This Do In Rememberance of Me

In Exodus 12:1-14, Moses gave Israel instructions to remember the LORD’S passover:

Exo 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste:
it is the LORD'S passover.

So called "the LORD’S passover" .... for His promise to "pass over" them and save them:

Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

It was to be "a memorial" feast forever:

Exo 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial;
and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Jesus continued this ordinance with His 12 apostles:

Luke 22:13-20 And they went, and found as he had said unto them:
and they made ready the passover.
14 And when the hour was come, he sat down,
and the twelve apostles with him.
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof,
until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said,
Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine,
until the kingdom of God shall come. (Jesus said He would not drink of this fruit of the vine it again .... until the day He kept it ‘new’ with them in His Father’s kingdom - in Matt 26:29):
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you:
this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying,
This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Paul wrote "unto the church of God which is at Corinth,
to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints,
with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord," (1 Cor 1:1) .... and told them to keep the feast:

1 Cor 5:7-8 Purge out therefore the old leaven,
that ye may be a new lump (see Rom 11:16), as ye are unleavened.
For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (John 1:17.

Why keep the feast? Paul taught for us to keep it because we are ‘in Christ’ WITH ‘believing Israel’ as ‘one’ .... and .... we are made ‘partakers’ WITH and AMONG them (also see Acts 20:32, 26:18; Rom 11:17, Eph 3:6):

1 Cor 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body:
for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Paul scolded the saints for their misuse of the Lord’s table (1 Cor 10:21).

He rebuked "the church of God" for their selfishness and greed when they came together (1 Cor 11:17-22, 27-34) for the Lord’s supper.

1 Cor 11:1-2 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things,
and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

Paul gave them .... what the Lord gave him to give them .... which was .... to remember His death in this memorial ordinance until He comes:

1 Cor 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:
this is my body, which is broken for you:
this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: (Paul wrote that God "hath made us able ministers of the new testament" in 2 Cor 3:6.)
this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,
ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

WHEN will He come?
He will come at the end (also see Matt 24:3-44, 13:36-43,49-50).

1 Cor 15:20-28 But now is Christ risen from the dead,
and become the firstfruits (see Rom 11:16)
of them that slept (see 1 Thess 4:14;
also Acts 7:59-60, Stephen fell asleep;
also Acts 13:36, David fell asleep;
1 Cor 11:30, 15:6; 1 Thess 5:10).
21 For since by man came death,
by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits;
afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, (When the Lord Jesus Christ appears and establishes His kingdom - 2 Tim 4:1):
when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

WHEN will these things happen? (also see 2 Peter chapter 3)
.... WHEN He comes from heaven
.... WHEN He raises the dead
.... WHEN He puts all things under Him in His kingdom
.... just like PAUL also told "all the saints in Christ Jesus" "with the bishops and deacons" (Phil 1:1):

Phil 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven;
from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ are DIVIDED on the Lord’s supper issue. Some take the Lord’s supper and some do not.

The ones that take it, say they do it because "in the cross is where the 2 different programs come together." But they say that WHILE they also claim that they have NO PART in the new testament.

The ones that don’t take the Lord’s supper, say they don’t do it because "it was part of 'Israel’s program' --- not the 'separate program' for ‘the body of Christ’."

The takers and the non-takers .... both groups are wrong!

As believers who recognize our UNITY in Christ (see Eph 4:3-6), we ought to participate in the Lord’s supper, as a memorial ordinance to show His death .... till He come .... at the end .... in His day!

1 Cor 1:7-8 So that ye come behind in no gift;
waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end,
that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

WHOSE Kingdom Is It? GOD's .... or .... CHRIST's?

The day before yesterday, we looked at, "Whose GOSPEL is it?"
Yestherday we though about, "Whose MYSTERY is it?"
Today, we will consider "Whose KINGDOM is it?"

‘Hyper-dividers’ also make 2 different kingdoms between Christ and God ....
and they think NEITHER is their inheritance.

They say that the kingdom of Christ is when Jesus reigns on earth for a thousand years (while God the Father remains in heaven).

They believe that the kingdom of God will occur when God the Father comes down to earth as the new Jerusalem descends, and then will He dwell among men:

Rev 21:2-3 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Some people think that Jesus will sit on David’s throne in the millennium, and thus IT is the kingdom of Christ:

Isa 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

'Mid-Acts-ers' also base the kingdom of Christ on Daniel's prophecy:

Dan 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

When the angel Gabriel announced to the virgin Mary of her conception of the Christ child .... he prophesied the kingdom of Christ:

Luke 1:31-33 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ make a DIVIDE ....
between the ‘appearing’ of Christ .... and the ‘kingdom’ of Christ.

