Have you received Jesus as both the Prince of Peace and the Lord?

When Peter was summoned to the home of the Roman Centurion named Cornelius to make the first gospel presentation to the Gentiles, he opened his remarks with this summation.

This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:36 (NLT) 

The gospel presents Jesus in the dual role of Savior and Lord.

We have peace with God because Jesus died for our sins as the Lamb of God, taking our guilt and punishment upon himself. His resurrection proved that his sacrifice on our behalf was accepted. It also validated his claim to be the Lord of Lords, the Jewish messianic King. We can experience peace with God, having been justified or put back into a right relationship with him through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Lord.

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 (NLT) 

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 (NLT) 

If we have only received Jesus as the Prince of Peace, we have not understood the whole gospel. It is crucial that we also acknowledge him as the Lord – lord of our own lives and lord of all.

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; Romans 10:9 (NASB95)

Should national Israel be our focus in the end times?

Many Christians are focused on the nation of Israel as we get closer to the end, believing that God is working in that nation to bring it to Christ as part of his plan to redeem the world. They would likely quote verses such as the following as proof texts to justify their belief.

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved...” Romans 11:25–26a (NASB95)

From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:28–29 (NASB95)

“All Israel” in Romans 11:26 is thought to mean all those Jews who are alive at that time, at least those present in the environs of Jerusalem when Christ appears. It is indeed possible that Christ will appear to many descendants of Abraham in a special way at the very end, as seems to be indicated by Zechariah.

I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 (NASB95)

However, Paul made it clear earlier in his letter to the church in Rome that only a remnant of those descended from Abraham will be saved, those foreknown by him, the elect from among the Jews.

And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed [remnant], We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” Romans 9:29 (NKJV)

I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew... Romans 11:1–2a (NASB95) 

Nowhere does Paul indicate that the entire nation will be saved, except in Romans 11:26, which cannot undo what he stated previously, that only the elect remnant will be saved. The Holy Spirit does not contradict himself.

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. Romans 11:5 (NLT)

God’s plan is to save a remnant from Israel, as he is doing from all mankind. This agrees with the larger idea that Christ redeemed those whom the Father chose from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) to be a part of his Body, the church, which is composed of both Jews and Gentiles.

God’s focus in the end times is on Christ and his bride, the church, which is composed of people drawn from every people group on the earth.

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:9–10 (NASB95)

The people making up the kingdom of God is elsewhere called “one new man” created in Christ. (Ephesians 2:15) This new creation people is much grander than the Old Covenant nation of Israel. God has enlarged the narrow Old Testament concept of the kingdom of God under monarchs such as David and Solomon. God’s focus now is King Jesus, the Lord of all, who will reign from the heavenly Jerusalem over a recreated earth, with the Bride, the church, at his side.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:7 (NASB95)

Paul taught that the Old Jerusalem of his day was still in bondage because it refused to recognize Jesus as Messiah.

Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. Galatians 4:25–26 (NASB95)

Jesus said that the Jewish religious leaders of his day were of the devil.

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (NASB95)

John the Baptist called them a “brood of vipers.” He told them not to count on being physical descendants of Abraham. God is only interested in those who demonstrate the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, those who are born again. He warned them that God is able to raise up children of Abraham from “stones.” The new birth transforms people into spiritual children of Abraham, the only kind of children God accepts. God is taking Jews and Gentiles who respond to the gospel and declare allegiance to King Jesus and fashioning them into a spiritual temple made of living stones.

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 (NASB95)

The Book of Revelation reveals that Jesus called those Jews who do not accept his lordship as the “synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews but are not.” (Revelation 2:9) Paul wrote that the only true Jew is one who is spiritually circumcised through the new birth. (Romans 2:28-29) All others are imposters.

So how did we Christians come to be mesmerized with the restoration of the nation of Israel in the end times? It goes back to John Nelson Darby and Cyrus Scofield and a theology called Dispensationalism introduced to the world in the 1800s.

Dispensationalism arose within the last 150 years; it is a system of interpretation for reading and understanding the Bible. Central to its uniqueness is its separation of Israel and the church: that God has a different plan for salvation for ethnic Israel (the Jewish people) and the Christian church. 1

Dispensationalism is not good theology because the Bible makes it clear that there is only one way to be saved.

