____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...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). ____________________________________________________ March 29, 1998 ____________________________________________________ Great Themes From Acts ACTS: A BRIDGE FROM THE GOSPELS TO THE EPISTLES by Tom Roberts The gospel records that Jesus, while at Caesarea Philippi, promised to ``build my church'' (Mt. 16:18). In Matthew's account of the Great Commission, Jesus told the apostles to ``make disciples of all the nations'' (28:18-20). Mark added that these disciples will be made as the apostles preach the gospel to ``every creature,'' from which the disciples would be those who ``believe and are baptized'' (16:15-16). Luke recorded in his gospel account that all this would begin in Jerusalem and result in ``repentance and remission of sins'' being preached in the name of Jesus (24:46-49). John recorded that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to the apostles to guide them in the declaration of that message so as to insure God's truth being given and preserved (John 14:26; 16:13). Clearly, the preaching of faith, repentance and baptism so as to make disciples and bring about forgiveness was to accompany the beginning of the church of Christ. Just as clearly, it was obedience to that gospel message that resulted in the establishment of the church. One can no more separate the full gospel message from the church than one can separate the church from the full gospel message. Teaching the gospel builds the church, but the church is the ``pillar and ground of the truth'' (1 Tim. 3:15). Those who would amputate part of the Great Commission would do violence to the message of grace. As we say, in the gospels, the church is promised. In the epistles of the New Testament, we find the church a reality. The church existed in Jerusalem and is mentioned in letters to Corinth and Rome. Likewise, letters are addressed to churches in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonica and, in the Revelation, to seven churches of Asia. How did these churches come into being? What were the conditions under which they originated? Was the same gospel preached to all? How were the Gentiles brought in? In the epistles themselves, we have some clues but nothing is related: about the spread of the gospel to Gentiles and to places other than Jerusalem, the city which was to be the place of its origin. The gospels reveal the promise, the epistles assume that it was so. But there is an interval between the gospels and the epistles that form a void and vacuum that is filled by no other book in the Bible than the Book of Acts. We are indebted to the inspired historian, Luke, that he determined to add to his ``former treatise'' (Acts 1:1), the gospel that bears his name, by providing information of historical events that transpired after the resurrection. This is found nowhere else as Luke gave it. Without the Acts of the Apostles, we would forever wonder about so many things. One of the great themes of Acts is the bridge of understanding that it provides between Jesus' promise to build the church and the growth of that church into a world-wide body, from concept to reality. The Beginning of the church of Christ After Jesus promised to build the church, he finished his earthly course, was delivered into the hands of ``lawless men'' (Acts 2:23), crucified, raised from the dead and ascended to heaven (1:9-11). He renewed his intent to begin the church at Jerusalem by instructing the apostles to wait there for the ``promise of the Father'' (1:4; Jn. 14:26; 16:13). True to that command, they were in Jerusalem when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, baptizing them therein as earlier promised (1:5). As they received the Holy Spirit, they began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance (2:4). What did they speak? Can anyone doubt that it was the message of the Great Commission? Not only must this be necessarily inferred from the previous promises, but it can be demonstrated from the message itself. Please remember that it was by the Great Commission that ``repentance and remission of sins'' was to be given. Remember that this was to take place in Jerusalem. Remember also that it was to be accompanied by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In every instance, the apostles are true to their calling and all these prerequisites are now in place. This was the day spoken of by the prophets and, to leave no doubt, Peter proclaimed, ``This is that spoken by the prophet Joel'' (2:16). The message they preached was ``repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'' (2:38). This is Great Commission preaching! These commands were predicated upon the truth that ``God hath made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ'' (2:36). In the ``name of Jesus'' (or, by his authority), the apostles offered the promise of salvation recorded since Genesis 3:15, through the seed of woman, the seed of Abraham (Gen. 12:3), and the seed of David (Acts 2:29-36): Jesus the Christ. To this gracious offer, three thousand ``gladly received his word (and) were baptized'' (2:41). The Lord ``added to the church daily those who were being saved'' (2:47). In this simple but eloquent fashion, Luke recorded the beginning of the church of Christ. No, it didn't begin in the days of John the Baptist. (Note that he was ``the'' Baptist and not ``a'' Baptist. John should have been the only Baptist since he was sent to baptize and not to start a denomination.) John was a great prophet but he never saw the beginning of the church (Mt. 11:11). No, it did not begin 600 hundred years later, 1200 years later, or 1900 years later. All the denominations that came later have the wrong birth date and the wrong birth place and the wrong founder. The church of Jesus Christ began on the first Pentecost after his resurrection in the city of Jerusalem. It is the ``church'' since its members were ``called out from the world into Christ.'' It is the ``kingdom'' since Christ is on the throne of David since the resurrection (2:30,33). Luke left no doubt about this matter and no one should attempt to change the inspired record. No one should be content to be a member of any other church whose origin is different from this one. None should wait for a kingdom at some future date. The kingdom (church) is here, now, and has been since Acts 2. The terms of admission are clear: ``Repent and be baptized everyone of you.'' Have you done this? Yes, God requires that we ``do''' something. When believers asked ``What shall we do?'' (2:37), they were told to ``repent and be baptized'' (v. 38). The doctrine of ``faith only'' did not originate at Pentecost. No one who heard the apostles preach could have believed that ``baptism is not essential to salvation.'' Lost people need to believe, repent and be baptized. When you do, the Lord will add you to his church and to none other. No one can vote to keep you out. You can get in no other way (John 14:6). The Gospel Spreads to Other Places Jesus had told the apostles: ``But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'' (3:8). This promise of Jesus, coincidentally, provided