Things New and Old: I have appeared to thee for THIS purpose

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

I have appeared to thee for THIS purpose

The divinely ordained purpose and end of the gospel ministry stated succintly in few words by the risen Lord Himself.

Let's learn a few things by considering these questions.
You may like to ask your own if you don't like these.

Acts 26:16-18
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Verse 16: a minister and a witness
1. "to make thee a minister"
- what is he to minister?
- unto whom is he to minister?
2. "and a witness"
- what specific things is he to bear witness?
- unto whom is he to bear witness?

Verse 17: divine protection
1. Assurance of protection for His ministers.
2 "the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee"
- who among the Gentiles was Paul sent unto?

Verse 18a: the purpose of the gospel ministry
1. "to open their eyes"
- what does that mean to open their eyes through the gospel ministry?
- whose eyes among the Gentiles can be opened through the gospel ministry?
2. "to turn them from darkness to light"
- what does that mean to turn them from darkness to light from the gospel ministry?
- who can be turned from darkness to light through the gospel ministry?
3. "to turn them from the power of Satan unto God"
- what is does it mean to turn them from the power of Satan unto God through the gospel?
- who can be turned from the power of Satan unto God through the gospel?

Verse 18b: the effects of the gospel ministry
1. " they may receive forgiveness of sins"
- what is to receive this forgiveness of sins through the gospel ministry ?
- who may receive this forgiveness of sins through the gospel ministry?
2. they may receive inheritance
- what does it mean to receive this inheritance through the gospel ministry?
- who has such an inheritance to receive through the gospel ministry?
- who can receive this inheritance through the gospel ministry?

Verse 18c: of WHOM are all the above spoken of?
1. "among them which are sanctified" - ἡγιασμένοις
- who are "them that are sanctified"?
- how are they sanctified by faith that is in Christ?
- what does "sanctified by faith that is in Christ" mean?
- what is the "faith that is in Christ"?
- is that man's act of believing in Christ,
- or is that the faithfulness that is in Christ?

Check this link for Acts 26:18 -
https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/act/26/18/p0/t_conc_1044018

Check this link for the meaning of faith -
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4102&t=KJV

Look carefully at the second meaning:
"faith" is fidelity, faithfulness, the character of one who can be relied on!
Among those that are sanctified by the faithfulness that is in Christ, the faithfulness of Christ in the complete execution, and accomplishment of the redemption for His people.

By His work of redemption, His people are legally sanctified, i.e. separated from their just and deserved condemnation unto that of grace and salvation. And that redemption is applied to each of His people personally at effectual calling - thus vitally sanctified from their native state of sin and condemnation. They are AMONG them that are sanctified by the faithfulness of Christ unto whom the gospel ministry is relevant, and who can benefit from it.

Saul was called a minister and a witness to the Gentiles among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus. There are both Jews and Gentiles among them that are sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus.

ONLY AMONG them which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ, and AMONG THEM ONLY these things are possible, through the gospel ministry:
- they alone whose eyes can by opened,
- they alone can be turned from darkness to light,
- they alone can be turned from the power of Satan unto God,
- they alone can experience receiving the forgiveness of sins,
- they alone can experience receiving their eternal inheritance.

The gospel ministry is ordained, and intended for a very specific people, EVEN unto among them that are sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The PURPOSE of the risen Lord in the gospel ministry is plain and simple, and is in perfect harmony with that of the Father and the Holy Spirit:

- God decreed to sanctify a people,
- Christ sanctified them on the cross,
- The Holy Spirit sanctifies each one of them at their effectual calling.
- The gospel ministry is ordained to open the eyes of them among such, to turn them from darkness to light, to turn them from the power of Satan to God, that they may experience receiving the forgiveness of sins, and their inheritance.