you clearly distinguish the fact to solidify your faith and make judgment that his Acts ministry is purely being emboldened to the hope of Israel without Moses’ circumcision?

So, what's your point?

(Next episode will be my next position pertaining to Acts 28 view)

Grace and peace to all!

 

 

 

 

WHY I CAN’T BE CALLED AN ACTS 28ER?

 By: Bishop Albert B. Gran
 

This is an ever resounding issue which solicited different views and perspective in the world of Christendom and in many sects and segments of religion through which how they can be identified as who they are in matters of establishing beliefs and doctrines.

It’s origin and thoughts sprung up as a mere theological standpoint simply classifying and distinctively find measures with the Acts missionary accounts of the apostle Paul starting from the road of Damascus as he was about to “kick against the pricks”.

Through some measures, it’s an obvious dominant teaching where “dual body-theory” between the early members in the pre-prison of Paul and the members of the post epistles of Paul significantly predominates as the sole foundation of their teaching. They divided the truth of God’s current administration of grace with one dispenser and minister equally differentiating between Jews and Gentiles in truthful view of so much great distinctions not only by means of race but to conditions of blessings respectively, as children of Abraham for the Jews and as Gentiles purely set as a living organism having the mark of true identity as real BOC members.

 

To add more, it’s their further stress that Paul’s pure ministry towards the Gentiles was akin to the standing where the Gentiles in our times today could have had more benefits only in the post epistles of Paul and having no relevance of application to his pre-prison epistles as such was relative to that of the Jewish doctrines in consonance to their earthly hope in view of the marching orders of the 12 apostles in connection to the New Covenant. Therefore it's surprising to hear as they say Paul was just one of the 12 with Peter.

While this segment of Bible-believers developed an astounding claim with their supposed popular teaching, any approved workman of God could simply evaluate through Berean adaptation principle if such claim soundly conforms to the essence of God’s delineation of truth and therefore consider if it’s truly sound as biblically presented in view of right division and comparison.

 

Having similar view that God chose Paul as someone born out of due time and the least of all apostles who was set as a pattern whereby God’s purpose for the ONE NEW MAN, the new creature of God, which is called the Body of Christ, they designed this teaching to denote a general sense being measured through that same classification classifying Paul’s distinctive ministry between Jews and Gentiles, and God’s setting forth of information distinguishing those that which were for the Jews (in the pre-prison) and those that which were for the Gentiles (post-epistles of Paul) turning out as though there’s an implied two churches in our current church Age  after Paul’s conversion.    

Let me present some points greatly adhered by the Mid-Acts Bible believers why such scheme of dividing Paul’s epistles generally occurred as their profound basis to claim that the 28 Acter’s logic was no longer a logic but a means to distort the holistic message of God’s purpose to convey this wisdom in a form of mystery.

Foremost consideration to agree both Mid-acts and Acts 28er Bible believers were positions leading to each agreed ideas as in the following:

 

1. Both claimed that Paul’s BOC ministry for the one New Man is a mystery not made known by the sons of God in time Past. However, they differ in the standpoint that Paul’s early epistle ministry was not relative for the one new man but it was in connection to God’s prophecy to Abraham as the father of faith and they (Jews) were children of Abraham. The example for this is the Galatian believers.

2. Both party agreed that in the epistles of Paul (both pre-prison and post-prison epistle of Paul, there were many ordinances which ceased in its operation and mostly those were relative to the practices of the Jews under the law. Common examples for this are the healing, speaking in tongues, Lord supper which were observances popular among the Jews of which signs were their primary requisites.

In this position allow me to stress the significant reason why I can’t take the Acts 28 position.

And, in the apostleship office of Paul the Bible plainly declares that there is only ONE BODY OF CHRIST.

