Sunday 120824
Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.
So, our study consists of two ground rules:
1st we ONLY read and follow what is found in the Holy Bible.
2nd we ONLY learn from a study by what effort we put into that study.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
Galatians 1:11-12, 2:7-9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 5:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Romans 6:14; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 4:15-16; James 4:6; Acts 15:10-11; John 1:16-17; Revelation 11:15-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
So, let’s begin …
In the Bible, an apostle is a ‘messenger’ or ‘one who is sent’ who was chosen by Jesus Christ to spread the Gospel.
The term is often confused with ‘disciple,’ but they are NOT synonyms (the words mean 2 different things).
The word ‘synonym’ is defined as a word or a phrase that means the exact or similar things.
A disciple is a ‘student’ or ‘learner’ who devoted themselves to learning from Jesus, while an apostle was ‘someone who had met and followed Jesus during His life.’
However, when Paul was converted to Christianity after Jesus’ death, Paul didn’t spend time with Jesus while He walked this earth, but he did spend three (3) years training to be an apostle, he was trained by the Revelation of Jesus Himself.
Galatians 1
vs11 ‘…For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is not of human invention…’
vs12 ‘…For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Paul also had the direct approval of the other apostles that agreed that Paul would teach the Gentiles, and they would remain in Jerusalem and teach those Jews that remained.
Galatians 2
vs7 ‘…But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised…’
vs8 ‘…for He who was at work for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles…’
vs9 ‘…and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Paul spread the Gospel of GRACE. The other remaining 11 apostles that lived with and followed Jesus didn’t learn about GRACE until after Jesus had been crucified, buried and rose from the tomb, (thus, the Gospel of the apostle Paul).
1 Corinthians 15
vs1 ‘…Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand…’
vs2 ‘…By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain…’
vs3 ‘…For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures…’
vs4 ‘…And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…’ KJV (King James Version)
This Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15, given to us by Paul, was written between the years 53 – 57 AD.
The Gospel of GRACE hadn’t been given to anyone before Paul received the Gospel from Jesus on the road to Damascus. This occurred around 34 – 36 AD.
In the Bible, there are 10 key Bible verses on GRACE. 6 of the 10 were written by Paul.
Romans 5
vs20 ‘…God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant…’
vs21 ‘…So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around the mid – 50’s.
1 Corinthians 15:10 ‘…But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 53 – 57 AD.
Romans 6:14 ‘…Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 55-56 or 56-57 AD.
2 Corinthians 12
vs9 ‘…Each time he said, My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me…’
vs10 ‘…That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 55 – 56 AD.
Ephesians 2
vs8 ‘…God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God…’
vs9 ‘…Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 60 – 62 AD.
Titus 2
vs11 ‘…For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people…’
vs12 ‘…And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God…’
vs13 ‘…while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed…’
vs14 ‘…He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 64 – 65 AD.
1 of the 10 was written in Hebrews and many scholars attribute the authorship of Hebrews also to the apostle Paul.
Hebrews 4
vs15 ‘…This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin…’
vs16 ‘…So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 60 – 70 AD.
The 3 other verses are found, once in the book of James, once in the book of Acts and finally, once in the book of John.
James 4:6 ‘…And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 40 – 50 AD.
Acts 15
vs10 ‘…So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear…’
vs11 ‘…We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 48 – 50 AD.
John 1
vs16 ‘…From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another…’
vs17 ‘…For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ…’ NLT (New Living Translation) – written around 80 – 95 AD.
Here is the timeline, for when the word ‘GRACE’ appears in the Bible; remember there are only 10 key verses.
34-36 AD Paul was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus.
———— ————————————————
40-50 AD James 4:6
48-50 AD Acts 15:10-11
mid 50’s AD Romans 5:20-21
53-57 AD 1 Corinthians 15:10
55/56 or 56/57 AD Romans 6:14
55-56 AD 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
60-62 AD Ephesians 2:8-9
60-70 AD Hebrews 4:15-16
64-65 AD Titus 2:11-14
80-95 AD John 1:16-17
This study has been developed, in hopes of showing that the 11 remaining apostles had no clue of what ‘GRACE’ meant during their time walking with Jesus.
Many times, I’ve seen writings where commentaries have been made stating that Jesus and the original apostles spread the Gospel of Grace to the people while Jesus walked this earth.
The fact is, we as a people didn’t receive the promise of GRACE until after Jesus had been crucified, buried and rose again from the tomb.
According to the Bible, Jesus’ ministry focused on preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, which was about establishing the kingdom here on earth.
His central message was, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
Jesus also taught that the kingdom of heaven is for those who are humble, teachable, patient, and long-suffering, and that they will inherit the earth.
He also said, be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:36), meaning that those who show mercy will also receive it.
Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
Revelation 11
vs15 ‘…Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever…’
vs16 ‘…And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God…’
vs17 ‘…saying: We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned…’
vs18 ‘…The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth…’
vs19 ‘…Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail…’ NKJV (New King James Version)
We have never been given the exact day, time or year when Jesus will return to this earth and step foot on His planet to reclaim what belongs to Him.
We have, however, been warned that we should always remain ready for His return.
Keep your wits and be prepared for that time when this world will end.
I am going to run a little long this study, because I feel it is that important that you realize that Jesus’ church, will already be gone from this earth before the sound of this 7th trumpet call talked about in Revelation 11.
The ‘Rapture’ will have already happened taking Jesus’ church up into the clouds with Him.
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
1 Thessalonians 4
vs13 ‘…But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope…’
vs14 ‘…For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus…’
vs15 ‘…For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep…’
vs16 ‘…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first…’
vs17 ‘…Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord…’
vs18 ‘…Therefore comfort one another with these words…’ NKJV (New King James Version)
In the words found in Revelation 11, Jesus will step foot on this earth declaring the Kingdom of God. In 1 Thessalonians 4, we, Jesus’ church (the Believers in Him), shall meet Jesus in the clouds where we will remain with Him FOREVER.
For those of you that do not know, ‘FOREVER’ is the equivalent of ETERNITY.
I apologize for running long but always please remember that I love ALL of you. Always know and remember that God loves ALL of us even more than I can even comprehend how to love that much.
Keep in the Word of God and read His messages and remember, that it is better for you to read His Words for yourself than listening to another man’s opinion of what the Word is saying.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen.
InHIM. ><)))o>