Saturday, April 17, 2010

The Mystery of The Gospel

Eph 6:19 Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I may fearlessly explain the mystery about the good news(Gospel).
Eph 6:20 I was sent to do this work, and that's the reason I am in jail. So pray that I will be brave and will speak as I should. (CEV)

What is this "Mystery of The Gospel" that Paul wants to proclaim fearlessly?
Remember we are looking at this question through the eyes of the early believers and Jews of the time and from an Hebraic view. Let's first take a look at Acts chapter 21.

Act 21:17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
Act 21:18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
Act 21:19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Act 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,
Act 21:21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.
Act 21:22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
Act 21:23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;
Act 21:24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.
Act 21:25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality."
Act 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.
Act 21:27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,
Act 21:28 crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."
Act 21:29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
Act 21:30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
Act 21:31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
Act 21:32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Act 21:33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.
Act 21:34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
Act 21:35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,
Act 21:36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, "Away with him!"
Act 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?
Act 21:38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?"
Act 21:39 Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people."
Act 21:40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Take a bit and think on the above. Look at it from the eyes of the Jews of the time including those who were following Yashua.
Remember they were still Jews.
We'll post more in a couple of days.

I'll give you a hint to think about. Pastor Barry was talking with a Jewish customer and his son and explaining how he as a Gentile was celebrating Biblical holidays and eating Kosher. The customer explained that Pastor was more "Jewish" than some of the members of the Synagogue. His son then stated "We have to do those things."Pastor Barry's response, "But I get to do these things."

Think of it!

1 comment:

  1. I really appreciate all the Scripture passages that you use. For 3 weeks my son and I have been celebrating the Sabbath instead of recognizing Sunday as the 'Sabbath', which I believe now is not the 'new Christian Sabbath'. It has been a wonderful time of prayer, rest and a hint of personally sharing in what Yeshua/Yahshua HaMashiach also kept while here on earth to honor His Father and my Abba Father too. I have been grafted into the family of YHWH my Elohim by Him, and after 20 years, it is my heart's desire to draw closer to my Elohim through recognizing these wonderful days and I am just beginning to learn what they are. I am enjoying your blog. Please continue and thank you. Shalom!

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