They teach that Jesus will ‘appear’ at a ‘secret-mystery-rapture’ of what-they-call ‘the church, the body of Christ’ (meaning, ONLY those saints that have been saved during, when-they-think is, the dispensation of grace) .... even though Peter’s and John’s writings give NO indication that His appearing (1 Pet 5:4, 1:7; 1 John 2:28, 3:2) or Heb 9:28, is a ‘different’ appearing than Paul’s writings of His appearing (Col 3:4, 2 Tim 4:1,8; 1 Tim 6:14; Titus 2:13).

They say the ‘appearing’ (to them, the ‘rapture’) will occur 7 + ?# years BEFORE .... the kingdom of Christ (which they believe to be at what-they-call the 2nd coming of Christ [even though they teach that He has already ‘secretly’ come part-way, meaning, only to the clouds], when He comes all the way down to earth .... to set up His kingdom on earth and reign on the throne of David).

Recently in a message, I heard a ‘mid-Acts’ preacher reason that since ‘we know’ that ‘the quick and the dead’ are 2 different things (alive and dead) .... therefore, ‘we also know’ that ‘his appearing’ and ‘his kingdom’ are 2 different events. That kind of application is way wrong.

2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead
at his appearing and his kingdom;

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ really prefer to avoid ANY and ALL references of Paul preaching the kingdom of God .... because

1) John the Baptist, Jesus in His earthly ministry, and His disciples/apostles preached the kingdom of God .... and Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all wrote of the kingdom of God. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ disassociate with ALL of them, claiming that PAUL had an exclusive, distinctive ministry and totally different gospel.

2) ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ see both the kingdom of Christ (His millennial reign on earth) and the kingdom of God (His coming to earth in the new Jerusalem) as BOTH in what-they-call ‘Israel’s prophecy-program.’

Luke recorded that Barnabas and Paul (Acts 14:14) both preached the kingdom of God. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ don’t want to be called DISCIPLES either, because they believe 'disciples' (also 'Christians' - Acts 11:26) had to do with 'Israel's program':

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples,
and exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

To the Ephesian elders, Paul said:

Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all,
among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God,
shall see my face no more.

In the very last chapter of Acts, Luke wrote of Paul:

Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging;
to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus, (From where? From his own ‘exclusive, distinctive, different’ revelation that Jesus committed unto him? NO! He taught them about Jesus, the MESSIAH [which is, the CHRIST - John 1:41, 4:25] from the LAW and the PROPHETS!!!)
both out of the law of Moses,
and out of the prophets,
from morning till evening.

Acts 28:31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Paul wrote several times of the kingdom of God (Rom 14:17; 1 Cor 4:20, 6:9-10, 15:50; Gal 5:21; Col 4:11; 2 Thess 1:5). He specifically said that we are called unto it:

1 Thess 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God,
who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

To SEAL up the matter,
just as Col 2:2 took care of the MYSTERY of God and of Christ ....
so Eph 5:5 UNITES the KINGDOM of God and of Christ TOGETHER:

Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater,
hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ want NO PART of the kingdom of Christ -- OR -- of God because they think neither are ‘for them’ ....
even though PAUL preached "the kingdom of Christ and of God."

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

WHOSE Mystery? GOD's .... or .... CHRIST's?

Yesterday we thought about "WHOSE Gospel Is It?" Today, we will think about "WHOSE Mystery Is It?" ‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ divide ‘the mystery’ into ‘different programs’ .... just like they divide ‘the gospel’. They claim to be ‘rightly-dividing’ .... but actually, they are ‘wrongly-dividing’. ‘The mystery’ belongs to God and Christ --- and NOT independently (Col 2:2), as we will see.

Paul wrote of ‘the mystery of Christ’ .... as both a servant and prophet of God (Rev 10:7, Rom 1:1, Titus 1:1, Acts 13:1, 1 Cor 13:2). The old testament prophets realized that the grace they prophesied was for saints in the future (1 Peter 1:10-12). Paul got it explained to him personally from the Lord:

Eph 3:1-4 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

‘The mystery of Christ’ was not clearly comprehended ‘in time past’ the way it is now understood:

Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men,
as it is now revealed
unto his holy apostles (plural, not just Paul)
and prophets (plural, not just Paul)
by the Spirit (not by Paul);

Paul clearly defined just what that secret was ....
we are ‘fellow-inheriters’ ....
what ‘they’ inherit, now ‘we’ inherit WITH and AMONG them that are sanctified by faith in Christ (Rom 11:17, Acts 20:32, 26:18) ....
we are all one body (Rom 12:4-5; 1 Cor 10:17, 12:12-13; Eph 2:16, 4:4; Col 3:15) ....
now we are ‘in Christ’ with those before us (Rom 16:7) ....
we partake with them:

Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs,
and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

What the Gentiles did NOT have in time past --- now we have!
God broke down the middle wall of partition (Eph 2:14), so now we have access (Eph 2:18, 3:12; Rom 5:2) to everything we were shut off from then.
We are not segregated anymore. The unbelieving Jews were mad about our position of equality, being welcomed ‘clean’ into the family of God. They hounded Paul for preaching our ‘no difference’ acceptance:

Col 4:2-4 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance,
to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

The same Greek word [musterion] is translated both singular (the mystery) and plural (the mysteries). I am not saying that there is only ‘one mystery’ but I am saying that the mystery/mysteries belong to God and to Christ, and they two (actually three, including the Holy Spirit) are one God:

1 Cor 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ,
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the apostle John wrote that the mystery will culminate at the time of the 7th (the last - 1 Cor 15:51-52) trumpet. God will conclude the mystery then, just like He said He would (Rom 11:25). ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ want to separate ‘the mystery of God’ from Paul, or make it a ‘different’ mystery than that of Paul ---- to maintain their paradigm .... even though Paul also wrote of it:

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound,
the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ make two or more of many things.
Rather than see ‘ONE’ .... UNIFIED mystery in Col 2:2 ----
they find two or three (maybe God and the Father being either one or two
.... and then Christ, makes two or three).
However, God settled the issue of ‘WHOSE’ mystery it is:

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of
the mystery of God,
and of the Father,
and of Christ;

The mystery of GOD .... IS the mystery of the FATHER .... IS the mystery of CHRIST.
They do not each have their own separate, personal, individual mysteries.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

WHOSE Gospel Is It? GOD's or CHRIST's?

In this thought, we will read through Romans 1:1-7. ‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ boldly proclaim Paul’s use of the term "my gospel" .... but they rarely mention his separation to "the gospel of God." WHY would they shun "the gospel of God" as being Paul’s message? They would never say it out loud, but here are some motivations for their silent avoidance.

Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ do not like that Paul was separated unto "the gospel of God." They teach that ‘Paul’s gospel’ was part of his ‘secret, mystery information.’ The scriptures go against their paradigm .... saying that "the gospel of God" was foretold in the prophetic writings:

Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

The Hebrew word for ‘Messiah’ (or ‘Messias’) is the equivalent to the Greek word for ‘Christ’ (John 1:41, 4:25) ....
so ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ try to down-play "the gospel of God" by squirming all over the word "concerning" .... saying things, like, "The gospel of God is NOT about that Jesus Christ is Messiah, but it is ‘concerning’ about Jesus Christ, Who was Israel’s Messiah, that back in Gen 3:15 God promised a Redeemer." What?!? The VERSES are PLAIN and CLEAR: The gospel of God was promised before by God's prophets in the scriptures:

Rom 1:3-a Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,

Then ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ do not want to associate Jesus Christ ‘IN THE FLESH’ with Paul (2 Cor 5:16) .... because they say that Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry was ANOTHER Jesus (2 Cor 7:4) from ‘the risen, glorified Lord’ that called Paul. Yet, in the BIBLE, "the gospel of God" DOES concern the physical lineage (Luke 2:4) of the Lord:

Rom 1:3-b which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Whew! ‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ have to rush through the first 3 verses of Romans 1, before anyone has time to THINK about what the scripture actually says .... or how they just explained it away. So here at verse 4, they get calm again and go back to their ‘safe mode.’ They can handle this point:

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Now they’re rolling! ‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ teach that the 1st thing --- the essential issue --- that Paul wants us to realize is his Gentile apostleship. In reality, that is what the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ want to spotlight:
Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Rom 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Paul was .... separated unto the gospel of God (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) .... to ALL the saints at Rome:

Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A few sentences later, Paul was not ashamed of Christ’s gospel:

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Then, near the end of his epistle to ALL that be at Rome, called to be saints (Rom 1:7), Paul said that he ministered "the gospel of God":

Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Right after saying that he ministered "the gospel of God" ....
Paul said he preached "the gospel of Christ" .... that he planned to bring to Rome:

Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum,
I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Rom 15:29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Was Paul confused about ‘WHICH gospel’ he preached ....
"the gospel of GOD" .... OR .... "the gospel of CHRIST"?

.... OR ....

was "the gospel of GOD" .... AND .... "the gospel of CHRIST" ....
the SAME GOSPEL?

I believe the latter.

Paul preached "the gospel of God" .... "unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:" (2 Cor 1:1):

2 Cor 11:7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Paul spoke "the gospel of God" .... "unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ:" (1 Thess 1:1):

1 Thess 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

Paul imparted "the gospel of God" .... to them:

1 Thess 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we (not only Paul) were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Paul (and others) preached "the gospel of God" .... to them:

1 Thess 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Paul preached "the gospel of God" .... and yet ....
he laboured in "the gospel of Christ":

1 Thess 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

Probably the main problem that ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ have with PAUL preaching "the gospel of God" .... is that PETER wrote of it.

Peter?!? Oh, no!

Oh, yes!

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

But ‘mid-Acts-ers’ say that PAUL preached ‘a’ DIFFERENT gospel than PETER preached.

I stand with PETER on this one:

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said,
We ought to obey God rather than men.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

Together in ONE .... or Separate in TWO?

Since .... in the end of the world ....
God will bring everything in heaven and everything on earth ---
TOGETHER in ONE .... in Christ ....
how is it, that ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ still think
that the saints will be SEPARATE in TWO places?

Eph 1:7-14 In whom (Christ) we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times
he might gather together in one (Greek [anakephalaiomai] meaning ‘to sum up, to condense into a summary, to comprehend together’)
all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth;
even in him:

God’s saints are in 2 separate places now.
Those who are ‘dead in Christ’ are in heaven now.
Those who are still alive, are on earth now.
But in the end, God will bring ALL His saints from heaven,
to be joined in the air .... with those caught up from off the earth (1 Thess 4:14-17). Then we will be together forever with the Lord:

1 Thess 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father,
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

I choose to believe the word of GOD ....
not the ‘mid-Acts-hyper-dispenational’ warped denial of it.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

We as They .... or .... They as We?

When God made the covenant of circumcision with Abraham and his physical seed,
God made provision for Gentiles to get in it also .... but they had to be circumcised, too:

Gen 17:9-14 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Some Judaeans went down to Galatia and taught the saints
that they could not be saved unless they submitted to Jewish circumcision ....
Paul and Barnabas went up to the council at Jerusalem about the problem:

Acts 15:1-11 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying,
That it was needful to circumcise them (Gentiles),
and to command them (Gentiles) to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them (Gentiles) witness,
giving them (Gentiles) the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us (Israel);
9 And put no difference between us (Israel) and them (Gentiles),
purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke (the bondage of the law, as Gal 5:1) upon the neck of the disciples (also see Acts 11:26), which neither our fathers nor we (Israel) were able to bear?
11 But we (Israel) believe that
through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
we (Israel) shall be saved, even as they (Gentiles).

Notice that Peter did not say ....
that the Gentiles would be saved like Israel ....
but that Israel would be saved like the Gentiles.

After Peter had his say, and Barnabas and Paul had theirs, the apostles and elders ruled NOT to put the Gentiles under Israel’s rules of circumcision and keeping the law (Acts 15:13-20).

Because of the grace of Christ .... not only were the Gentiles not to be put under the law .... but neither was Israel under the law anymore:

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you:
for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Religious Gentiles that converted to Judaism were called proselytes (Matt 23:15; Acts 2:5-11, 6:5, 13:43). Now the Judaizers needed to learn the passing away of the Old Testament law (Heb 8:13), making way for the New Testament grace (2 Cor 3:6-18):

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Paul taught the difference between the end of the law of Moses
and the beginning of grace of Christ:

Rom 10:4-5 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

The Jews who were zealous of the law had difficulty accepting the change:

Acts 21:18-22 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
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.

After Christ came and instituted the New Testament in His blood,
God declared His righteousness by faith in Christ .... without the law,
yet witnessed by the law and the prophets:

Rom 3:21-22 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:

Paul continually defended his ministry of the new testament (2 Cor 3:6):

Acts 26:20-23 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

Just "Saying"

In a ‘mid-Acts’ message entitled "Timing Is Everything," I heard the associate 'shepherd' (who thinks he has no sheep) belabor a point he made about the word "saying" in 2 Tim 2:18. He taught that Hymenaeus and Philetus were not really ‘preaching’ that the resurrection was already past .... but that they were "just saying" it .... "only talking" about it, sort of like spreading gossip, as busybodies.

2 Tim 2:15-18 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying [lego] that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Now that I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’ .... in my curiosity, I looked up the Greek word for "saying." It is [lego]. Can you imagine where it is also used? How about we apply the ‘mid-Acts’ preacher’s explanation of "saying" [lego] as "just saying" not ‘preaching’ (in 2 Tim 2:18) to 1 Thess 4:15, where the same Greek word is found?

