The speaker said that "because of the world we live in, being a Christian comes with great cost." I suppose it does in other parts of the world, but in the country in which we live, we enjoy ‘freedom of religion’ (dare I call it that?), and we are not persecuted with physical harm for our faith. Surely the prophets predicted that there will come a time when believers will be put to death for their faith.
Jesus said:
John 16:1-4 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
The speaker said that "most preaching and teaching is all over the word of God." He said that only Paul says there is a single standard, the gospel of grace, the due-time gospel that has not always been preached or taught.
The speaker said that "a common problem is their prayer life, when one comes to the gospel of Christ. They stop praying." Does that give you any indication of the damage ‘mid-Acts’ doctrine causes? They even admit it on the issue of prayer! Then speaker said, "You’re to pray consistent with right division."
The speaker read
Lev 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
.... and used it as an example for us, by saying that "One thing the gospel does is separate you out to God."
The speaker, talking about Paul’s "in me first" statement, said, "Paul is saying I am the first to be saved. He is a prototype of a pattern. The only context is that God concluded the world in unbelief and by that act alone He was signaling a new program, dispensation."
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.
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.
Talking about what God said to Paul, the speaker said, "Clearly the preaching of Christ is fundamentally different than before." But what does the SCRIPTURE say about that?
Acts 26:22-23 Having therefore obtained help of God, I (Paul) 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.
The speaker said to set your affection on things above, prize those things, treasure them. Then he used Jesus for an example from the gospels (Matt 6:19-21). He said this is what we call "grace motivation". Then he used the example of Moses from Heb 11:24-26. What was a ‘mid-Acts-er’ doing using Jesus and Moses for examples of "grace motivation"? Unheard of!
Several weeks ago I preached a message on Separation, which is posted both audio and text (available to download) on my website.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