Every redeemed person must be born again as a result of believing the gospel. There is no “other” way to be saved.

Either we are part of the “one new man” in Christ or we are lost forever. When we become part of the one new man, our identity as either Jew or Gentile no longer matters. It has no importance whatsoever.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:26–29 (NASB95)

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6 (NASB95)

To maintain that there is a difference in how God regards the physical descendants of Abraham compared to the rest of us is anti-gospel.

It is a form of legalism and racism that regards physical descent as being more important than what the Holy Spirit does inside a person. This false belief has influenced many Christians to adopt Jewish customs in an effort to be “better” Christians. This is misguided at best.

Dispensationalism also teaches that God’s purpose is to reestablish the kingdom of Israel through which Christ will rule the earth.

Dispensationalists believe that the Jews’ official rejection of Jesus Christ was a significant moment in history that essentially stopped the “prophetic clock” in Scripture. They teach that the prophetic promises in Daniel, Matthew 24-25, and Revelation are now on hold during the dispensation or “age” of the Church, which has lasted 2,000 years (from Pentecost to today). According to dispensationalism, the Church exists in a parenthesis in prophetic history, as they believe the prophetic promises described in the Bible are for the people of Israel, and that the “true” Church will be raptured before the prophetic events described by Daniel, Jesus, and the Apostle John are destined to occur (during the Tribulation, and before the Millennium, when according to dispensationalists, Christ will finally rule as the Messianic King on Earth). 2

I believe it is a big mistake to think this way. I will not take time to address every error mentioned above and instead say that God has much bigger plans in mind that ruling the world through the Jews.

Please do not think that I am being antisemitic or against Israel. I simply do not accept that they are the “good guys” any more than I think any other nation should be thought of in that way. Talmudic Jews, who believe that they are destined to rule the world, think of Gentiles, goyim, as mere chattel to be used by them. They are no different from followers of Islam or communism, the Mafia, cartels, or globalists, who all desire to rule the world and exploit or even destroy anyone who gets in the way. The United States, my own homeland, which is supposedly a bastion of justice for all, over the years has acted in self-centered and tyrannical ways,  using our money, power, and influence to get our way in the world. No one can claim the moral high ground upon which to  judge others.

However, it is important that we view the Jews no differently from any other people group, in view of the New Covenant. God loves them and wants to save them through the gospel, but they are not a “special” people with an elevated status. At the foot of the cross, the ground is level.

I believe the scriptures clearly teach that Jesus is going to rule with his church at his side, not the nation of Israel, unless we view Israel as Paul did, as all born-again believers. (Galatians 3:29)

At this moment, all believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly places.

even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:5–6 (NASB95)

Our destiny as the bride of Christ is to co-rule with him.

If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; 2 Timothy 2:12 (NASB95)

To believe that the Jews will be elevated to a special status over Gentile believers is a corruption of the gospel’s clear teaching about “one new man” in Christ and is to be rejected.

Instead, we are to understand that the mystery is that God will reveal his splendid wisdom through the church, not the nation of Israel.

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, Ephesians 3:4–11 (NASB95)

God’s eternal purpose is bound up in Christ and the church, not the nation of Israel.

Guiding Principles

If Dispensationalism is not true, then what is Israel’s purpose in the end times? Below are some guiding principles that have helped me arrive at my own conclusion, which I hold “loosely,” realizing that I certainly do not understand everything.

Principle #1: God does not relate to his people via “dispensations” but according to covenants, something that was clearly understood by the early reformers.

A decent book on this subject is The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson. Since the beginning God has related to his creatures via covenants from the one made in the Garden of Eden to the New Covenant inaugurated by our Lord Jesus. Each successive covenant built upon the previous ones, and all pointed to Christ, except for the Mosaic Covenant of Law, which was its own entity that would fade away after the coming of the Messiah. The New Covenant fulfills and expands all previous covenants, except for the Mosaic Covenant, which it fulfilled and abolished. This is no small matter because it influences how we view the entirety of Bible history.

Principle #2: Israel in the New Covenant is defined as all those who put their faith in Christ from every people group, including both Jews and Gentiles.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. Romans 9:6–8 (NASB95)

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29 (NASB95)

Principle #3: The “one new man” in Christ is the focal point of God’s plan going forward.