1 Thess 4:15-16 For this we say [lego] unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Do you think that Paul was .... not really ‘teaching’ with authority by the Lord’s word about the resurrection at the coming of the Lord .... but, more like, Paul was simply stirring up rumors .... just telling a tale? Not me!

But I think the ‘mid-Acts’ preacher tried to squirm out of the truth in 2 Tim 2:18, and as a result, he wrested the verse.

This is David Dowell, just saying, "Think about it!"
.

Did Paul Write to the Jews?

Like Paul (Rom 1:1, Titus 1:1) ....
Simon Peter was a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ:

2 Peter 1:1-a Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ,

Like Paul wrote to all the saints in Rome (Rom 1:7) about the mutual faith of them and him (Rom 1:12) ....
Like Paul wrote to the church of God with all the saints, about having the same spirit of faith (2 Cor 4:13) according as it was written in the Psalms (Psa 116:10) ....
Like Paul wrote to Titus after the common faith (Titus 1:4) ....
Like Jude wrote of the common salvation (Jude 1:3) ....
Simon Peter wrote to ones of like precious faith:

2 Peter 1:1-b to them that have obtained like precious faith with us

What do they have in common?
Like Paul wrote (Rom 1:16-17, 3:21-22; 2 Cor 5:21) of God’s imputed righteousness by faith in Christ ....
Peter’s readers were united the same way (Eph 2:18, Rom 10:12):

2 Peter 1:1-c through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Did Paul write to the Jews? Well, did Peter? Is this epistle of Peter’s addressed to the Jews? Notice again to WHOM Peter addressed his epistle .... because ‘mid-Acts-ers’ say that Peter wrote to the JEWS .... NOT the Gentiles. However, the SALUTATION does not say, nor indicate, that:

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Like Paul (Rom 1:7, 1 Cor 1:3, 2 Cor 1:2, Gal 1:3, Eph 1:2, Phil 1:2, Col 1:2, 1 Thess 1:1, 2 Thess 1:2, Titus 1:4, Phile 1:3) ....
Simon Peter sent grace and peace to his readers (1 Pet 1:2):

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

Did Paul write to the Jews? Well, is this epistle of Peter’s addressed to the Jews? (2 Pet 1:1)

‘WHOEVER’ Peter wrote this epistle to .... Paul ALSO wrote to the SAME people:

2 Pet 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16-a As also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things; (plural)

(Of WHAT things?
Of the things Peter wrote about during this whole chapter.
Like Peter .... Paul wrote "of these things" too:
--- the last days (2 Pet 3:3 and 2 Tim 3:1)
--- the promise of the Lord’s coming (2 Pet 3:4 and 1 Cor 1:7, 15:23; 1 Thess 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23; 2 Thess 2:1,8)
--- the day of judgment (2 Pet 2:9, 3:7 and Rom 2:5,16; 2 Thess 1:7-9; Acts 17:31)
--- the longsuffering of God to bring about repentance (2 Pet 3:9,15 and Rom 2:4, 9:22; 1 Tim 1:16, 2 Tim 2:25)
--- the day of the Lord (2 Pet 3:10 and 1 Thess 5:2)
--- looking for such things (2 Pet 3:14 and Titus 2:13, Phil 3:20-21)
--- being in peace in Christ (2 Pet 3:14 and Eph 2:14-17, 6:16; Rom 5:1, 10:15)
--- being without spot (2 Pet 3:14 and Eph 5:27, 1 Tim 6:14)
--- being blameless (2 Pet 3:14 and 1 Cor 1:8, Phil 2:15-16, 1 Thess 5:23, 3:13)
--- beware of falling from stedfastness (2 Pet 3:17 and Phil 3:2, Col 1:23, 2:5,8; 2 Tim 4:15, 2 Cor 11:3, 1 Cor 15:58, Eph 4:14)
--- the knowledge of Christ (2 Pet 3:18 and Eph 4:15, Col 1:10, Phil 3:8)

(2 Pet 3:16-b) in which are some things (plural) hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ use 2 Pet 3:15-16 to say that since Peter was under the law, he said the things Paul wrote under grace, were hard to understand.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ also teach that Peter told the scoffers that if they wanted to know why God delayed His coming, then go read Paul to learn about the mystery program interrupting the prophecy program, by putting it in abeyance.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ say that the only thing -singular- (not "things" -plural- as 2 Pet 3:16 says) that Peter was saying that Paul also wrote about, was God’s longsuffering because the dispensation of grace and the ‘rapture’ are holding back the wrath to come.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ are wrong about "these things" (2 Pet 3:16) that they try to make singular (longsuffering) rather than plural (a list of various things).

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ are wrong about Peter and Paul not ministering to the same people, because sometimes they did, as evidenced at Corinth:

1 Cor 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith,
I am of Paul; and I of Apollos;
and I of Cephas (Peter - John 1:42); and I of Christ.

"According to the scriptures," Peter and Paul both preached the same gospel about Christ’s death and resurrection that was "according to the scriptures":

1 Cor 15:3-5,11 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas (Peter), then of the twelve:
11 Therefore whether it were I (Paul) or they (Peter and the others named in the passage), so we preach, and so ye believed.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

When Did You Get "THE MESSAGE"?

When ‘mid-Acts-ers’ get together .... like at a conference .... to make conversation, they commonly ask each other, "When did you get 'THE MESSAGE'?" Well, ‘the message’ they are talking about is not "the message" of the scripture, as we will see:

1 John 1:5 This then is the message [epaggelia]
which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

No, THIS is certainly NOT ‘the message’ that ‘mid-Acts-ers’ are speaking of, when they ask, "How long have you known ‘the message'?" They reject ‘the message’ in those verses .... because it comes from JOHN .... not PAUL. They are prejudiced against ALL Biblical writers, other than Paul.

1 John 3:11 For this is the message [aggelia]
that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Furthermore, the Greek word [epaggelia] is written 53 times in the scriptures, and translated ‘promise’ 52 times, and ‘message’ 1 time. It means an announcement of a promise. (Similarly, [aggelia] is used only once, with the same definition and translated ‘the message’ also.)

1 John 2:25 And this is the promise [epaggelia] that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ refuse instruction from anyone except Paul, even though PAUL said:

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof,
for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:

‘The message’ that ‘mid-Acts-ers’ mean .... is what-they-consider to be ‘Paul’s mystery-message’ .... what-they-call ‘a secret revelation’ God gave ONLY to Paul to preach that ‘now’ Jews and Gentiles make up one body together --- yet COMPLETELY SEPARATE from the saints that were in what-they-say was ‘Israel’s kingdom program’ in the past and in the future, after what-they-think will be a ‘pre-tribulation rapture’ of just the saints saved by Paul’s message .... what-they-insist is ‘THE message’.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ need to take a big dose of their own medicine.
Since they cry, ‘PAUL’ is the only one to follow (1 Cor 4:16) ....
then why don’t they practice what they preach ---
and follow PAUL (1 Cor 11:1 --- as Paul followed Christ).

Here are plenty of verses from PAUL about ‘the message’ [epaggelia] (also translated ‘the promise’) that ‘mid-Acts-ers’ refuse.

Abraham’s faith was counted for righteousness (Rom 4:3)
when he was in UNcircumcision (Rom 4:10),
"that he might be the father of ALL them that believe, though they be not circumcised" (Rom 4:11):

Rom 4:13-18 For the promise [epaggelia],
that he should be the heir of the world, (Gal 3:29) was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void,
and the promise [epaggelia] made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;
to the end the promise [epaggelia] might be sure to all the seed;
not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations,
according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

PAUL clearly explains WHO the seed includes .... the children of the promise:

Rom 9:6-8 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.
For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children:
but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise [epaggelia] are counted for the seed.

PAUL specifically tells the saints (in the churches of Galatia), that WE are the children of promise .... actually, the children of ‘the message’. This is NOT ‘the message’ that ‘mid-Acts-ers’ want .... but, nevertheless, it is ‘the message’ (same Greek word as ‘promise’) that PAUL wrote:

Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise [epaggelia].

PAUL plainly described ‘the message’ (the promise) that was PROPHESIED to Abraham .... which is what we are still experiencing today:

Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise [epaggelia] of the Spirit through faith.

Again PAUL showed the PROPHECY that the Gentiles who believed would get ‘the message’ by faith in Christ:

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin (Rom 3:23), that the promise [epaggelia] by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (Rom 3:21-22)

PAUL expressed stated that ‘the message’ was for ALL who are ‘in Christ’:

Gal 3:26-29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise [epaggelia].

PAUL taught that the Gentiles WERE strangers from the covenants of promise in time past ---
but now, the Gentiles are PARTAKERS of the SAME promise ....
that we WERE PREVIOUSLY EXCLUDED from:

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers from the covenants of promise [epaggelia],
having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs,
and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise [epaggelia] in Christ by the gospel:

Jesus Christ came to Israel first (John 1:11, 4:22, Rom 1:16) ....
and then EXPANDED God’s mercy and GRACE ....
on out to the Gentiles --- just like the PROPHECY said He would.
Though ‘mid-Acts-ers’ try to place these blessings on the Gentiles out in the future ‘ages to come’ .... they are wrong!
We Gentiles are rejoicing TODAY .... in the ‘but now’ ....
WITH .... and AMONG (Rom 11:17; Acts 20:32, 26:18) .... ALL God’s people .... TOGETHER (1 Cor 3:9) --- not DIVIDED:

Rom 15:8-12 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [epaggelia] made unto the fathers:
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy;
as it is written, (‘Mid-Acts-ers’ do not want these promises .... ‘the message’ .... because IT WAS WRITTEN in the PROPHETIC scriptures .... and they dismiss EVERYTHING there as "not applicable" for them .... because they take only PAUL’s ‘MYSTERY’ writings as "for them" now.)
For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

I am glorifying God for His mercy NOW.
I am rejoicing with God’s people NOW.
I am praising the Lord NOW.
I am trusting in Him NOW.

2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises [epaggelia] of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

I’ve got ‘the message’ .... but NOT ‘the message’ that the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ talk about. I’m standing on ‘the promises’ of GOD.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

Are YOU a CHRISTIAN?

Peter referred to the Gentiles .... as DISCIPLES:

Acts 15:7-10 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago (back in Acts 10) God made choice among us (He chose PETER, not PAUL), that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them (the Gentiles) witness,
giving them (the Gentiles) the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them (the Gentiles),
purifying their (the Gentiles’) hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God,
to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples (the Gentiles),
which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

The GENTILES were referred to as DISCIPLES (Acts 15:10).

The DISCIPLES were called CHRISTIANS:

Acts 11:25-26 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he (Barnabas) had found him (Saul), he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Paul nearly convinced king Agrippa to become a Christian:

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul,

Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ teach that the word ‘Christian’ is a DEROGATORY term .... so they do not want to be labeled ‘Christian.’ They refuse to apply the holy words of scripture .... about Christian suffering .... because they are written by PETER. ‘Mid-Acts-ers’ think Peter’s writings have NO CONNECTION to them:

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian,
let him not be ashamed;
but let him glorify God on this behalf.

A disciple is a learner.
Since I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’ ....
I have learned to rejoice that I am a CHRISTIAN!

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

Was Paul the FIRST Member of the Body of Christ?

‘Mid-Acts-ers’ claim Paul was the 1st member of the body of Christ. When asked for a scripture verse to support that claim .... they give 1 Tim 1:16, and say, "Paul said ‘In me FIRST,’ .... so he was the first member of the body of Christ."

When we examine that position with the verse .... we see that the scripture makes NO MENTION of a member of "the church, the body of Christ":

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

Now let’s look at it again, this time,

# 1) in CONTEXT with the verse before it,

and # 2) with ..... (oh, no!) .... the GREEK!

1 Tim 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am
chief [protos].
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me
first [protos] (like "chief" in the verse before this one .... like, ‘mainly,’ as the ‘principal’ one) Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

For an extra frame of reference, consider Jesus words to His 12 disciples:

Mark 10:43-45 But so shall it not be among you:
but whosoever will be great among you,
shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest [protos],
shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,
but to minister,
and to give his life a ransom for many.

When the prodigal son returned home, notice the ‘type’ of robe his father gave him:

Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best [protos] robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

Using "in me first" .... to try to convince people that Paul was the first member of the body of Christ .... does not look like a [protos] idea to me!

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

Is Jesus YOUR King?

Wise men knew Jesus was the King of the Jews:

Matt 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

The daughter of Sion knew Jesus was their King:

Matt 21:4-11 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Pilate knew Jesus was King of the Jews:

John 19:19-22 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

PAUL knew Jesus was King of kings:

1 Tim 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

John also knew Jesus was King of kings:

Rev 17:12-14 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These (10 kings) have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These (10 kings) shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

John knew Jesus was King of saints:

Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

PAUL must not have been a ‘mid-Acts-er’ ....
because Jesus was Paul’s King:

1 Tim 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am a saint .... are YOU a saint?
Is Jesus YOUR King?
Now that I am no longer a ‘mid-Acts-er’ .... Jesus is MY King!

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.

Do You See Jesus as Your MASTER?

The unbelieving, religious Pharisees called Jesus "Master":

Luke 19:37-40 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Jesus spoke to the multitude, and to His disciples, and referred to Himself as their "Master":

Matt 23:8-12 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Jesus’ friends spoke of Him as "Master":

John 11:23-28 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

He’s the Master of the Sea:

Mark 4:37-41 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Jesus’ disciples called Him "Master":

John 13:12-17 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Paul wrote that our "Master" is in heaven:

Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Paul made other references to God being our "master" and us being His "vessel":

2 Tim 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet (fit) for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (also see Rom 14:4)

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I’ll never be caught dead doing that!"? Well, that’s the only time I expect we’ll ever hear any ‘mid-Acts-er’ calling Jesus "Master"!