Pre-prison epistles:

    I.  PROOF 1

Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the BODY OF CHRIST; that ye should be MARRIED TO ANOTHER, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

       Note in this verse:

a. Married to another does not imply Christ is the groom and we (BOC members directly the Romans as the first audience relevance in application) were His bride. Paul simply put an idea of LIVING  UNION or bondness in connection to our identity and position through the effect of His body laid for our justification and salvation.  

b. Dead to the law in view and in significance to the fact that this is the period of grace where the economy of law under past administration of God had ceased in its operation because he already establish a new dispensation called the dispensation of grace. Rom 2: 16 qualifies Paul statement as dead to the law when he mentioned that we’re  NOT under the law but under grace.

II. PROOF 2

Romans 12:4-6

King James Version (KJV)

⁴ For as we have many members in ONE BODY,    and all members have not the same office:

⁵ So we, BEING MANY, are ONE BODY IN CHRIST, and every one members one of another.

⁶ Having then gifts differing ACCORDING TO THE GRACE, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

 Note in this verse:

a. A simple sense to prove this fact that even in Paul’s pre-prison epistle he only mentioned about ONE BODY and there’s no bit of implication putting word on his mouth the “ two bodies” as the general sense the Acts 28er would want to point out.

b. So, ‘WE, BEING MANY’. I understand this phrase as a collective organism
   with perfect equal standing in the ONE BODY OF CHRIST in the
   dispensation of grace irregardless of race, status, gender, etc. In fact Paul
   discussed in this book of Romans the equal standing of both Jews and

   Gentiles as fall short of God’s glory, sinners and need to become save 
   and be part of the Body of Christ. This passage clearly viewed both Jews   
   and Gentiles as equally leveled based on God’s standards and   
   perspectives. Paul also mentioned the term Gentiles which they
   themselves NEED GOD as with the Jews.     

 

 Rom. 3:21-27

 ²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is

     manifested, being witnessed by the law and the

     prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of

   Jesus Christ unto all and upon all

    them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of

   God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the  

    redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation   

    through faith in his blood, to declare his  

    righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,

    through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that

    he might be just, and the justifier of him which

    believeth in Jesus.

²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what   

    law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith

    without the deeds of the law.

²⁹ Is he the God of the JEWS ONLY? is he not also of the

   GENTILES? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

³⁰ Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the   

   CIRCUMCISION by faith, and UNCIRCUMCISION  
    through faith.

  ³¹ Do we then make void the law through faith? God

     forbid: yea, we establish the law.

(This is the demonstration of Christ's faith when He showed it by His love for us in the cross) 

III. PROOF NUMBER 3

 1 Corinthians 12:12
For as the body is ONE, and hath many members, and all the members of that ONE BODY, being many, are ONE BODY: so ALSO is Christ.

    1 Corinthians 12:27

    Now YE (Corinthians)ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, and members in particular

Clear examination was proven doubt if we would say that PRE-PRISON epistles of Paul establish a different view and position as they belong to the earthly body of Christ. I mean earthly because other Acts 28er supposed to view however that these  members (the pre-prison believers) will inherit  the earthly kingdom of God in the time when he shall establish his kingdom and reign on David’s throne while those in the ONE NEW MAN the post-epistle believers will inherit the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.   

 

 TAKING INTO DEEP THOUGHT IN THIS ACTS 28 POSITION
 

A.  It made us confused whether a person would truly believe what it says in the word of God when God revealed it to Paul as there’s should only and ONE BODY OF CHRIST. In other words, this is just a theory with an attempt to prove that ONE is not really one ensuing the sense of singleness and unity in the Body of Christ as GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSON  in this age of grace both Jews and Gentiles.

B.  If it thus that the book of Galatians never mentioned about the Body of Christ then why as though we will generalize to say all pre-prison epistles of Paul were written only to the Jews who were recipients of the kingdom on earth as having also a differing hope with the other saints ,(Gentiles) saved  in today's dispensation of grace, and became members of the BOC with sole destination in heaven which only mentioned about ONE BODY?         

More emphasis and continuation of this study in the next episode

     GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU ALL!