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, Ephesians 2:14–15 (NASB95)

Principle #4: The New Covenant is either the fulfillment and expansion of the previous covenants, or, as in the case of the Mosaic Covenant of Law, its abolition. The New Covenant leaves nothing undone or unfulfilled in the previous ones.

The Bible teaches that the New Covenant is a complete change from what preceded it, especially the covenant of Law under Moses. This is because the Mosaic covenant depended on our faithfulness to keep the Law for us to obtain God’s blessings. The Bible teaches that no one is able to do that; so, the Mosaic covenant brings judgment upon us instead of blessings. The New Covenant depends upon the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus, who kept the Law’s stipulations on our behalf, rather than on our own performance. It is radically different.

For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Hebrews 8:8–10 (NASB95)
If you wish to read more about the New Covenant, click here.

The New Covenant is focused on Christ, not the nation of Israel. What preceded the New Covenant can be thought of as providing us with promises and shadows or types of what was to come in Christ, but not the full revelation.

The true meaning of the previous covenants cannot be understood outside of Christ.

All the covenants before the New pointed to what Christ would accomplish through his death and resurrection. If our teaching or theology of the end times does not feature the centrality of Christ, it is false. (Ephesians 1:10) This means that whatever happens in the end times will glorify our Lord and what he accomplished on behalf of God’s elect.

Just as nothing can pass from this mortal life into immortality unless it is first transformed, all the previous covenants were transformed in Christ and find their eternal significance in him.

Everything in the Old Testament pointed to Christ (Luke 24:27), who fulfilled the types and shadows of the previous covenants.

This means that Old Testament scriptures are interpreted, explained, or expanded by New Covenant revelation.

It can never be the other way around. We do not interpret the New Testament by imposing the Old Covenant scriptures upon it. That would be going backward and away from the centrality of Christ.

Principle #5: What God revealed in Christ and is doing in the end times will fulfill what is revealed in the New Covenant.

The types and shadows of the Old can add texture and depth of meaning for us, but never restrict us to an Old Covenant understanding.

Examples of the Old Covenant Being Fulfilled or Expanded in the New

Descendants

God promised Abraham that he would have descendants and land. These descendants would become the Israelite nation, but even in Genesis, God told Abraham that we would be the father of nations, a clear hint that, through Christ, God would include people from every nation on the earth.

In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” Romans 4:18 (NASB95)

The Jews in Jesus’ band of disciples also had a narrow view of what he came to do, thinking that it mainly pertained to their own nation. What followed Christ’s resurrection, however, revealed that the gospel would go to the nations.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20 (NASB95)

This was always God’s plan, not plan B, as the Dispensationalists claim. Isaiah revealed a conversation between Father and Son at some time immemorial.

He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 (NASB95)

Land

The promise of land given to Abraham was understood in the Old Testament to include Canaan, extending to the borders conquered during the reigns of David and Solomon. The New Testament, however, reveals that God  expanded that promise of land to include the entire recreated earth.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 (NASB95)

Some argue that Matthew used the Greek word “ge” for earth, which can also be translated “land,” meaning the promised land of Israel. Interestingly, however, Jesus quoted Psalm 37:11, which uses the Hebrew world “eretz,” which is the same word used in Genesis 1:1, where the clear meaning is the entire earth. In addition, Paul adds that Abraham’s descendants would inherit the cosmos, a word that cannot be limited to Canaan.

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world [kosmos] was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13 (NASB95)

Kingship

The messianic promise God made to David that one of his descendants would reign upon the throne of Israel forever has been expanded in the New Covenant.

When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12–13 (NASB95)

Christ now sits at the right hand of God and will return in the clouds in glory at the right hand of power to judge the living and the dead.

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:31–34 (NASB95)
Examples of the Abolition of Old Covenant Types and Shadows after Christ

Dietary Laws

Old Covenant dietary laws were abolished with the advent of the New Covenant. Jesus taught this, and the Holy Spirit later revealed this to Peter in Acts 11. Jesus makes us “clean” through the offering of his blood. We no longer need to be concerned with maintaining ceremonial purity.

