192 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 3 - Part 4 - Book 16 - Introduction to Acts - Part 2

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 3 * PART 4 * BOOK 16 INTRODUCTION TO ACTS - PART 2 Now we're ready for the final chapter in this Book. Turn to Acts Chapter 1. As I said in the last program the Book of Acts is a transitional Book. The first eight chapters are predominately Peter preaching to the Nation of Israel about their condition. Then in Chapter 9 we have the conversion of the Apostle Paul, then in Chapter 10 we go back to Peter and the Jews in Jerusalem. And then after Chapter 15 Peter is no longer on the scene, and it's all Paul. The Holy Spirit does this so Peter can come to Paul's defense in Acts Chapter 15. Then Paul goes on up into his old Arabia of Tarsus. He ends up at Antioch and starts converting Gentiles to the Gospel of Grace. When we come to it verse by verse, we will see that at this point in time in Acts 15, Peter, remembering now what took place at the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, comes to Paul's defense saying: Acts 15:7 Now in that 13 year interval has Peter been going to Gentiles? Remember, the first eight chapters deal only with the Jew, the Nation of Israel. Where the King is, is where the Kingdom is. Because Jesus had promised that they would sit on the twelve thrones ruling and reigning over the twelve tribes in the Kingdom. Peter almost burns himself out in these early days after Pentecost, preaching to the Nation of Israel that the One they crucified was indeed their King. So after forty days of talking to the disciples about the Kingdom and their role in the Kingdom, we need to look at that and see why these men were excited. Matthew 19:27 Matthew 19:28. Filling that vacant position. Paul didn't fill the qualifications. Because Peter is expecting The Lord's return in short order. Peter doesn't see 1900 + years down the road. Peter sees that Old Testament program that, after Christ was rejected, He would be raised from the dead. He would be ascending to the Father, and then after the Tribulation, the King would return and set up His Kingdom. "For John truly baptized with water (this is Jesus speaking ); but (now you have the flip side. There is going to be a change) ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Let's go back to Matthew Chapter 3. Drop down to verse 11 where we are dealing with John the Baptist. Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but (there's that flip side again. Jews, there are no Gentiles in his crowd. Jesus, The Christ, he says is going to baptize you with, or into, the Holy Spirit. When did Jesus do that? The Nation of Israel was gathered and down came the Holy Spirit with power. And it was the Jews valid offer again to experience that power of the Holy Spirit to do what? Miracles, signs and wonders, as Jesus had done. By placing them into the very power of the Holy Spirit. We must turn to I Corinthians Chapter 12 and we will start with verse 12. Here Paul is writing to the Gentile Church at Corinth. Jesus or the Twelve never spoke of the Body of Christ. So here in verse 12 Paul is using our human body as an illustration. I Corinthians 12:12 "For as the body (our human body) is one, and hath many members (your hands, feet and so forth), and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." He's making the allusion to the Body of Christ, the Church. We've got all these different people who are making up the Body of Christ. We are "one" in Christ. Because we are one in Christ. How did we get into this unique living organism that we call the Body of Christ? Now verse 13: "For by one Spirit (The Holy Spirit) are we all baptized into (not the local Church, but) one body (the Body of Christ, the Church)," Remember, no unbeliever can go into the Body of Christ. Remember, Paul is the only one that uses that terminology. He will say the Church, which is His Body, or the Body of Christ which is the Church. Now remember early on, as we come out of the Four Gospels and into the Book of Acts with God dealing with the Nation of Israel, Christ is the Baptizer. He is placing the Jews, as they believe, into the power of the Holy Spirit to perform the signs and miracles that would continue Christ's earthly ministry. But when that fell apart, when Israel rejected it completely, God turned to the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul - and now we find the Holy Spirit has become the Baptizer and He places us into Christ. This is not the only verse where you find this, there are many verses Paul uses. For example, in the Book of Colossians it says, "You are hid in Christ in God." Well, how did you get in Christ? Not with water baptism, but when the Holy Spirit baptized you into Him. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible