There is in the Bible, the Gospel, or Good News, for the unsaved, AND, the Gospel for the saved. True or False? Please take a moment to respond at

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And now the answer to the LLM Question of 2-19-2012

Question: The LORD Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body of Christ. Therefore, the LORD Jesus Christ, and the members of His Body are, THE CHRIST. 1 Corinthians 12:12. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! The Apostle Paul did not preach, (AFTER Acts 13:16), that believing Jews were begotten into the HOPE of being planted in the land of Canaan under the reign of Christ as King and Messiah on the throne of David. This HOPE OF ISRAEL is going to be realized in fulfillment of many, many, prophesies; but NOT during the current period that Almighty God is baptizing Jews and Gentiles into the ONE BODY of 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, to make the ONE NEW MAN of Ephesians 2:15. God will yet have a NEW ISRAEL (Isaiah 62:1-4), but NOT until He has completed the ONE NEW MAN, the filling up of Him that filleth all in all...THE CHRIST of 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 1:21-23; Ephesians 4:13. Out of the 701 responses we received to this question, 68.2% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Facts to Understand the Book of Acts, part 9 of 9

THE HOPE OF ISRAEL

Some months after the Apostle Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans he and the beloved physician Luke, after a very stormy and dangerous sea voyage, reached Rome. “And when we came to Rome.” (Acts 28:16). Paul was a prisoner. Paul called the chief of the Jews together, and said to them: “for THE HOPE OF ISRAEL I am bound with this chain.” (Acts 28:20). BUT LOOK, a few years later the Apostle Paul wrote, in Ephesians 6:19-20 and Colossians 4:3-4, that he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ for Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1-2) for the MYSTERY OF CHRIST.

Peter was a Jew and he wrote to other Jews, to Israelites who believed, that they had been begotten into a living hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:1-6). Their inheritance was reserved in heaven for them. Some were promised a crown when Christ appears. (1 Peter 5:4). John, who had been associated with Peter, wrote that those saved under his ministry should not be ashamed before Christ at His coming: that at Christ’s appearing they would be like Him; and this was their HOPE. (1 John 2:28-3:4). The Apostle Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians 12:13, that believing Jews and believing Gentiles had been baptized into the Body of Christ, and told them of the ‘MYSTERY’ coming of Christ to change the bodies of the members of that BODY OF CHRIST to bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). To the Corinthians, Paul wrote that the resurrection of both Christ and Christians was their hope. (1 Corinthians 15:19-26). The resurrection of Christ was a part of the gospel by which they were saved. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

In 1 Corinthians 12:12 the Apostle Paul wrote that the LORD Jesus Christ, and the members of His Body were…THE CHRIST. Read that last sentence a few times, and let it really sink in!

The Jews at Jerusalem would not believe 1 Corinthians 15:4, that the LORD Jesus Christ rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; that is, in fulfillment of the prophecies of Moses and others. They rejected the sign of Jonah and Christ. (Matthew 12:40). Hear this plain, simple testimony of the Apostle Paul when he was arrested in Jerusalem, “of the HOPE and resurrection of the dead am I called in question.” (Acts 23:6). Again, in Acts 24:16, “And have HOPE toward God, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” And again in Acts 24:21, “Touching the resurrection I am called in question.” Note again Acts 26:6-8. When Paul uttered the words of Acts 26:22, “none other things,” he was NOT referring to the UNprophesied truth of Romans 11:30-31, Romans 11:25, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, and certainly Paul did not intend that Agrippa or any other person should believe that Moses and the prophets foretold that Jews and Gentiles would be baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, which was God’s program during Paul’s ‘ACTS’ ministry.

The Apostle Paul did not preach, after Acts 13:16, that believing Jews were begotten into the HOPE of being planted in the land of Canaan under the reign of Christ as King and Messiah on the throne of David. This HOPE OF ISRAEL is going to be realized in fulfillment of many, many prophesies; but NOT during the period that Almighty God is baptizing Jews and Gentiles into the ONE BODY of 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, to make the ONE NEW MAN of Ephesians 2:15. God will yet have a NEW ISRAEL (Isaiah 62:1-4), but NOT until He has completed the ONE NEW MAN, the filling up of Him that filleth all in all; ‘THE CHRIST’ of 1 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 1:21-23; Ephesians 4:13.