And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. Mark 7:18–20 (NASB95)

Peter, who had been trained all his life to maintain ritual purity by avoiding “unclean” foods, had great difficulty accepting this new freedom provided by our Lord. A word to the wise: we are easily brainwashed into believing lies; so, it is difficult for us to overcome what we have previously believed, even when we are exposed to the truth.

Animal Sacrifices

Old Covenant animal sacrifices were also done away with after Christ offered himself as the Lamb of God for our sins. His perfect sacrifice eradicated the need for animals to be offered.

But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; Hebrews 10:3–5 (NASB95)

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. Hebrews 10:18 (NASB95)

The Temple

Some forty years after the crucifixion and resurrection, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army, just as Jesus and Daniel had predicted. Animal sacrifice ceased because the Jews no longer had a place to perform them. My personal conviction is that it would be a horrible abomination against Christ to re-institute such sacrifices. They have been abolished by God.

The Old Covenant temple was God’s habitation of sorts, although he cannot truly be contained, but now the Holy Spirit inhabits each individual believer and the church as a whole, which is the new temple of God.

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 (NASB95)

God destroyed the old temple because he is no longer concerned with bricks and mortar. The New Covanant temple is made of people. If the temple were rebuilt, as some believe will happen, and if animal sacrifices are re-instituted, it will not honor God the Father or the risen Lamb of God. Their time of significance has passed.

The Role of Israel in the End Times

In the Old Testament, Israel served in a couple of notable ways. First, Paul wrote that God used them to receive and safeguard the scriptures. Secondly, he used them to bring the Messiah into the world. They fulfilled both of these tasks. However, they had a less glorious role, too. They betrayed the Messiah and had him executed. As a whole, the Jewish people still reject their Messiah.

Jesus warned the Jewish leaders that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to another – the church.

Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. Matthew 21:43 (NASB95)

Stephen indicted those in his hearing with the stinging judgment that they always resist the Holy Spirit.

You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Acts 7:51 (NASB95)

His martyrdom effectively ended the gospel being prioritized to the Jews. From then forward it went primarily to the nations, although a remnant of Jews have come to Christ over the centuries. Nothing has changed since then. The Jews by and large still reject their Messiah and resist the Holy Spirit, as do most other people in the world.

It seems to me that Jesus taught that the Jews lost their chance to accept their Messiah as a nation. He gave no indication that they would get another one, although God in his mercy may yet do something amazing with them.

Principle #6: Just as the Law faded away after Christ’s coming, and John the Baptist decreased in significance after introducing the Messiah, I believe Israel’s role diminished greatly, even faded away, after the crucifixion, and certainly after the stoning of Stephen.

To expect God to raise up the Jewish nation to worldwide prominence in the end times is the same error the early apostles made. That was not Christ’s mission. He came to redeem the elect out of the entire earth and release creation from the bondage of sin.

Dispensationalism has influenced Christians all over the world to give uncritical allegiance to the state of Israel, which is, for the most part, completely ungodly.

It is likely that we will discover that it, like the United States, has committed many atrocities. That nation’s Moussad has likely worked against our nation, as will likely be revealed in the coming days.

Will God yet save a significant portion of Jewish people in the land of Israel at the very end? He may. He is full of surprises and loves to show mercy. I hope that happens, but to make such a happening a central part of our eschatology is probably a mistake. I believe the Lord wants us to keep our focus on Christ and expect him to do exploits through his worldwide church in the last days. Come, Lord Jesus!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NASB95)
Footnotes
1 "Dispensationalism, Its History & Framework (Part 1)" by Jon Brodhagen.
2 Ibid.

If you wish to read more about Covenant vs. Dispensational Theology, click here and here.
If you wish to learn more about an alternate view of the end times, I recommend Harold Eberle's book, Victorious Eschatology.

Can you prove that Jesus is the Messiah?

Saul was highly trained in the Old Testament scriptures. By revelation from the Spirit, he immediately connected the dots between Bible prophecies and Jesus. He showed how Jesus fulfilled messianic promises through his life, death, and resurrection. He was able to reasonably prove that Jesus was (and is) the Jewish Messiah.

Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Acts 9:22 (NLT) 

Many, if not most, believers today feel woefully inadequate to this task, but the remedy is fairly easy. With some study and practice, we too can use Old Covenant scriptures to show how Jesus is the Savior and Lord promised to Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, to name a few key players.