"Peace, be still." As for me and my house, we will call Him "Master" now!

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Unity or Division?

Even if ‘mid-Acts-ers’ engrave a plaque with a school logo based on Eph 4:4-6, don’t be fooled into thinking they support bringing all God’s people together in a unifying message. Far from it! They believe only ‘certain’ believers (specifically, just those who have been saved since Saul of Tarsus’ conversion in Acts 9, and by his words alone) are made ‘one’ in Christ. But God wants us to have, and make an effort to maintain, a unity of the Spirit:

Eph 4:3-6 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, (also see Eph 3:6)
and one Spirit,
even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, (the SAME Jesus .... not 'another Jesus')
one faith, (Paul preached 'the faith' which once he destroyed - Gal 1:23)
one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

God wants us to have a unity of the faith:

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Chloe’s family told Paul about the strife in the church of God .... who were debating over which minster brought them into the faith. Quite frankly, ‘mid-Acts-ers’ .... it did not matter ‘WHICH MINISTER’ gave them the gospel .... whether it was PAUL .... or Apollos .... or Peter .... or Christ:

1 Cor 1:11-13 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith,
I am of Paul;
and I of Apollos;
and I of Cephas;
and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided?
was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Christ is not divided .... and neither should His body be!
We are ONE body:

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (also see 1 Cor 10:17, 12:12-13,20; Eph 2:16; Col 3:15)

Initially, Apollos knew only the water baptism of John the Baptist. Aquila and Priscilla expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Then Apollos helped them much which had believed through grace (Acts 18:24-28). Obviously, Apollos preached the gospel to people at Corinth, since some of his converts were joined to the church of God there:

1 Cor 3:3-9 For ye are yet carnal:
for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,
are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul;
and another, I am of Apollos;
are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul,
and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed,
even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I (Paul) have planted,
Apollos watered;
but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, (Paul is nothing.)
neither he that watereth; (Apollos is nothing.)
but God that giveth the increase. (also see John 3:30)
8 Now he that planteth (Paul)
and he that watereth (Apollos) are one:
and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God:
ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

Paul and Apollos are one. So why won’t ‘mid-Acts-ers’ be ‘one’ with those ‘in Christ’ before Paul (Rom 16:7)?

After Paul detailed the gospel that he preached "unto you" (at Corinth in 1 Cor 15:1-4 .... just like "unto you" in Gal 1:9) .... he listed many other ministers (1 Cor 15:5-7) and showed again .... it did not matter WHICH MINISTER they got the gospel from:

1 Cor 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

UNITY .... NOT DIVISION .... has been enjoyable among God’s people for a long time. I think I’ll be glad in that. "What about you?"

Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is NOT ‘right division’ to divide God’s saints from each other.
It is wrong! There are no verses that teach that foolishness. 'Mid-Acts-ers' are protecting their paradigm, charts, etc.

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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Who Will Inherit the Kingdom of God?

God’s kingdom is not for the unrighteous ....
but for the righteous .... those who are washed, sanctified, and justified:

1 Cor 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you:
but ye are washed,
but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

God’s kingdom is the same kingdom as Christ’s kingdom.
There are not two separate kingdoms. We know who won’t be there:

Eph 5:5-7 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (also see Col 3:5-7) Believers have no business partying with ungodly people:
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

God’s kingdom is not for flesh and blood ....
but for those who are changed, incorruptible, and immortal:

1 Cor 15:50-53 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality.

There will be no workers of carnal deeds in God’s kingdom ....
but for those who have the fruit of God’s Spirit:

Gal 5:19-23 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

In the company of Jesus’ disciples, Peter asked the Lord about their inheritance. Jesus’ answer addressed the twelve, and went on to include everyone who has sacrificed for Him:

Matt 19:27-29 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

God’s kingdom is for the righteous .... those who have helped His saints:

Matt 25:31-40 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Jesus clearly identified ‘who’ were members of His family:

Mark 3:32-35 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

When the Son of Man comes .... it will be the resurrection of the dead (also see 1 Thes 3:13, 4:14-17). After He comes .... it will be the end .... and God’s kingdom will come:

1 Cor 15:21-26 For since by man came death,
by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

God’s kingdom is for the overcomers ....
those who are victorious, holding their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, temptations, and persecutions (also see Rev 12:11, Acts 21:13, 2 Tim 4:6-8):

Rev 21:7-8 He that overcometh shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (also see 2 Cor 6:14-18)
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death.

Will YOU inherit the kingdom of God?

This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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