God postponed the program concerning the Prophesied kingdom HOPE OF ISRAEL before Barnabas and Paul were sent forth in Acts 13:2. Israel will remain the outcast nation until God has accomplished His eternal, UNprophesied purpose, which is the JOINT BODY of Ephesians 3:6, and the presentation of Ephesians 5:26-28: Christ and the Church ONE FLESH. (Ephesians 5:31-32). Then God will do all promised in Romans 11:26-29, and Luke 21:27-33, and Acts 3:19, and Amos 9:11-15, and Ezekiel 36:24-38. The fulfillment of these Scriptures will indeed be the HOPE OF ISRAEL. But the BLESSED HOPE of Titus 2:13 is even a greater hope, and any Jew or Gentile who will receive Christ, and meet God at Calvary’s cross may experience this HOPE. The Body of Christ is included in the overall ‘Kingdom of God’ (Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 5:5), but ISRAEL’s hope is a different Phase of the Kingdom of God. (Luke 21:27-33).

Surely we have in Acts 2:5 to Acts 7:60 something of the meaning of Christ’s words in Luke 19:12-14, “A certain Nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom for Himself and to return…The citizens hated Him and sent a message after Him. saying, we will not have THIS MAN to reign over us.” The messages of Peter and the Eleven, and Stephen, were concerning the Nobleman. The Apostle Peter said, in Acts 5:29-32, that God RAISED UP Christ twice to be Israel’s Savior. In Acts 3:19-21 Peter told Israel that the heavens would receive Christ until the prophesied RESTITUTION. He called on Israel to repent. Peter told Israel why the Holy Spirit was sent: to witness that God has RAISED UP Christ in resurrection, to be Israel’s Prince and Savior to give them repentance and forgiveness of sins. This verse must be understood (Acts 5:32) to know God’s programs. Then, Stephen preached to Israel that he saw the Son of man standing in heaven; but that they were resisting the Holy Spirit at the time he was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 7:51-60). They stoned Stephen, as Israel would not receive the testimony of the twelve apostles or of Stephen or of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5:31-32). They would not have THIS MAN to reign over them. They had already said, “we have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15). After Israel stoned Stephen to death, Israel was headed for the judgment of Matthew 22:7, in which, that awful destruction by Caesar’s army would be God’s army to kill the murderers of His Son.

The LORD Jesus Christ on the cross prayed for His murderers (Luke 23:34) and God was willing to charge their crime to ignorance, if they would repent. (Acts 3:12-21). Read Acts 3:17. But Israel added to their other sins, the sin of resisting and blaspheming the Holy Spirit and forbidding the Apostles to preach to Gentiles. The wrath of God came upon them unto the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16; Acts 13:45; Acts 18:5). It is interesting to compare the Apostle Peter’s message of Acts 3:19-21 to Israel, with the Apostle Paul’s message to Israel in Acts 13:39, complete justification by faith without the law, and then note why and when Israel stumbled and fell (Romans 9:29-33); and what Israel’s FALL, temporarily, meant for the rest of the world. (Romans 11:11-15).

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

Christians have erred exceedingly in trying to force and limit the meaning of the word...Gospel, to fit into their theological thinking or some sectarian, or denominational church creed and program.

Every intelligent, spiritual student of the Scriptures knows the difference between “the Gospel of the Kingdom” and “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” Compare Matthew 4:23 and Acts 20:24. So should every such student of the Scriptures know the difference between the saving gospel for sinners in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and the gospel for saints.

There is in the Bible, the Gospel, “good news”, for the unsaved, and the Gospel,“good news”, for the saved. Confused? Don't be! And, what is the truth for saints in the Bible that transcends all other truth, grand and glorious? It is “The Mystery.” Take note, this is quite different from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, as wonderful as is the good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised the third day. All of that good news, we are told in those verses, was “according to the Scriptures.” BUT, “the Mystery of the Gospel,” “the Mystery of God’s will,” was NOT “according to the Scriptures” (Old Testament prophecy), but “according to the eternal purpose of God,” HID in God from before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 3:9-11. And being that it was hid in God, Israel’s prophets said nothing and knew nothing about it.

