Talking about ‘mid-Acts’ preachers before him, I have heard the Cunning Royal Jester say that we stand on their shoulders, but they did not see as far as we see. He excused them, stating they just didn’t have time to think things through. In retrospect, I believe they were not as radical at dividing as the CRJ is. He makes nearly 2 of everything .... 2 Jesus’ .... 2 groups of saints (those saved through Paul’s ministry vs. all other believers) .... 2 sets of last days .... 2 or 3 future comings of the Lord .... 2 different eternal destinies .... 3 churches (those before Paul, those by Paul, those after Paul) .... 3 or more resurrections .... the Holy Spirit / Ghost, etc.
Instead of standing on the shoulders of earlier ‘mid-Acts’ preachers .... to divide even more than they did, I would rather stand on God’s promises, like GOD, through ‘our’ apostle Paul, said:
2 Cor 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
GOD, through ‘our’ apostle Paul, explained that the promise of the Spirit we have, was the PROPHETIC one that God promised Abraham way back when:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise 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,
Anyone who denies the verses that Abraham is their father .... well, maybe they will get what they believe and want:
2 Tim 2:12-b if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Matt 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
God, through Paul, gave us Gentiles the benefits that He formerly promised to His people Israel. You can reference those promises in the scriptures and see Paul repeat them, and apply them to us Gentiles:
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
2 Cor 6:16-18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Paul wasn’t the only prophet and apostle who sent ‘grace and peace’ in the opening of every one of his epistles .... Peter did, too, when he wrote to those of the same faith in Christ. Peter also recognized the wonderful promises of God to His saints:
2 Peter 1:1-4 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:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Since I got away from the Cunning Royal Jester’s denial of God's promises, and I have rejected his ‘mid-Acts’ madness .... I rejoice and glorify God for His promises to me!
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
