Mystery #2 paul’s gospel

Acts 20:23-25,29, 31

“Except that the holy spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things distract me, nor do i count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. “ And indeed, now I know that you all, among who I have gone preaching the kingdom of God will see my face no more…..for I know this, after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock….therefore watch and remember that I did not cease to remember everyone night and day with tears. ‘so now, breathren, I commend you now to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all you who are sanctified.”

 

*Define grace as God’s Divine Favor - The offer of His inheritance to All! The is detailed also mystery. #3

 

Introduction:

 

It is important to follow up with this same theme of the Kingdom as the church age begins. We see this theme played out in the Book of Acts mainly because it is the foundation to the establishment of the church age. Now that Jesus has ascended all the focus is now placed on the Spirit of God.

This is hugely important because until the physical kingdom returns this third person of the trinity was promised to prepare a special people for this coming kingdom and to herald the coming of the king. As the book of Acts unfolds, the explosion of the Holy Spirit unfolds.

 

In every generation throughout history, God chose a representative of Himself. In the last days, the bible tells us He chose His own son. Now, in the church age He chooses His Holy Spirit to represent Him through His chosen people, the church. Spiritual Isreal, the church, is His representative in this church age. The Spirit of God is mentioned at least 50 times in the Book of Acts alone. (Interesting that Pentecost means 50)

 

Let’s take a look at how the Apostles communicated to the surrounding nations and what the central messages were. You will see the offer of a kingdom and the inheritance that comes with it to those who are sanctified.

 

“to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during 40 days, in speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…

therefore, when they have come together, they asked him, saying, lord, Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel…therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne….therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ….whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began…you are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham,’ and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed’…And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all…And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people…But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women…When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord…And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God…So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God…But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will...And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.”

But when some were hardened and did not believe but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them…and this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks….When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed…Except that the holy spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things distract me, nor do i count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. “ And indeed, now I know that you all, among who I have gone preaching the kingdom of God will see my face no more…..for I know this, after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock….therefore watch and remember that I did not cease to remember everyone night and day with tears. ‘so now, brethren, I commend you now to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all you who are sanctified…So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning til evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: Hearing you will hear and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Les they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles and they will hear it!…preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, bluntly”

 

Conclusion:

This Kingdom message and the grace required to live it out has not changed. The Holy Spirit is crucial in the Book of Acts in this transformation process. The transition that takes place is the offer of this Kingdom and its teaching to all nations. 

What is the salvation of salvation God? The Kingdom!

 

In the Book of Acts, notice there is no promise of heaven or condemnation of hell, only the hope of inheritance to those who are sanctified, which we know to be the prize of the coming Kingdom. Paul is trying to proclaim this doctrine to all people to become the church (the called out assembly of God) so they are able to finish their race and enter the kingdom. The movement became known as “The Way”.

 

Out of 28 times that the word mystery is mentioned in the New Testament, 24 of those are mentioned by the Apostle Paul. This is why in the next chapters, we will focus on the meaning of Paul’s mysteries and how they relate to what he calls “his gospel” according to the revelation of Jesus Christ of things kept secret in the ages past.

 

(Kingdom of Heaven vs Kingdom of God - See Missler’s chapter; 1 Corinthians 15:24 Notice that the Millenium is for the purpose of establishing all authority and rulership)