When Christ died at the hands of Israel and made His grave with the rich and was buried and was raised again, all was in fulfillment of the writings of Israel’s prophets. Acts 13:29-30. But what about the present place and ministry of Christ and His relationship to Gentiles and Jews saved by Grace, during this present economy, the Dispensation of Grace? What prophet foretold that during at least twenty centuries Christ would remain in heaven, while the Messianic earthly kingdom of Christ would be in abeyance, that He would be the unseen Head of the Church, Which is His Body, the filling-up of Christ? Who foretold that Christ would be seated far above all heavens and that believing Gentiles, without subjection to the kingdom nation, could be crucified, dead, buried, raised, risen and seated with Christ, in the heavenlies, and in Him and with Him blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, while waiting for Him to appear in glory when they shall appear with Him, because they were chosen in Christ before the world began? Who foretold it? No ONE! It was hid in God.

Apart from the violent and intense hatred of Satan for this grand and glorious truth, it is next to impossible to believe that any truly saved person would oppose and fight it. But, OH, how some Christians, including some of our leading Fundamentalists, do hate it! One reason is, that the Mystery is the death blow to all denominations and all sectarian, religious ceremonies, as it is the golden key to unlock the Scriptures and God’s curative for all the ills and isms with which the Body of Christ is afflicted, “that ye no longer be children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.” Think of a Bible teacher, who claims to be a steward of the Mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-4), knowing not the first thing about the Body, as the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:19-23), “the one new man” (Ephesians 2:15), “the one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31-32), “the perfect man!” Ephesians 4:13.

ACCORDING TO GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE

There are different aspects and phases of “the Mystery,” “the Mystery of God’s Will,” “the Dispensation of the Mystery,” which has to do with principalities and powers in the heavenlies, the inseparable and eternal union of believers with Christ, the riches of God’s grace, the riches of God’s glory, the whole family in heaven and earth, God’s inheritance in the saints and His calling. But the Mystery might be defined as “God’s eternal purpose in Christ.”

In Ephesians 3:10 we learn one reason why God wants all saints to see what is the Mystery, that is, that by the Church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to principalities and powers in the heavenlies, ACCORDING TO GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST. This wisdom was ordained to the glory of members of the Body of Christ before the world began. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8. This wisdom, which was spoken to the perfect, in a Mystery, was too much for the carnal, sectarian Corinthians, who could not take the strong meat that was for the perfect (full-aged) (1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Hebrews 5:9-12). It seems to be too much for sectarian, denominational, Christians today. They seem to be unwilling to come out from under that ecclesiastical rubbish where the precious gem has been buried, lost, for so many centuries.

Members of the Body of Christ in 2010 should be instructed in the words of the Apostle Paul, recorded in 2 Timothy 1:8-11, “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with a HOLY calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and Grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

“Whereunto,” or “whereby,” is used by Paul several times in this same connection, his Apostleship to the Gentiles with THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD, for which He was the prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we have stated before in many messages on LLM, the mystery was revealed to the Apostle Paul ALONE, to pass on to others. It was NOT in Israel’s Scriptures. It was NOT revealed to the twelve Apostles. The Apostle Peter never preached it, so far as the Record goes. Paul got into serious trouble, because he claimed that he had received this special truth by special revelation, not made known to others. He could not prove it by the Scriptures, because it had been hid in God.

Now, as many were ashamed of the Apostle Paul in 64 A.D., so also, many Christians are ashamed today of the Lord’s servants who preach Grace plus nothing, for salvation, and who endeavor to obey Ephesians 3:9 and Ephesians 4:1-7, especially when they get to that one Body and one baptism. But Paul testified that this Grace and purpose of God was given believers in Christ before the world began. In 2 Timothy 1:9 and in Ephesians 2:7 the Apostle shows us the eternity of Grace; what God did, in Grace, before the ages began and what He is going to do, in grace, in the ages to come.

So the question: Are you ashamed of the Apostle Paul or his Grace testimony or of God’s ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST?

This eternal purpose is always linked with PREDESTINATION. Let’s read Ephesians 1:9-11, “Having made known unto us the Mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”

Now let’s read Romans 8:28-30, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Now let’s read Ephesians 1:4-5, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

Do you see why religious people in the year 64 A.D. were ashamed of this Mystery, AND, why the religious people of 2012 A.D. are ashamed of this Mystery? How many of even the leading spiritual Fundamentalists are praying for an open mouth and for open doors for the proclamation of the Mystery? Ephesians 6:19-20. Colossians 4:3-4. Most of them are helping to CLOSE every door in the country against this truth that is grand and glorious and they have succeeded in closing most mouths. So the few servants of the LORD, who are earnestly endeavoring to make known this wonderful truth, are being attacked from both sides.

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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.