We should not take the “easy way out” by only learning and sharing our testimonies or an overly simplified “plan of salvation.” The amazingly powerful gospel is not too hard for us to master. But we have to choose to do it.

It is important for us to remember that the gospel is powerful when it is rightly shared.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Romans 1:16–17 (NASB95)
To learn more, click on this link.

The Baptism in the Spirit Is Part of the Gospel

In Acts Chapter 8, Luke recounts how the gospel came through Philip to the Samaritans.

But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13  Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. 14  When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15  As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16  The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17  Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:12-17 (NLT) 

In the 1970s a group called the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International rightly argued that the baptism in the Spirit is an integral part of the gospel, helping countless people receive this amazing gift. In Acts 2, Peter included this baptism in his initial gospel message (Acts 2:38-39), and here in Acts 8, in the first gospel presentation to a people group other than the Jews, it was once again highlighted.

The baptism in the Spirit is connected to Christ’s ascension and glorification at God’s right hand in heaven as Lord of the Harvest. (Acts 2:32-33) Its purpose is to equip and empower God’s people to fulfill the Great Commission. (Acts 1:8)

A “full gospel” presentation should include the following.

  1. A clear presentation of Jesus the crucified Lamb of God who died to forgive our sins.
  2. A proclamation of his Lordship which was proven by his resurrection.
  3. An announcement of his ascension, exaltation in heaven, and the consequent outpouring of the Spirit.
  4. His Second Coming as the divine Son Man, prophesied in Daniel 7, who will judge the living and the dead.
  5. An invitation to receive forgiveness of sins, to declare publicly his lordship through being water baptized, and to receive the baptism of the Spirit and become part of his band of Great Commission disciple makers.

Did you receive the full gospel? If not, which part needs to be added? What remains for you to do?

Is Jesus Merely a Personal Savior or the Risen and Glorious Lord?

In the two verses below, the Holy Spirit summarizes the gospel in four words spoken by the apostles: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42  And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” Acts 5:41-42 (NLT) 

During that time in history when Jesus lived on earth, the Jews expected the Messiah to finally appear. They had certain ideas about what he would do for them that did not at all match Jesus’ words, character, and deeds. They expected a military leader who would deliver them from the iron grip of Roman tyranny. Instead they got a “Lamb” went about setting people free from sin, sickness, and demonic oppression, who was put to death on a cross for our sins, yet conquered death by rising again three days later as the glorious Lord of Lords. This risen Jesus, who promised to one day return as the Judge of all mankind, is indeed the Jewish Messiah. We now must bow our knees in worship or later we will do so in abject terror when he comes again to judge everyone who ever lived.

…For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:10b–12 (NASB95)

Modern consumerists have converted the gospel message that Jesus is the glorious messianic King of Kings into his being merely a very tame personal savior.

This is no small thing. A personal savior has no real impact on the larger world or even on the individual. He only saves us from having to suffer judgment for our own sins, rescuing us from damnation and giving us eternal life. For the individual, this is great news, but not necessarily life changing, because we are not required to serve him, only receive blessings from him. 

The announcement that Jesus is Messiah and Lord over all creation is a game changer. One cannot believe that and continue to live as before.

A real encounter with the risen Lord quite naturally produces a desire in us to worship and serve him. Do you believe in a personal savior or serve the risen Lord?

Christ’s Ascension into Heaven Is Part of the Gospel

In Acts Chapter Five, once again the Jewish religious leaders threatened the apostles for preaching the good news about Jesus. In response, Peter delivered a brief and bold presentation of the gospel to his persecutors.

The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31  Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 32  We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” Acts 5:30-32 (NLT) 

Peter mentioned three reasons for his hearers to repent in their attitude and actions regarding Jesus.

  1. He was put to death unjustly.
  2. God raised him from the dead, and
  3. He is now seated at God’s right hand, reigning as the Lord over all creation.

Peter does not directly say that Jesus ascended into heaven, but it is assumed. How else would his resurrected body have gotten there? God sent his Holy Spirit on Pentecost to prove that Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. The Holy Spirit indwells, empowers, and seals all those who confess Christ as Lord.