the basis for a solid outline by Luke of the book of Acts. He recorded the growth of the gospel in Jerusalem and its spread as persecution began (Acts 4:1 ff). Through Peter, who along with the twelve apostles, had been given the ``keys of the kingdom'' (Mt. 16:19), the kingdom was opened, as in Acts 2 to the Jews, now to Gentiles (10, 11, and 15). Cornelius, a devout man, was told to send for Peter who would ``tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved'' (11:14), or ``things commanded'' (10:33) by God. Again, this is the Great Commission at work, going among ``the nations'' or ``every creature.'' The same message was preached to Cornelius as to the Jews for Peter asked, ``Can anyone forbid water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?'' (10:48). The baptism of the Great Commission is baptism in water for the remission of sins. The fact that Cornelius received the Holy Spirit was recorded so that reluctant Jews would know clearly that ``God shows no partiality'' (10:34) and that ``God hath also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.'' The Work Of Paul Luke recorded the conversion of Saul of Tarsus who had previously persecuted the saints (Acts 9:4). He, too, was baptized by the Great Commission baptism as Ananias told him to ``arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord'' (22:16). Without the record of Saul's conversion into Paul the apostle, much of the history of the church in Asia Minor and Europe would be shrouded in mystery. But Paul became the great missionary to distant lands, being personally involved in three preaching tours and an enforced journey to Rome as a prisoner for the gospel. Paul is responsible for writing much of the epistles which make up the scripture we have today. It is rather easy to follow the narrative of Luke as he traveled with Paul in most of his journeys, preaching, starting congregations, writing letters to the fledgling churches and combating error both within and without the church. It is with Luke's record in hand that we can know where Paul was when many of the churches were founded and to which church the letters were addressed. Luke's record ends with Paul a prisoner in Rome, teaching all that come in contact with him and awaiting trial before Caesar. A Complete Story The gospels, the book of Acts, the epistles, the Revelation: a complete and final revelation of the redemption of man through Jesus Christ, the son of God. Luke was chosen by God to play an important part in the narrative by not only giving us one of the accounts of the life of Jesus, but also by bridging the gulf between the story of Jesus and the church Jesus built. ___________________________________________ ``SO RUN - - -'' by Robert F. Turner ``Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?'' (Read 1 Cor. 9:24-27.) Paul calls attention to the fact that all runners put forth great efforts: first in their training program, and then in the race itself. Yet, only one may win--only one receives the prize. Some exegetes seem to think Paul wishes to emphasize that all Christians could win the Christian race--as opposed to the limited opportunity in the Grecian races. But I believe the context calls for another thought. ``SO RUN--'' (24b) That is, you run the Christian race as though only one could win. (``Thus'' or ``So'' meaning ``after this manner.'') The thought is not to make Christianity a competition between Christians, but to urge each to run as though only one would finally be saved; hence, to do away with complacency, and make each of us aware of the need for greater effort. In the following verses Paul notes the self-restraint necessary in training, and the singleness of purpose the athlete must manifest if he is to be successful. ``So fight I, not as one that beateth the air.'' We must know what the fight is all about; we must have a target, a purpose, and strive meaningfully for the crown. Paul said, ``I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway'' (vs. 27). If Paul could say this about himself, how can we coast along the Christian racetrack as though all are going to win anyway--so what's the use of pushing? But Paul said to run as though ONE and ONE ONLY would win. This is the proper attitude to have--and how it would change our lives. I believe we would begin to raise some dust on the track. There would be no more of this ``let someone else do it'' talk. We would realize that each must fill his own place, or suffer loss. And it might help to remember that we shall be judged severally, as individuals (Rom. 2:6). Those who win the prize will be those who pressed hard, every step of the way. -- Via Plain Talk, vol. 2, no. 7, 8/65 ___________________________________________ Of Dogs, Pigs And Pearls by Wayne Greeson Jesus came into this world to reveal and speak the Truth. Often the truth He spoke was painful. One of the more painful truths spoken by Christ is found in the Sermon on the Mount: ``Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you'' (Matt. 7:6). Jesus paints a vivid picture of a cornered person confronted by a hungry pack of snarling dogs and vicious boars. In fear and desperation the person throws into the mud in front of the beasts his most valuable possession, a bag full of pearls. The animals lunge forward anticipating food for their bellies only to discover the precious pearls are hard and tasteless. In their anger, the entire pack of animals turn on the person before them and drag him down into the mud where they tear him to pieces. To the Jews, dogs and swine were unholy and unclean animals fit neither for sacrifice nor food. However, Jesus is not warning about animals but people! There are numerous places throughout the Bible where unfit and worthless persons are called dogs or swine (See 1 Sam. 17:43; 2 Sam. 16:9; 2 Ki. 8:13; 2 Pet. 2:18-22). Jesus instructs His disciples not to waste the holy and precious instruction and rebuke of God's Word to those who are unfit and unworthy; for not only will they abuse and reject it, but they will also abuse and reject you. It is a sad but painful truth that there are those who lower themselves to the level of vicious snarling junkyard dogs and brutish boars in their rejection of God's wisdom. Get out of their way for if they have no respect for God or His Word they will certainly despise those who try to proclaim God's Truth. Jesus warns about such characters and teaches that we should be discriminating in our teaching and preaching, less we fall victim to them. Solomon explained why one must be discriminating in whom he entrusts precious pearls of instruction and wisdom. He taught that ``fools despise wisdom and instruction'' (Prov. 1:7) and a ``scoffer does not love one who reproves him'' (Prov. 15:12). Therefore, ``Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words'' (Prov. 23:9). Like Jesus, Solomon recommended a discriminating attitude toward those one tries to teach: ``He who reproves a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blemish. Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning'' (Proverbs 9:7-9). -- Via Reflections On Truth ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________