Christ’s ascension is an important part of the gospel that confirms Christ’s exaltation as Lord and explains the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost.

Jesus is the only way to God.

Peter concluded his brief gospel proclamation in Acts Chapter Four with this claim about Jesus.

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."Acts 4:12 (NASB) 

Many find Peter’s declaration offensive, but it agrees with Jesus’ own words.

Jesus *said to him [Thomas], "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 (NASB) 

Jesus taught that he is the only way to God. If not, then Jesus was terribly misguided, and why did he need to die as God’s Lamb on the cross? Was that a huge mistake, too? If he did not have to pay the penalty for our sins, the gospel is a fairy tale of the worst sort because it gives false information about God and eternity.

If sin is not a real offense against God and a barrier to our having a relationship with him, then any path that leads to God will do. But Jesus’ resurrection proved that it is true. He is the only way to God, which Peter resolutely declared and Paul later confirmed.

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT) 

Have you faced up to this reality? Have you made your peace with God yet? Have you accepted what Jesus did for you by dying for your sins and rising again as the glorious Lord of Lords? If not, don’t let the day go by without doing so.

Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

Peter quoted Psalm 118:22 to explain how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy in order to convince his hearers that he is indeed the promised Messiah risen from the dead.

He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERstone.Acts 4:11 (NASB)  

Jesus had earlier quoted this passage in reference to himself.

Jesus *said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'THE 
STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS 
BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS 
CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND 
IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'? 43  "Therefore I say to you, the 
kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the 
fruit of it. 44  "And he who falls on this stone 
will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like 
dust." Matthew 21:42-44 (NASB) 

By referencing the Old Testament, Peter and Jesus gave their hearers an opportunity to “connect the dots” and understand who Jesus is.

We owe it to our hearers to show how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament scriptures so they too can make the connection and see that Jesus is indeed the Promised Messiah of Israel, the Savior and Lord of all who believe in him, both Jew and Gentile.

Be ready to share the gospel when opportunity knocks.

In Acts Chapter Four, the Jewish religious leaders demanded that Jesus’ disciples explain bold witness to Jesus’ resurrection and the recent spectacular healing before the council.

They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” Acts 4:7 (NLT) 

This gave Peter a perfect opportunity to restate succinctly the gospel message.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9  are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10  Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. Acts 4:8-10 (NLT) 

Someone once asked, if we were being prosecuted for being a Christian witness, would there be any evidence to convict us? Peter and John were on trial because they boldly testified to Jesus’ lordship. Silence is not usually a virtue when it comes to the gospel. People need to know where we stand. When we make known our devotion to Christ and his words, it will likely make an impact on those who see it and might stir their curiosity to know more.

In his first letter, the apostle Peter encourages all disciples to be ready to share the gospel any time the opportunity arises.

...And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.  1 Peter 3:15b (NLT) 

People take note when disciples display the courage of their convictions and boldly share the gospel when opportunity knocks.

We never know when a chance to share the gospel may present itself. When it does, the Lord wants us to be ready and willing to identify ourselves with him and share the good news that he made a way for people to be reconciled to the Father and share his life forever!

The Gospel causes division.

Peter’s second gospel presentation, which was precipitated by a miraculous healing, caused a great stirring among those who heard it. Their message also “greatly disturbed” the religious leaders, the ones whose hearts were closed and had crucified Jesus.

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2  being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.Acts 4:1-2 (NASB) 

The Sadducees were a sect that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The common people, however, did not have the same biases against truth and were more able to believe the good news that Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus told his followers that he would cause division.

The truth always causes division because there are those who steadfastly resist and persecute it.

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35  ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36  Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ Matthew 10:34-36 (NLT)  

Jesus is a king…the King. His kingdom is real and is opposed by the forces of evil in the world.

People will come down on one side or the other when his lordship is announced. Those who appear not to care, the ones Jesus called “lukewarm,” are opposed to the kingdom as much as those who persecute the truth. Both groups refuse to acknowledge and serve the king. We should not be surprised when we encounter hostility when we preach the gospel. In fact, we should expect it. If we properly present the gospel, we will stir things up, not because we are trying to cause trouble, but because our message is authoritative and calls people to surrender to the King. Some will respond as God wishes. Others will be hostile. At least the hostile ones are not lukewarm.

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